teamwithafrica.org

Anna, Lydia, Kelsey and Katie visit Africa!

 

“And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You” (Psalm 9:10).  

What a journey 2009 has been for me!  All the way, God has continually demonstrated His faithfulness, reminding me that He will never forsake me.  After seven months of living in the U.S., Anna, Lydia, Kelsey and I are heading back to Malawi for a 3½ week visit!  God has provided this incredible opportunity for me to explore the possibilities for future ministry in Malawi.  My heart is mixed with feelings of apprehension, sadness and excitement as I prepare to go on July 13th-August 6th, but I am confident that the Lord will guide me, comfort me and grant me wisdom as He has throughout these last several months. 

On the way to Malawi, we will stop over in Nairobi, Kenya to visit FM Africa Area Director, Mike Reynen, his wife, Vickie and their son, Kyle.  During the few days we have there, we will visit our FM International Childcare School in Kibera to get a taste of the ministry taking place there.  I am so looking forward to spending time with the Reynens to pray and seek the Lord’s direction!

A couple days after we arrive in Malawi, approximately 75 Malawian FM pastors’ wives will come for a week long training session.  Jen Willson and I will be teaching Bible study skills focusing on the book of James while Stephanie Harris and Kelsey Lynn will continue the literacy training that Jeanne Tucker started last year.  Last year’s session was so fruitful and encouraging that I can hardly wait to see what the Lord will do in the lives of these women as well as us! 

I have decided that Ella should stay in the States while we are gone, so she will be with my family and Ryan’s family during this time.  Please pray for Ella and us as we will all miss one another greatly! 

 

“Thank you and Update”

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Cor. 15:53).  This was my husband’s life verse and anyone who knew him, can testify to the fact that he remained steadfast in the Lord and his labor was not in vain!  Over the last couple of months, I have heard countless stories of the impact Ryan had on lives all over the world.

 As I grieve and process Ryan’s death, I am continually reminded of how much he loved Jesus and how diligently he served Him.  When I left Malawi with my three girls, I felt as though it would be impossible to stay or even return anytime in the near future.  But now, I am reminded of how the Lord called not just Ryan to cross-cultural ministry, but our whole family.  So, FMWM has left the door open for me to return to missionary service as the Lord leads me. 

Meanwhile, I am taking time to be with my girls, to grieve and to process.  FMWM has given me a leave of absence and will continue to support me financially over the next several months.  When I do return to missionary service, I am hoping that my supporters will reactivate their support at that time.  During my leave of absence, supporters can redirect their support in one of the three following ways:

1.  Africa Area Country Shares

2.  Ryan Bartlett Memorial Fund for Ministry in Malawi OR

3.  Bartlett Family Support Fund to care for the girls and I during our leave of absence.

All donations can be written and sent to FMWM at PO Box 535002, Indianapolis, IN 46253-5002 and designated to the fund of your choice.  I want to thank all of you who have showered us with cards, emails, phone calls and gifts.  I truly sense that you care and that you want to love us with the love of Jesus!

“Tearful Goodbyes”

 

I didn't want to let go this morning as I said goodbye to Ryan and Jen Willson. My heart was torn, feeling sad and alone as they left for Malawi, yet feeling thankful that they would continue the work the four of us started together two years ago. So many emotions flooded over all of us. Even little Kara Willson was weeping as we said goodbye. 

Our lives will be forever connected because of our shared love for Jesus, ministry, missions, and the people of Malawi.

I praise the Lord for the time we had, serving as a team and enjoying each other as friends. Over time, we became "family" as we celebrated holidays and birthdays together, bringing each other comfort while we were so greatly missing our families in America. Then, when the tragedy of Ryan's death struck on December 2nd, Ryan and Jen were there for me every step of the way, holding me, crying with me and praying for me. Both of them spent countless hours taking care of the many details in the midst of their own grief and pain. Thank you Lord for bringing this precious, Christ-centered family into our lives! I honestly don't know what I would have done without them.

Ryan and Jen are traveling back to Blantyre, Malawi, the city where they have been living, and they will take the next month to pack up their house and move to the Great Commission Bible School in Lilongwe, Malawi. Ryan Willson will be taking over as principal of the Bible School and Jen will continue to work with International Childcare Ministries and women's ministry. Please pray for them as they transition into this new role, as they process how to handle this drastic change and as they continue to grieve the loss of Ryan.

