Our Missions Honeymoon Adventure in Zambia

 

"Sunbow" God's Special Blessing

 





Our Missions Honeymoon  Adventure in Zambia!

Go God Go!

Thank you for your many prayers as Karen and I begin our Journey together in Faith sharing Jesus with all we meet.



What an awesome God we serve! Our time in Zambia was filled with so many Godincidences and blessing beyond measure. The Sunbow pictured above appeared on our first Saturday there; just before a weekend visit from friends from a local church in Lusaka that came to camp out with us. What a great picture of our Lord's majesty and grace.

The weather was HOT, many days surpassing 100 degrees but it did cool down in the evenings for the most part and we did have a small fan to help circulate the air; at least during the times when we had electricity.

Karen and I arrived on Tuesday the 12th of October as the children all gathered and sang to us, welcoming us to their home. Many tears flowed as our hearts were just about to burst with the joy of being with our children.

Our days were busy and filled with joy as we got up a little before 6 every morning, joining the children in singing and prayer then walking with them up to the school where we  helped sort books, crafts, supplies and etc. for the school and sort books for the book store that had recently opened. While we were there a lady bought almost 800 books form the store! Best sellers are Bibles and Christian books.
In the afternoons, Karen taught cross stitching to the children and sewing. The older girls each picked out material to make jumpers  and Karen taught them how to follow a pattern while I took pictures and showed slide shows of pics taken the day before on the porch for all to see.




Our Delaware Cargo Container!

 The cargo container that our children had prayed full  last June was there on site but we never did any work on it as we had so much to do.  While the container was on site and in good shape, it still had a government seal and had not "officially" cleared customs yet. But Praise God, it is there! Filled with over 5,000 books, 7,500 articles of clothing, 300+ pairs of shoes, and so much more! Thank you Jesus for bringing it safely to our dear friends at the Village. Lord, use the contents to help "give a cold cup of water" to those so desperately in need and to help provide needed funding to feed and minister to our children there.

Time at the school with the children was just as special as it could ever get. Having Matilda bring out her football for a catch, seeing the children all wearing their backpacks we had done with them in July to carry homework back and forth was as special as it gets.

We helped the Hamelyrcks and our children from the Village of Hope at the community center with a special Hope Club Gospel Presentation and Gospel Airplane craft by Karen that around 130 children from Green Farm came to. What a blessing as after the lesson many raised their hands to thank us for sharing Jesus with them. Thank you Jesus for all you are doing; continue to open eyes and give us many more opportunities to share your love here. Keep us focused on what is truly important and not on the things of this world.

 The one worship service we attended at Hope Church, our first as husband and wife, was a joint service with our good friends from the Lusaka Church with our good friend Pastor Zulu preaching and, of course, our children leading worship. We could just feel the presence of the Lord as we stood and sang praises to our Lord. We even met Matilda's younger sister who came for the very first time!

 There is so much more we could share, it was as blessed and special a trip as we could have ever dreamed of. Karen shared on the way home that she couldn't dream of a better way to start our marriage than to go and minister with our dear friends at the Village of Hope in Zambia

.

 Thank you again for all your many and continued fervent prayer as Karen and I go forward in faith, looking to Jesus and excited to see where He leads us next as we seek to share His love with children and teens here in the States and throughout the world.

Until Every Child Knows,

Big Jim and Karen

Matt. 19:14

James 1:27

Wedding and Missions Honeymoon Godincidences!

Greetings Saints!!!

Thursday night was our wedding rehearsal and in less than 24 hours Karen and I would be exchanging vows of Holy Matrimony. WOW! Utterly amazing! Thank you Jesus.

As the time grows near for our Wedding and Missions Honeymoon Trip to our Village of Hope in Zambia, we just wanted to take this opportunity to share just a few of the things the Lord has been doing as we prepare for this Great and Exciting Adventure looking to Jesus as He directs our paths.

Let's start with some of the special Godincidences in putting together our Wedding. The other day while listening to Kay Warren singing "How Beautiful" I was praying, Lord this needs to be in the service but it just didn't fit. Then our pianist, Stephanie Merkel called and asked if we had considered the idea of Karen coming down the aisle to Kay singing? Yes, that's it! Thank you Jesus!! Steph you are just awesome! There is no better song to walk down the aisle to than Kay singing "How Beautiful".

