After a day of chopping trees at the GROW farm, we showered and stopped by the GROW home to see the kids before heading out to the church to join some others to go caroling THAI style.  A small group starts out at one house.  We sing outside then call in to then house and. Everyone in the house is still til we call out.  Then they come to the door and invite us in.  Once inside we sing more, share scripture, ask for prayer requests and pray a prayer of blessing on the home for the next year.  Then they feed us.  After we eat, they join us to go to the next house.  The group gets bigger and bigger as the night goes on.  They did this til 3am.  The GROW house was they 4^th stop.  Since it was already 10:30, we decided to call it an evening for our team to get some sleep.

Saturday was our first Christmas party.  Faa invited another ministry to join us for the morning.  The kids from this ministry are from the slums of Chiang Mai. Extremely poor.  We met at a resort in an outdoor park area where we played games, did crafts and feed them lunch of chicken and sticky rice.  We had about 25 kids.  Loads of fun!

We then took some time to walk around the grounds to see some of the botanical gardens. We were inspired by the setting of one particular spot and decided to have an impromptu arranged wedding.  See picture!

The afternoon was enjoyed making gingerbread houses with the GROW kids. This was their first time to do this and they loved it! The team enjoyed the extra icing.

After preparations for the evening party, we fellowshipped with the children and some of their parents over great food. Faa and the children prepared a program including a skit and songs from our team to do. The children took turns singing or dancing or sharing about how their lives now are different from the way their lives use to be before GROW.  They shared how some of their friends in other ministry homes do not have the healthy food and care that they have at GROW.  I was so happy to hear how well the GROW kids are taken care of, like we would our own kids. But, at the same time, I was a little angry at the other organizations that do not adequately care for their children. The GROW kids are very grateful for GROW and so am I.

The evening ended with giving gifts, lighting more lanterns and playing with the kids.

This morning, Sunday, I, Jeana, attended the wedding of my good friend via facetime at 5:20 am for me! I was so happy for the technology to be able to be there from across the world! 

Now we are headed up to Wiang Pa Pao for Christmas with our Grace Place kids in Thialand!