We will never be the same...

By now, many of you know about the tragic loss we, and the entire world, has suffered. On Tuesday, December 2, Ryan Bartlett was killed in a car accident while he was returning home to Lilongwe, Malawi from delivering maize to the Willsons' home in Blantyre.

In the six years that I knew him, Ryan became many different things to me. At first, he was my pastor, youth pastor, and worship leader at the Prescott Free Methodist Church. He boldly preached the Word of God to the congregation, taught and guided the youth, and help bring us all before the throne of our Lord in powerful worship to Him. During my time at PFMC, Ryan showed me, not just by the words he said but by his life, what it meant to be a Christian. It is partly because of his leadership and his love for Christ that I am following God today. Ryan truly cared about everyone, and he always showed his love for them by spending time talking with anyone.

If I had to choose one word to describe Ryan, it would be 'real'. He wasn't showy. He really loved God, and he really lived his life in service to him, all the time. He spoke so much about living a life rooted and grounded in Christ, and he really lived his life that way. When I moved to Malawi, I got to be with Ryan, his beautiful wife, Katie, and his three incredible girls all day, everyday. They warmly invited me in to be a part of a family firmly founded on Christ. Ryan became like a big brother or another dad to me. They were open and loving and totally willing to allow me to be a part of their amazing family. During my time with the Bartletts in Malawi, I was also able to be a part of their awesome ministry. It was so great to work with them whether we were singing and dancing to Chichewa worship songs at church on Sunday, spending hours designing yet another spreadsheet to organize finances, painting chalkboards, praying with youth, teaching women, or talking about the next theme for the Great Commission School modules. Ryan taught me so much about what it means to serve God on the mission field, how to reach out to people of different cultures and to truly love them with the love of Christ.

Ryan touched so many people's lives. He worked hard to bring people to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and He desired to serve the Lord with his life. His work and ministry was not in vain. The Lord used him and will continue to use his life for His glory. Ryan showed the world what it means to be a Christian, and because of his witness, we will never be the same.

Photo of the Week

This is a typical village in Malawi.

Women’s Conference in Northern Malawi

Last Friday, Jen Willson, Katie, and I began a nine-hour drive to Karonga, a small town in Northern Malawi. When we arrived, we attempted to greet our friends with the traditional Tumbuka greetings (in Karonga, they speak Tumbuka, a language similar to Chichewa). “Muli uli?” we asked, and their faces lit up with surprise and joy, “Tili makora,” they replied. Karonga is located near the shore of Lake Malawi, so it is one of the hottest places in Malawi. Despite the heat, we could tell that the women were hungry for God’s truth. They were alert and attentive during all of the teaching, excited about worshipping the Lord together, and eager to spend time in fellowship with one another. It was amazing to see the unity in the body of Christ as we were able to spend the weekend with these incredible women.

Photo of the Week

Crazy purple flower bug! YIKES!

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A little girl dancing at church.

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Sunrise at Lake Malawi

Youth Camp in Kandeu

I have been blessed to be involved in several youth camps over the last few months. I have seen the Lord working so much in the lives of Malawian youth at these camps. Most recently, Ryan and I went to Kandeu to one of Pastor Milanzi’s churches for a camp. God has given me a heart for these youth, especially the girls in secondary school. I loved spending the weekend talking with them (in broken Chichewa), worshipping God in dance and song, and learning about His awesome and personal love for each of us.

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Anna, Lydia and Ella at the pool.

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Malawian women preparing a wonderful breakfast of 'Malawi Cake'- a bread made out of maize flour and cooked over a fire.

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Women in Malawi carry water on their heads all the time. I am slowly learning how to be a 'true' Malawian.

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Anna and Ryan playing bawo, a popular game here in Malawi. It's sort of like mankala.

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My friends from my church in Arizona all got together one Sunday, so that I could call and talk to them all at once! It was so amazing to hear their voices, and later, to see this picture.

Photo of the Week

I took this idea from the Willson's blog (the Free Methodist missionaries in Blantyre, Malawi). They do Photo Friday every week- you can check theirs out at flamingwaters.org.



