Planting has started

So, the rain has finally started in all seriousness. Can you see the colour difference as the water fills the clay? All over our area, people are digging like crazy- all in very neat lines. Carl says it is amazing how hard it is for them to do it accurately, because it is so different from their known ways. There should be almost 10 hectare hand planted supporting more than 20 families, as part of the Nongo Project. Please pray that we will have a year of good rains!!

English newsletter December 2015

A letter from Carl’s pen:

December: the last days of 2015 are here- it just all flies by. I can not remember the last time I actually wrote a newsletter, so I’m guessing it’s time.

Isabel’s birth is already ten weeks ago. After not drinking well in the first week, she’s got the art down. Her weight dropped sharply in the first week, to just over 2kg, a tiny girl. She grows slowly, but is progressing. The extreme heat and reflux are not very helpful. In the beginning she was sleeping a lot, but now we have the pleasure of seeing her eyes more often.

Ilne is also doing well, back in one piece again after the operation. It was busy for the first weeks, but we were blessed by ladies in the church cooking for us for the first two weeks. Rashelle is her mom’s right hand. The boys have also tried their best, but being boys, they just enjoy the diaper changes. Even as father I still have to get use to her being here, she’s so quiet. But it will come.

Celebrating dutch style

Besides the happenings at home, we’ve also been to Lusaka often, trying to sort out our work permit; that’s done now. Also the work at home always seems to take longer than planned due to things breaking, and trying to fix it. The storehouse is almost finished, which is nice because it gives us extra work and storage space. Nice to work in the shade. The last part of the chicken house is also almost done. We experimented with ‘village’ chickens- trying to raise them for Christmas. But some disease got the whole lot- I can remember this happening to us in Liberia too. We’ll now wait till after rainy season to start with animals, and first focus on the planting.

 Maize storage

For chickens etc

Seeing that rainy season is almost here, we’ve started with the conservation farming part of the program. We have 34 participants, that will be helped with fertilizer, seed and lime on credit. There are strict guidelines that they have to keep to. Nothing will be for free. We are trying to convince people in a business like fashion that there is more potential to their land than they are currently utilizing. Especially now that the local currency has taken a severe nose dive. We are expecting a smaller harvest next year (end of this season), since people will probably not have the finances to pay the prices that have literally doubled. People still own and earn the same amount, but for the same money that they were able to buy two bags of fertilizer with the last season, they can now only buy one.

 Carl talking to the participants from our area

When any rain comes down, we have to prepare the land

We thank you for all the support to make it possible to help some people- this is for many their only income. We also received the bigger tractor from South Africa, to try and help as fast and efficiently as possible.

To help in the process of making the project self-sufficient, we have a few projects running. Some you know about: the little shop- for which we had to train yet another shop keeper, due to fraud, and the chickens for eggs, which is doing extremely well. This we will soon expand as the demand increases. We also sell soya oil that we buy from a farmer on a commercial farm, at a very good price, and then resell. The need for oil in the country has also gone up, since the government has made all import of oil illegal, to try and stimulate the local market after the recent collapse.

Then we also have the maize mill project that I wrote about last time. Carl and the share holders are talking about making the mill mobile, so as to help people who in especially rainy season struggle to travel.  This will be a win-win situation. With help from Hope Builders Ministries (HBM) we have now also invested in a machine to process the maize even further into a form that they really enjoy, and we receive the residual as feed for our chickens. 

Mills

Carl teaching in a church

Furthermore we rent out our two wheel tractor (with driver) with a trailer. People make use of the tractor to move their blocks that they make next to the river, to where they are building their houses. Also for transporting their firewood.

The property development, is almost done, and the community development is running. But apart from all this, it is really important for us to take the time to learn and understand the culture. It is taking time, but we can see how people trust and accept us.

