I AM ANGRY!

Yesterday my friend came to me and said that last week a gang of men came into the area where she lives and knocked on everyone's door. If they opened the door, they entered and took everything of value. If the door was not opened, they broke in and took everything of value. The neighbourhood was stripped of all money, cell phones, televisions, radios, DVD players, etc. My friend said the only thing valuable that she owned was her phone, and they took that. This is the 4th time this has happened in the almost 3 years that I have known her. They are helpless and hopeless... the police would never come and if they did they might be "paid off" or bribed so that they do not find the perpetrators. The poor keep getting poorer.

My friend lives in a one bedroom house made of mabati (tin) and wooden pieces she has found and places together. She is a single mother with two small children. She works as a house help barely bringing in $30 a month. Where she lives there is no security, they have nothing and yet even that is taken away from them! It makes me so angry!!!!

Ephesian 4:26-27 tells us that in our anger we must not sin. It does not say that we should not be angry. Even the Lord was angry at times. He is angry at our sin and He is angry at the injustices of this world!

David in Psalm 139 states:
19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
20 They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, LORD,
and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

This is righteous anger-- when we are angry at the things that anger God and in our anger we do not sin!

So, yes, I am angry! When I see the immense injustices in this country it makes me want to cry!!!! OH LORD!!!!! HELP US!!!!

How can politicians lead revolts of people killing many, burning houses, destroying lives and yet still run for presidency and they have a following!!!!!???

How can people who have been abused have no where and no one to turn to? They continuously suffer abuse and begin to believe that that is all they are- a victim?!?

How can people pick through huge trash piles on the side of the road to find something that is still edible to be able to survive one more day?

How can graders of national exams not actually look at your exam and assign you some arbitrary grade that will determine where you go to school and what you study and for many how far you go in life?

How can professors of universities take exams to the bar and lose them forcing the students to retake the exams and delay graduation?!??!

How can one teacher teach 60 5 year olds how to read and write and then return to their home where there is no water, no electricity, no food!?!?!?

How can matatu (small public buses) drivers kill small children and bicycle drivers, scratch multiple vehicles and cause 3 hour jams just because of overlapping and the police still do nothing to enforce the laws??!?

How can wonderful people with wonderful potential never get an opportunity to show the world and themselves how gifted they are because of a broken system!?!?!?

How can someone say they are a Christian and then look the other way or even participate in corruption at small local and large governmental levels?!?!?

I am angry!!!!!!

How can people walk on their hands each day due to a disease that has left them crippled and there is no one to help them??!?!

How can men continuously cheat on their wives and bring insecurity, pain and HIV/AIDS into the house and the next day sit in the front row of the church?!?!?!

How can people take from those who have nothing to take and line the pockets of those who already have everything?!?!?

How?!?!??!

Why!??!?!

O Lord, hear our cries!!!!

Psalm 10

1 Why, LORD, do you stand far off?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
2 In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,
who are caught in the schemes he devises.
3 He boasts about the cravings of his heart;
he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.
4 In his pride the wicked man does not seek him;
in all his thoughts there is no room for God.
5 His ways are always prosperous;
your laws are rejected by[b] him;
he sneers at all his enemies.
6 He says to himself, “Nothing will ever shake me.”
He swears, “No one will ever do me harm.”

7 His mouth is full of lies and threats;
trouble and evil are under his tongue.
8 He lies in wait near the villages;
from ambush he murders the innocent.
His eyes watch in secret for his victims;
9 like a lion in cover he lies in wait.
He lies in wait to catch the helpless;
he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.
10 His victims are crushed, they collapse;
they fall under his strength.
11 He says to himself, “God will never notice;
he covers his face and never sees.”

12 Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God.
Do not forget the helpless.
13 Why does the wicked man revile God?
Why does he say to himself,
“He won’t call me to account”?
14 But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted;
you consider their grief and take it in hand.
The victims commit themselves to you;
you are the helper of the fatherless.
15 Break the arm of the wicked man;
call the evildoer to account for his wickedness
that would not otherwise be found out.

16 The LORD is King for ever and ever;
the nations will perish from his land.
17 You, LORD, hear the desire of the afflicted;
you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed,
so that mere earthly mortals
will never again strike terror.

Lord, hear our cries!

Hey you... yea you.. the one who just read this... do you hear the cries? What will you do?

Seein the Light at the End of the Tunnel!

I have learned a lot in my time at NEGST... but I am thankful that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel: GRADUATION! "And then what?" you may ask. Well, I don't completely know. I know that I'd like to stay in Nairobi. I know that I'd like to use my various skills, passions and knowledge and serve this community. As of right now, I am compiling information for my CV and references. Then I will apply to various schools and NGOs. We'll see what happens next!

Getting Serious....

About what?!!?
About everything!!!
Including actually keeping you guys updated on this blog!

A few days ago I had a long difficult discussion with my dad about what the future holds. And at the end of the day, I was exhausted and overwhlemed because I don't really know.

I beleive that God has placed it upon my heart to work in Nairobi doing Sexual Abuse Aftercare and Education. I am toying with the idea of one day opening a center that will counsel, provide basic medical help, possibley one day a safe house, small groups, referals to lawyers, etc, etc, etc. Furthermore, i would like to go to schools, churches, conferences, etc and try to break down the stigma that is still strong about sexual abuse in Africa. Many believe that the victim was also part of the problem. Yes, I am sure that we have all had instances that in hindsight, we know we could have done something different... BUT NO ONE DESERVES OR ASKS TO BE VIOLATED! Some people have lived with the scars from sexual abuse for so long that it has become a part of their identity and I want them to know that there is a safe place, with safe people that they can come to and expereince real healing! Grace, forgiveness, love, hope, beauty- many of these things are lost when someone is violated in such a way and I want to help them regain these things and their identity as a whole and beautiful person!

I am not sure if this is a dream that I will realize in the next year, 5 years, 10 years... but it is a passion and a dream that I would love to accomplish.

I am trying to network and build relationships with others who deal with various aspects of this in Nairobi and throughout the world.

In other news: As many of you know, I had originally come to Kenya to get a MA in Missions (2 yr prog). About half way through my first year, I changed to a three year program (MDiv). Changing to three years has been great, but it did add another year that I am spending and not really making money. (this is the part where I tell you to pray and ask God if you would like to partner with me in finances- if so, please email me- kelly.krammer@gmail.com)

I have, however, been able to start private tutoring in Nairobi. This has been great in that it helps with monthly expenses and I feel like it is a ministry in itself. Most of my clients are Koreans who would like to improve their English in order to be more effective ministers in Kenya!

I also have been teaching on the Book of Acts at a church in Buru Buru. Many youth are being challenged in their thoughts and actions to show love to all.

I have also been painting, reading, working out, learning kiswahili and trying to relax. I have about 6 more weeks before the third year of NEGST begins and I want to maximize the time I have to do (and not do) alot!

Thank you for your continued prayers and support!