Kay is one of my heroes, during her short time her on earth she was determined to shine brightly for Jesus. Today, Kay's Kamp's, the first ever oncology camp for children was held in Delaware. You can go to http://kewf.org/kay.htm to read more about this precious young lady and hero of the faith. FYI, I am the self-appointed international rep for Kay's Kamps.

You can also listen to Kay sing How Beautiful and to our opening hymn In Christ Alone as you watch this very special video of our recent visit to the Village of Hope; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VBz2aGHfJ4&feature=player_embedded

God has worked it out as only He can, so that Justine Lampkins will be singing a special wedding song and the Praise Dancers from Mt Zion will also be doing a special number both written by Justine's brother Phil Nicholas as Pastors Bill, Bob and Ralph lead us through the ceremony and to make it extra special, three of our special teens will be leading worship; Stephanie Merkel will be playing the piano for us and Mike Metzing and Steph Merkel will be singing Friends with Rachel playing the piano. All three have been to Appalachia with us and Steph has also be to India. We are so blessed to have them in our wedding.

God has done so many neat things but let's move onto our Missions Honeymoon to Zambia.

The cargo container has arrived!!!! We had prayed it would get there when the team did, little did we know at that time there would be a second team! Karen and I will have the Holy Privilege of opening it and starting the fun part of distributing the precious love gifts inside as we sort through our "Totes of Love". Thank you Jesus.

Our bags are packed jammed with supplies and all kinds of special items needed for ministry there including some special cross stitch items that Karen will be using to teach our kids how to cross stitch and patterns and etc for the House Mothers to make jumpers with for the girls. And special gifts for the house moms and Aunties from Karen.

We also plan to visit the Hamelyrcks in Kabwe while we are there to check out the new ministry the Lord has directed them to with the strong focus on handicapped children and orphans.

Just found out October is an anniversary month for our Village of Hope,


Village of Hope it would be October.

• It was in October that 5 years ago Benedict and Kamau made their first trip to Zambia, and during that visit met Pastor Emmanuel.

• It was in October 4 years ago that the Kamau family moved to Zambia. The first houses were being built.

• It was in October 3 years ago that our first children arrived; Adam, Moses, Brighton, Isaac, and John.

This October Karen and I will be the first Honeymoon Missions team. Go God Go!

In 24 hours we get married and in 36.5 hours Mr. and Mrs. James Kramer Jr. leave for the airport to fly to Zambia.

Please really be praying for:

• A great day Sunday as we say of vows of Matrimony
• Safety as we travel
• All our luggage to make it through with us
• No problems with customs; we are scheduled to arrive 8:30 Am Tuesday EST.
• Safety travel in Zambia and protection from animals, insects and disease
• That we would be a blessing and encouragement to the missionaries and workers there
• Special times of ministry with the children both in the Village of Hope and outside the Village
• Special opportunities for Karen to minister
• Us to accomplish a lot as we work in the container and that one of the pianos would be freed to take to the school
• The weather to cool, will be 100 when we land there Tuesday, "Unseasonably hot".
• That our life together would be glorifying to God and we would live radically for and shine brightly for Jesus as we seek to share His love here and around the world.

All for now folks. Thank you so much for your prayers and support.

Shine brightly for Jesus.

We can't wait to see what God does next!!!

Until Every Child Knows,
Big Jim and Karen
Matt. 19:14
James 1:27

Beginning Life Together in Zambia

Beginning Life Together in Zambia

Karen and I would really covet your prayers as we begin married life together seeking to use every opportunity we can to share the love of Jesus with children especially both here and around the world.
After much prayer, we believe the Lord is calling us to start married life together ministering to our Matilda and our children at the Village of Hope in Zambia.

On Oct. 11th, we will be traveling to the Village of Hope in Zambia, looking to do Kidz Klubs Programs with the Hope Club, ministering at the School and to the children in the Village and helping in a new work in Kabwe about 40 minutes away, where the Village of Hope is partnering with the Hamelyrcks, as they minister to handicapped children/orphans.

