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The first order of business for newly arrived Assemblies of God World Missions personnel into their host country is to learn the local language. Steve and Julie Kramer are doing just that, taking intense Dutch language courses 5 days a week at Leiden University. This is the same campus where they are beginning university ministry, so it is a huge benefit to be with the students on a daily basis.
The campus ministry is called Chi Alpha Leiden (or XA Leiden). The Kramers try to have students, many who are lonely and depressed, in their home two or three times a week. They have Bible studies and give students an opportunity to experience the true love of Christ that the Kramers extend to them.
Missionary Associate, Emma Hansen, also works along with the Kramers to reach the students. The student group has grown weekly and this past week there were close to 20 students who came. The Kramer house is now becoming too small so they are looking for another venue.
One Dutch girl has been meeting with the Kramers weekly, helping them with their language studies. She had been very bitter against Christianity and the church. However, she admits to trying to find the truth. She works as a nanny for a non-Christian background family, and also meets weekly with a
cult. She is now coming to the XA Leiden meetings regularly and is
growing in her relationship with the Lord. She attends every event that the Kramers host.
There is a lot of cultural diversity in XA Leiden. Besides students from Holland, there are those from Cameroon, South Africa, Puerto Rico, Norway, France, China, and the United States.
One of the most exciting things that is happening is the building of community among the students.
At the first couple of meetings, some of the students expressed their doubts and lack of faith in a good God. The Kramers realized the need for them to see God become real in
their lives on a daily basis. This led
to doing some outreaches at the local homeless shelter and at a nearby cafe.
The Kramers goal is for each student to come into a living, vital relationship with Jesus Christ.
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