After the Garden: CARP Takes Substantial Steps for Peace

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)

“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)