“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.  

Comments

[Mandy]

Katie,
We are praying for you and the girls. Ryan will be truly missed. We will try to come to Medford. We love you.
---Mandy

[Mike]

Katie:

I can not imagine or understand what God's plan is in this, but we know God's will is perfect and just. Maybe it will indeed be through Anna that great things for His Kingdom will be done in Malawi. We are all praying for you and your family.

Mike
Hillside Fellowship

[Holly]

My love and my prayers go out to you and your girls. Ryan was a great man. I am so honored to have been a witness to your life serving God together. I know Ryan's legacy and his passion for Christ will reach far into the future -- farther than you or I will ever see. I will see you soon in Oregon.

Holly

[Colette Hudson]

I feel honored to have known Ryan! He was a great man! I know his legacy will go on through many and especially his daughters. Thanks, Katie, for sharing your heart and your pain. I pray for you constantly!

[Heidi Holdorf]

Katie- In the short time I knew Ryan at Fox I can't remember a time when I didn't see a smile on his face. You guys are amazing examples of Christ's love for others. You and your girls are in my thoughts and prayers.

[Steve and Robin Mock]

Katie: You have been in our prayers and thoughts since the moment I heard the news. May God's peace be on you and your beautiful daughters--Ryan's work will continue through each of you and in all those who knew him.

[Brenda]

Hello! You are always in the back of my mind, no matter what is going on it seems! God be near all of you and continue to comfort and guide you, and the precious girls. Anna, what a beautiful goal! So proud of all of you!

[Misty Aguilar]

Katie, I know how much you loved Ryan and I know how much you both loved Africa. You all have served The Lord relentlessly and for that He is honoring Ryan now! I just wanted you and the girls to know that our family is praying for you all and that if there is ever anything that we can do please just let us know. Many lives have been touched through your families service to The Lord and Ryan will not be forgotten!

[Steve Dunn]

Katie,
Words alone can not come close to what I want to say, my heart breaks with and for you and yours. Holly WILL be there for you - no question about it! Ryan was an inspiration to me on how a man is to love God and his bride. I was envious of the way he courted you, flying you to the coast for a romantic date. I watch from a window (Valentines Weekend 93- Oregon Coast we rented a cabin together)as you 2 jogged on the beach together. And now I read today from Mosul Iraq, how Ryan went out, how he left this world...I am an Army Combat Chaplain, I have seen death, the ones that hurt the most are the ones that seem to have no purpose, and the ones who leave behind young children. I am torn and yet so very PROUD!! My brother in Christ, my fellow spiritual warrior died in the act of duty...Ryan without any thought of his own safety...in a single brief moment in time turned his vehicle in such a manner that resulted in him sacrificing his own life in order to save that of his Brother in Christ - his Pastor friend. This happened moments after "verbally" proclaiming his love for his friend during their conversation as thew drove along. "No Greater Love Doth a Man Have Than When Lays Down His Life For His Brother" I am weeping as I process this all. Ryan was an inspiration to me in how he treated and loved you Katie and he continues to be so in the way he loved - his service for the Lord, how he died, and now I hear your eldest daughter proclaiming that she will continue the the ministry that you 2 have begun. Ryan inspired me in life and now his legacy continues to inspire me. May the Lord Bless You and Keep You, May the Lord Give You the time to mourn and Comfort You. Katie... any time, any where, any thing, the Dunn's stand ready - We Will Not Forget, We will Remember! - God Bless You and Yours! with love - humbly, Steve

[Jon and Jennifer Earle]

Though we have never met, we are devastated (we are Free Methodists living in the U.K., having served as missionaries in Uganda)! We have been and continue to keep you in our prayers! May a peace which truly surpasses understanding be with you now and always.

Broken with you,
Jon and Jennifer

[Rachael]

Shari W. in WA told me about you guys and I am praying for you in this difficult time.

[Kim Bruff]

I went to school with Ryan and remember what a wonderful person he was. I have great memories of him during the "band" years. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your girls during this very trying time. I know that you have the most wonderful support system. Just find solace in the wonderful memories you shared as a family.

[Kristin and Ayers]

Katie, We are so sorry for your loss. I knew Ryan from Fox and I am just so saddened for you and your beautiful girls. Please know our hearts and prayers are with you.

[Jeanne Tucker]

Katie, my heart aches for you and the girls. What a loss this is - for you and your family and also for the Malawian people. I was so impressed with Ryan's love for people, his desire to serve them and get to know them & converse with them, to be an example of Christs love for them. I thought that Ryan was God's man for Malawi at this time. But God had other plans. Ryan's work is not in vain. You, together, have accomplished much in the short time you have been in Malawi. God bless and know that I as well as others all over the Free Methodist world are praying for you at this time.