Addition by Ilne:

Carl’s last sentences sounds so easy, but it truly is not always. Our new shopkeeper has recently left her husband, who is a well-educated young man, because he impregnated another girl while their own baby was maybe 3-4 months old. Then he decided to ‘marry’ both. Men are completely allowed to discipline their wives by ‘beating’- and it is no secret. And then the men are surprised when I don’t agree with their methods. The intimacy rituals are not to be repeated in front of children, it is un…. I don’t know what. It is under these circumstances that we know it is only God that can change somebody, remove the heart of stone and replace it with a heart of flesh. Do they deserve it, no, neither do I, it is grace. We recently had guests and we talked about this, and the one gentleman said, they have to let go of their ‘culture’ here, and become a ‘citizen’ of the Kingdom of God, there in lies the Hope. So, while we are learning the culture, it is not to just accept it, but to know what their way of thinking is. And to speak into that, speak Truth.  

It is great to see things move forward as Carl has described, but there is enough failure along the way to keep us humbly on our knees, where we should be. It is grace!

Home report: Isabel is doing well, though extremely tiny, a little doll. Rashelle’s finished her first year, and doing very well. Tim has done very well since the birth of Isabel- he has suddenly become an older brother. He is burning to start with school, but I want to wait till Rashelle can read well. Simon will continue with crèche, adding an extra morning next year, for the sake of his English. The boys were in the school concert recently- too cute. Simon did not understand the fuss, and was heavily annoyed with the lights in his eyes. I wrote my nursing exam, expecting the results in February. But don’t ask if you hear nothing, I have no idea if I will pass. And Carl had his first baby named after him J

Rashelle’s graduation                                           

Simon’s in the middle- looking as happy as he felt

I would like to just mention something else. We are fast growing out of the ministry vehicle we are currently using. We need to find a reasonably priced, 4by4 with enough seats. If this resounds with you, we would appreciate some help. We have some money saved, but not quite enough.

And besides all this so many small/big things happen daily: we have had many family members sick, carl burnt himself quite badly, Isabel needs to grow and develop, Simon has been diagnosed with asthma, and things break down endlessly. ‘Pray without cease’- says the Bible. Let’s do that for one another, please. Phil 4:4-7

I hope to soon be able to say “Merry Christmas”, till then, be blessed

Family Paalman

Nederlandse Nieuwsbrief December

December: De laatste dagen van het jaar 2015 breken alweer aan. De tijd vliegt. Ik kan me niet herinneren wanneer ik de laatste nieuwsbrief heb geschreven. Het wordt dus hoog tijd om weer iets van ons te laten horen.

Het is inmiddels alweer bijna 10 weken geleden dat Isabel is geboren. Na een week van bijna niets drinken heeft ze nu de slag te pakken. Haar gewicht viel naar 2.2 kilo. Een kleintje dus. Ze groeit nog steeds langzaam maar gaat vooruit. Het warme weer en het opgeven helpen hier ook niet in mee. In het begin sliep ze ook veel, maar nu is ze wel vaker wakker.

Met Ilne gaat het ook goed en is herstelt van de operatie. Het was wel een hele drukke tijd voor haar. We hebben geen hulp gehad behalve dat vrouwen uit de kerk de eerste twee weken maaltijden voor ons gemaakt hadden.

Rashelle is haar tweede moedertje en geniet van om de baby te helpen verzorgen (eigenlijk is zij een beetje de thuishulp). De jongens vinden het ook leuk maar hun aandacht is een beetje minder. En als vader moet ik er aan wennen dat zij er is. Ze is redelijk stil en dan is het allemaal nog een beetje onwerkelijk. Het zal nog wel komen. Het was een redelijke drukke periode. Een paar keer gasten gehad wat erg leuk was, ook voor de kinderen om Nederlands te praten en grote “speelmaatjes” te hebben.

Bedankt voor de muisjes!

