Praying for Rain

So, I wish I had some grand stories to share, but alas I do not. Some of you have asked what our days look like. We still don't have a normal schedule, and I am guessing it will be at least another 2 months before we fall into a regular routine. The kids have just finished up school for the year, and now we are on Christmas break until January 12th.

Generally...
5 am April wakes and Steve usually isn't too far behind
6 am the kids are up and getting ready for school
7 am depart for school (school begins at 7:15 am)
8 am Work day begins at There is Hope
Noon - 1:30 it's time for lunch and picking up the kids from school
             Jessie is dismissed at Noon
             Charlie is dismissed at 12:30
             Casey is dismissed at 1:00
             Jack is dismissed at 1:30.....so we are still working out how to pick them all up. Lately we've picked up Jessie and Charlie and taken them home, then one of us goes back for Casey and Jack. Any suggestions????
4:30 Work day ends
8 pm bedtime

Our evenings are usually pretty "quiet" meaning we don't have much going on. Our kids seem to come to life around 5:30 pm when the temperatures begin to drop. Most nights they are outside playing very loud games of tag with our neighbor Diya. Monday and Wednesday night Jenn and I head to aerobics. We're the only mzungus (white people) there and this white girl has white girl rhythm...so I do a fair about of laughing at myself. I haven't been able to get too many runs in, so aerobics is a great alternative.

The sun rises every morning around 4:30/5:00 and sets every evening around 6:00. Our average temperature is near 90. This is suppose to be the rainy season; however the rains have not begun yet. The rains are about a month late and many Malawians are beginning to worry about a drought. The President has called for all churches and Christians to pray and fast this weekend, asking God to send the rains. I wonder if President Obama would ever call the nation to prayer and fasting???

This week there was some sort of explosion at a power plant. The result: more frequent power cuts and water cuts. We went without water for a couple of days. I didn't know about the water cuts on Tuesday and accidently drained our reserve tank doing laundry. Luckily we had plenty of drinking water in the fridge. Wednesday night the water came back on and we filled every bucket and pitcher we had. Our reserve tank if full again as well. Not sure if the water we are getting is from our tank or from the city, so we continue to use it sparingly.

Water is life. I've never really thought about how much water I use/waste until now. It's even more glaring when I think about the lack of rain. Many if not most Malawians depend on farming for food and income. No rain means so much suffering. No rain means no power because most of Malawi's power is generated from a damn on the Shire River. Please join us, and the nation of Malawi as we pray for rain.

First day at a new school

The kids started school at African Bible College Christian Academy (ABCCA) on Monday. After two weeks of running all over town with mom and dad trying to set up a new house in a new country the kids were definitely ready to get into a routine and have something of meaning to call their own. All four kids have great teachers. Jack's teacher is the mother of Charlie's teacher. Jessie's teacher worked in Dzaleka last year setting up the special needs program in the camp. Casey's teacher is in her second year at ABCCA.

All four kids start their school day at 7:15. So the kids are up and out of bed by 6 am. We leave for school around 7 am. Jessie gets out of school at 12:00. Charlie gets out at 12:30. Casey gets out at 1:00. Jack gets out at 1:30. So we need to figure out a system for pick up. A lot of the ABC families have after school activities and their children just stay and play and run around. Monday Steve and I arrived early to get Jessie. Today we decided that waiting around at the school for 1 1/2 hours was not the best use of our time. So we gathered Jessie and Charlie and went home. Steve helped them with lunch and homework while I went back for Casey and Jack. Casey and I worked on our homework. (I am trying to learn Chichewa). This seems to be an alright system, other than it wastes some gas. We'll have to decide what is more valuable...our time or fuel.

Charlie's classroom

Jessie's playground

Lower elementary corridor

We have a language helper that comes to the house at 2:00 every week day to help us learn Chichewa. Her name is Jacinta. She is Malawian, of Portuguese decent. She can speak English perfectly, as well as Chichewa and Portuguese. She also attends Capital City Baptist Church in Lilongwe, the same church we have been worshiping at. We are thankful for the time Jacinta takes with us, especially while the kids are milling about after school.

