What's goin' on?!?

Seriously, how does one update you on her entire life over the past few months in a short enough manner that you will actually enjoy reading this? I have no clue! But here is my attempt!

The term went well, I hope and think... I will recieve my grades shortly... but I am finished with all of my assignments. Some of my favorite assignments were: visiting a mosque and writing about it, writing about my view of Scripture, and going into town and talking to people about Christ. Those were the fun ones, there were 27 others that weren't quite as fun... but my brain is mushing with new info... don't worry?!?!

I have joined a church! Praise God... I thought after Koinonia, nothing would compare! The name is Nairobi Chapel and I enjoy the sermons and worship and although it is big, there are many opportunities to "plug in" and get to know others.

I have also been involved in many different ministries. I have helped out the with children's Bible Club on campus, sung on praise team in chapel, supported a small childrens home in Dagoretti (pic to right... sorry can't make it face the right way, but just crick your neck a little bit!), and will begin helping with the young adult and missions ministries at my church in Jan!

Being the rep for student council was good. I really got to know more about the school and the difficulties and strengths that come in keepin it going, etc. We are really experiencing financial difficulties... but we are in the hands of God.

We have done many surprise birthday parties! Nidah, Bro, Zippy! Those were fun! I have traveled to visit friend's homes! Singles fellowship has been great with our random potlucks, movie and game nights! Traveled with the football team (as the "team doc"). Also, I have been exploring more of the city! I love my new found friends and family here and am grateful for them!

On a sad note, there have been many deaths while I have been here. Most of whom I have known indirectly. But it has been a grave reality here in Africa, much more common and it spares no one- baby, newly wed, parents, friends and elderly. Please pray for my friends who are dealing with such tragedies. And live your life in love and in line with God now because you are not promised tomorrow!

This break I plan on traveling to the coast (Mombasa and Milinde) with my friend, Lorna. And then going to Machakos, Kali and Masii with my friend, Zippy. I am very excited- and need to start taking my malaria meds just in case!

Speaking of meds- I have been sick on and off all term... with diagnosis such as malria, food poisioning, typhoid, amoebia, bacterial infections... not so fun... but I am still alive! Praise God!

I have really appreciated everyone who has emailed, real mailed, facebooked, and skyped me! Although Kenya is great, sometimes being in a familiar culture with familiar faces sounds really good and can get me down... so please do not forget me out here and continue to contact me and pray for me!

Along with praying, i have a few items that would be very helpful in ministry if you might be able to collect and send:
1. soccer balls (you can send them deflated, all sizes)
2. children's books
3. jump ropes
4. any laptop that you might not be using
5. english Bibles
6. children's Gospel/ christian CDs
7. markers, crayons and coloring books

All can be sent to me at:

Kelly Krammer
NEGST
PO Box 24686
Karen 00502
Nairobi, Kenya, Africa

Thank you so much and be blessed!
Also, scroll down for prayer request updates.

Change

Bwana asifiwe! (Praise the Lord!)

I praise God that He has provided for me to come to such an amazing theological school that is equiping and training so many wonderful men and women of God who are truly world changers in the name of Jesus Christ!

***

I know that my God is a provider and so, right now, I am coming to you asking for help.

NEGST, as an institution, is suffering financially right now. I am not saying this to bring shame upon my great school, but rather to get the word out and ask for help. Furthermore, individual students are not being able to pay their school fees and some are going with little or no food for their families. Due to health regulations, we had to remove asbestos from the roofs, which was expensive. Due to the economy, it is hard to find jobs and even harder to find jobs that pay much. And due to the nature of school, it is difficult to have a job while one is studying. Many of our staff are going unpaid as of right now and many of the things we would like to do to further our learning and ministry are not going to be able to happen. This is just a small snapshot of the many problems facing us today.

There are so many wonderful people from all over the world at NEGST who are all here because of their calling by God. We are together in believing that God is good, He is loving, He cares about the needs of His people. I pray that you can find it in your heart to help us.

