Newsletter October

I was waiting with the newsletter, waiting for some miracle to happen, and everything to be finished. But sorry, life doesn’t work like that. I wish we were finished with everything, but it is all work in progress. So, we’ll share with you where we are at.

Even weer een brief met het laatste nieuws vanuit Mazabuka waar het hete seizoen aan het toeslaan (als Nederlander begin je met het weer toch?). De meeste dagen nu zijn ruim boven de 40 graden en volgens de arbowet mag er niet meer gewerkt worden. Helaas voor ons, is die regel er nog niet in Zambia.
 
 
So, this is what we started with:

Dit is wat het leek:

 

An old school building that has not been in use for the last three years at least.
Een oud schoolgebouwtje wat meer als 3 jaar heeft leeg gestaan.
We are currently working with two men from our direct area, Francis and Francis:
Samen met twee Francissen uit de buurt en Dominee Michael Mufaya van de organisatie waar we mee samenwerken, hebben we een beetje werk gedaan om het weer bruikbaar te maken
 

Then Pastor Michael Mufaya, who was the one to negotiate the piece of land, has also been helping:

And then the cheap labour ;):

 

The right side we have adapted so that we can live there:

Hier een beetje de indeling van ons huis:

Outside, we’ve made a porch, which still is in progress:
En aan de buiten zijde is er en veranda aangebouwd:

 

This is what the outside of the building looks like now:

En dit is nu hoe de buitenkant lijkt

(Much of this structural work was sponsored by Hope Builders Ministries Zambia)

On the left side: the meeting hall/ lecture area for the training of agriculture technics, get together of the hub leaders of Hope Builders and whatever else it is needed for:
Het ene gedeelte is voor ons als huis en het andere gedeelte is een multifunctionele ruimte.
 

Meanwhile we have tried to become part of the community- finding there are two communities that we need to plug into. There is our direct neighbours, full blood Zambian farmers, and then the commercial farmers, many being expats. About two hours north of where we live, yet from the same town we are from, are American missionaries who have been in Zambia for just over five years. They have recently (18 months ago), moved to this area. Their focus is help to the community, also using amongst other things: conservation farming.

Past Saturday, Carl and some of our neighbours went to a lecture the missionary held. The guys came back excited, and want to start up the program. So, today we had our first meeting with the men and their wives. Each pair will get a piece of land to try the method on. Carl will walk this road with them, teaching as they work- this will also provide the first demonstration field for the Hope Builder’s Pastors that we hope to interest in these effective farming technics. (They asked if I knew how to use a hoe;)) Pastor Michael Mufaya is currently translating, but he is also working with and studying the curriculum, Farming God's Way. So that he can later help with the training to the Pastors. The idea is not just to give agricultural training, but to do discipleship. 

Tussentijds proberen we een deel van de gemeenschap te worden en uitgevonden dat er twee gemeenschappen zijn. Onze directe buren, volbloed kleine zambiaanse boeren en de andere gemeenschap zijn de commerciele witte boeren en een aantal zendeling families uit Amerika. Een wereld van verschil.

Zaterdag, twee geleden is Carl met drie buurmannen naar een training sessie geweest voor ‘conservation farming.’ De mannen waren erg positief. Carl is nu met hun en hun vrouwen begonnen met een training achter ons huis. Elk paar krijgt een stuk grond om the methode te beoefenen. En daarbij zullen ze ook verschillende soorten bemesting proberen om te zien wat de verschillen zijn . Ze hopen elke week te ontmoeten en te observeren wat er gebeurt. Door het leerplan wat ze gebruiken is er zo ook de mogelijkheid om op het geestelijke aspect van boeren te bezinnen en diepgang in het geestelijke leven van deze mensen. Pastor Michael van de organisatie doet de vetaling maar is ook zelf bezig zich te verdiepen in het leerplan. Ook met het oog op dat hij later training kan gaan geven aan de dominees die met Hope Builders werken. Zodat het een Zambiaanse aangelegentheid wordt.

Carl has also started his worm farm, and compost making. Everything is still very much in the beginning phase.

This morning Pastor Michael and Carl went to see the chief who made the piece of land available. This morning in my quiet time God promised me that we would have favour with him. And we did. Carl was granted permission to get all the manure he wanted from the chiefs kraal, as well as getting all the building sand for free. He must have wondered what this white man wants to do with all the cow manure;)

Carl is ook begonnen met zijn worm boerderij (twee handen vol) en spoedig zullen we beginnen met compost maken.