We have slowly started integrating ourselves into work. Steve is busy building shelves and planning for an "office remodel" as There is Hope is adding 3 new staff people and potentially more. I have been helping with Kibebe projects. This Saturday I plan to bring the Kibebe books, shopping bags, picnic blankets, Christmas stockings, Christmas cards, and Christmas oraments to a Farmers Market in town. This will be our first go at this type of venue. I may even have a chance to teach Sunday School next Sunday at a refugee church here in town.

Shopping for school supplies with our friend and neighbor Diya

Hanging out with Uncle Inno at the church picnic

Church picnic

The other exciting bit of information is Thanksgiving. Many of you are planning a big spread, and so are we. We will celebrate Thanksgiving with the Torngas and Magambis on Saturday. Our menu is as close to traditional as we can be: Chicken and ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, rolls, green beans, veggie tray, pumpkin pie, apple crisp, and ice cream. It will be a feast for sure. We'll miss our family and friends in Michigan! But not the snow, cold, and black Friday mayhem.

Dzaleka Camp Tumaini Festival

 

 

We had the opportunity to go to the first annual Dzaleka Camp Tumaini Festival today. What a fantastic event full of many talented artists. Our favorite was the Burundian Drummers. Enjoy the pictures.

Wonderful Send-off and Safe Travels

After selling the house, giving away and selling most all of our worldly goods, we move into my parents house for our final week in Hudsonville. They were very gracious and let the shoes pile up the door, the toys scatter from one end of the house to the other, and our luggage stacked up to the ceiling.

On November 5 we finished our packing: 14 suitcase/totes, 6 carry-on bags, and 6 backpacks. (Yes, 26 bags in all, it took 3 vehicles to get us to the airport.)

It was great to have so many of our family and friends come to the airport to see us off. It was great to eat one last meal together and share some laughter and some tears. 

We arrived in Malawi on Friday November 7. All of our bags made it with us Praise God! The travel was flawless...except 2 of the 4 kids loss their lunch due to turbulence.

Rocking the Boat

We are just 3 weeks away from moving to Malawi.  Hard to believe. 

Just this week I met with a friend who shared a bit of a sermon he had just heard and it resonated with me.

Thinking about how Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water.  When he got out of the boat the boat was rocked.  What did the other disciples do? think? how were they changed?

When Jesus called Peter and Andrew, James and John they were in a boat.  They left their family fishing boats for follow Jesus.  They left one boat for a new one. But have you ever thought about the boat they left. They rocked a their father's boat. How did leaving the family business effect their fathers, mothers, bothers?

I've been struggling with knowing how to leave our life in Hudsonville (our boat) for our new life in Malawi without causing too much pain. We are leaving very dear family and close friends here as we step out of the boat and walk by faith to our new boat.

A little rocking of the boat is good.  It wakes people up, makes us take inventory of what is important. I just don't want to capsize anyone.

Steve and I were chatting during a run and he asked how I was doing watching other people fill the positions I've left. I am so happy to see Mindy Jeltema doing a fabulous job with the Children and Worship Program at church. I am blessed to have my dear friend Brandi VanHouten lead the Mom's in Prayer group for Park Elementary. My getting out of these boats has made room for two terrific women to step in and breath new life into these areas.

It is my prayer that we will rock your boat just a little bit when we leave. Look around, evaluate what God is doing around you.  Is he asking you to change positions in the boat?  Or does he want you to take the step and leave the boat you're in?

Please join us Sunday Novemember 2nd at Fellowship Reformed Church in Hudsonville.  Worship begins at 6:00 pm, and we will have a time of fellowship together following the service at 7:00pm. This will be a chance to say "see you later" because we don't want to say good bye.

Benefit Concert - Beyond All Expectations

Months of planning and preparations went in to the Benefit Concert held on August 8.  It all started when Holly Placzek offered to host a barn sale for us at their Allendale home.  About a week later Holly approached us to say she was still willing to host the sale, but she had an even better idea.  A concert.

Holly and her husband Drew are both very talented musicians.  Drew is the worship leader at our home church, Fellowship Reformed, and he was recruited to help Holly with the planning and organizing. 

