Panoply - a full suit of armor

Some interesting things to think about:
-I think a lot of people look at me and say that I'm weird. But what I've noticed - and this used to worry me a lot when I was little - is that I don't know one normal person. I've never met one, actually. We all have our special, odd little things, and we should be proud of that.
-Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today
-The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.
-To reject risk is to reject life.
-Just go in there and remember - you're fantastic.

Okay, so you are thinking... well, maybe. So these things you did on Outreach are cool, but what did God do in you? What did you learn? Well, let me tell you! The biggest thing he taught me is...

TRUST HIM IN EVERYTHING!!!!

During the entire outreach, God was teaching me to trust Him in every aspect of my life. When I left to home for outreach, there were things I had to leave undone because of time. I didn’t know when I was moving to Portland, I did not get to finish filling out my application to Evergreen State, and there were several things I was leaving behind. God was asking if I trusted Him enough to bring it all back together and take care of all the unknowns. Everyday it was a continual process of crying out to Him and letting go of all my fears. I had to pry my fingers off of controlling the steering wheel and allow God to take over. The last Sunday of outreach, February 25th, during worship I declared that I trusted God to have COMPLETE control of my future. I felt such a wonderful feeling of freedom after that and during our performance at the church I had so much fun dancing under the new freedom I had found. It will still be a continual process of everyday trusting God, but I know that He is definitely big enough.

I have been changing lives, history and making war in the heavenly realm from Mianyang, China to Kampong Spoe, Cambodia. DUN, DUN, DUN!!! WOOP WOOP!!

One Sunday, in Cambodia, we felt like God was telling us to share personal testimonies or words God gave us then close with “Redeemer.” When I was praying about what to share on, God told me what the topic was: Love one another. Which is something that God was continually telling the team over and over. Every place we went, someone had a message that said, “They will know Jesus by how you love one another.” So it was a familiar topic to us, but to me it was kinda getting old. But God gave me a few verses (9 passages to be exact) and things to say, I was really nervous about speaking in front of the children and staff at the Centre, but God came through and gave me the words to say. The leader, Solvan, was really agreeing with what I had to say. Some, or most, of the children don’t treat each other very nice. They call each other names and hit each other. So even though it was a topic we as a team had heard over and over, I was able (with God’s wonderful help) to bring it to the people He wanted to hear it.

So yes... I spoke in front of 130+ people (most under the age of 20). Can you believe that!?!? If you would have asked me that like 6 months ago... uh uh... no way... and it would definitely have to be a direct word from the Lord to do it again. But yeah... there you go!!!

Me with the city of Mianyang in the background.

This was at one of our favorite restaurants in Mianyang. We were talking to and entertaining some little children that were hanging around staring at us because we were foreigners. It's crazy... over there, we were like movie stars. Everyone stared, pointed, laughed, and if we stood still long enough, a crowd would start to gather. It was funny!

That thing was HUGE!!!! It is called (of course), the Iron Ox. Go figure.

Ramdom Rambling: If I were ever to get a tattoo (not saying I am getting one, so breathe. ) I would want something totally unique. Something that no one else has or will ever have. I would want something that would be me as well. Like for example, when I go shopping with a friend and I see an article of clothing I like, I most often hear from the friend, "That is SO Kari!" And rightly so, because I like it. That is how I would want my tattoo to be. When people see it, I want them to think, "That is so Kari!" So, of course, there would be SOMEthing purple on it.

PS- Does anyone read this anymore? If so, could you please comment so I know to keep posting here. :P It gets a little discouraging when there are not comments on the things God is doing. Thanks, Mangement