"Mary & Kenneth Kramer"
June 8, 2009
Returning after spending winter in Texas, we attended church here on Easter Sunday instead of driving to Strawberry Point where we are members of the UMC. Yes, to our surprise it was not the traditional Easter service. Unlike the rest of you that had been versed on the Kingdom Assignment, we were not. As it sounded like a good program, we went forward and accepted the challenge.
After Sunday dinner was over we took turns reading the book. Seemed the various projects took place in larger cities, but yet there is need all around us. We thought of the many mission projects that we've been involved with, especially this past winter at Alamo Rec-Veh Park, Texas. Although we thought it might be easier to return the money to the Pastor, we began to pray for guidance with the assignment. We received a phone call from another member as to what they were doing. We said that we were waiting for a sign or an answer from the Lord.
With continuous praying, waiting, watching and listening for an answer from the Lord, on May 30 we received a letter in the mail from a medical student that is planning to be a missionary doctor. He has the opportunity to go to China July 3-15 with a doctor and a team from Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA to minister health and God's love in the rural communities and bush country of Liaoning Province in Northern China. Last year this same doctor and team ministered to over 1000 patients in Guizhon province, and planted seeds of hope (witnessed to the Lord). The group had planned to return to the same area as last year but was unable to get visa in time.
By his letter we feel this young man is so dedicated to the Lord and helping people through the field of medicine. He stated that Christ spoke as a requirement to his disciples - "Take up your cross and follow me" - and this still holds true today. Yes, Christ has called us to have a life and forgiveness through the sacrifices he gave on the cross. He has called on us to sacrifice our lives for Him, in order that others might also come to know His love and forgiveness.
So, after much praying about this we feel that this is our opportunity to use the $00 to further God's kingdom by helping to buy medical supplies, medicine and the ability for the team to share the love of Christ to people who desperately need it, as China is a communist country with only 7% Christians.
We continue to pray for the team, for their safety, physical and spiritual health. We pray that God will anoint them with His healing grace, love and mercy, and that it may overflow to those they minister to. We pray for the people of China and the missionary who risks her life daily to proclaim Christ. |
