Toms Shoes in Ethiopia

Watched this short CBS story about Toms Shoes in Ethiopia tonight. I think Toms Shoes is a really solid company doing really great things. If you're looking for a Christmas gift for someone this year, consider getting them a pair of Toms Shoes--you'll be providing a pair of shoes for a child in need, too.



Watch CBS News Videos Online

And if you're looking to get me a pair, well, I like the Caramel Corduroy Toms! :)

November 25th

Today is November 25th. While many of you are preparing for tomorrow's great feast with friends and family, I'm asking that you would take a moment and consider giving just $25 to support my mission trip to Africa. The Lord calls us to make disciples of all nations. And while some people are called to physically go, others can help make disciples by giving.

If you haven't been following my blog, then let me give you the quick rundown. From December 26th through January 8th, I and 15 others will be traveling with The Mocha Club to Ethiopia to work with 2 Mocha Club Projects (Ambo School & Street Boys and Women At Risk). We'll be spending time serving and loving the people of Ethiopia and sharing the saving love of Christ with them.

Your donation is not only a donation to help fund my travel, but a donation that could very well change the lives of many. Please, if you can, give just $25.

You can give by going to https://www.mochaclub.org/africa-trips. Click on "Make a Donation" and be sure to enter my name (Kristi Kratzer) in the top box.

This Thanksgiving I'm thankful for you, my friends and family, for your endless love and support. I hope you all have a very blessed day!

Noise Trade

Music. It's one of my favorite things. You've probably caught on to that, right? I have many many musicians whom I absolutely adore, but I also really love discovering new artists. I also really love free music. Noise Trade is kind of the best of both worlds. There are a few artists on there that I know and love. As for the rest...it's like a treasure box of wonderfully amazing music. The best part--it's FREE!! All you have to do is email 5 friends every time you want to download an album/songs. And for people like me who like to share their music discoveries with others, that's definitely not an issue!! You can also choose to pay for the music...whatever you want! Brilliant. Anyways, tonight I downloaded music from 3 different artists/bands. One of the albums is a Christmas mix from Sojourn. And it's GOOD. So so good! I also downloaded Matthew Smith who is part of the Indelible Grace project (a fave!) and some music from Zac Hicks who I've heard of before but never listened to much. Check them all out. Visit www.noisetrade.com and browse around. I'm sure you'll find something to fit your tastes! And then you should email me as one of your five friends :)

And here's the link to download Sojourn (b/c it's an Advent album...and Advent is quickly approaching. So you should get it).

Brokeness

This afternoon I had some good, quality conversation with my friend Angela as we took a walk in the Florida sunshine (yep, it's still 80 degrees here...in NOVEMBER!!!). We were discussing a variety of things when our conversation turned to the topic of brokeness. I hear talk of brokeness a lot, but typically it's in the context that we live in a broken world and to me that translates to there is poverty and injustice and no matter what we do to help, those things will all exist until the coming of the new heavens and the new earth. However, as Angela and I talked about it, I realized that it goes a lot deeper than that. Brokeness affects each and every one of us at a very personal level. Whether we admit it or not, every relationship that we have is broken--even the ones that we think are healthy and good. Yes, even those relationships are broken in some way. We are broken, sinful people and it affects the way we love and relate to others. It is only by the blood of Christ that we are able to experience love through others. It's only because Christ lives in us that we are able to love others and be loved. But I think, that at times, it's good to be reminded that we live in a broken world and we are a broken people.

Personally, I know I expect a lot out of relationships (with family, friends, etc) and when I'm disappointed I have a tendency to do a couple of things. First, I want to blame the people who have failed to love me how I feel I should be loved. And I want to do this without understanding the brokeness that they are experiencing in their own lives. Second, I find myself wanting to replace those broken relationships with other relationships that seem to be whole. But the truth of the matter is this--even those "replacement" relationships are broken.

Do any of my thoughts make sense?

I'm definitely not saying that relationships aren't good things. In fact, I believe that God calls us to relational communities. I just think it's good for us to remember that relationships will never be perfect and that we need Christ to bring healing.