This first picture is of the girls and I a couple months ago. I love the expressions on their faces! :)

Walking with Jesus

Ryan and Jen Willson (the Free Methodist missionaries in Southern Malawi) just hosted a mission team from Marysville Free Methodist Church in Washington. The team partnered with Pastor Chakuma at Zomba Free Methodist Church to host a three day youth camp for youth in the southern region of Malawi. They blessed the youth with powerful teaching focusing on what it means to truly walk with Jesus. We sang songs, performed dramas, met in small groups, and played games with the Malawian youth. It was such a joy to get to know the team from Marysville and to serve the Lord alongside them. Thank you for your awesome example of a people who truly ‘walk with Jesus’.

Global Study Intensive in Cambodia

Recently, God has opened the doors for me to participate in a Global Study Intensive (GSI). GSI is a cross-cultural missions training event put together by Free Methodist World Missions. This year, GSI will take place in Phnom Penh, Cambodia from December 31st until January 13th. It will be two weeks of intensive training specifically in the area of ministry in countries of extreme poverty or persecution and also with people who are hurting emotionally. Through the teaching of presenters from different parts of the world, I will have a better understanding of the complexities of mission work. Also, my time in Cambodia will provide an opportunity to meet and talk with people from all over the world and give me a new perspective on world missions as a whole. In order to be a part of GSI, I need to raise between $3,700 to cover the plane ticket, in country travel expenses, lodging, and meals. If you are interested in giving financially, please make your checks payable to: Free Methodist World Missions, and designate “GSI- Malawi- KJL” on the memo. The address is PO Box 535002, Indianapolis, IN 46253-5002. All contributions are tax deductible, as allowed by law. Please don’t write your check to me personally or it will be considered my “personal income” and you will not receive any tax credit. Also, please continue praying for me; I am dependent upon your prayers both for this upcoming trip and for my time here in Malawi.

“Let us encourage one another”

“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together… but let us encourage one another.” –Hebrews 10:24-25






Early Friday morning, Katie and I loaded up the car with 6 Malawian women, 2 babies, tons of katundu (luggage), and even a live chicken. After we crammed into the car, we began our 4 hour journey to Sharp Valley (one hour of which is on an extremely bumpy road with washed out bridges and a small creek to cross). Once we got to the church, the women immediately started cooking lunch—they cook nsima (porridge made out of maize flour) over small wood fires right next to the church. Women continued arriving, some in the back of a huge truck, some in an ox cart, and lots on foot. There were over 100 women from 16 different churches- it was a very full church. When it came time for worship, we all stood up and started clapping, singing and dancing. We listened to our speakers over the sound of crying babies and squawking chickens (they were tied up in the back of the sanctuary, being saved for dinner). The women slept on mats on the floor of the church, and they took bucket baths in the morning after warming up dozens of buckets of water over their small fires. This may not sound much like a typical women’s conference in the US, and admittedly, there are a lot of differences (you just have to look around and see all the women nursing their babies in public to know that). But, at this conference there were heartfelt prayers, devoted songs of worship, and times of teaching from the Word. There were women who love the Lord, who are hungry for His Word, who want to meet together and encourage each other. So, despite all the differences, the hearts women here in Malawi are pretty similar to those in America. After all, we all love Jesus; what more would we need to have in common?

“Ndinu Ofunika kwa Mulungu!’ (You are Important to God)

This was the important message that the youth learned at our recent youth camp in Salima. We had about 50 youth from that area come to learn more about how valuable they are in the eyes of God. We were all so blessed to learn from Pasors Milanzi, Kaliguduze, Kaligwenje and Ryan as they shared about how God values us in so many ways. We know that the Lord was glorified as we got to know each other through playing games and singing songs, and through the times of prayer and teaching.

