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.
 

Blown away by the Park Elementary Community

Last month I shared that Casey's 3rd grade class was making and selling greeting cards as their spring service project.  I am so excited to tell you that the 3rd graders at Park Elementary sold over 700 cards, and raised over $700.  CAN YOU EVEN BELIEVE IT? 

The kids got together after school on a Tuesday afternoon, and in 1 1/2 hours they cranked out the cards.

Amazing!

As a group they decided that the money they earned would go to the Ministry of Hope Crisis Nursery in Lilongwe, Malawi.  The Crisis Nursery was definitely our kids favorite part of living in Malawi last summer.  We visited the nursery a couple of afternoons a week and play with the children. Casey hasn't stopped talking about her special friend Tionga.  Casey even wrote a special report for her class about the Crisis Nursery.

You can learn more about Ministry of Hope and the Crisis Nursery at minisryofhope.org

Charlie's 1st grade class also decided to make Malawi the focus of their spring "give back" event.  They held a read-a-thon the Wednesday before spring break.  After asking their family and friends to sponsor them, they read over 2 1/2 hours and had special guest readers.  Donations continued to come in over spring break, and this morning Mrs. Hossink's class surprised us with the grand total....

Drum roll please..............................................................................................$976

 

Mrs. Hossink's first graders are sending the $ they raised to There is Hope to help purchase playground equipment and garden supplies.

 

 

Thank you so much Mrs. Gitler and Mrs. Hossink for taking the time to plan these special events! 

 

Thank you Park Elementary for showing your love and support for Malawi and for our family!

Park Pride

This spring Casey's teacher, Mrs. Gitler, has chosen to make There is Hope their class project.  The 3rd graders in Mrs. Gitler's class are taking orders for handmade greeting cards they will be making on April 1. 

All money raised will go directly to support There is Hope.  You can get more information about There is Hope at https:www.thereishopemalawi.org

You can purchase:

Christmas Card Pack ($5): An assortment of 5 homemade Christmas cards.


Birthday Card Pack ($5): An assortment of birthday themed cards.

Thank You Card 5 Pack ($5)

Assortment Pack of 5 cards - Christmas, Valentine's Day, Birthday, Thank You, Thinking of you. ($5)

Note Card 5 pack ($5) - Choose the letter monogram you would like on the front.


* Please note that card designs will vary from pictures...But you will love them!

Be still

It seems to me like it has been a LONG, COLD winter.  I've been reminding myself that it's only February.  Well, tomorrow is March and this LONG, COLD winter doesn't seem to want to loosen it's grip.  I am temped to jump on the bandwagon and grumble about it, but instead I have chosen to look at what God might be doing.  What great reason does he have for all this snow and the cold?  There has to be something unbelievable coming!

The phrase "Be Still" comes to mind.  I've been forced to slow down and be still.  It's difficult to get busy when it's so cold, the roads are bad, and the kids are home from school for another snow day.  What wonderful blessings come from "Being Still."

Exodus 14:14 "The Lord will fight for you; you need only be still."


I Samuel 12:16 "Now then, stand still and see this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes!"
 
Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
 
Zechariah 2:13 "Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling."

What is it that has you and me busy?  What is it that has us worried and running around?  We need only to "Be Still".  God himself will fight for us; He will do great things before our eyes; We will see him exalted among the nations; He will rouse himself from his holy dwelling. 

So, instead of complaining about the long, cold winter, or facing a mountain of fundraising with fear and dread, I am stepping back, trying to Be Still and let God come through like only he can.  And let me tell you, he has already begun!

What's Next

It's been a while since we had much to say.  Big changes are in the wind here, so I thought I would let you know what God has been doing.

Steve and I just returned from Orientation at International Teams (ITeams).  What a great week, but boy has it been a long time (14 years for me, even longer for Steve) since we have sat in a classroom all day long.

How did we end up at orientation you wonder?  Well, when we returned from Malawi back in August it was a difficult re-entry in to life as we knew it.  I dare say depression set in.  We knew in our hearts that God was calling us to something more.  I should have been excited, it is what I thought I wanted.  Then I began to think of all we would miss here if we moved to Malawi.  Jessie wouldn't have Mrs. Horn for kindergarten with Jaida.  Casey wouldn't be in Miss. Uthe's class next year.  Christmas and summer vacations, the list goes on. 

We talked about our trip and about the possibility of going back with our family and friends.  We were all talk and no action.  Then in October, during a Mom's in Prayer meeting, Missy VB asked me where we were with our decision about Malawi.  Embarrassed I had to admit we hadn't taken any action.  That Sunday night, the Holy Spirit spoke to John Nauta and Linda Cook.  John found Steve and told him he had to go to Malawi and not look back.  Linda was having a similar conversation with me.  Coincidence?  No!  When we walked in the door following church I checked my email. Wouldn't you know it.  An email from Mark Foshager at ITeams.  Okay God, we hear you. 

The next day Steve and I began filling out the Next Step application for ITeams.  It's been a whirlwind of paperwork and interviews, trying to make deadlines....and on December 23 we were offered conditional employment. 

So what's next?  We have to finish up our budget.  We begin fundraising.  Language acquisition school, 3 more weeks of in house training, lots of homework assignments....it's all a bit overwhelming.  I really wish we could just fast forward, jump on a plane and begin ministry in Malawi.  But, alas, that would leave you out of the process. 

We need you!  We need your prayers!  We need your words of encouragement. We need you to come with us.  I know most of you will never walk in Malawi with us, but we would love to have you!  If flying over the Atlantic in not in the cards, you're not off the hook.  The children in the villages need you.  The churches in Dzaleka need you.  The students seeking scholarships need you. 

 

 

We wish to see everyone in Dzaleka and the surrounding villages have access to

FOOD FREEDOM and FORGIVENESS

 



Ask us how you can get involved