Daarnaast ook vaak naar Lusaka geweest om ons werk permit te vernieuwen. Een tijdrovende bezigheid maar we hebben het toch gekregen. Ook de verschillende werkzaamheden bij huis vatten veel tijd omdat er geregeld dingen kapot gingen en om het te repareren kost soms veel tijd. De schuur is nu bij klaar, wat erg lekker is want we hebben nu meer bergruimte en werkruimte. We kunnen nu meer in de schaduw werken. Het resterende van het kippenhok is nu ook bijna klaar. We hadden een project met “village” kippen, maar dat was niet zo’n succes. Er was een ziekte en al de kuikens zijn doodgegaan. We wachten nu maar tot na het regenseizoen.

Mais stoor

Voor kippen etc

Met het regenseizoen voor de deur zijn we begonnen met ons programma voor “conservation farming” (behoudende landbouw). We hebben 34 deelnemers die ieder op krediet bemesting zaad en kalk krijgen. Op voorwaarde dat er een aantal regels gevolgd moeten worden.  Er wordt niets gratis weggegven. We hopen op een zakelijk manier de mensen te laten inzien dat er meer potentiaal in hun land zit. Speciaal nu de kwacha (zambiaans geldeenheid) zover gekeldert is. Volgend jaar zal er waarschijnlijk een kleinere oogst zijn want veel mensen hebben niet extra geld om de prijzen die zijn verdubbelt, te betalen. De mensen verdienen nog steeds hetzelfde. Het is nu 1 zak bemesting voor de prijs waar je er vorig jaar nog twee voor kon kopen.

 Carl praat met mensen

En bij enige regen word het grond voorbereiden

We danken daarom ook de ondersteuners voor de support om in elk geval een aantal mensen te kunnen helpen. Een paar maanden terug hebben we een ook tractor uit Zuid Afrika gekregen samen met een paar werktuigen. We hopen dat dit ons ook kan helpen om betere diensten te leveren.

Om de plek zelfstandig te krijgen hebben een paar projecten opgezet. De eerste is ons winkeltje. Helaas hebben we net onze “shopkeepster” moeten ontslaan vanwege verduistering. We hebben nu een nieuwe shopkeepster. Het tweede is project zijn onze legkippen. Dit project loopt goed en we hopen uit te breiden in de toekomst om aan de vraag te kunnen voldoen. We verkopen in onze shop, in nabij gelegen shops en vrienden. Waarschijnlijk zal dit na het regen seizoen zijn. Verder verkopen we soja olie wat we kopen bij een vriend en dit weer verkopen. Dit gaat nog een beetje op en neer sinds de kwaliteit niet geschikt is om te frituren maar alleen voor bakken en braden.

Het ene laatste project is een gemeenschapsproject met een molen om mais te malen. Het is de bedoeling dat de gemeenschap eigenaar word van de molen maar dit is nog gedeeltelijk. Samen met de ‘share holders’ praten we nu om de molen meer rendabel te maken door hem mobiel te maken en langs de plekken te gaan waar geen molen is. We kunnen zo mensen helpen en tegelijkertijd geld voor het project genereren. Daarnaast hebben we nu een machine die de mais kan bewerken zodat mensen er een speciaal meel van kunnen maken.

Molens

Carl leert in een kerk

En verder verhuren we onze twee wiel tractor met aanhang wagen uit. De mensen vervoeren meestal hun blokken mee om hun huizen te bouwen. De blokken worden gemaakt langs de rivier en dan getransporteerd naar hun plek waar ze verblijven. Ook wordt er brandhout mee vervoerd.

Buiten het opzetten van de plek zijn we dus ook bezig met ontwikkelingswerk maar ook om relaties te bouwen met mensen en de cultuur beter te leren kennen. Dit neemt tijd maar we merken dat de mensen ons vertrouwen en accepteren.

Bijvoeging van Ilne:

Carl slaap al diep na een lange dag, dus ik ga mijn best proberen om zelf te schrijven. Wij zien het project dus mooi vooruitgaan, al is daar steeds vaak mislukkingen, zo leren we. Gewoon nederig genoeg blijven om het te erkennen.