***

Here are just a few of the names, countries and callings of NEGST students:

Rachel- Malawi- teach adults to read so they may study their Bible

Eve- Kenya- evangelize and mentor young Muslim women

Karen- UK- medical missionary to Gambia- outreach to Muslims

Anson- India- ministry in Trebels

Duressa- Ethiopia- pastor to Ethiopian refugees in Kenya

Bridget- Kenya- mentor and raise up youth to own their faith and live it out

Haruna- Nigeria- Orphanage

Geleti- Ethiopia- preach, teach, pray and study

Aaron- US- Muslim outreach

Fabien- Rwanda- Evangelism

Lusato- Tanzania- equip men and women for missions in TZ

***

If you would like to help in anyway, please contact me at: kelly.krammer@gmail.com and we will figure out the best way for you to be a part of what God is doing at NEGST!

Thank you and God bless!

***

2 Cor 8:2-5

2Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.

1st Month at NEGST

God bless you all!
I am sorry it has been so long since I have written. I have now been at Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology for about a month. It has been absolutely amazing! I am learning so much in classes and in my general interaction with so many people from all over the world.

When I first got to Kenya, I moved into my flat. I was the only one there for a few days, but was blessed to have met my neighbor, Helen, who took me in as her own and showed me the ropes! After a few days, my friend, Rachel, from Malawi, moved in! We began our orientation together and learned everything you would ever want to know about NEGST (www.negst.edu). We also met all of the other first year students from all over the world, Nigeria, Ethopia, India, Tanzania, Rwanda, etc... It was so amzing to see how God brought us all together for His glory- we have many differences but are united in Christ!

The following week, classes started! I am taking Hermenuetics, Early and Medieval Church History, Comparitive Studies of Religion, Post-graduate Research and Writing, and Evangelism. I am learning so much from my professors and classmates. In Hermenuetics I have really had to dive within myself and see how do I view Scripture- what are some of my biases and beliefs when it comes to the Word of God? Church History has been amazing- I am learning so much from the failures and successes of the early church. We are currently learning about Hinduism and Buddhism in my Comparitive Studies of Religion course which is very interesting especially because my professor once was a Korean Buddhist himself and now he is a Christian missionary! Research and Writing is giving me an opportunity to research any aspect of missions that I want to- I think that I will be looking at the effect of service based missions on the community served. And Evangelism class has created great discussion and has challenged me in sharing my faith with others.

Outside of class, I was elected the student council representative for 1st years which is very humbling. I thank God for the position and ask that you pray for me as I represent other students. I have also joined the praise team for chapel which is great, but challenging since I dont know most of the songs. We sing a lot of Christian Contemporary, hymns and songs in Swahili. I have also been teaching the children at Bible Club on Saturdays. And as a teacher, I get frequent visits in my flat from all of the children- I really love it!

I am still praying for and looking for a church in the community where I can worship and be fed and eventually serve at. I have attended many great churches so far and have met many great people at each one.

The first week, I went to church with a friend named Karen. We met up with our friend, Mary, a refugee from Sudan. Mary has an amazing story about the faithfulness of God. (which I might write in a later post) But now, through the grace of God, she is teaching young, single HIV positive mothers how to make paper beads. Through this teaching she is able to share with them Christ and they are able to make a little bit of money to support their children. (if you would like to help support this ministry, the jewelry is fantastic, just email me and we will see what we can do!!!)

God is great how He turns what we may have considered bad luck into a blessing. Last weekend my room flooded- but my friend, Lucy, and I were able to move into family housing which is really nice!

Also this past weekend, I was able to attend AFLEWO (Africa: Let's Worship), an all night praise and worship extravaganza! I felt like I was back home going to a concert with so many young adults! The only thing different was they kept switching back and forth from English to Kiswahili. It amazed me that thousands of people were completely fluent in the same two languages! Crazy! Pray that I learn more Kiswahili!

Well, as hard as it is, that was my attempt to sum up a whole month. But I will leave you with this: a list of things that are different from the US- not better or worse, just noticably different.