Afgelopen week is Carl met Pastor Michael naar het paleis van de Chief geweest. Ik heb gebeden voor God’s gunst voor dit bezoek en de mannen hebben een goede tijd gehad. Het papierwerk voor het land wat de organisatie heeft gekregen is nu opgestuurd naar de regering voor afronding zodat het land behoort aan Hope Builders. Verder hebben we toestemming gekregen om de chiefs koemest op te halen van zijn kraal een eindje achter ons huis en dat we gratis bouw zand kunnen krijgen wat een hoop kosten zal besparen voor bouw werkzaamheden in de toekomst.

The palace

Het paleis van de chief zag ere en beetje anders uit dan wat ik me voorgesteld had. Het was een aantal huisjes en gebouwen. Niet zoals het Loo;)

 We really want to ask for prayer as we walk this road:

·         For good connection to the Zambian people- both locally and the pastor’s who live far away.

·         That we will be able to live the gospel in everything we do- even the way we treat one another, and the children. And that God’s light will just shine forth from here.
·         For health- we seem to have a real scorpion nest somewhere, and especially Simon’s lungs are not as they should be.
·         For safety as we work, especially in the heat. Accidents happen when it is this hot.
·         That we will survive this heat- it is no joke.

And then we can also always find many things to be thankful for:

·         For real acceptance from the community.

·         For peace in our hearts, knowing we are where God wants us to be.
·         For the work progressing well.
·         For working well as team.
·         For provision as needed- in material things, but also in encouragement, advise and friendship.

We willen ook voor gebed vragen nu we hier zijn

·         Voor een goede samenwerking met de Zambianen

·         Dat we het evangelie zullen uitleven in alles wat we doen, ook hoe we elkaar behandelen en de kinderen zodat we een licht zullen zijn
·         Voor onze gezondheid. Met volle maan krijgen we redelijk wat schorpioentjes in ons gebouw en voor simon’s longen sinds hij daar soms last mee heeft
·         Voor veiligheid tijdens het werk. Vooral tijdens de warmte
·         Dat er spoedig koeler weer zal komen (regen seizoen)

En dank voor de vele zegeningen

·         De acceptatie in de gemeenschap.

·         Voor de vrede in onze harten wetend dat God ons hier wil hebben.
·         Voor de voortgang in het werk
·         Het werken als team.
·         Voor de voorzienigheid als benodigt, in materiele zin maar ook in bemoediging en advies en vriendschap

 

And just before I forget, our contact details:

Telephone numbers: Carl- 00260 96 191 9461

                                       Ilne- 00260 96 978 7440

E-mail addresses:  ilnegous@hotmail.com

                                carl_paalman@hotmail.com

Blog: www.mercy4africa.blogspot.com

Postal address: PO Box 670218

                            Mazabuka

                            Zambia  (That’s all, it will find us)

 

Physical address: Old Siyowi school building on a dust road somewhere in Zambia

Fysisch adres: Neem afdraai naar Musikili school. Rij door het hek aan het einde van het rechte pad. Over het bruggetje en na 300 meter rechts. Volg zandpad voor 3 km en dan na het kerkje aan de rechter kant eerste pad links. Je rijd nu recht naar ons toe (oude siyowi school)

 

Weet je dat Gea Kuipers een vriendin van ons handwerk spulletjes maakt waarvan de opbrengst voor ons is. Kijk op haar website

www.geakuipers.nl

 

And from here we greet you in the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ- may His peace be with you always.

Genade, vrede en liefde wensen we jullie toe in de naam van onze Heere Jezus Christus

 

 

Funeral 2

No, not another funeral, just the first one taking for ever.

The family, where the little grave stood as lonely reminder for the reason, where swamped by people for about four days. I think the last family are still over there. Every time new people arrived you would hear the wailing to greet them. I have no idea how they fed the probably more than 100 people that were with them all that time.

We tried to help them where we could- we were transporting people, bringing food, charging cellphones and primarily we were water station.

People even brought their little babies to bath them. Rashelle didn't complain.

The father of the little baby could only come 4 days after the baby died, since he is writing his final exams- a really great guy. His heart was aching when he came to greet on Saturday night.

I can tell you this whole ordeal, made me take time to kick ball with my little boy. Children are precious, and they are vulnerable. We can just pray for them, day by day.

Funeral

I woke up to wailing this morning: professional criers, it almost sounds like singing. I knew it was too late.