Thuis: Wij genieten ontzaglijk veel van Isabel. Zij is nog onze popje. Rashelle hebt pas haar eerste jaar school afgemaakt, ik verstom mij dagelijks over hoe goed zij het alles oppiekt. Tim brand om te beginnen, maar ik ga nog effe wachten tot Mei volgende jaar, en dus Rashelle’s leer lezen degelijk afmaakten. Tim heeft de geboorte van Isabel heel goed opgepakt- ineens ouboet geworden. Simon gaat vanaf volgende jaar drie ochtenden in de week na kleuterschool (ging nu twee ochtenden)- ook voor zijn Engels. Hij en Tim waren pas in de school concert- schattig. Ik hebt tussen alles door mijn verpleeg examen geschreven- maar weest maar niet te verbaas als jullie er niet weer van horen. Ik hebt al meer vergeten dan ik gedacht hadden. Wij horen eerst in Februari wat. Carl heeft zichzelf erg verbrand (is nu al weer goed) en hebt zijn eerste baby na hem vernoemdJ

Rashelle’s concert                                                    

                                                          Simon is in middel- hij vond het helemaal niets.

Ik wil graag wat anders noemen. Wij willen graag een speciale verzoek bekent maakten voor mensen die ons misschien kunnen helpen. Wij gebruikten het voertuig van het bediening, en tot nu toe was het voldoende. Maar onze gezin groei nu snel de voertuig uit. Wij moeten een voertuig die 4 bij 4 zijn, en dan met genoeg zitplekken- dat laat ons met weinig opties. Wij hebben wat opgespaard, maar gaat het nog niet helemaal redden, dus als u er mee kunnen helpen, dan zou wij het heel veel waarderen.

Tussen het alles door, is zoveel gebeurt. Ziekte van familie leden, vrienden, Carl heeft zichzelf sleg verbrandt, Isabel’s ontwikkeling geeft zorgen, Simon word met astma gediagnoseerd, en dingen die eindeloos kapot gaan. ‘Bid zonder ophouden’- zegt de Bijbel. Laat wij het alstublieft voor elkaar doen. Fil 4:4-7

Ik hopen om binnenkort Kerst wensen te kunnen uitstuur, tot dan, veel zegen toegewenst,

Gezin Paalman

Community

I will use this photo again in the (hopefully) soon to appear newsletter. But it made me so excited that I thought I am just quickly going to share it with you.

It has taken two years, but the community is starting to buy into this whole developing thing. Our point is to show to them that God has placed in their hands what they need to develop themselves. This afternoon Carl had a meeting where people could come and sign-in for conservation farming training. Two years back only his own workers arrived for the meeting, with their wives. Now, this was the turn out:

 I secretly took the picture from our front door, so excuse the plants.

Will you please pray with us, that people will take this and run with it. That people will not see us as their providers, but God, who is the One who knows about them and cares for them, and has given them all they need.

4 Paalman seeds

Tim 5

To keep to tradition, I'll keep posting the children's birthdays. Then you can kind of keep up with their growth.
Tim made it to 5 years this month. He has matured amazingly over the last months, and it was with a joy that we could celebrate this big day.
It was one long space ship day:

Happy birthday, big boy!!

Isabel 2

I quickly just want to share the choosing of her name. We were thinking of something classical, maybe naming a family member, and were discussing Isabel, but hadn't decided. Then we were in church one day, praying for some of our brothers who were really in a valley of their lives. And then the Holy Spirit started to whisper in my heart: This is a Child of Promise. He has not given up hope on us, there is always promise when we are close to Him. This kept rushing over me like a wave: this is a child of Promise. Not just for us, but for all those dry souls who need the promise and Hope of God.

We came home, and Carl googled: Child of Promise. And up came: Isabel. Since her birth, Carl has been trying to find the website again, and have not been able to do so. Isabel means 'dedicated to God'. But when we needed to remember, Isabel meant that God has Hope for all of us.

Isabel

Born on the 2nd of October in Monze Mission Hospital, our little daughter and sister, joining our family.

Named after Ilne’s grandmother. Consecrated to God is the meaning of her name. We thank and praise our heavenly Father for this wonder.

