oh summertime! It's comin'

 Drew and I had our teens over for a cookout a couple Saturdays ago. It made me so excited for summer nights! We ate yummy burgers, made a fire and ate marshmallows. The girls danced around to YouTube videos, trying and succeeding in making Peyton laugh while the boys attempted to play Frisbee golf.

Hiro was scared of all the craziness and hid under the shed the whole time. We let him since have the kids were scared of him anyway! ;)

We survived!

Thank you for those that prayed for the famine. It went great! We played team building games along with games that caused the teens to become more aware of the hunger around them. They were challenged to go door to door asking for blankets, water, and canned foods for our food pantry. I was so proud of their courage and excited attitudes! They were definitely feeling the hunger on Saturday and were SUPER excited to eat Spaghetti to break the fast!

Equip

 Thanks so much for praying! We had a great weekend with our middle school kids! They had a great time interacting with the other churches and by the end of the weekend had everyone dancing during the worship songs. :) They really bonded and made great friends. Everyone was challenged to share Christ with their friends. They had to write letters to some of them and some of the girls really took it seriously! The played kickball uphill, a ton of team building games, Body Body, and over all had an amazing time!I am so grateful for these girls!

Can I just say I also LOVE the fact the friends we grew up with are also in full-time ministry. How awesome is it to bring our different groups together to worship the same God. I am always so encouraged to catch up with these blessings!

PRAYER

We (Drew and I along with our middle schoolers) are headed to West Virginia today for Equip. It will be a great time to challenge them to reach their unsaved friends along with building the relationships they have at church. 

We have 5 girls going. Please pray for:

1) me since I will be doing any 1 on 1 counseling that might need to be done

2) Drew's (and my) sanity as they are some spunky ones :)

3) their desire for God to strengthen... softened hearts

4) safe travel

5) boldness as they will be writing to letters to unsaved friends back home. My friend Lewis got saved through a similar letter so these can make a huge impact!!

Hungry Haitians

Drew is planning a 30 hour famine for our teenagers February 25-26. We will be eating lunch and then meeting that evening for a lock-in for the teens.  Throughout this time, we will be watching videos, going in the community, and studying/playing games that make us more aware of the seriousness of hunger. Then Saturday evening we will eat a dinner to break the fast. Part of this program includes getting people to sponsor us. All that means is that if you or someone you know has thought about giving to the homeless, but you don't know how, you can give NOW! All of the money that people give to sponsor us, will go straight to feeding the hungry in Haiti for a year. I know I often think about giving to those in need but don't know where to send it. Here is a way to do that!If you are interested you can write a check out to World Vision and mail them to me. Please e-mail me at khunsley09@gmail.com if your interested. (I'm anti put-your-address-out-on-the-world-wide-web.) I see people all around the world get anxious to help others when a disaster strikes. What I don't see is the continuous support of those people after the media stops talking about them. There are many Haitians still in need, and YOU can help! If you can't give, Drew and I covet your prayers as our teens take part in this. 1) we are praying for a good turn out and 2) that everyone's eyes will be open and become a little less selfish as a result. I think we could all use a dose of that. :)

Edge Conference - Oak Island, NC

 Thank you who prayed for our high school kids this past weekend! We had a great time on Oak Island! It was definitely a refreshing time not only for our teenagers, but also for Drew and I!

We were on a gorgeous island!

 A huge thing that Drew and I were challenged by was keeping our hands open for God. So many time we as Christians get caught up in what we are supposed to do. Read the bible, tithe 10 percent, witness, etc... What if God wants us to give 80 percent one week? What if God wants us to spend a day soaking up His word, not just 20 minutes. What if we are called to drop everything, right away, and follow blindly. No matter what the cost. What if God causes hard things to come in our lives. Are we so in love with God that we count those trials as blessings, KNOWING that the Lord gives and the Lord takes away? He has given us everything that we have... to us on this earth but it's not ours. So why do we hold on so tightly?!? Drew and I are trying to open our hands and release all the good and bad things that come our way, KNOWING that everything is from above.

 'Jesus you are the well that WON'T run dry!

 Our teens also took a challenge from Brandon, the speaker. He was talking about marinating in the scripture, soaking in the word of God, not just reading and leaving it. He challenged us to do the 'James Challenge'. The first week we read chapter 1 every day for 7 days. The second week we read chapter 2 every day for 7 days, and so forth. Our kids were so excited about it! I will keep you posted on how it goes!