On Monday morning the girl from across the street came to ask if I could take her to her 21 month old son who was in hospital- diarrhoea. I had an appointment, and promised to take her Tuesday morning early. Tuesday morning I arrived and found the house empty. Later the  other neighbor came to say the baby's condition was getting serious, I promised she and I could go take a look this morning, Wednesday morning.

When I woke up this morning, I could hear it was too late, I did not have to go to the hospital.

I walked over with our neighbor who can speak English. In a room/house the little blue blanket laid, surrounded by the oldest ladies in the community. I was told to enter, my translator friend could not. I sat down, but soon the flowing Tonga was too much for me. Outside I found the middle aged ladies sitting next to the wall. I greeted and then proceeded to the mother of the boy.

She just sat there. The wailing was from the extended family, the mother and (very involved and caring) grandmother were quiet. The emotions too real. I sat down, and did not know what to say. We had prayed for the little boy, but God decided that he was better off somewhere else. Not the time to say so. They know, they would never question God. So, I just sat for a while.

There is a flow of people coming and going at the house ever since. The body has been buried this morning in the front yard. There will be people sleeping here until Friday, three days of wake keeping (if that is the right term).

I came home to hear that the baby that I wrote to you about the other day, the one that we took the lady to hospital, had also passed away in hospital.

I'm not so sure how to explain all this to Rashelle anymore.

Monday night I was struggling with Rashelle- she was vomiting most of the night. After a while, she did not even wake anymore, just vomited. Last night Simon's chest closed up again. I said to Carl, the thing is, we have a choice- o the luxury. If need be, we drive to Lusaka (4 hours away), and we get help. These mothers' choices are limited.

So, I praise God that He kept me from being the one standing next to a grave today, but my heart aches for the thousands, maybe millions of mother hearts that are just aching today. Some not so far away. May God's grace carry them, and may we have to privilege to tell them that God is with them.

Insect for the week

Hope you can appreciate the size of that grasshopper!

Impressions 4: Clinic time

Whilst at Goeie Hoop, that was my frequent pleasure to take children to the clinic. I know African clinic's, or so I thought.

End of last month, Simon was 18 months and needed immunizations. So, I ask the neighbor where the closest clinic is. Don't worry, she will take me.

So we set off. Not just she and I, but she, me, two ladies and three other babies. As we drive, we keep meeting more mother's with small babies. Every time they make me stop and pick up more. I stopped counting after a while, just hoped we didn't have to drive on the main road.

I didn't know where the clinic was, and none of them have ever traveled there by vehicle, so we did come to some point, when I was informed that we were lost. I knew exactly where we were, just not how to get to the clinic from there. So, we reversed and took a turn. Eventually we found the clinic, after I had to drive behind someone looking for a road on foot.

When I turned the corner, there were about 70 ladies, all with small babies sitting under a overhang. Great, this is going to be a loooooong day. So, I took my seat. Along came the normal friendly man, giving health education on the need of breast feeding, in a country where I yet have to see a bottle. Every now and then I got the shortened version in English. Was he trying to get me to breastfeed a 18 month old boy??

When the talk was over, I was called forward. What do I need? I explained that I was a mother of a 18 month old needing his immunizations. So, I got a tour of an extremely clean clinic, with super friendly staff, was given a chair to sit on in the midst of the other women sitting on the floor ( I have since transported benches there) and was helped first.

I could feel my face was red with embarrassment. But the beauty was that no one, not a single soul was angry or disgruntled. The ladies that came with me were also helped quickly, so they could go back with me. My neighbor said: no one will be angry, they respect you.

I have never met this attitude before. I had no idea how to react- it would be a little stupid to ask to be helped 70th, that would have offended them more. So, Twalumba Kapati- thank you very much.

You know what I think: that was grace given to me. I did not deserve being treated differently, but because of the attitude in their hearts, I was given favour. This is what God gave me: I did not deserve it, but He send his Son so that I can have favour, righteousness and so much more.

Thank you- I have no more to give 

Impressions 3: Two worlds

Last week we visited the 'community church' in town, and realized that two worlds exists in our small town. The world of the people on bicycles, planting maize when the rains are present, singing as they fetch water early in the morning, greeting when they pass you.

And then there is the other world: the world of 4x4's, of air-conditioning, of good schools, of constant electricity and free water.

Both worlds are filled with great people, nice people, people who have needs.