If you have thoughts on this, please share. :)

$25 on the 25th

What are you doing on November 25th? Yes, the day before Thanksgiving. Prepping food? Decorating your home? Checking out Black Friday ads? Amidst all the hustle and bustle I'm asking that you would take a moment to consider giving just $25 to my trip to Africa. Your $25 will not only enable me to make the trip, but more so it will enable me to love and serve the people of Ethiopia. It's just $25, but your $25 will influence the lives of so many individuals. I'm sure there are some of you reading this right now that I may not even know--who are friends of friends. Please, if you can, give. If you have hesitations about giving and would like to ask questions and find out more details, please leave me a comment or email me (kristi.kratzer@gmail.com). To give visit https://www.mochaclub.org/africa-trips. Enter my name in the top box.

Additionally, I'm traveling on this trip with 14 other people who are also trying to raise support. If you have the financially ability and feel compelled to support some of my team members as well, please please please let me know!! I can provide you with a list of names. Even if it's just $5. Every little bit helps.

And of course, if you cannot give financially please continue to support us with your prayers. They are just as important and very much needed.

Thanks friends!

I heart this

I heart this song and I heart this music video. It makes me really happy. Enjoy.

Christmas. Music. Numero 2.

There will likely be many of these wonderful Christmas music posts. Have I mentioned that I completely love Christmas music??? I love the warmth. I love that so many of the songs have strings and trumpets and full choirs. I love the story that's told of the birth of Christ, families coming together to celebrate, peace on earth. So so much to love. And I love resting in the knowledge of the saving love of Christ--something Christmas music typically reminds me of.

Anyway. Here it is. My song for tonight. Click below to listen.

"Let There Be Light" by Point of Grace.

5 weeks until Christmas.

5 weeks and one day until Ethiopia. Want to give? (Please?) Visit https://www.mochaclub.org/africa-trips and click "Make a Donation". Be sure to enter my name into the top box. I'm only 28% to my goal and the trip is quickly approaching. Please give if you can. Every little bit helps. And if you can't give, please pray. Thanks friends. :)

Christmas. Music. It's time.

It's time. Yes, it's time. I gave in. Tonight. On my way to small group. It seemed appropriate. I was driving. It was calling out to me. I couldn't help it. I pulled out my iPod. And it was there. My Christmas playlist. My finger just went to it. And thus, the seal has been broken. Christmas music has arrived. I could give you a whole playlist. In fact, I probably will at some point. But tonight, I'll share just one song. I played this song over and over and over again. Anyway, I love Sara Groves entire Christmas album, but I particularly love this song:

It's True by Sara Groves.

Enjoy.

Ethiopia: Women at Risk

Hey friends! For those of you curious about more details about my trip to Ethiopia with The Mocha Club and 963 Missions, you're in luck (on Friday the 13th! Ha!). One of the organizations we'll be working with is called Women at Risk. You can visit their website by clicking here. Women at Risk seeks to reach out to urban sex workers in Addis Ababa and provide them with holistic rehabilitation program that provides social, physical, and spiritual counseling as well as job training. Women at Risk started in 1993 and is staffed by full time staff members and utilizes short term volunteers (like our team!) to operate. In 2001 they opened a halfway house called Filiklik. They've been able to rescue young girls and women from the travesties of prostitution and enable them to become successful in their own upstanding businesses. I'm so excited to be able to spend time with these women, share the love of Christ with them, and to hear their stories and how Women At Risk has helped to transform their lives. Be sure to check out their website to learn more. You can learn about the history of the organization, read testimonies, etc.

And of course, you can always give to my trip :) Visit https://www.mochaclub.org/africa-trips and put my name in the top box to donate.

Prayer Request

So if you're reading my blog I'm assuming that I know you or that you found my blog through a friend that knows me so I can consider you a friend. In any case, you probably have some sort of interest in my life because I certainly don't post very profound thoughts here. So basically if you're reading this I'm kinda requesting your prayers. I've been very anxious about a few things (namely just 2 things) lately and I've wanted these things to happen in my timing instead of trusting in God's timing. I've been making plans of my own and schedules of my own and been disappointed when things don't turn out as I had hoped. So I would ask that you would pray that I would learn to wait on the Lord and trust that His timing is perfect. Please pray that I would trust that He will provide for my every need when the time is right and that I don't need to take things into my own hands and make them happen.