20th Birthday Celebration

As my 20th birthday approached (on June 8th—I know I’m so late in writing this), I thought about how strange it would be to be away from my family and friends. But, I need not have worried because God has provided me with an amazing ‘family’ and some wonderful new friends here in Malawi. The Bartletts surprised me a few days before my birthday and took me out to dinner with Kathryn and Sarinah (two of my friends from Zion). Their surprise and all the birthday greetings from friends and family in the US made this birthday one of the best yet.

Last Day of School!

In the past 9 months, Anna, Lydia and I made it through 74 spelling tests, 144 math drills, 5 classroom changes, 74 dictation exercises, 240 handwriting worksheets, 36 science experiments, and 432 cups of tea. It’s hard to believe that we’ve already finished an entire school year. I never thought that I could enjoy teaching so much. The Lord has blessed me with two amazing students who love to learn. I am so proud of how far they have come this year. All three of us have learned a ton, and I can’t wait to start school again in the fall.

‘Munavina ndi munanyimba bwino!’ (You danced and sang well!)

As I walked nervously to the front of the church, everyone stared at me, wondering what I was doing. I was wondering what I was doing. What would an azungu (white person) like me (someone who has absolutely no sense of rhythm and cannot dance at all) be doing joining a Malawian women’s choir?? It had all started earlier that morning when Amayi Msiska said, “today in church, you will be part of the Northern Conference choir”. I thought for a moment and then argued that I didn’t know the songs. “You will learn,” Amayi answered quickly. So, I practiced all the little dance moves and attempted to learn the words for the three songs they were going to perform for the church. While I watched the other choirs sing their songs, I dreaded the moment that they would call the choir from the North forward. When they finally did, I almost didn’t go with them, but then I saw the women from the Northern Conference, my sisters in Christ, motioning for me to join them. So, I walked up with my face burning. Once we started though, I realized how fun it is to sing and dance before the Lord this way, how amazing it is to come along side women who love God and worship Him together. And that’s when I realized that moments like those are what being a missionary is all about.

Pastors' Wives Module

Working with the women here in Malawi is one of the best parts about being here for Katie and I. We always really enjoy going to different women’s Kunika (the Chichewa word for light and the name of the women’s groups in our churches) meetings around Malawi. Right now, Katie and Jen Willson (the Free Methodist missionary in Blantyre) are running a two weeklong training for the pastors’ wives in Malawi. We have about 60 women here on campus learning about being ‘Children of the Light’. They are also learning more about how to study the Word of God through a class that Katie and Jen are teaching. It is so exciting to see these women getting excited about learning and worshipping together. It is always a joy to be around them.

Mini Bus

Here in Africa, most people travel by mini bus. Basically a mini bus is a 15-passenger van that will take you anywhere you want to go. Until recently, there were no laws about how many people could be inside a mini bus at a time, so there were tons of people crammed into mini buses that were zipping all over town. Now, there is a new law in Malawi, so only three people can be in each row of the bus. We’re thankful for the new law because the roads are much safer now. Katie and I just had our very first mini bus experience the other day. We went to a Women’s International Prayer Day at a church that was about an hour long walk away from our house. We walked there, but it took much longer than we expected it would (most things in Malawi do), so we were in a rush to get home. Along the way, we got on a mini bus for the last half of the trip. We decided that travel by mini bus is great, and that we will use it in the future to take short trips to town.

TEP

Today, we got a HUGE blessing from the Lord! My TEP (temporary employment permit) finally came through. I applied for this permit in September last year, and it just now came through. Because of the immigration laws here in Malawi, we were having to go to the immigration office every month to update my visa, and I even had to cross the border in Zambia because my visa expired. Anyway, my TEP is good for two years, so I don’t have to worry about that any more. YAY!