1. Matatus- public transportation- they are small 14 passengers vans in which they squeeze about 20 people along with a guy who collects money who just hangs out the door as we speed down the pot-holed roads weaving in and out of traffic.
2. Food- lots and lots of vegetables (bought from the open market) all of which are eaten with chipoti (simular to tortillas, but way better), ugali (simular to nothing... mushy goodness) or rice. Most food is eaten with your hands- dont worry everyone washes their hands before meals. Meat is not the center of every meal... but you can go directly to the slaughter hosue to purchase it (and step in all the blood and... )
3. Showers- there's no hot water, so instead of taking a cold shower, I boil water and put it in a basin and basically give myself a sponge bath.
4. Laundry- done by hand and hung on the line
5. Hand Shake- in the US, I might greet someone that I have never met before with a hand shake or maybe someone who is of great importance. Here, they shake everybody's hands everytime they see them.
6. Mosquito nets- have you ever woken up in the morning forgetting where you are and look around to see that you are entrapped in a large white sheet! Yea, me too... but its good because I hate being bitten by mosquitos, its just funny because you can hear them running into your net all night!
7. Technology- I have no TV, no microwave, no internet in my house... but guess what I am still alive! In fact its great!
8. Language- Mostly everyone here is fluent in 2-3 languages. And even english is a bit different. My friend asked me the other day when my "bathday" is. I responded, "everyday." She said, "Your bathday is everyday?" I said yes. She said, still in disbelief, "You were born everyday?" "Oooo... birthday!!!"

There is so much more, but thats jsut a quick list... and in reality, because of the diversity at NEGST, it is even a different culture within Kenya!

Two days...

God bless you!
I just wanted to let yall know that I will be leaving the US this Wed, Aug 26th. My family and I will leave in the morning to drive up to Chicago. My first flight is out at 6:00pm. I will fly to London that night at which point I will have a 12 hour lay over! Then I will continue my journey to Nairobi, Kenya and arrive there at 6:30 am on Friday August 28th. (Total travel time, STL-NBO: 44 hours!)

Please keep me in your prayers and stay in touch!

Kelly Krammer
Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology (www.negst.edu)
PO Box 24686
Karen 00502
Nairobi, Kenya, Africa

Email: kelly.krammer@gmail.com

Skype: Free online voice and video calling- www.skype.com
search: kelly.krammer

And, yes, i am now on Facebook?!!?

Thank you!

"We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the Gospel of God, but our lives as well because you had become to dear to us" 1 Thess 2:8

Why?

Over the past few months, many people have asked me why I am going to Kenya. And just today I got an email from a friend who lives in Kenya and he reminded me that I had made the mistake that I feel so many do when traveling to other parts of the world. In my last post I talked about the dangers of Kenya but I never talked about the beauty. I talked about the issues the people face but I never talked about the people. So let me take sometime to give you... a different picture:

Why am I going to Kenya? I believe God is sending me there. I believe that the safest and best place to be is in God's will.

Last summer I traveled to Kenya with my parents' church out of St. Louis. While there we helped to build parts of an orphange in a village a few hours outside of Nairobi. We also went to schools and homes to share Christ and His love and hope. One of my favorite moments while in Kenya last time was when one of the women at the orphange build site named Beatrice asked me to go with her to get some water. I said yes, thinking that it might take 30 minutes to an hour... (which would be a lot to go for some water here in the US, huh?!?). We picked up two empty 20 gallon yellow jugs and began our journey. We walked up hill for about an hour an a half. Despite the fact that we did not speak the same language, Beatrice and I had some great conversations. The whole way up, she would point at something and tell me how to say it in Kikamba (her language) and then I would teach her how to say it in English. We would laugh at eachothers' failed attempts to say the words and communicate in hand signals. We finally reached a small little spring like thing. Beatrice took the yellow jug from me and place it under the spring. She took my hand and pulled me close wanting me to take over holding the jug. So I did. As I watched the water fill, thinking about how heavy this would be, I looked around for Beatrice and she was no where to be found! I started to panic slightly and tried to think if I knew my way back, just in case. And then she appeared from the middle of these tall pole looking plants. She had two of them in her hand. She looked at me, laughed and rushed over when she saw that the water was overflowing from the jug. She pulled it out from under the spring, used some parts of the plants to tie a peice of a black garbage bag to the hole on the top and then took homemade rope and tied it around the handle. She placed the other jug under the water and handed me one of the poles, showing me what I should do with it by biting off a huge section. So I followed... it was sugar cane!!! When she finished filling and preparing the second jug, we began our decent back to the build site. We placed the rope on our foreheads and the jugs on our spines. She walked so gracefully. I, on the other hand, spent much time trying to pull the rope off my forehead with my hands and readjusting the jug that seemed to hit my backbone in perfect ways to make me wanna scream. We veered off the road to the left, taking a short cut and Beatrice looked at me with her hand out. She wanted me to give her my jug. I said I would be fine, but she would not let me walk down this extremely uneven and dangerous terrain. So I handed the jug to her. Beatrice was about half my size in hieght and wieght (which is not too hard seeing that I am not the tiniest thing), she had no shoes on and a skirt. And I watched as she walked down perfectly without slipping, sliding or falling. After she had gone quite a few feet, I began to walk with my athletic self, shoes and pants... and my first step I slid and Beatrice, although she could not see me, knew what had happened and gave one of those, "see" laughs. We got back to the road and she handed me the second jug and we finished walking back to the site. Round trip, it took us a little over three hours to fetch water. Beatrice smiled and gave me a hug. And I hugged her back knowing that she could have taken any of the other Kenyan women with her and been back her in half the time, but she chose me. It was amazing to me how much we take for granted transportation, water in the fridge, language, wheels, etc, etc, etc. Beatrice and the other women wake up early every morning to get water from the spring to be able to cook for their families. It was an amazing experience with an amazing person.

