Without beating around any bushes: we’ll be
privileged to set up a cot in our house, one more time. We are expecting our
fourth little Paalman. Rashelle is praying hard for a little sister, but
mercifully, that is not in our hands. Ilne is feeling well, for which we are
thankful. We also found a doctor in a small town nearby that will be able to
perform the necessary ceasarian section. An older dutch midwife will check her
regularly. We are thankful for God’s provision.
Laten we meteen maar even met
de deur in huis vallen. Er moet weer een wiegje opgesteld worden. (ergens in
okt.) We hopen dus ons 4de kindje te krijgen. Rashelle bid hard voor
een zusje, iets wat we niet zelf in de hand hebben (gelukkig maar). Op dit
moment voelt Ilne zich goed, iets waar we dankbaar voor zijn. Ook voor het feit dat we een dokter hebben
gevonden die de keizersnee kan doen in een naburig dorp. En er is een oudere
Nederlandse vrouw die vroedvrouw is die Ilne wil helpen en checks wil doen. We zijn dankbaar en blij voor Gods zegen en
voorziening.
I also want to express my thanks to everyone
who made it possible for me to visit and stay in the Netherlands. It was a big
surprise and blessing for my mom. It took her thoughts off the move to the ‘old
age home’. And it was possible for me to talk about the new project, to anyone
that would listen. From this comes a big word of thank you again to everyone
who supports us in some way- we are blessed. It’s not always comfortable to be
dependant, and then I keep forgetting: “Seek my Kingdom first, and the rest
will be added unto you.” As we get busier with this new project, it is
essential to remember, that God’s Kingdom does come first, that we need to be
salt and light, and not just the focus on the what needs to be done, but also
on the how. I want to ask for prayer, in this regard. Please!
In our church service on Sunday, a friend said
that God just reminded her of three words: IT IS FINISHED. What a wonderful message
and what an honest message. So often satan keeps un in bondage with guilt, with
all our past baggage, and we keep going in the same circle. We forget that it
is finished, He has risen after nailing every sin on the cross. Let us rejoice
in what He has done, and remember that His Grace is sufficient. This is the
beautiful message of Easter.
In de laatste dienst op zondag
was er een vrouw die iets wilde getuigen in de gemeente waar we mee samen
komen. Het waren net drie woorden. “HET IS VOLBRACHT”. Wat een heerlijke
boodschap en wat een eerlijke boodschap. Waarom we soms geen zout en licht zijn
kan zijn dat de duivel ons gevangen houdt met de slechtheid van onze oude
natuur. De ik ellendig mens. En soms blijven we erin rondzwemmen. We zijn dan
zo gefocust op onze slechtheid dat we HET IS VOLBRACHT negeren. Maar HIJ IS
OPGSTAAN!! Al onze zonden zijn aan het kruis genageld. Laten we ons verblijden
in wat HIJ HEEFT GEDAAN. Al maken wij fouten HIJ heeft ze tenietgedaan aan het
kruis. We mogen ons VERHEUGEN in MIJN GENADE IS GENOEG. Laten eer geven aan WIE DE EER TOEKOMT!
Meanwhile, the rain is (very) slowly reducing.
It is normally completely dry by now, but the rain seems to linger this year.
Causing lots of damage, after the relative drought of the rainy season. Many
people saw poor rains, hence very poor crops throughout southern Africa, and
are now watching it rot because they can not get it off the land, due to the
late rains. We saw them even removing the sugar by hand off the fields today.
And realize we are talking about 30 000hectares. (Of cause they will soon
start using their machines for the actual removal. They cut by hand anyway). We
are in a good position, our piece of land is small, and hence we could harvest
on dry days, and quickly replant. Using the late moisture for germination. This
will hopefully deliver some extra crop after irrigation.
Het regenseizoen is inmiddels aan het uitdunnen. Zo
nu en dan nog een bui. We hebben onze veldjes met soja bonen, zonnebloemen en
mais van het land gehaald om verrotten te voorkomen. En inmiddels weer nieuwe
geplant om dat het land nog redelijk nat is en er nog meer regen wordt
verwacht. Later in het seizoen zullen we dan bij irrigeren en hopelijk extra
hebben.
Nongo
Farms cooperation is quickly getting off the ground. Carl had his first meeting
with the community- and they were quite excited. There are just so many ways to
reach out to one another. The first things that need to happen: a corn storage,
so as to help that the current crop (what little there is) does not get
destroyed by mice, weavels and other larger animals. It is not a free venture.
But for a small price they can store their maize. So, they are doing it for
themselves. Carl has hired some extra men, stretching his people’s skills.
They’ve done the foundation, and started with the floor today. The walls will
be made of steel, which Carl already has laying ready. The second priority is to prepare land for
next year, while the ground is still soft. For that end we have invested
(thanks to Hope Builders Ministries) in our first implements. It caused quite
the stir!!
Op dit
moment zijn we druk bezig met onze nieuwe project. Als er nog iemand is die
handig is we kunnen hier wel een klusjes man gebruiken!!
Foundation for new maize store
Our first tractor for Nongo farms
Now from Ilne’s end: We’re completely into home
schooling now. Rashelle is loving it, and I’m loving it. It is such a privilege
to watch your child learn- like when they learn to walk, just watching her
trying to read the letters, and the little lightbulb going up, It’s precious.
Tim is also doing well, pleading me to also start him on the curriculum. He is
due to start next year, and he is rearing to go. Simon is completely African.
Honestly, he is never without mud streaks, we have to physically stop him from
chasing the cows around, and sometimes we just don’t even want to know where
he’s been. He talks up a storm, to whomever would like to listen.
I am busy in the house, with church stuff
(hopefully I can elaborate on this soon) and am also still trying to get
registered. They recently lost my file, which had me ready to quit, but I heard
this morning that they rediscovered it.
I wish I could share the store room with you. Anyway, I’m getting closer. I’m
not sure why God is stirring me to do this, but we will see… For the rest, all kinds of odds and ends.
The only other news I wanted to share with you,
is that our pastor in Gordon’s Bay (South Africa- when we were with Goeie Hoop
House), passed away last week. We knew he was not well and very ready to go,
but it still leaves a huge gap in the lives of his wife and children. If you
could just think of them, and pray God’s Peace on them, as they walk this part
of their journey with such faithfulness.
For the future: ahead of us lays a few hectic
months, on all fronts. Please, if you do not hear from us, it’s not because
we’re lazy, don’t care or have forgotten you. It’s because the hours in the day
ran out again. I was reading the story of Joshua praying for the sun to stand
still to Rashelle today. I might use it slightly more in the coming time. The
most prominent part of that will be a proposed travel to America in July for me
and Rashelle, for some fundraising purposes. The same Carl just did in Holland.
It will be short and (hopefully) intense. I still need all kinds of paperwork.
So, that might be another prayer point if you don’t mind.
We’ll be hosting a few people in the next
months also. I might get them to write parts of our next newsletters. Should be
interesting- I will hold the right to refuse I think. Just in case we can’t get
anyone to visit again!
It's fun out here!!!
Geen opmerkingen:
Een reactie posten