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

This side up ^

So I have been so busy going here and there that I have not had the chance to actually look through my pictures for more stories to put on here. I'm not exactly sure if I am coming or going or if I am up or down. BLAAAAH!! IT has been crazy and it will only get crazier. That is for sure.

Umm... let see if I can come up with a quick short story... dum dum dum.... thinking thinking...

I got to ride an Elephant!!! yep yep!!!! Me and Sarah Pudwill were together on Poo Jumbo. Yeah it was pretty AWEsome! We made up a song... wanna hear it? Well technically, you can't hear it, but I will post the words:
Once upon a time in Thailand
I was riding on an elephant, an elephant, and elephant
Once upon a time in Thailand
I was riding on an elephant, an elephant, an elephant
Today.... HEY!!!

Yeah, pretty sweet huh!? Anyways, there was this cool show before the rides that the elephants put on where they played harmonicas, danced, played soccer, lifted heavy things, and even painted!! It was cool! Then we got to go on a half hour ride. yep yep... it was fun!!!


The soccer game... Elephants are really bad at aiming.

My elephant... yep. It was a pretty jolting ride, but it was fun fun fun!!

That are our footses on the elephants head! How cool is that!!!

Our driver man. He sat on the head the whole way. It takes some great balance to ride like that. He didn't speak much English.
So that was the Elephants (or as we call then at the King house Phino)!

Back from the Outside...

I took a trip to the outside world that had... cough, cough... sputter, sputter... dial up. So I did not even try to get on. hehehe... and when I got home, our internet was down cause some wiring got messed up or something like that. So basically I was off the internet for like four days. *GASP* I know!!!

Today I am happy and sad. My friend Amber went home to Hawaii today, but I am talking to my friend from Romania. There is so much to do and a little time to get it done. BLAAAAAH!!! I should get a move on, but I really just want to sit here at my computer. I should work on my presentation for Sunday, but that would require me thinking. :silly *sigh* Today feels like a lazy Spring day. Although I did get up at 6:45am, but that was to take Amber to the airport.

Anyways... that is really all I have to say. I can't come up with a good story from Outreach to share. So here is a list of the cool things I ate while in Asia:
Cow Stomach
Pig Brain
Squid
Goose liver
Fried Cricket (that is the picture in my profile)
A little fried fish from tail to head

Yes, you eat the whole thing... with rice of course.


This is the pig brain. It was... interesting.

Start your engines....

Okay, so that you have the whole overview of outreach...
Place 1: Mianyang City, in the Sichuan Province, Republic of China...

Mianyang (Chinese: 绵阳; pinyin: Míanyáng; Wade-Giles: Mian-yang) is located in the north of Sichuan Province of western China, the second largest city in this province. It covers an area of over 20,000 km² and has a population of 5.2 million, with 600,000 people in the city proper. Mianyang's climate is the damp subtropical and its annual average rainfall is 1100 mm. Its average temperature is 16°C with highest temperature of 39°C in summer and lowest temperature of -5°C in winter. Transportation to and in Mianyang is very convenient; there are highway and railway connections with several of China's major cities. Mianyang Airport has direct flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Kunming.

Mianyang is one of China's major electronic industry cities. Mianyang has many well-known research institutions such as the China Academy of Engineering Physics and China Air Dynamics Research and Development Center. Many large-scale enterprises, such as Changhong Electronics Group Corporation, Jiuzhou Electronics Group, Shuangma Cement Group, and Changcheng Special Steel Company also have their home in Mianyang. There are 6 universities and colleges, as well. Mianyang is well known as a science and technology city.

Mianyang has lovely scenery, a long history, and deep cultural roots. It is the hometown of famous poet Li Bai, with many historical relics of The Three Kingdoms.

Place 2: Sanya City, Hainan Island, Republic of China
Sanya (三亚) is the southernmost city in Hainan province, China and has an estimated population of 150,208 (2006). After Haikou, it is the second most populous city of the island. Sanya is revered for its tropical climate and is a popular tourist destination.

Place 3: Chiang Mai City, Chaing Mai Province, Kingdom of Thailand
Chiang Mai (in Thai เชียงใหม่ (help·info)), also sometimes written as "Chiengmai", is the largest and most culturally significant city in Northern Thailand, and the capital of Chiang Mai Province. It is located at 18°47′20″N, 98°59′00″ECoordinates: 18°47′20″N, 98°59′00″E, some 700 km north of Bangkok, among some of the highest mountains in the country. The city stands on the Ping river, a major tributary of the Chao Phraya river.

In recent years Chiang Mai has become an increasingly modern city, although it lacks the cosmopolitan gloss of Bangkok. It has many attractions for the thousands of foreign visitors who come to the city each year. Chiang Mai's historic strength derived from its important strategic location on an ancient trade route, and long before the modern influx of foreign visitors the city served as an important centre for handcrafted goods, umbrellas, jewellery (particularly silver) and woodcarving.

While officially the city of Chiang Mai only covers most part of the Mueang Chiang Mai district with a population of 150,000, the urban sprawl of the city extends into several neighboring districts. This Chiang Mai Metropolitan Area has a population of nearly 700,000 people, nearly half of the whole Chiang Mai Province.

Place 4: Kampong Spoe City, Kampong Spoe Province, Kingdom of Cambodia
Kompong Speu town, south-central Cambodia. The town lies along the Tnaôt River at the foot of the Dâmrei (“Elephant”) Mountains and astride a national highway linking Phnom Penh, the national capital, with Kâmpóng Saôm, the country's principal seaport. Population: 33,231

The surrounding area supports rice, sugarcane, palm trees, cotton, cassava, and corn (maize); there are also silk spinning, timber trade.

So there you go.... When I talk about a place you can have a small idea of what I am talking about.

Can we scream any louder?

During our trip to the Baima Village in the foothills of the Himalayas (meaning it was freezing to say the least), the team went up to a hill above the village to pray over it. The wind was blowing really hard. We were following what God was telling us to do and one thing He said was do "The Stomp." It is a compilation of a few proclimation verses, stomping, and clapping. Well, we screamed it out over the village. One of the missionaries was down at our guest house becuase her 18 month old was sleeping and she said she could hear us loud and clear. That was with the wind whipping really fast... in the opposite direction of the village. So we were yelling into the wind and she still heard us! Some of the villagers were "whooping" and hollering along with us even though they didn't know what we were saying. After we were done with that, we each (15 of us) picked up a stone and built an altar to God and as each of us placed our stone down we proclaimed a name of God over the Baima people. This time stands out as one of my highlights from the trip.

A few pictures from that trip:


The Baima Village, Mianyang Province, Republic of China


Worshipping from the high place over the village


Proclaiming God's Royalty and Glory over the valley


The altar we set up to remember God in and over that place

HELLOOOO!?!?!?!? Am I out there!?!?!?!?

Kari has returned from her trooping around Asia. She has more stamps in her passport and a great tan, but more important she has a deeper love for God and for His people, she trusts Him with her future, and can't wait for her next adventure with Him.
Over then next little while I will be posting pictures and stories of what God did while I was away. I hope they inspire you to pray for those in the pictures or to go on a missions trip yourself.

May God Bless you!!!!!