We fit in both worlds and we fit nowhere. Our 4x4 throws dust on our neighbours mud hut.  It left me confused for a few days, who am I, and who do I need to be?

Phil 4:12-13- I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

I need to follow God, not try to fit in to someone's mold or expectations. Our circumstances do not determine our joy.

Impression 2: Just like everyone else

Rashelle is our social little girl. She is everyone's friend. She plays as much as possible- screaming, singing, drumming, in everything trying to be just like everyone else. She has yet to notice a difference between herself and any of her friends.

So early one day this week, she wanted to phone her grandmother on the phone, but she knows this costs money. So, she needed airtime. What do you do if you need airtime, you go to town, 17km away on rough roads. How do her friends get to town? By bicycle. So, she nicely came to ask if she could go to town to get airtime. Sure, thinking she was playing. She asked me for money. I thought, o well, let her play, there is change in the front of the car.

About 30 minutes later she appears next to me, completely distraught, crying her heart out. She had cycled part of the way to town, when a lady recognized her, and stopped her. Where are you going little girl? To Town to get airtime. But you can not go, it is too far. But my parents said it is fine. No, you can not go, it is too far, go home.

So, she obeyed. But she was sobbing: the aunty says it is too far!!!!! Well, yes, actually it is too far, Rashelle. But I need airtime....

Impressions 1: Babies

I am not always able to take pictures of specific situations. Sometimes I have no camera, sometimes it's just weird to come to someone with a camera in the hand. But I want to share these situations with you, so I want to try and do it via word pictures. So read the story, close your eyes and try to see it- life in Zambia for us.

Today was the third time someone arrived at our door- would you please come, my .............(neighbor, sister, whoever) is having a baby. Each time I feel my stomach sink, O please let me not have to deliver this baby. But I go, with my cellphone, so I can time the contractions or phone Carl, whichever seems more appropriate.

We've made it to the hospital each time, on time. (I went to buy some umbilical cord clamps yesterday to replace my rope I take to the hospital each time- for when we don't reach the hospital).

The first time was a young girl, no crying. Just looked at me with big eyes, what was this white woman with her dirty paint clothes doing in my house? I took her with her mother and grandmother to hospital, had to buy gloves and sanitary pads on the way (the pads cost a days wage). But they arrived very thankful. The baby was born, but died one day later. Leaving me to try and explain to Rashelle why the woman came home without a baby, and my heart aching. No one knows why, no one asks. It's just the way.

The second time, Carl took the lady. Her husband came this morning to say the little boy's name was Brighton. Big name for a little fellow.

The third time was yesterday. I was called before breakfast, once again dressed to paint, but with my teeth still unbrushed. Hope she didn't notice. The contractions were 3 minutes apart, but they waited till the morning before calling us. Their choices are us, the bicycle or the ox wagon. Her husband sat next to me as I examined her holding gloves out at me, as if I should not want to touch her. I knew how much they pay for those gloves, so I was not going to use them. Everything was in place, time to leave for the hospital.

Carl was leaving for town, but had already some other passengers. So we had to squish in. So thirty minutes later we left, teeth now brushed. I suddenly realized, this must be quite the picture. Carl was driving, next to him sat the pregnant lady. Behind then were the children, nicely strapped in. On the back all the pregnant ladies family, the pastor that lives with us, me, and the pastor's dinner. As we were bobbing along the chicken laid his head down on my foot. If I dared to move it, it picked at my foot. So I tried to sit still.

People stared at us from all directions, as you can imagine. I'm sitting there praying that the baby doesn't come on the way. And what does Carl do? He stops to pick up two more ladies that looked like they needed a lift.

We reached the hospital, before the baby came. We are still waiting for news from the hospital. In a country where the child mortality is high, it is not misplaced to keep praying till they come home, and then some more.

I'm planning a sticker for our car: Ambulance Paalman- book when you are seven months   

In Africa, you are never alone

Sometimes I just smile at the things that happen- just so bizarre.

• I took out the dishwash water a few nights ago, and was almost hit by an owl trying to escape my sudden arrival.
• Rashelle came running around the corner yesterday with two dead mice by their tails. I first said thank you that her grandmother was not here, then I tried to figure out how I was suppose to react.

Third scorpion friend. Why you never go to the bathroom in the dark.

 Luke 10:19- I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the powers of the enemy; nothing will harm you.



:)

Just wanted to share with you: This is Rashelle waiting to get a snack at ten o'clock. She sat there for something like 30 minutes watching the clock move. I use it to teach her to read time;)