Coming Home

Dear Family and Friends,

I apologize for not being in better contact these last few months. I would first of all like to say thank you for all of the incredible generosity that is allowing us to fly home for seven weeks tomorrow! It would not have been possible with out your help. We do not take it for granted! We are so looking forward to our time with many of you.

Please for us. Travel is never easy. Brian came down with Typhoid fever, or something similar to it on Monday night. He has received two antibiotics via IV and is given two weeks more to take with him. The Dr. advised that he wait for another flight next week if he could, however, there are none available. We were going to let Scharlie and the kids go and I would join later. There was not even one ticket available. So the Dr said that he would not prevent me from flying as scheduled, but it would be quite unpleasant for me.

Also, I have been no help to Scharlie and she has had to take me to and from the hospital and stay with me there. (She is sure to be cannonized soon!) Pray for her and she finishes packing. She also has one school related task to finish up in the States and Brian has a few small ones and one BIG one.

Pray that our packing and last minute stuff goes well this afternoon and evening. Pray for Brian and Nathan as they fly tomorrow with the rest of us.


Grace and Peace,

The Carlisles

Gospel Emphasis Week

Today was the first day of Gospel Emphasis Week at the Academy. We have Gospel Emphasis Week the week before we break for Easter. The goal of GEW is to present the Gospel in a fresh, creative and personal way to each of our students. We do this first and foremost by praying for God to prepare and soften and open the hearts of the students at our school. We know that we cannot draw them to Christ on our own, His Spirit does that, but we can be part of the means He uses to bring them to Himself. Our theme this year is "Trusting God." Walter Malskis teaches at the college and works at the TV station. He is the one leading and speaking in the Chapel times for the Pre-K through 5th Grade and the 6th through 11th Grade times. (The pictures below were taken this morning during the Pre-K through 5th Chapel.) Please pray Walter as he has a very wide range to communicate his messages to! We will have three separate sessions and then on Thursday instead of meeting first thing in the morning, we will have a school-wide Chapel at 11:15 that the families are invited to and then there will be a picnic afterwards. 

Pray For:

• Teachers as they prepare and lead the students in different activities and lessons throughout the week
• Students to have hearts that are ready to hear or are ready to grow more deeply
• Walter Malskis as he speaks to the students each day
• Family members will come and hear the Good News on Thursday and have the chance to respond
• That God would be honored and glorified as His Word is faithfully taught and communicated

Gwen's 8th Birthday

Gwen's 8th Birthday was Thursday, 07 February. (Wyatt and Stacy we hope you had nice birthdays as well :)) On Thursday night Gwen invited Allison, Aly and Pam over for pizza and small apple pies. That day at school she took Rice Krispie treats to share with her class. (Some of them had never experienced the goodness of Rice Krispie treats!)

Saturday we took the five Carlisles plus Sarah Kyser and Contsance Borders to Augusto's for pizza and then the little girls came back and played dress-up. Their parents and other siblings arrived later and joined us for marshmallow animals and cupcakes and ice cream. It was a very nice day.

Hope you enjoy the pictures.

Malawi Update Vol. 9

Answers

Dear Pray-ers,

We--Scharlie and I as well as our whole staff--are thankful for your prayers. The two teachers that have come in to fill the 1st and 4th Grade positions have had a good almost two weeks back. 

We have covered the Bible classes internally plus one instructor from the College. ( I will be teaching the7th Grade Bible class.)

We also had a good interview  for the French I and II position and should have one or two more people to interview!! This is really amazing to me! (After the last post I was told on that Monday morning that our HS French teacher was serving her two weeks' notice.)

Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. You are such a blessing to us. We could not and would not even want to be here without your prayers! (James 5:16-18) God is at work in and through the prayers of His people. 

Grace and Peace,

Brian and Scharlie 

Needing Prayer and Encouragement

Dear Family, Friends and Supporters,

Please pray for us! We are as tired, frustrated and discouraged as at any other point in our time here. Since Dec 19, Brian has been dealing with personnel issues that have led to the need for two teachers to go home: one First Grade and one Fourth Grade! We begin school tomorrow and need to explain to staff, students and parents what has happened and why these teachers are no longer here. Please pray for us. We are not in any way ready for an incredibly busy second half of the school year to start tomorrow at 6:45 AM. Also, please pray for the teachers stepping in to fill these gaps and for the ones needed to fill their gaps.

We have been trying to get our newsletter finished and should get out soon. Thanks for being patient with us and thank you for praying!

Grace and Peace,

Brian 

Merry Christmas!

Dear Family and Friends,

We just wanted to let you know that we will have Skype up and be signed in all day on Christmas--which in Malawi is now.


Grace and Peace,

The Carlisles