Also while in Kenya, I was given the opportunity to preach at a church. When I first showed up, the pastor and his wife invited me and my family into a small room in the back of teh church. We sat down and he handed me a soda (shows great hospitality) and we began to talk about ourselves, our churches, and what would be happening that day. His wife would be my translator. So he warned me that I would only be able to say a sentence at a time and then I would need to wait while she interpretted. So thats what I did. The Lord had given me a sermon about how we are all the same in God's eyes. There is no difference between the way God sees, loves, and treats us because of who we are or what we look like. I had asked my Kenyan friend, Alex, to make sure that the sermon was true to who I am, but could reach the Kenyan people. I did not want to speak about things that they might not understand or relate with. The sanctuary was a small (I am not good estimating size, but I would say) 15 ft x 15 ft room with dirt floors. People were packed from wall to wall and out into the street. They held onto every last word that I (well, the translator) said. Many eyes filled with tears and when it was time for the alter call, one 15 year old boy came forward. It was amazing. They took up an offering. At which time people brought up eggs, chicken, coffee beans and placed them on the table next to the offering basket. That was their tithes and offering, it was all they had. And as a percentage, I am sure they gave more than required of them. After the service the women came up and place their hands on my head. I was informed they wanted some of my "annointing." Later on that week, I saw the pastor and his wife. They called me over and the wife ran to get something from inside the church. As she left, the pastor spoke to me about how I was meant to be in Kenya and how God has some mighty plans to use me there. He said, "You must return." I could not give him my word, but I said, "I will try." And at that moment I knew I had to do more than just try. His wife came back carrying a bag. She handed it to me and I opened it up and inside was a beautiful purse. She said to me that all the women in the church gave some money to buy it for me (I began to cry, so humbled). It was a Bible bag. Respected women of God place their Bible in the bag and nothing else... it is meant only for your Bible. I was so humbled that the women who gave eggs and chicken for an offering would spare what little they had to get me a Bible bag.

These are just two of many stories of the wonderful hearts of the people in Kenya.

Before we boarded the bus to leave to go back to Nairobi, I wrote in the sand, "My heart is here." And that is where, atleast part of it, has stayed. I am returning to reunite the parts of my heart. I am returning to be amongst some of the most wonderful and giving people I have ever met. I am also returning to bring hope, love, Jesus Christ, to many people who do endure trials and tribulations beyond what I can imagine. I am returning to fufill God's calling for my life at this moment in time. I am returning not because I am strong, bold, couragous, perfect (because I am not and never will be any of those), but rather because I want to glorify and honor my God, the one and only God, who has called me there and will see me through.

The Bigger Picture

...that was the name of the sermon God spoke through me on July 19th. I praise God for those of you who came to support me. I pray you left encouraged and changed! For those of you who weren't able to make it... you can contact my church (http://www.koinoniabc.org) and get a CD ($5) or you can read some of the main points here, although it won't be the same!
*****
Daniel 3:13-15 (yea... go get your Bible!)