Together Drew and Holly put together an amazing event. None of us had any idea what to expect from a benefit concert on a Friday night in the middle of the summer.  Holly was hoping for a standing room only crowd, I was hoping she wouldn't be disappointed.  I have no idea how many people actually showed up for the concert, it was a great turnout, but not standing room only. It didn't matter.  The variety of music was perfect.  The performers were talented and generous with their time. 

 
 


To date more that $13,000 was raised by the concert for the work we will be doing in Malawi with There is Hope.  We don't know how to begin to thank everyone involved!

Thank you to Holly and Drew who faithfully followed the Holy Spirit's leading and took up the challenge to organize the Benefit Concert. 

Thank you to all the musicians who gave of their time and talents!

Thank you to Fellowship Reformed Church for hosting the concert.

Thank you to everyone who came out and gave so generously.





















Our greatest needs continue to be for prayer support, and monthly supporters.  We cannot do this without you.  You are as much a part of this ministry as we are.

Please pray for the kids as they will begin school here in just a couple of weeks.  Their lives continue to be uncertain, not knowing when we will be leaving for Malawi.
 
Please pray that God will continue to raise up financial partners who are able to give on a monthly or annual basis.  We are at 85% of our monthly funding goal.  We must have 100% pledge before we can purchase our plane tickets.
 
Please pray that housing would become available for us in Lilongwe near our There is Hope teammates. 
 
Please pray for the right family or individual to rent our house here in Hudsonville.
 
Please pray for Steve and I as we take an online language learning class September 15 - October 3.
 
Pray for the family and friends we will be leaving behind as this is a transition time for all of us.
 
 

                                                                                                                                                                                  

 

 

 



Join our partnership teams at: https://www.iteams.us/give

There is Hope Malawi - Palmbos Family Benefit Concert

There is Hope Malawi - Palmbos Family Benefit Concert

Friday August 8, 7 PM

 

Fellowship Reformed Church

6610 36th Ave

Hudsonville

 

No tickets necessary.  Free will offering will be taken.

 

Jordan Nederveld

Carolyn Biezunski and Carrie Holstege

Drew and Holly Placzek

A fantastic night of music and fellowship is planned for you to enjoy:

 Jazz, Rock, Southern Gospel, and Spirituals. 

 

Come out and enjoy the music.  Meet the Palmbos Family.

 

Hear what God is doing in the lives of refugees in Malawi. 

 

Partner with the Palmbos Family and International Teams USA.

 

To give online https://www.iteams.us/give

 

 



Training

We've just spent 3 weeks in Elgin Il. with the staff of International Teams USA and 11 other trainees.  It was an amazing 3 weeks.  The kids had the opportunity to meet other kids embarking on a similar journey.  They also had the opportunity to meet and interact with kids who have already lived out the "missionary kid" life. 

Last week Wednesday night we had a group dinner at the home of Brad and Sandi Miller.  Brad is the ITeams Discipleship Catalyst.  He and Sandi spent 13ish years serving in Quito Ecuador with their two daughters, Sarah and Hannah.  Sarah and Hannah were about the age of our kids when they moved to Ecuador. 

Before the kids were dismissed from dinner to watch a movie Brad gathered them all around and showed them a picture of his family in Ecuador when they had first arrived.  When they stopped giggling about the "young" Brad, the kids were all ears.  Brad spoke life and truth into them.  He encouraged them to embrace the call God has for our family.  The "call" isn't just for mom and dad.  We are a family "on mission".  THANK YOU BRAD!

Week 2 of our training was probably the best, and the hardest.  Soul care was the focus of the week.  We spent time creating life maps.  We laid our life out on post-it notes.  We wrote down the people, places, things, events, verses, and ah-ha moments that have shaped our lives.  We asked the tough questions about which of those things had negatively impacted us?  What bitterness, hurt, pain, or unforgiveness were still in our souls?  And what did we need to bring Jesus to be transformed?

ITeams is all about seeing lives and communities transformed by the power of Christ.  It was a powerful week, recognizing that Christ has also transformed my life.