Geboren op 2 October in het Monze Mission Hospitaal, is onze nieuwste telg in de familie. Een prachtig klein dochtertje van 2.6 kg.

Vernoemd naar Ilne’s ouma. Toegewijd aan God is de betekenis van haar naam. We danken en loven onze Hemelse Vader voor dit groot wonder. 

Newsletter September 2015

This is going to be a quick one. In three days time, I will be going into hospital for the ceasarian section, at least that is the plan. The 2^nd of October 2015. Don’t ask me anything more, this is Africa, you wait your turn. We are all pumped, especially the children- though Tim is a little worried about this cutting business. But by Saturday we hope to reach you again with good news. Will you please pray with us that God’s Hand will be over all the happenings- the doctor, the stay in hospital, the work here? Our eyes are fixed on the Creator of Life- what Hope He gives!!

But I just didn’t want to leave without a quick update on happenings here, otherwise it might be forgotten. It has been a busy time. Carl has put in many hours to change our house around (again) so that there is space for one more soul. Even though she is small, she still takes a lot of space. So, he’s moved our office out of bedroom, made a baby corner, and finished the veranda, that I’m already using as spare bedroom for the hot nights.

We had our last visitors end of August. My mom was in Zambia with a group doing their yearly woman’s conferences (Lydia’s circle). They had some unexpected time free, and we were so happy to have them over.

The chicken house, for broilers (meat chickens) is almost done. They are busy with the flooring and then Carl has struck a deal with the local church, chicks in exchange for cement. We are planning to fatten them on home made feed in time for a nice Christmas.  

Our biggest event has been the opening of the mill. Local farmers have become stock holders in the mill, meaning they are as community buying the mill. They are benefited by cheap milling. We provide the diesel engine and labour for the milling at a very small cost. Thus, as Carl said at the opening, the community is bringing it’s own development. The people are proud as anything, and they did it themselves.

Milling days, are quite the social event at our house;)

Now, who said I can’t keep it short. For the rest it is hot, windy and dusty- Africa.

Be blessed by our Heavenly Father,

Till we meet again

The big 4-0

After a few hectic months, in which we rarely had time as family alone, we finally got to celebrate Carl's big birthday. We did so just with the 5 of us in a quiet corner.

We pray that there are still many fruitful years ahead of Carl. Years of Godly wisdom, health and joy. We are endlessly thankful for the time He has already blessed us together.

Tractor

So, Carl was finally able to get the tractor over the border. She is now here, and I'm not sure who's most excited.

Newsletter August 2015

The last few months of our lives, we have been doing many new things. One of those ‘new things’ has been actively going around telling people about our work, with the goal of fundraising. Sounds like such a simple thing, but it does not come all that naturally, to be honest. One of the hardest parts, is being introduced: “We would like to introduce you to our missionary Carl/Ilne Paalman.”

It honestly does not fill me with the joy, maybe it should. Because every time I hear my name in the same sentence as the word missionary, it is meant as a compliment, but all I hear, is RESPONSIBILITY.

The Lord has trusted us with His Good news, and all the good works He planned for us (Eph 2:10). But my question is: is that more true for the person sitting in the bush in Zambia, than for the teacher in a public school, or the mom in the line at the supermarket? So, I’d like to propose a theory that we are all missionaries, and that the only difference is our mission field.

At least then, I can share my responsibility with you.

So, myself (Ilne) and our oldest daughter took on the flight to America. I was thinking of all those long ago hero’s of the faith who got on boats with no return ticket. And I took off my hat.

We were constantly aware of God’s leading. In the first place I got to stay in my mom’s house. Now as I mentioned last time, I have been struggling more with this pregnancy. And it was such relief to let my mom worry, and me just lay there. Nice and selfless, won’t you say. But no truly, it really did me well to just relax. It took my almost a week, to just feel strong again, and I thank the Lord for that week. Sorry, to all the people who had to listen to me babble in that week.

                                          My father organized several speaking engagements.