Oh and there is this cargo container that had been delayed from a place called Delaware, so we’ll be helping with that also and taking many pictures.

Please really pray for us as we seek to go and encourage our brothers and sisters there in Zambia and share the love of Jesus with all we meet.
• Pray for traveling safety and for all luggage to arrive with us and for flights to be on time

• No problems with customs

• Many opportunities to share the Gospel

• We would stay healthy and my leg would not cause problems

• We would be an encouragement to the missionaries there

• Hottest time of year with most “varmints” around, pray for safety

• Safe return on the 23rd and no lingering illnesses as we begin life together here in the States.

• Wisdom as we seek more opportunities to minster to children and orphans here and around the world. (Papua New Guinea too!)

Thank you so much for all your encouragement and prayers, God has blessed so richly and we can’t wait to see what He does next!

Keep shining for Jesus all.

Until Every Child Knows,
Big Jim and Karen
Matt. 19:14
James 1:27

Our Wedding

Our Wedding Day

Greetings Brothers and Sisters in Christ!

On October 10, 2010 (10/10/10) at 3 PM, Karen Madonna and I (Jim Kramer) are getting married at Bible Fellowship Church Newark. Those of you that will be in the area, we would ask the honor of your presence on this very special day of celebration as we exchange vows of Holy Matrimony seeking to spend the rest of our lives together glorifying God as we minister to children and teens in this area and to children throughout the world.

There will not be a formal reception after; however, there will be a time of fellowship with light refreshments after the ceremony here at the church. Please plan to come and stay joining Karen and I in fellowship as we begin married life together.

We are asking that our Junior High (CORE) and Senior High (SNL) be our wedding photographers as we celebrate this joyous occasion.

Since our goal is to Glorify God in all we do and we already have a house, Karen and I would ask that those who desire to give a gift would prayerfully consider giving a love gift instead to one of the Orphan Care/At Risk Children’s Ministries we support. Nothing would give us greater joy than to see these ministries richly blessed through your gifts of love as we join together in marriage and ministry.

The ministries we feel God leading us to target are:

• Children’s Village Ministry Papua New Guinea (Bill & Lori Smith)


• Maggie Lampkins Institute in Liberia


• Sarah’s Kidz in India (DBI Partnership)


• Village of Hope in Zambia (All Kids Can Learn International)


• Youth for Christ Wilmington Outreach (Ralph & Justine Lampkins)

Checks can be written to BFCN with note designating one or more of the above ministries. If unable to come but desire to bless one of these ministries, you can send love gifts to Bible Fellowship Church, 808 Old Baltimore Pike, Newark, De 19701 and the church will make sure it is given to the proper ministries.



We can’t wait to see what God does next!

Until Every Child Knows,
Big Jim and Karen (soon to be) Kramer
Matt. 19:14
James 1:27

Watching God Work in Zambia 1

Greetings Prayer Warriors Around the World!!!!!



Thank you so much for all your prayers!! We are now back in the US and getting settled back in as we adapt to life here in the States.

 This pic is of the team with the children the day they did a special program for us,

 and one of my Finace' Karen wearing a special dress & necklace that Kimberly Kamau had very graciously helped me to pick out for her while at the market in Lusaka. Kimberly looked at Karen's picture and picked out the perfect size for her. Thanks again Kimberly for all your help; makes a nice wedding dress.

As we start to share today about the trip and some of the things God did while we were there, I'd like to first introduce you to the very special folks that we worked in at the Village of Hope and share a few prayer requests that they have followed by some personal observations of changes that I've seen from last years visit to this year.
There are three families living at the Village of Hope below are some prayer requests from each:

• Ben and Kathleen Schwartz, Ben, modern day Heorge Mueller, is the founder & director of the ministry here. At 61 stood in the corner of this property and claimed it for God; Dream big dreams folks, our God is big enough to do it! Kathleen is in charge of hospitality, worship at the church, of course the school & so much more. Ben has asked for prayer for folks to help support the children. They currently have 42 children living at the Village with 16 more looking to join them in September. At this point 21 of the children are being sponsored and the rest of the support is being taken from other sources to provide for them. It costs them roughly $108 a month to feed, clothe and educate each child. Great family, small group, Sunday School & etc cup of cold water project.They have also asked for prayer as they interview and hire more teachers for Hope School.