Last Friday all of our efforts came together as we presented our life maps to the staff and training group.  Every life map was as different as the individual presenting it.  Here is a glimpse at ours.  I am guessing you can figure out whose is whose.

One of our assignments for Access Training was to interview an immigrant preferably from the area we are going to serve.  We were supposed to ask them questions related to what they experienced when they moved here, because we will most likely experience the same things when we move to Malawi. Where and how do we find someone like this in West Michigan?  April came across a Facebook page for an organization called Thrive.  Thrive assists, equips, and walks along side resettled refugees until they can function and thrive on their own.  The 3 month "grace period" for these people to figure out their new way of life isn't nearly enough, so Thrive walks them through a 5 year program.  April sent them a message, and it didn't take long for their representative, David, to give us a call.  David explained that their church, South Wyoming United Methodist, started this ministry, and now worships with nearly 40 refugees each Sunday.  After explaining what we are planning to do, David invited us to worship with them and stay after for classes and fellowship.  On June 22 we joined SWUMC for worship.  As we walked up to the church that morning, I was frustrated that the woman in front of us was taking her sweet time as she made her way to the door.  It would have been rude to pass her, so we slowed down and followed her in.  Shortly after entering the building, David came and introduced himself to us and immediately introduced us to a refugee couple, Charles and Monica.  Monica happened to be the woman we followed in.  They were happy to meet us and began telling us in broken english how they came to America from a refugee camp in Tanzania just North of Malawi.  As we shared our story, their faces lit up when we told them about our move to Malawi.  When we mentioned that we will be working in Dzaleka Refugee Camp, Monica just about started crying, and explained that their daughter and 3 grandchildren live in the camp.  They were so excited at the possibility of us finding her, and weren't going to let us leave until we had every last bit of contact information they could think of.  This was already way more than completing an assignment. After the church service we were able to meet more people from the camp in Tanzania, and sit in on the refugee youth choir rehearsal.   What a great experience.  We experienced another part of Africa that day, and it was only 15 minutes from home. We plan to visit them again soon, and are excited to spend time with our new friends.  This is a growing ministry with lots of needs.  If this sounds interesting to you, let us know.  Or you can go to the Thrive Facebook page to learn more.

Fellowship Reformed VBS

The 3rd week in June is ALWAYS  a great week, and usually the highlight of the summer.  For the past 11 years I have been involved with Fellowship's VBS is one way or another.  But this year was extra special.  The education team chose "us" to be the VBS mission this year.  The children were challenged to raise $3000 toward the work we will be doing with International Teams and There is Hope Malawi. 

We heard stories of boys and girls who raided their piggy banks, taking out the $5, $10, and even $20 bills to put in the offering buckets.  One grandmother shared that her grandkids had been selling firewood to earn money this summer, and they took their earnings and placed it in the bucket.  Many boys and girls did extra chores around the house just to earn $ to bring in.  At the end of Wednesday the giving total was just over $1800.  You can imagine our surprise when at the celebration event Thursday night Vicki announced the grand total...$5,097.97.  WOW!

A special "thank you" to Vicki, Pastor Shawn, Pastor Mike, and Pastor Jeremy who encouraged the kids with a friendly competition between the boys and the girls.  And an extra special "thank you" to Pastor Jeremy and Professor NoClue for taking a pie in the face.

So where are we at now?  We are preparing for our last leg of training with International Teams.  The entire family heads to Elgin July 6 - 25.  In September Steve and I will take a language acquisition course online through Wheaton College.  Once the training and language class are complete the only thing holding us back will be our funding.  Currently we are at 63% of our total monthly funding. We are continuing to contact individuals, churches and businesses in hopes of making partnerships for the work we will be doing.  Our greatest need right now if for monthly and annual supporters.  You can give on line at www.iteams.us/give, please be sure to include our name when making a donation.  Thank you!

Save the Date: 

 

There is Hope Malawi -  Palmbos Family Benefit Concert

Friday August 8 7 PM

Fellowship Reformed Church

A night of great music with many different local artist and a variety of music to suit everyone's taste.  A love offering will be taken.