I would so appreciate all the prayers I can get on this. I think it's something I've battled for a long time. I'm horrible at waiting especially when I really want something. Lately I feel like my ability to wait has gotten increasingly worse. So please pray that the holy spirit would descend upon me and allow me to rest in the peace that only God can give.

I know this is really vague....I'll definitely share more in person or over the phone, but for now, this is it :)

Thanks all for your support.

Oh, and just a little reminder....you can still give to my trip to Ethiopia! Check it out here: https://www.mochaclub.org/africa-trips

Support my trip to Africa!

Hello friends! You can now give online to support my trip to Africa.

https://www.mochaclub.org/africa-trips/2

Just be sure to enter my name in the first box on the form.

Let me know if you have any questions or would like to learn more. As always, Florida Friends, I'm definitely willing to meet up in person to tell you more about what I feel is my calling to go on this trip. And for my out-of-state friends--you know how to reach me (and if you don't, leave me a comment and I'll get you my phone number or email address).

Thanks all for your continual prayers and support! Pray that God would use this trip and the people traveling on it for the work of his kingdom!

5 Funny Years

Today is my beautiful niece Britony's 5th birthday. I am blessed to be her aunt and to have spent the past 5 years watching her grow. She's a joy to be around and a little girl full of spunk and energy. She's inquisitive, creative, and loving. I still remember standing in my dorm room my freshman year of college in complete shock as my sister told me over the phone that she was pregnant. I remember watching Britony waddle as she learned to walk. I remember our nonsensical babble conversations on the phone. I remember our first trip to Disney World and how enamored she was with it (and she still totally is!!!). I remember her hugging me at the Detroit airport and telling me she was just going to get in my suitcase to go back to Florida with me. I have so many great memories over the past year that include this amazing little girl. I can't wait to continue to see her grow and develop into a beautiful young girl.

Happy Birthday, Britony!!! I pray that you would grow in the love of Christ and know that you are forever loved.

Some pictures of my favorite 5 year old.

Goofing off on the front porch of Grandma and Grandpa's house.



Obviously I'm their favorite aunt, right? :)


She teaches me how to be gangsta.


Candy cane in the hair...oops! Grandma to the rescue!



Okay, everyone make normal faces. Yep. Just like that.


Ready for Safari.


Flying high in a balloon! She's a daredevil!

My Music Monday

I recently added some new albums to my music collection. And it's good (of course!). So check it out:

Dark Fades Into The Light by Sandrine--My fav song is "Where Do We Go?" but they're all fantastic. Pretty mellow, for the most part. But a few songs have a nice little upbeat sound.

Flying Upside Down by Griffin House--Favorite song is "The Guy That Says Goodbye to You is Out of His Mind." But then again, what girl wouldn't love this song??? Thanks Josh for the recommendation!

I And Love And You by The Avett Brothers--I know, I know, I know. I'm a little bit behind the game on this one. It's been out for a while now (heck, I think most of the albums I downloaded have been out for a while). In any case, this album is quality. I don't think that it's quite as folksy as their previous albums, but still plenty folksy which ya'll know makes me amazingly happy. My best friend, Katie, has been telling me for a while that this album is good. She doesn't lie.

Break Up by Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson--Austina recommended this one to me and I know she has superb music tastes. This was proven once again.

If It Ain't Broke... by Matt Wertz -- It's his live album. It was free. I probably would have even paid for it b/c it's that good. I love me some good Matt Wertz music. And listening to the album and pretending I'm at the show--even better.

I've been given some other music recommendations, but haven't had a chance to check them out yet. I still need to listen to Muse, Bifrost Arts, The Almost, Angels and Airwaves, Spill Canvas, and Jack's Mannequin (which I've listened to before but need to give another go around).

Anyone else got more recommendations for me? Not that I could probably afford downloading any more albums...but still...

Ethiopia Meeting #1

I just got off my first conference call with the team traveling to Ethiopia in December. I've known ever since mailing in my application that God's hand was over this trip and had arranged things so I could go, but after getting off the call, I'm even more sure of it. As people shared how God had opened the doors to allow them to join this mission, I was filled with such great joy. It's so amazing to see how our savior can orchestrate things perfectly.