Special Note: Ben, Kathleen, daughter Sena & honorary daughter, Isha (from Zimbabwe) will be in the States in Nov/Dec. Ben does have a few Sundays open if you would want him to come and share at your church/fellowship & etc. let me know and I'll put you in contact with them.

 Also, on Nov.7, National Orphan Care Sunday, they will be at my home church, Bible Fellowship Church Newark, sharing and Kathleen & the girls will be sharing at my Kidz Klubs that morning.

• Francis and Kimberly Kamau, in charge of the ministry at the Village, outreach & so much more. Kamau has asked for prayer for wisdom as they look to hire 2 more house mothers. Last year they had to let two go and that can really be traumatic for the children. Kimberly has asked for prayer that the Lord would make it clear to her, the older children that He would have her set aside and start more intensely disciplining & training to teach. Kamau (Francis) plans to start taking the children to near by villages & giving them the opportunity to share what Jesus has done in their lives.

• Paul and Ann Rachel Hamelryck, Paul is in charge of construction at the Village, Ann Rachel runs the outreach to our children at Green Farm, some basic medical outreach and also makes sure all the children have clothes and shoes, they also lead an adult Bible Study with the Zim Farmers & are involved in a local outreach program to handicapped children. One big thing they have asked for prayer for is that the Lord would provide sets of laminated posters/cards with pictures showing basic methods to treat burns. Folks there tend to put manure in the wounds causing major infections and etc. Also have great need for gauze pads, tape & ointment to treat the burns. Great project for small groups families and etc. They also ask for prayer for their daughter, Gabrielle, who will be returning to the States in a few weeks to begin her sophomore year at Messiah College & for their daughter, Page, who will be coming back in Feb, for another heart check-up.

One prayer request all the missionaries shared was a request for wisdom as they children start to get older; how to separate the boys and girls without causing too much trauma. Today the set-up is three bedroom cottages, boys in one, girls in one with the house mother in the third room. They have a plan but are really seeking God's direction on the way He would have them to do this.
Some observed changes since last year:

• Last year we were burning off the land to build the school, this year the school is open!
• Last year Hope Church started, just children from Village; today average attendance of children around 100 as children from the Village at Green Farm walk almost 2 miles to come to church, many carrying baby brothers and sisters on their backs.
• Today there is another cottage finished, another started and the infirmary being finished, not to mention the restaurant opened and children house.
• Last year 25 children lived in the Village, this year 42 with as many as 16 more due to arrive in September.




• Last year Matilda was barely able to get around, today she goes everywhere with her walker and now has a new wheelchair and walker! Thank you Jesus! (Video of both on my Facebook page, along with Matilda praying for us)
• Last year children being discipled, this year looking at children going out to disciple, " to whom much is given, much is expected" if only we would catch the vision here in the States of allowing and encouraging our children to share His love. (Our oldest in the Village is Paul 13, told me that some day he would be teaching and I would be helping him. Can't wait!)

• Last year Green Farm outreach started, now every Wednesday the children walk to the community center/church where we do Hope Club, last week had 120+ children walk to join us and hear the good news of Jesus. As we talked about the Fruit of the Spirit, a few of the children from our Village of Hope taught them to sing the verse, a song that they had just themselves learned that Kimberly had written.
• Last year children led worship, this year there are three worship teams that take turns leading and picking the songs.

So much more, I could share, to God be the glory, great things He is doing.

The next update we'll share some of the neat Godincidences that we saw and some of our team adventures with wild dogs, snakes and very large spiders; did I mention the lion that took an interest in little Katie Meredith?

Have a great day with Jesus all; use everything that comes your way as an opportunity to shine brightly for Him.

Until Every Child Knows,
Big Jim
Matt. 19:14
James 1:27

Last minute Zambia Needs

If anyone has any of the items below to donate for our children there, please contact me.

From Kathleen at the Village of Hope

In about a week you will be on your way to Zambia. As is usually the case, we need some things, and forgive me if I have mentioned them before. Also forgive this last minute notice. I have been extremely busy with teaching and the current volunteers here. If any one can bring these, we would be very appreciative.