Background:

King Nebuchadnezzar was having dreams. He wanted someone to not only interpret teh dream, but also tell him what his dream was. No wise man in Babylon could do that, so he was gonna have them all killed. But God revealed the dream and its interpretation to Daniel who went to the king. Basically it was a dream about this big statue made of different materials... the head was made of gold and represented King Neb who was the first great king on earth. This gave King Neb literally a big head! He erected an image of gold and proclaimed that everyone needed to fall down and worship the image of gold when they heard the music and whoever did not would be thrown into a blazing furnace.

Picture this:

You come into work at 8:17 (supposed to be there at 8:00... but come on, thats on time!) There is a huge crowd of people and your boss is standing on a platform in front of them all with a... something covered in a large cloth. Your boss calms the crowd and rips of the cloth unveiling a large statue of... himself... and informs everyone that "if yall want to keep your jobs, when I click play on my ipod, yall must bow down and worship this statue." Your first thought is, "Bow down and worship what?" But then you start thinking- 'things are pretty tight right now... if I lose this job, in today's economy, I surely wont find another one... what about the house, the children, food, the cable, internet... God, you want me to be a provider...' You default to the whole "God knows my heart..." I will bow on the outside, but on the inside, I still love you Lord. No- your outward actions whould reflect your inner thoughts, beliefs and convictions!

So- that might not happen... but there are many things of this world that are constantly tempting us to bow down and worship them. What am I talking about? There are things that we place more value or trust in than God... that might be ourselves, our education, another person (husband, wife, mom, pastor...), money, cars, houses...


Daniel 3:16-18

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow to the image of gold. They had followed the rules until they came into direct conflict with the commands of the Lord: no other gods before Him and do not make idols. In this case, in order to gain the favor of the king, they would have to disobey and dishonor God.

We have many decisions in our day to day life where we have to choose between the world and God- we cannot please both. What holds you back from obeying God? Why do we fear what people will do or think of us more than we fear what God will do or think of us?


Bottom issue: TRUST

We don't follow what He says for us to do or not do becasue we don't trust that He has a bigger, better plan.

The 3 Hebrew boys would not disobey God whether He rescud them from the fire or not... their faith was not dependant on he end result, but rather on the God who knows the plan...

Illustration:
I like to draw and while I was writing this sermon God placed a picture on my heart and told me to draw it. I was like, "No, God, I am writing a sermon." (Seriously, Kelly?!?) So I picked up the marker and started drawing in an artform called pointillism. This is were a whole bunch of little dots come together to create a picture:
If you look at just a small, zoomed in portion of the picture, you will only see dots. It doesnt make much sense and you cant tell what the bigger picture is. That is just like our lives. I am one dot, you are one dot, I can see past and present dots, my financial dot, my mom, my dad... the things and parts of our lives that we see- that seemingly dont fit together and can be chaotic at times. When I focus on my dots, I cant see past them.

But we must trust that what the Word says is true: All things... all the dots in our lives... work together for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to His purposes... and praise God- He can see the big picture!

All those dots come together and make sense. God had a plan... a way to redeem us since the beginning of time and His name is Jesus: All of our dots work into that plan! We can't always see the bigger picture, but God works so intricatley in wach and every moent of our lives... He has His hand in every dot!

My past dot:

When I look at this picture, I see one of my dots somewhere along the blood dripping liek a tear from Jesus' eye. There was a time in my life where I could not see God in anything- a time when I believed that suicide was the only way out, a time of isolation and depression. I would dream of ways of killing myself, like 'accidentally' driving off the side of the road in the rain. I could have felt alone in a room filled with people. But I praise God for that dot! I praise God for bringing me through it! I praise Him for allowing me to still be here today to be a testimony of what God can do! God spared me death- that I might be here today to speak to (write to) one of you... God spared me death so that I can continually walk in His ways wach day and shine for Him... God spared me death that I may step into my calling as a missionary...

Kenya:

If you are reading this blog, you probably know I am moving to Kenya. What you might not know is that I will be leaving everyone and everything that I know: my family, my church, my job, language, culture, home... to be obedient to God. And in this obedience I will be entering into a land full of war, AIDS, famine, drought, hopelessness... I will be living in a city with some of the highest rates of rape, murder and violent theft in the world.