“Pastor Munkondya”

  

This last month has been the most difficult time of my life.  My life has been changed forever as I have grieved over Ryan, said goodbye to our friends in Malawi and tried to readjust to life in the United States.  Through all of this, I have really sensed the Lord’s presence and been surrounded by His amazing love, knowing that He sees my pain and grieves with me.

During this time, we (myself and Ryan and Jen Willson) have been in contact with the doctors who are caring for Pastor Munkondya, the man who was in the accident with Ryan.  We were saddened to hear that Munkondya’s leg was not healing properly and was badly infected.  As a result, his right leg had to be amputated on December 30^th.  This was heartbreaking for Munkondya and his family, who hoped that the leg would heal completely.

Munkondya was one of our neighbors in Malawi.  Our girls attended his private school when we first arrived and we have eaten many meals in his home.  Ryan and Munkondya had a true African friendship of brotherhood and generosity.   Ryan allowed him to use our guesthouse on campus for some visitors and allowed him to borrow money when he needed to bring his new truck into Malawi.  Munkondya helped us with immigration when we first arrived in Malawi, organized some men from his church to cut down some trees on campus, and allowed us to use his truck to transport the maize to our pastors in Southern Malawi.

We want to make sure that Pastor Munkondya has good care as he recovers from this accident.  Ryan and Jen Willson (FM missionaries in Malawi) are working with physicians in Malawi to insure that he is being cared for.  Please be praying for his physical recovery and for spiritual and emotional healing.  If you feel led to assist with Pastor Munkondya’s care, donations can be made to Free Methodist World Missions and designated to the Ryan Bartlett Memorial Fund for Ministry in Malawi, PO Box 535002, Indianapolis, IN  46253-5002.

“Our Beloved Ryan”

 Words cannot express the anguish I am feeling right now as I grieve the loss of my husband and the father of my three girls.  I keep saying, “It wasn’t supposed to be this way.  We were supposed to live in Africa for many years and grow old together!”  He was my best friend, the only one who truly knew my heart and my every dream.

 On December 2^nd, 2008, Ryan left early in the morning with his friend, Pastor Munkondya, to deliver maize to our pastors in Southern Malawi.  They had also done this the day before and Ryan said to me before he left, “I just can’t wait to get home to be with my family again on Wednesday.”  Ryan called me at 3:30 pm to tell me that he was on his way home.  I never imagined that that would be the last time we would talk.  We have been told that as they were driving, just before the accident, Ryan and Pastor Munkondya were talking about their friendship and how much they loved each other.  Ryan told Pastor Munkondya that he could use our guesthouse on campus anytime.  Then, as they reached the top of a hill, they saw a car going out of control toward them.  Ryan tried to move the truck he was driving out of the way, but the road was wet and he was unable to control it.  As a result, he took most of the impact and saved the life of his friend, Pastor Munkondya. 

 

Ryan’s life demonstrates sacrifice.  He made a huge sacrifice to give up life in America and come and serve the Lord in Malawi.  He constantly sacrificed his time to care for others and listen to others.  Anyone who knows Ryan knows that he loved people.  He always joked that he wasn’t really a merciful guy, yet he lived generously, giving almost daily to those in need. He saw that his friends needed food this year and he did something about it, giving his life to help them.  Over the last few days, as people have poured onto campus to grieve with us, I see how much they loved him.  In the short time we were here, Ryan made many friends, people who will be forever impacted by his life and love for Jesus.  Our Malawian friends say that although Ryan was American, he really was Malawian as he slept in the villages, ate their food, danced and praised Jesus with them, chatted with them in Chichewa, and grieved with them when they lost loved ones.

 Now, as we prepare to leave Malawi, I feel as though all of our hopes and dreams have been crushed.  Yet, our Anna says that one day she will return to Malawi to continue the work of her Daddy.  Perhaps she will do this, fulfilling Ryan’s passion to see people love and know Jesus like he did.

 We will celebrate the life of Ryan Bartlett on December 15 in Medford, OR at the Medford First Christian Church at 2:00 pm.  Funds given in memory of Ryan Bartlett can be sent to FMWM designated to the Ryan Bartlett Memorial Fund for ministry in Malawi.  