Rashelle came back, with every intention of returning to the ‘promised land’ as soon as possible. She had a great time with her cousins. She came back with lots of stories of fireworks, and big supermarkets to tell her brothers.  It was also great to meet my youngest niece, a sweet little soul of nine months.

                                                                    Tea party with cousins and grandma

                                                                    Tea party with cousins and grandma

God graced the efforts, through many generous people, and it is now possible to start the project in all seriousness. As I’m writing, Carl is on the border waiting for a tractor to arrive from South Africa. It’s happening in true African style- he has been waiting for four days. Meanwhile he has invested in a toothbrush, because he left with nothing, since it was suppose to be a quick trip. I guess some donkeys do hit their heads more than once.

Seriously though, thank you so much for all the people who have contributed in the last month. It is exciting to see things starting to happen. And as things progress, we hope you get more excited with us.

Here is some of the progress:

I’m keeping the pictures big enough to see. So, one of our first implements has been a ‘sheller’- to remove the kernels from the cob. The sheller is run from our little two wheel tractor’s diesel engine. Carl estimated that they did about 1000bags. People pay in maize, and in this way we are saving up the ‘payment’ for the use of people’s land in the coming rainy season.

 The walls of the maize storage has also been finished. This enables us to store people’s maize safely for a few cents per month, so that they don’t lose their crop, and also we can store our own supply for the program.

All in an effort to help our community farm more effectively. The big push will come November, when our rains arrive. God willing.

And as I’ve mentioned, Carl is awaiting the tractor that will also be used in that effort.

Meanwhile, we also had our first guests for the year. Some friends looking to relocate to Zambia visited just before I left for two days, and it was such fun to have them here. Trying to tell them as many stories as possible, to convince them what a great place this is. I never took a picture L, so you”ll have to wait to see their faces, plus I need their permission before introducing them.

Then Carl came down to South Africa to come get me, Rashelle and my father. We celebrated my grandfather’s 90th birthday, what an honour. I saw some family I haven’t seen for more than a decade (there is the only resemblance between myself and those missionaries from long-long ago). And it was good.

We drove up and then had some more friends come out for the European summer- escaping tropical weather by coming to Africa, there’s irony for you. Again, the children had a ball. They were seriously considering hiding in the luggage. We met the two girls while working at Goeie Hoop, and they were curious to see how things run here.

 To be honest, there’s not so much touristy things to do around here. But we tried to take them to the few things available. Gave us a days rest too.

So, if you plan to come see us, expected to be dazzled by dust and cows. And we might even throw in some chores for you to do.

Anyway, we loved it.

There you go, you’ve just about caught up with our lives. I’m in the home run of this pregnancy, and still do need some prayers. I’m doing well, but need to be doing superwell, to make sure that the gynae is willing to do my c/section here. So, will you please pray with us. We have 6/7 weeks to go. I decided to postpone my nursing exam, since me stress tolerance at the moment is about zero.

This afternoon I was called to our front door. There was a little two year old girl with a cloth wrapped around her hand. Turns out there’s not much left of her thumb.  Not one single tear. It’s a tough world, in desperate need of a Father’s love. And it is needed just as much in the grocery store and schools all around the world, as it is in the bush in Zambia. So, you go, missionary…

Blessings,

Real gifts

It was my birthday recently. And it is the first year that my children were truly excited for me, much more than me, to be honest. So they made me something:

The coins were Tim's complete earthly treasures currently. And somehow these little tokens meant more that the most expensive bottle of parfume.

And then their father added his own bit of magic:

My first warm bath in our own home. It's winter, it was beautiful!!

Field trip

One of the nice things about homeschooling is that it is very family geared. We recently had a field trip to a 5000 hectare farm. It was suppose to be Rashelle's but her brothers were welcome with and I think they had much more fun.

Here we are on a combine watching up to eight lines being harvested at the same time. Comparing it to at home where one cob is harvested at a time. Quite amazing!

Hope this gets Simon excited about school.