I have trust in God... He has already shown Himself fatihful because of how He delivered me from my dot of depression...

Get back to the text: The 3 Hebrew boys were thrown into the furnace...

Daniel 3:25 (read it- its great!)

King Nebuchandezer called them out of the furnace and there was not a mark signifying that they had been in the fire... nothing on their skin or clothes.

He showed Himself faithful by rescuing the 3 Hebrew boys from their dot of a fiery furnace! But He didnt just rescue them out of the furnace- He was in there with them! (thats your shouting cue!!!)

We must trust that even if we are facing a fiery furnace, when things dont look promising- God has a bigger, better plan! He knows the bigger picture! No matter what the outcome, I will not bow to any other god! I will not disobey or dishonor Him!

All of my dots and all of your dots are there... in that picture... they are working together for your good, ye who loves the Lord!

Don't let the dots you see control your faith in an all powerful, all knowing God- who loves you and cares for you so much that He sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to die so you may live!

This is the Word of God for the people of God... hear it and do it!

Youth Mission Trip

At the beginning of July, Pastor Corey and I took 9 youth from Koinonia to the Navajo Reservation on a mission trip through YouthWorks! I know its taken a while to blog on this experience because life has been (and still is) crazy! But I did want to just give some highlights! We went for an entire week and stayed at a mission at which we slept on air mattresses and shared 2 bathrooms for 40 girls(there were a few other church youth groups there too)! This was a humbling learning experience for most of our youth in its self. We split into crews and did two days at Kids Club- providing attention and structure to the children's lives. We played games, gave piggy back rides, did memory verses, sung songs about Christ, performed skits, made crafts, read books and in general, just loved on the children! We spent the other two days painting houses... this is important because paint helps seal the houses but it also allows the residents to have pride in the place in which they live and gives us an opening to be able to share with them the love and hope of Christ. We painted Grandma Rabbit's house (they call her this because she has all gray hair except on the sides, its bright white and looks like rabbit ears). It was great to get to know and serve her and her family. During the evenings we had time to learn about the Navajo culture by story tellers and dancers and also time for worship and reflection. During one of the "church group" times (time where you meet with just the people from your church) we talked about what Christ is saying to you, personally, today. It was an amazing night! The youth were challenged to change and to be bold and to step into their callings. They were challenged to TRUST God with everything- their past, present and future. They knew that they had to start or stop doing things in their daily life and in doing that, they might lose friends but they had to trust that God has a bigger and better plan for them even when it doesn't feel like it at the moment. They had to let go of some FEAR that had bound them. It was so amazing to see youth call out to God in such a fervent way and I pray that their fire, their passion does not die, but rather grows. I pray that they will always remember the mission trip and how it felt to serve and to really seek Christ! Thank you to all those who supported in prayers and money... the youth of Koinonia and the people of the Navajo Nation will be forever changed!

Invited...

I have begun this blog about ten times and erased it because no words can describe how humbled and loved and honored and special I feel when I think of what the Lord has done for me... where I have come from and where He is taking me(tears). I could go on forever about how great God is and how I have seen His power in my life- but thats not why I am writing today.... I am writing because I want to invite you to a very special occasion (well, its special to me). Recently, by the grace of God, I have graduated from Koinonia Church Minister Training Class. Now, each week my pastor is taking me under his wing and discipling me to be a more effective minister of the Gospel- allowing me to write sermons and minister to him. All this to say, on July 19th, I have been given the great honor and responsiblity to preach at my church for the first time. It will also be my last Sunday at Koinonia Church before I head off to St. Louis and then finally land in Kenya for the next two years. So here are the details:

***

Kelly's first sermon at Koinonia

&

Last Sunday at Koinonia

July 19th

10:45 service

Koinonia Church

1151 Mansfield Webb Road

Arlington, TX 76002

***

Please keep me in your prayers. It is a great responsibility to preach- and I only want to say what God would have me to say. I pray that I am able to be diligent in my studies and prayers. I pray that everyone that comes whether they come to support me or to hear the word- leaves changed by the presence of God. Thank you and be blessed!