[Carol Madoski]

Katie,
We have never met, but we have had a great interest in your work there in Malawi and prayed for your family often.
You and your daughters have been in our thoughts and prayers since we received the news. May God comfort you and supply all your needs. We will continue to lift you up in prayer.

[Scott and Elizabeth Drury]

Dear Katie,

We were so grieved to hear this news. Our hearts are broken with yours. We got to know Ryan through our time with FM Foundation and when our boys needed to "adopt" a missionary to learn about and pray for in AWANA, they chose your family. We will be praying for you and your girls through this difficult time.

[Scott and Elizabeth Drury]

Dear Katie,

We were so grieved to hear this news. Our hearts are broken with yours. We got to know Ryan through our time with FM Foundation and when our boys needed to "adopt" a missionary to learn about and pray for in AWANA, they chose your family. We will be praying for you and your girls through this difficult time.

[Jeff Horton]

We don't know each other Katie, but my heart breaks every time I think of you and your girls. I know Ryan Willson from PNW Conf. and I taught at a module at the Lilongwe Bible School in 1993. May God be with you in a very close way!!
Jeff Horton, Shoreline FMC
Shoreline, WA

[Erica Oesterreich (Mattson)]

Katie - I am thinking of you in this difficult time. It sounds like Ryan was a wonderful guy! I will pray for your peace and for your sweet little girls! {{hugs}}

[Laurie Bertagna-Royal]

My beautiful sister,

Words cannot describe the pain that all of us feel for the loss of our wonderful Ryan. He was one of the most amazing men I have ever known. It breaks my heart that I am not able to walk through this with you in Malawi, but as you say, we will be together soon.

Sam and I cherish the time we spent with you in Malawi even more than we did before. It was a life-changing experience for both of us and we are so incredibly grateful to have had that time with Ryan.

You have strength that humbles me, my sister. I am so very proud of you and cannot wait to see you in Oregon.

I love you so very much,

Laur

[Nate Morehouse]

Katie, this is what I wrote to the Willsons. Angie and I are praying for you.

Ryan and Jenn, We are praying and asking why along with you. There is no rhyme or reason that we can see, but we can only trust that God will hold you, Jenn, Katie, Kelsey, and all the kids in his love. And we can know that he too grieves for your hurt as well. May our Father God show you his love in ways unexpected.

[Judy Bertagna]

To my beautiful youngest daughter, Katie. I wish that I could have been with you when Your wonderful Ryan passed into the arms of the Lord Jesus. However you got through this first week shows the strength you have and will have in the future. As you know, Ryan was a son to us. Everyone in our family loved him deeply. I remember him sitting in our living room with Sarah our oldest living grandchild and the 2 of them laughing as Ryan made extremely hilarious pictures of warped people on the computer. He didn't call it wasting time, but time entertaining Sarah. They laughed until they were giddy together.
Sarah loved the two of you deeply and was looking forward to asking Ryan to marry she and Brad when you came home on leave in 2010.
Obviously, God had a different plan that we aren't aware of yet. Maybe someday we will understand. As you, Anna, Lydia and Ella live with us I pray that we will be encouragers, helpers, confidants and givers of love to you our daughter and our three girls. Looking forward to tomorrow when we meet the plane in Portland.
All my love.
Mom

[Jacquelyn Erinne]

Dear Katie,

"....In Christ there are no goodbyes, In Christ there is no end...."

My heart is with you and I you are in my prayers. I am praying for you and the girls.

I always said I would come and visit Pastor Ryan and his family in Malawi.

I will miss my Beloveth Pastor Ryan. He was always happy and always cracked jokes of his Nigerian trip. The most welcoming family both of you were. I was more than honored to know a special family like yours.

Beyond what we see and know, God knows whats best for us.

[Jenny Brewster (Lemons)]

Hi Katie, Anna, Dia, and Ella,
I am so sorry about Ryan. I just wanted to let you know you guys are in my thoughts and my prayers and I love you all very much. Email me anytime and I will keep in contact with you. I am vey sorry but we all know Ryan is at home and in a REAL good place.
Love You All,
Jen, Caden, and Riley

[Alayna Brooks]

Katie,

I think and pray for you and your girls several times each day. I can't get you off my mind. I know it's God reminding me to pray. You are one of the strongest people I've ever met, and yet I hate for you to have to be this strong. Let people help you and love you and let God carry you along. I pray you feel not alone in this loneliest of times. It would be my biggest nightmare to lose my best friend too. I miss him when we don't get to talk for a day, as I know you are with Ryan. I wish I had more words of comfort, but please know that I am praying for you, and I know God can comfort you like no one else can. I'm so, so sorry that you and the girls are having to endure this.

Love,
Alayna