An Answered Prayer

My biggest struggle here in Malawi has been not having strong friendships with like-minded people my age. I prayed for many months for God to provide someone into my life. After six months of living here, God in His perfect timing, brought us to Capital City Baptist Church (an international church here in Lilongwe) on a Sunday when we didn’t have anything else planned. The first six months gave me a chance to really adjust to life with the Bartletts and to Malawian culture before I added any more to my plate. At CCBC, I got connected with Kathryn (the leader of the youth ministry) and became involved with Zion Youth Center. Zion is a ministry aimed to provide a place where the youth (both Malawians and ex-pats) can go to have something to do; a place without alcohol, drugs, or tobacco, with a non-threatening Christian environment. I help out with the youth group (the first Sunday of every month), and I will be starting a small mentoring group with three or four girls that will also meet once a month. Kathryn also introduced me to a few of the people at CCBC who are close to my age, and I have begun to build relationships with them as well. One girl, Sarinah, is from Germany and is also homeschooling some kids. It has been such a blessing and answer to prayer to get involved in this new ministry and to begin new friendships.

Electricity

About 97% of Malawians don’t have electricity. We are reminded of that fact every time our power goes off (only once every few weeks). Last week, our power was off the longest it has been since I got here- about 30 hours. While we were using the generator to keep our refrigerator cold and getting ready for bed using candles and oil lamps, we had to remember how blessed we are to have electricity at all. Over the past 7 months, I think that God has changed all of our attitudes about the power, internet and water. We are much more grateful for all we do have, and have learned that we really CAN live without some of the things that we all take for granted in the US. Anna and Lydia have even said, “I want the power to go out again so we can have a candlelit dinner!”

Teaching in Chichewa

Katie, Ryan and I have Chichewa lessons every weekday afternoon for an hour. Our Chichewa teacher, Abambo Banda, is the principal at a small private Christian school across the street from our campus. In order to challenge us, our teacher invited Katie and I to come to his school to tell Bible stories to the children. So Katie and I translated Davide ndi Goliati (David and Goliath) and Yoswa ku Yeriko (Joshua at Jericho) into Chichewa. On Friday we went to the school and told our stories. We discovered that we still have a lot to learn, but we have made a lot of progress since we came to Malawi. Keep praying for all three of us as we continue to work hard in our language learning. Tikuphunzira Chichewa pang’ono pang’ono. (We are learning Chichewa little by little.)

Science Experiments

Every Thursday, Anna, Lydia and I do a science experiment that relates to what we learned the rest of the week. We are learning about weather right now, so we’ve made a weather vane, a rain catcher, and this past week, a thermometer. To make your own thermometer (just in case you ever feel the need to do so) you must first take a bottle (here in Malawi, a glass coke bottle works best) and fill it with water and a little bit of red food coloring. Then, wrap clay around a clear straw and put it in the bottle. And, you have your very own thermometer. This experiment was one of our favorites, and the girls are so enthusiastic about learning new things not only in science, but in every subject.

Ella

Little Ella Joy truly is a joy in my life. She is full of energy and she always keeps us on our toes. She definitely has a defiant side (and it’s pretty crazy when a two year old knows the word ‘no’ in two languages), but she’s just so cute! I don’t think I will ever get enough of her coming up to me with her ‘nee-nee’ (blanket) and snuggling on my lap. On Sunday, she had a fever, and a few weeks ago she had gotten quite a few mosquito bites. So, we were all worried that she had Malaria. When someone has Malaria, it is important to begin the treatment as quickly as possible so that it doesn’t get worse. We didn’t know of a place to get Ella tested that was open on Sundays, but some friends who are doctors told us about a clinic that is open 24 hours a day. They got her tested that night, and it came back positive. We started giving her treatment right away, and now she is completely better!! The Lord truly answered our prayers for a quick recovery. It’s so wonderful to have Ella back to normal!

Happy New Year

Ryan and Katie’s anniversary is on December 31, so I watched their three girls while they went to Mzuzu for the night. The four of us had our own little celebration together. My family in Arizona has always celebrated New Year’s Day by making homemade pasta. So, I decided that it would be lots of fun to make pasta together. Anna and Lydia were so helpful, and they really loved making tortellini (they’re sort of like ravioli just shaped a little different). And we all loved to eat the delicious pasta when it was finished! Holidays here are really fun because we can combine my traditions with the Bartletts, and also make up totally new ones together.