So let me share a bit about The Mocha Club Ethiopia Team December 2009.

• We are 14 members strong
  
• We are comprised of 10 women and 4 men
• We are an international team with 2 members hailing from New Zealand!
• We come from 8 different states - Texas, Maryland, Colorado, Wisconsin, Tennessee, New York, Massachusetts, and Florida.
• We are made up of students, grad students, vocational ministers, corporate professionals, and moms!
• And most of all---We love Jesus and desire to serve his people in Ethiopia. :)

If you are praying for our team (and I ask that you would!) please pray for Tiffany, Danielle, Julie, Michelle, Asaua, Christine, Cole, Laura, Linda, Sarah, Shawn, Brittany, Geoffrey, and myself.

I feel like I'm at such a loss for words right now because I'm still in such shock at how beautiful God's plan is. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised as His plan is always good and perfect! The reality, however, is finally sinking in that I am going. Our flights have been booked and this week we'll be receiving our travel itineraries. Our definite dates are 12/26-1/8.

Thank you friends and families for your prayers and continual support. I'm so excited that I'm able to share this experience with you all. Already I can feel God working in my heart and softening my heart for the work he has prepared for me to do and the work that he is doing in me.

Please feel free to leave a comment, email me, or call me (let me know if you need my phone number) if you'd like to learn more about this trip, my passion and desire to go, and the work that the Lord is doing in my life. For my Florida friends, I'd be more than happy and willing to meet with you in person to talk about it more. And I'm definitely open for advice too if you've traveled overseas.

Mocha Club Work in Ethiopia

Take a look at some of the work Mocha Club is doing in Ethiopia. Not entirely sure what we'll be working on when we go over in 2 months, but you can get an idea of work they've been a part of. $7 a month (aka 2 Mochas) does work like this...I'm just awe of God's provision and humbled when I watch this video.

Conversations with my nieces

So if you haven't figured it out by now, I have two beautiful nieces whom I absolutely adore. I never thought being an aunt would be as much of a blessing as it is. I can honestly say it's been a complete joy to be able to spend the last 5 years watching them grow and learn. Right now I'm absolutely loving the silly, nonsensical conversations that I get to have with a 5 year old and 3 year old on the phone. Tonight, I called to talk to my sister as Britony's birthday is coming up and I needed to know what she wanted for her birthday. I called multiple times throughout the evening because I was out shopping and really wanted to get something. The third time I called, the phone was answered and I was expecting to hear my sister's voice, but instead I heard the tiny voice of the world's cutest 5 year old. This is basically how our conversation went:

B: Hello
Me: Hey! What are ya doing? (Sidenote: It's typically a bit difficult for me to tell B & K apart right away on the phone. After a few sentences I can usually tell who I'm talking to...)
B: Having my birthday party.
Me: But it's not your birthday.
B: Yes it is!
Me: No it's not.
B: How do you know?
Me: Because I know your birthday is next week and I was calling to see what I should get you for your birthday.
B: Awwww mannnn
Me: You thought you could lie to me, didn't you?
B: We're having a party tonight.
Me: What should I get you?
B: It could be a supwise (yes supwise, not surprise).
Me: So should I get you a can of worms?
B: Or a headband.
Me: Oh, I like headbands. What else?
B: Some clips.
Me: So you just want stuff for your hair? No toys or books? Are you going shopping for your birthday? (My sister had told me they were taking her clothes shopping for her birthday b/c yes, that's what this 5 year old wanted to do.)
B: We're getting our nails painted.
Me: Oooo! What color are you going to get yours painted?
B: Whatever color they have.
Me: Pink or black?
B: Pink. Okay love you bye. Mom says can you call her back later.
Me: Tell your mom to call me when she has time.
B: (to my sister) she said call her later when you have time. (to me) Kerigan wants to talk to you.

And this is where things get really interesting.....I couldn't understand most of what she was telling me. This is what I made of the conversation...

