Contributed by Teresa Rischl
The Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles (CARP) recently held its Momentum Leadership Retreat. Since then, most of the participants have started preparing internally for the new school year. We also just finished a monthly national CARP call to connect to True Mother’s words from Madison Square Garden, share updates, and make plans for the future. We, as CARP America, want to work towards the Re-Unification of North and South Korea and create a world of peace. We are developing plans to make this a reality, knowing that where America moves, the world will follow.
Here are a few of CARP members’ testimonies of what they have accomplished in this past week since being back home:
“Coming back from the CARP Momentum workshop, I wanted to keep my spirit up as well as share it to others. Being back home was challenge in itself, but in just four days so much can happen. After I came back home, I went to my college campus to take part in a Divine Principle study with a guest. That definitely rekindled the fire that started within me. My excitement for witnessing grew because I had a deeper understanding of its value. I especially want to help alleviate even a small burden off of True Mother and guide my brothers and sisters to live a fulfilling life.
Futhermore, I took action upon my commitment I made in front of everyone at Momentum to share the blessing by witnessing to two of my friends. It was back-to-back on how everything played out. It was more challenging than just approaching someone at campus. Nonetheless I had a sense of peace because I could trust that God would work through me as the only mediator God has to reach out to my friends who invested so much into me. I am determined to continue trusting that the conditions I make are making a difference for God.”
-Kengo Kawa (Los Angeles)
“I realized that CARP is much bigger than just a chapter, it’s a national and even international community that is really striving for True Parents’ vision of creating world peace and re-unification of North and South Korea. I was able to really understand True Mother’s heart even more after I realized what kind of impact CARP can have not just on a school campus, but on a nation and the world. Hearing from different testimonies about the CARP Trip to Japan and Korea really gave me inspiration and hope to come and join next year. With all of this momentum that I helped create along with so many other leaders during the CARP Momentum workshop, I felt really liberated to be able to share it with the elders and other young people from my community back in NJ.”
-Keisetsu Nakamura (Glen Ridge, NJ)
“On the day of Mother’s speech we we’re lectured by several people, but the one person who really stood out and relieved my pain was Rev. Thompson. The one sentence that really struck me in that moment was when he said, “You should doubt your doubts, and believe your beliefs.” Those words really touched my heart and allowed me to reflect back on my life, imagining what my life would have been like without my faith. Why should I doubt this event when there were so many miracles that already occurred in our movement throughout the many years? From that point on I went on to just smile and believe that not only will the event go well but it will be a huge success that will touch many people’s hearts.”
-Yasuharu To (Glen Ridge, NJ)
“Coming back from CARP Momentum, I felt more determination to go out witnessing on my campus. I also felt a lot of inspiration and support from the rest of the participants of Momentum.
Throughout this whole week, simple practices of daily life of faith habits have been helping me A LOT! I have been reading around 30 minutes of Hoon Dok Hwe (scripture) each morning, followed by a 7-minute prayer, which was then followed by a super quick reflection to get everything down on paper.
I want to determine to reach out to those that I haven’t reached out to for a while. So I want to start off with a goal of having one deep conversation with someone within this next week, with the main goal of listening to them, and if any opportunity is given I will share my blessings/testimony with them.”
-Kyosei Nagai (Los Angeles)
“For the first time in a long time, I came back after the Momentum retreat and woke up the next morning with a strong desire of wanting to read more about True Parents and their vision for the world and for me as an individual. It’s been very empowering.”
-Gabby von Euw (Bay Area)