Shine

Have you ever had one of those nights where you know you are tired, you know you would really like to sleep, but God had something else in store? Thats been tonight. I have been waking up to pray for others, waking up to write down some sermon notes/ideas, and this last time I was woke up to pray for Kenya... and God placed this on my heart to share with yall.
*****
I had someone the other day ask me why I was going to Kenya when there are people right here who do not know Christ and who could use my help physically, spiritually and mentally and all I could say was because God has called me there (the only reason I believe I should go). I believe that God has called certain people to certain places because it is through those people that He will speak and show people mercy, grace, love, faithfulness... etc. Sometimes the fact that the people He sends look different, talk different, are different than the people He sends them to is on purpose because some people would not listen or recieve otherwise. Maybe God wants to break down some of those stereotypes and generalizations of who Americans are to Africans and who Africans are to Americans because in the body of Christ- we are all His children, we are all ONE in Christ, we are all the body of Christ- regardless of our skin tone, our background, our economic status, our nation. I know I am called to Kenya and although I also know that if I was disobedient or not willing, God could use someone else, I believe that it is such a responsibility, an honor, and a privlege to be His instrument, His vessel proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ and shining His love through service to the people of Kenya.
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Matthew 5:16 reads, "let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." I do not take my calling lightly. Every word that comes out of my mouth, every action that I do or do not do is important... my pastor always says that as Christians, "we should invite people to look at our lives." One of Kirk Franklin's songs talks about how we might be the only Jesus that someone sees. We are not perfect, but even in our imperfections, God can and should get the glory. Often times as Christians and especially as ministers we might feel like our lives are under a microscope, that people examine every little thing we do and say... and I am thankful for that because it keeps us honest and accountable.
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People keep asking me, "Are you ready for Kenya?" And my response usually goes a little something like this, "Well, I am ready for tomorrow and tomorrow I will be ready for the next day and so on until it is the day that I am to go to Kenya- and then I believe God will have prepared me and I will be as ready as I will ever be!"
I have the plane ticket, visa, and passport. I have applied for housing and Kenya pupil pass. I have paid half of my first semester's tuition. I am slowly giving away many of my material possesions. I am raising money through earring sales and donations. But more importantly, right now, God is really preparing me spiritually. He has hooked me up with my first ever prayer partner, who I am grateful for! I just finished a 3 week fast and- whoa! God really spoke to me during that time and molded and shaped me! I praise God for my pastor who has taken me under his wings and is allowing me to write and give a sermon each week for him so that I can grow into a more effective minister of the Gospel. I am thankful for all the saints He has placed me around who are praying for me and loving on me. I humbled by the fact that God loves me and cares about me so much that each of you are in my life!
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Please just keep me in your prayers that I will do God's will above all else and in the face of any percecution, trail and discomfort. Pray that I may share both the Gospel and my life with those in Kenya and all over the world (1 Thess 2:8). I am praying for you- and if you need anything or have any specific prayer requests, please let me know- I am here for you because I love you- and I am not just saying that, I really do love each one of you who are reading this- because God loved me first, it is only right that I reflect that love to you! Be blessed!

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This pic was taken last summer in Kenya while on a house visit with some of the most vibrant and resilient children I have ever met!

Not gone yet!!!