Me: Hi Kerigan!
K: Hi, do you have alligators?
Me: What?
K: Do you have alligators?
Me: Oh yes, there are still alligators here. Do you want me to catch one and send it to you?
K: They're in the water!!
Me: Yeah, I'll swim out and catch one.
K: Okay. But don't get bited.
Me: Oh yeah, that would hurt.
K: And there would be blood.
Me: haha yep.
K: We're having a party with cake and ice cream.
Me: Right now?
K: Well, when daddy gets home.
Me: Oh, can I have some cake?
K: Only if you come over?
Me: Right now?
K: Yep.
Me: How will I get there?
K: (mumbling so I couldn't understand much) take a plane and then a boat and then a cab and then you'll be here.
Me: oh, okay.
K: Where are you?
Me: I'm in Florida, where are you?
K: Are you at your house?
Me: Nope, I'm in my car. Are you at your house?
K: Yep.
Me: Did you get sissy something for her birthday?
K: Yep, but if she's not good then she doesn't get it. I got her something scary, but not too scary. But she has to be good. If you come over you can play with my toys.

She then proceeded to "show" me all of her toys except I don't think she realized that I couldn't actually see them over the phone. And once she gets going, there is no opportunity to stop her chatter, so basically for the next few minutes I just sat on the phone as she talked about all of her toys. Then she started singing Hannah Montana so we sang that together over the phone. After about 3 or 4 minutes of that she said "okay, love you, bye." Best part is, she didn't hang up the phone, but she also didn't give it back to my sister. So basically I could have stayed on the phone all night and listened to the party. I'm kinda wondering if the phone was left in the playroom for the rest of the night...So Keri, if you read this and you're missing your phone, it's probably in the play room next to all the toys Kerigan told me about.

So I suppose it isn't that funny to all who are reading, but on the phone it was hilarious. I love these little girls and cannot wait to see them in a little over a month!!

I'm Going to Africa!

Yep, you read that title right. I'm going to Africa--specifically, Ethiopia. I'm so thrilled for this opportunity and passionately believe that God is indeed the one sending me on this mission trip. I hear the term "global community" used quite a bit and lately I've begun to think more about what that term means. As technology makes it possible to bring people from all over the world together, I think it also must change the way we think about who our neighbors and community are. In Mark 12:29-31 Jesus says:

"Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these."

If we are truly living in a global community, our neighbors are not only those that live in the apartments or houses next to us, or the people we work with, or our friends, or the people we go to church with, or even just the people of our city. Our neighbors are people all over the world and we are called to love them. Even more importantly, we are called to Love the Lord our God. I strongly believe that we can show our love for Him by caring for His people.

So here I am, gearing up for the journey of a lifetime! You want the details, I suppose, right? Great! I'll be traveling with 2 organizations that are partnering together for this trip--The Mocha Club and 963 Missions. The trip is tentatively scheduled for December 27, 2009 through January 9, 2010. That's right, just TWO months away!! Joining me on the trip will be individuals from all over the United States (and possibly even beyond). While in Ethiopia we'll be working working with a Mocha Club project that rescues women from the growing world of prostitution and offers them a 10-month rehabilitation program (including social, personal, and spiritual rehab as well as job training). We'll also be working with 2 other Mocha Club projects that work with children. I'm so excited to get to know the people of Ethiopia and share the love of Jesus Christ with them.

Where do you come in? I'm glad you asked. I need your support, both financially and through prayer. I need to raise nearly $3000 in support money to be able to go on this mission. I ask that you would prayerfully consider supporting me. Any amount you can give helps get me one step closer to serving God's people in Ethiopia. My first payment is due in just a little over a week so please, if you can give, don't wait! :)

You can send financial support to:

963 Missions
Attn: Mocha Club
10440 N. Central Expwy., Suite 122,
Dallas, TX, 75231
Please make checks out to African Leadership (The Mocha Club's parent organization).

Do not write my name on the memo line as it could nullify tax exemption for your donation.

Please print the support note below and include with your donation so they know who it's for.

An online giving link will be made available soon, but is not quite ready yet.

Whether or not you are able to give financially, I ask that you would be praying:

• Pray that our team of individuals would bond together easily and work together as a team.
• Pray for our team's safety in travels and for safe health while in Africa.
• Pray for our team's leaders as they continue to put together final details for the trip.
• Pray for the people of Ethiopia that they would come to know the saving love of Jesus Christ.

Finally, if you would like to receive updates of my trip leading up to my departure and while I'm in Africa, please let me know. You can either leave a comment on this blog or email me at kristi.kratzer@gmail.com.