Building Relationships and Crossing Cultures

Our prayer for the last couple of years is that we would build authentic, Christ-centered relationships here in Malawi.   At times, it has seemed as though our lives and languages are so different that we might never be able to cross cultural barriers.  However, God is faithful and He is drawing us closer to our Malawian friends as we seek Him together in ministry.

 

November 7-10, Katie, Jen Willson and Kelsey traveled to Karonga (Northern Malawi) to participate in our FM Northern Women’s Conference.   Our hearts are full of thankfulness because we had such a great opportunity to minister and to continue to build relationships with the women. We saw that these women were truly hungry to hear from God’s word and to grow in their relationship with Him as Katie and Jen taught about God’s plan of salvation and transformation.

 

We loved being with the women, holding their babies and chatting about our children. It was amazing to see the cultural barriers coming down as we practiced our Chichewa and as we even learned little bit of Tumbuka (one language spoken in the north).

 

Continue to pray for us as we seek to deepen our friendships in Malawi and pray for women in Malawi that they would grasp how much Christ loves each one of them and how He desires to transform their lives.

Kwacha School

Since Jeanne Tucker (former missionary in Malawi) came to assist with literacy training at our Pastors’ Wives’ training in April 2008, we have seen several of our pastors’ wives begin literacy schools for women. It is obvious that these pastors’ wives have a heart to improve the lives of women in their villages. 

While Katie, Jen and Kelsey were in Karonga, they were asked to visit one of these schools run by two of our pastors’ wives, Mrs. Msiska and Mrs. Mkandawire. Mrs. Msiska walks many kilometers every week to teach these women how to read and they are currently meeting in a rented church building. It was encouraging to see so many women (many of whom do not attend the church) wanting to learn! 

They were excited to hear that they will receive flashcards to help them to learn the alphabet and phonics appropriate for reading in Chichewa or Tumbuka. We extend thanks to Lavonne Kendall, the wife of our North American FM Bishop, and to all who assisted her with creating these cards to be used in our churches in Malawi!

“I Didn’t Know Until Last Night That I Could Curl Up Into a Tight Little Ball Like a Hedgehog!!”

 

Most nights in Malawi are relatively warm.  Especially now, which is the middle of our hot season, we typically sleep with the windows open and the fans on high.  Yet, all of that changed as we headed to the Zomba plateau for a short family vacation.   As we unpacked our belongings into a remote mountain cabin and began to eat our dinner, it was obvious that the high plateau we were on was going to get cold—really cold!  Ryan made sure the fire was well stoked before we went to bed, but by the morning everyone was freezing (it got down to 55 degrees F) and we all laughed when Anna told us that she had to sleep like a curled up hedgehog (I think the rest of us did as well!).

 

As the sun began to warm things back up we all headed out for a 4 ½ hour hike.  The girls truly amazed us as they hiked several kilometers without much complaining,  seeing a really beautiful waterfall, eating many wild raspberries, and catching a birds eye view of Zomba city along the way.  For dinner we cooked pizza over an open fire, which was a good way to stay warm as the sun went back down.

 

The next day we headed down to Lake Malawi, which reminded us that we were still in the hot season here in Malawi and no longer needed to sleep  like hedgehogs!  Staying in an air-conditioned room, we had a fun time as a family eating good food, as well as swimming in and kayaking on the lake.

Ella Turns 3!

 

It was a full on princess extravaganza for our girls as they dressed up for Ella’s birthday party.  It’s hard to believe that our little baby is moving out of babyhood, but we are proud of the way she is growing up.  Pray for Ella as she continues to grow in her knowledge of God and that year 3 of her life will be a great one! 

114 Years Ago in October

 

We knew we were crawling back into history as we crept up the steep and strenuous single lane road to reach the Livingstonia Mission in our four-wheel drive.   Everyone in our car had clearly heard and read about David Livingstone and Robert Laws tremendous influence in establishing the Christian church in Malawi in the 1800’s, but none of us had ever visited the much celebrated Livingstonia Mission, which has fueled the Christian movement in Malawi for many decades. 

 

As we drove by the mission hospital, secondary school, seminary, church, and a viable community of Malawians that now work at and call Livingstonia their home,  we were reminded that as modern-day Christians we are following on the heels of spiritual giants.  What an amazing and Malawi-altering vision Livingstone and Laws had!  What a radical commitment to God’s perfect will and plan!!  All of us were indeed humbled as we experienced a renewed passion to keep Jesus’ message of hope and salvation moving forward in Malawi.