International Graduate Student Ministry – Gracepoint Berkeley
love locally, impact globally
For most of June, Eliah and I went to Thailand with around 20 other people from Gracepoint Fellowship Church. The team, led by Pastor William Kang, of the Acts2 Fellowship Group, visited Bangkok and Changmai in the northern part of Thailand. We participated in touristy activities like riding elephants, touring temples and ancient ruins, and eating authentic Thai food. Real Thai food was much more spicy than I expected. Sorry to write about this after talking about food, but while riding the elephants, they would stop as they were walking and go to the bathroom. I was really praying that the elephant would not slip and cause us to fall into the mud.
We also were able to talk with people from all walks of life: elementary school students, elderly people that lived with leprosy all of their lives, university school students, villagers, and church members. It was a moving experience to praise God with the Thai churches, singing in both Thai and English. It made me realize that God is present all over the world and that our different cultures could be bridged by our common faith in and love for God.
International Graduate Student Ministry (IGSM) is an official graduate student group at UC Berkeley. IGSM started in the fall of 2003 with the vision to help all UC Berkeley graduate students from various countries (including students from the United States) find out the true meaning and purpose of their lives through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Many of us also attend Gracepoint Berkeley, where Pastor Ed and Kelly Kang lead the ministry.
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May, thanks for letting us know about your experience in Thailand. Even though it was only two short weeks, you saw a lot of things. The visit to the elderly with leprosy must be very impacting to you and to the elderly.
Arggh, I cannot get the picture to go in right. Hopefully I can get it next time.
Praying with the elderly with leprosy was a very moving experience. They were the most thankful and joyous people that we met. They tried to follow our motions to “Your Love is Deep” even with their aged and leprosy impacted hands. We learned that our program was during their meal and part of their sleeping time, so they sacrificed to attend the program.
I just fixed your picture. It looks really good!
It sounds like it was a great trip!
Wow, is that a castle of gold behind you? And what is that big umbrella on the left used for? Please forgive my ignorant American perspectives!
Hi, i just added another picture of the team. I found it on Pastor William’s blog. To misterpanda, it is a golden alter. We had to take our shoes off to go into that area. I am not sure about the big umbrella, but it reminds me of ones that kings might put on their seat while riding an elephant.
thanks may for keeping us updated. like the new picture.