Thanks all for your support and encouragement. I feel incredibly blessed that God has chosen me to go on this trip and I'm so excited!

Ramblings...

It's November. I can hardly believe it. Daylight Savings Time has ended and the Holiday season is drawing near. It seems like only yesterday I was complaining of the dead heat that defines Florida Summers--then again, this past week it was recording breaking temperatures here in Florida, so I was probably complaining of the dead heat that now defines Florida Falls, too! In any case, life has been crazy and unpredictable lately. Like normal, I've had my fair share of ups and downs, but I can't deny that I've been in the midst of experiencing the work of God both on my life and the lives of the people around me.

In an effort to keep private struggles somewhat private, this will be somewhat vague. As I've struggled with how to serve and honor my Savior before all else, I've been confronted with a whole gamut of emotions over the past several weeks. I've been sorting through the lies that society, culture and Satan have continually tried to feed me and found Truth and comfort in the reaffirming words of a Savior that provides for my every need. I've been prayed with and prayed for so intensely that I cannot deny that my Jesus knows me, knows my heart, and cares about my every thought, my every action and my every desire. I've been convicted of wanting the things of this world more than the eternal love and life that Christ has to offer. My idols have begun to reveal themselves and I'm being forced (a good thing, of course) to face those idols and make decisions whether I'm going to bow to them or to my Jesus. It's a battle that all of mankind will surely continue to fight until the end of time--how to live in this world but not be of this world. I've also realized that I don't entirely trust Jesus all of the time (okay, most of the time) with my life. I don't trust that He will provide, I don't trust that He will answer prayers, I don't trust that He will mend broken hearts and broken relationships, I don't trust that He will forgive, and I don't trust that He will always love me. Yeah, I know, those are huge issues. I recognize that. And I'm realizing that in order to trust him I have to give up control (all of it!) to him and just allow him to work. Logically, it shouldn't be that hard, right? I mean, why shouldn't I be able to trust the creator of the universe, the all powerful, all knowing, all loving God? Crazy. When I think about who God is it seems ridiculous for me to not want to give absolutely everything I have up to him. Slowly I'm realizing that giving it up is so much easier than fighting to keep control when I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing. And I'm realizing that it makes much more sense to let God, who sees the past, present, and the future and knows the plans he has for me both now and in the future, have control over my life. (This is a crazy long paragraph that probably makes absolutely no sense...ha!)

As for more specifics of how God is working in my life--He's beginning to show me why Orlando is The City Beautiful and let me just say that I certainly don't believe it's the buildings, the landscape, or the amusement parks. Rather, The City Beautiful is beautiful because of its people. Whether it's my church family, my Celebration friends, my work friends, or the faces of the children and parents of OURM, I see God moving and working in all of their lives (often, without these people even knowing it). At OURM (Orlando Union Rescue Mission) I find myself eager to go and serve and love and at the end of my time there realizing that I'm likely receiving more than I'm even able to give. Spending time with the children at OURM is so incredibly rewarding (although, certainly challenging at times!). When I walked in a few weeks ago, a little boy immediately ran up to me and wanted to be held. As I sit here thinking about how insignificant that seemed at the time, I realize that this little boy trusted me without hesitation. He didn't judge me for the color of my skin, what kind of job I have, how much money I had, what kind of clothes I was wearing, etc. A lot of the children there are like that...they just want your attention. They want to love you and be loved in return. They want what so many of us want---relationships, community. And I give because it's the one thing I know I'll always have to give--I can give love. Freely. Because it was first given to me.

The most exciting news as of recent (that will soon be receiving its very own dedicated blog post) is that I'm going to Ethiopia, Africa in just TWO months!!! I'll save all the details for the blog post that will be coming in the next few days (waiting on a few details to be able to share with you all), but I just couldn't wait any longer to share the news (as I've known for about a week and a half now). I'll be gone for 2 weeks to do missions with two absolutely fantastic organizations and I couldn't be more excited about the opportunity and the work God has laid before me. Please be praying for the trip and for all the people traveling with me and for all of the people we are sure to meet.

So there it is. My ramblings. On a very surface level, of course. the end :)