 Perfect weather, catching up with good friends, walks on the beach, goofing off with teenagers, great messages, challenging worship, talented Christians, tons of memories!

 What a great weekend! I thoroughly enjoyed these friends!

Prayer is Much Appreciated

Drew and I are taking the Senior High kids from our Youth Group (Oakland Baptist Church) to the Edge Conference. We are going to Caswell (technically Oak Island, NC) this morning until Saturday afternoon and are hoping this is a great opportunity for God to encourage/challenge our teens.

Please pray for:

Softened hearts

Safety
Strengthened Relationships 

Services 

Sincerity

We love these kids and deeply desire for them to passionately follow Christ no matter what the cost! So thanks for lifting them up with us!

Date #24 & Youth Christmas Party

We were able to accomplish a couple different things this past week. On Thursday we got out the wrapping paper and settled in with a movie. It is amazing how quickly the night goes when you have 300, 175, no, maybe 30 packages to wrap. It felt like a lot. :) My Saturday was also really productive. I attended my last photography class, took my last English exam, and dropped by Lauren and Steven's all before 11:30. Then my dad stopped by to assess house damage, and Drew and I were able to go out. We ate at Firehouse, went to the post office (closed), Lowes, Cornerstone (a cute store downtown, the whole store is %20 off, and there are some cute Christmas items :) ), and then headed back home to get ready for the youth Christmas party. 

I may be slightly biased, but I do believe the party was a success. We had 17 teens, only missing a few regulars, and having a few visitors. That's pretty good for us! :) We off course played "Dirty Santa" ate an abundance of pizza and cupcakes and Drew and I taught them 4 on a couch. This is a Lakeside game that we haven't taught them due to a low attendance. It might take them a while to get the hang of it. :) Oh, we brought Hiro because he had been outside all day. He didn't move from the above position the entire night. Good dog!

Christ's Passion

I went to Shenandoah Baptist Church's Passion Play Saturday night with our teens from church. I have been in it for years and have seen it probably just as much. Yet this year it challenged me more than probably all other years combined. Once I stopped quoting and singing every word in my head, I really started to dwell on what happened that last week of Christ's life.

Jesus' teachings
1000's of people were there, some curious, some soaking it all in, some questioning, some furious. Most responding in some way to what He was saying. I think I would have been quiet and staring at Jesus; amazed at the fact THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE is HERE, close to me!! teaching ME. I would hope I would be soaking it up... We have a close relationship with Christ to where I can sit at His feet anytime I want to. Have I become desensitized by Him?? Do I truly care and LONG for what I KNOW to be true about Him??

The song 'One Life at a Time'
As I was listening, I was again staring at 'Jesus'. Jesus touches the eyes of this person, He holds the dead boy. He looks at the untouched. Yes, He also fed thousands, but He cares for individuals. He truly touched one life, and then another. Jesus cares for me as Kari, not me as just another christian. THAT amazes me!!

Jesus praying at Gethsemane
He seemed so human. He wanted to save us a different way, but He knew God's will was best even though it was difficult. What was He praying that night? He knew what was going to happen 15 minutes from then. Yes, He showed the perfect example by going to His knees instead of freaking out. He knew God was the best and only way to turn.

Judas seeking His friend Jesus out and betrays Him
This time I found myself staring at Judas as he walked toward Jesus. His nervousness over the crowds of people. He was probably thinking of all the times he had with Jesus. We don't know why Judas did it other that it seemed like selfish greed. We do know that Jesus accepted it, and STILL LOVED JUDAS. He still died on that cross for him!

Jesus beaten
He took it. He watched the scorners, He saw the people that He is dying to save spitting and furious and calling Him names. He took it all in, and still went through with it. What was He thinking? His heart was broken I'm sure of it. How could it not have? He was betrayed. People that loved and following Him for years, betrayed Him. I HATE that we treat Him like that often. :(

Jesus in heaven
HE conquered the grave. My God is a living God. Jesus went through so much torture, so that sinful me could live with Him forever. Crazy.

I know there was more I was thinking about. Those were the highlights. Jesus is so good!! :) Thanks to all the people who were in the play. You truly to make a difference!