It is the day before easter Sunday- a day that we set aside to celebrate the fact that God sent His only son- Jesus Christ to the Earth to live a perfect life so that He could fufill the law. He was sacrificed as a holy and perfect lamb on the cross for our sins, as us! But He did not stay dead!!! He is all powerful! He is AWESOME! On the 3rd day- HE ROSE!!! Praise God! Thank you God for Your grace!
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I just finished peeling about 75 potatoes to make some yummy smashed potatoes for tomorrow's Easter lunch! And I thought I would sit down while they were boiling to let yall know whats going on right now in preparation for Africa... because I am not gone yet!
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I have been spending a lot of time getting my documentation stuff together: Kenyan Pupil Pass, Student Visa, passport, etc. I am also in need of raising about $10,000 more dollars. So I have been making earrings and scarfs and selling them (if you would like to purchase a pair- email me, they run from $10-$18, and you can request what you would like!) and been collecting from donations from my first support letter (thank you to those who have already donated... and to those who haven't- its not too late!)
Furthermore, I have been learning a little bit of Swahili and reading up on the culture and some of the needs and issues that are prevelant in Kenya. (Right now be praying because there is a drought and therefore a lot of hunger and hopelessness.) I am also in the process of giving away a lot of my stuff... I will only be able to take two suitcases and a carry on with me... so I wont need a lot of my stuff (if you know anyone who is in need of anything- email me!)
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Although preparation for Kenya takes up a lot of my time, thoughts and prayers... I still have a life here in Texas! I pray that God uses me where I am at and that I am never too future minded that I miss this period of my life- I know that I am here for a reason, season and purpose! I am involved at my church: Koinonia Church in Arlington. I love my church family! I am taking 11 youth to the Navajo reservation this summer for a mission trip... that takes a lot of planning (if you have ever planned a trip like that for youth- thank you, you are wonderful... it is hard!) I also just took my final exam to become a minister at the church- praise God! I think I did well! I also get to lead worship for the chidren each Sunday- they love the guitar (a little too much- sometimes I cant get them to stop trying to touch it in order to lead the songs!) O yea- I do have a job! I work at REACH Council doing drug and alcohol prevention in the schools. It is a great job and I love the children and youth that I work with! I also have picked up boxing at Eagle's Boxing Gym in Waxahachie- its a Christian boxing gym- pretty much rocks! Thats not it- but I wont bore yall with anymore! Well, keep me in your prayers and stay in touch- dont forget to sign up for Skype and look me up! Love yall and take a minute to thank God for all He has done in your life!!! He is AWESOME! Be blessed!

Video Call Me!

I now have a FREE Skype account.
If you go to www.skype.com and sign up for your FREE Skype account, you will be able to talk, instant message and video call me while I am in Kenya any time for FREE!
When you set up your account search for me to be your friend. To search you can use my account name: kelly.krammer; my email address: kelly.krammer@gmail.com; or my full name: Kelly Krammer (pretty easy!)
This will be the easiest and least expensive (did I say its FREE?!?) way to contact me!
Do it... NOW!!! :)

Support Letter

Have you ever felt like your life was in fast forward? That is how the last ten months have felt for me. I graduated from Texas Christian University in May 2008 with my degree in Social Work and Spanish. Soon after, I was hired as a Drug and Alcohol Prevention Specialist at REACH Council. A month later, I traveled to Kali, Kenya to help build an orphanage for children who lost their parents due to the AIDS epidemic. A month after that, I began to serve as the Children’s Director at Koinonia Church. As the months flew by, I found myself applying to graduate school, taking a Minister Training Class, trying to box, studying Swahili, leading a Youth Mission trip to a Navajo Reservation…
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In August of 2009, I will begin a new chapter of my life. I will attend Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology in Nairobi, Kenya.

“God has placed NEGST in the heart of Africa to lift up the cross of Christ and seek to provide transformation through godly leadership.” http://www.negst.edu/

In two years, by the grace and strength of God, I will have my Master of Arts in Mission Studies.

“The programme is designed to equip Christian men and women for a local and global missionary task in evangelism, church planting, disciple making and social service.” http://www.negst.edu/

While at NEGST, I will learn more about Christ and be able to effectively proclaim His Gospel. I will learn about, develop and express respect for the African people and their culture. Furthermore, I will be able to formulate Biblical values for the economic development and social progress of Africa while building networks of understanding and partnership between churches and nations. And finally, God will stretch and grow me to be a woman of godly character, loving and serving people all around the world.

How can you help? I am glad you asked! This journey is not about Kelly Krammer, but rather about Christ and what He has planned not only for me, but also for the people of Kenya and… for you!!!

First and foremost: I need prayer! I will have a continual prayer list on the bottom of my blog at http://www.kellynkenya.blogspot.com/.

Secondly, as a student at NEGST and a missionary in Africa, I am required to save and raise enough money to be able live for two full years. With expenses for school, transportation, housing, food, insurance and other basics, I need to have about $27,000 before I leave. Please pray about it and if God moves upon your heart to give to this mission, I would greatly appreciate your gift- large or small. If you would like to make a donation, please email me at kelly.krammer @gmail.com and we will discuss how you might be able to do so!

“We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the Gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.” 1 Thessalonians 2:8

Thank you in advance for your support and be blessed,

Kelly Krammer
kelly.krammer@gmail.com
http://www.kellynkenya.blogspot.com/