Red pens for teachers to mark papers

Candles (and don’t forget flashlights. Electricity goes off many evenings.)

If anyone has a digital camera(s) they aren’t using, we could sure use it for school. It doesn’t have to be fancy or have lots of features. It is for teachers to take simple pictures on the projects we are working on.

I have a whole lot of hanging file folders, like you put in file drawers. What I need are those plastic things that slip into the top to make tabs so that you know what is in the file. They often come with little pieces of heavy weight paper that fit into the plastic tabs. Staples probably has them.

At our EC meeting today, we were discussing our boutique. This may be a difficult thing to find and maybe expensive. We could use a little machine like used clothing stores use, like Goodwill, to put prices on clothes. It has a piece of plastic that actually goes through the clothes with the price on one side. If anyone is able to get that with a whole bunch of the price tag things, that would be great.

On a personal note, if anyone is in Walmart in the magazine section, if you could get me a word puzzle variety magazine. They usually have all kinds of different word puzzles in them. Thanks!

Reminder, if anyone has old picture calendars, the Chimwemwe Ladies could use them.

I think I asked for this before, but pencils erasers, and individual pencil sharpeners. They often come in a bunch.

At our Dollar Store in Aberdeen they have a section of supplies for teachers. They have this “tape” with the alphabet – 36 alphabets in a little carton. They could be put on a desk or the top of a notebook since they have a sticky backing. I got some when I was home last but it is for cursive. So if anyone is in the Dollar Store and sees them for printing not cursive, that would be great. One pack would do it for now.

Ann Rachel asked if anyone could get some tools for “tooling” – paper curling. It would be great to have for the ladies making the beads. They are probably at JoAnn’s or Michael’s. Depending on the price we cold use 10-15 of them.

Sena put in a request for those little packets for making drinks with bottled water. So if anyone is able to get those it would be great.

Thank you so, so much. We are looking forward to all of you coming. Kathleen

Loading the Cargo Container for Zambia

Good Morning Saints!


Thank you Jesus! This Saturday June 19th at 11 AM the truck will be arriving at Bible Fellowship Church Newark with our 40x40x8 foot cargo container that we will be loading for our children at the Village of Hope in Zambia and for folks to use in the area and beyond. There will also be a few pallets of supplies for a college and medical hospital there. (Church adress is 808 Old Baltimore Pike, Newark, Del 19702. 302-366-8539)
www.akcli.org

You are all invited to come and see what God has done and is doing! Bring the family and friends as we look in absolute awe at what God has done as our kids and you have prayed.

We are planning to start at 6 AM on Saturday to unload the church garage and have everything out and ready when the truck comes. To quote Russ Meredith, "the garage is at the tipping point!" This is a 2 car garage with a loft and does not include the bikes the folks at Wooden Wheels have reconditioned for us or the pianos. Did I mention the 200+ pairs of shoes Shoes to Share gave us? Over 7,000 items of clothes, over 5,000 books, hundreds of Bibles and so much more.

If you'd like to come to help, please contact Russ Meredith or myself if can with times available. We have 2 hours to load the truck and our goal is to finish by 1 PM.

If can't help still we would love for you to come. bring your families, relatives and friends and be a part of this great celebration of God's wonderful provisions for our children in Zambia.

Come meet our Zambia team!

My dream is for all of us to hold hands and form a circle around the truck after it is loaded to thank God and pray for the contents to make it safely, to pray for our children at the Village and for the two Delaware teams going. It'll be a day to remember and treasure.

What an awesome God we serve!

Our prayer is to need 4 or 5 men to close the doors of the truck!

There are some supplies we can still use youth socks size large, chewable vitamins for the children, 5 gallon buckets, 5 gallon water jugs, men's coveralls, paint brushes, garden hoses, nail, screws, and of course a quality wheelchair for our Matilda. What a sweetheart!

Hope to see you there, as we celebrate this huge blessing from God.


Have a great day with Jesus all as you shine for Him.



Until Every Child Knows,
Big Jim
Matt. 19:14
James 1:27