The Bartulis Family
Edmundas, Kristina and four sons - Andrius (16), Ramunas (15), Jonas (12) and Nojus (11)
The Beginning Since the very beginning of our marriage we both had a desire to bring the Word of God to the world according to the words of Jesus Himself: "Go into the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mk 16:15). We knew that our calling was to be missionaries beyond the borders of our country Lithuania. We waited for 14 years until God opened the doors.
Where we are now Two and half years ago we arrived in Malawi, Central Africa, to work with Kalibu - Shekina ministries. The founder and director of this ministry is pastor Michael Howard. We have worked with him for about three years in Lithuania and we were captured by his devotion to our Lord, by his energy to bring truth both to the believers and the lost and by his vision for these end times. It is a grace of God that now we can work with him here in Malawi. Kalibu - Shekina ministries The ministry has about 200 churches in Malawi and Mozambique. Also, it works with churches in the USA, UK, Finland and Lithuania. The main purpose of the work is to teach the church about the power of intercession, praise, worship and the importance of discipleship. We have a two-year Bible School here where students (local and international) not only study but also live and work together with their teachers. It is by all means the best school to build the right character - a character of Christ. In the beginning of 2007 the ministry opened another Christian school - Kalibu Academy. It is the best high school in Malawi with the highest discipline and requirements for students and teachers, most beautiful buildings and modern equipment. All this was achieved in ten years from individual donations of believers from many countries. We strongly believe that both schools can change the future of Malawi, one of the poorest countries in the world.
Current Mission Field
Edmundas is a pastor in Kalibu Academy church. In addition, he supervises different works here - the school is still growing, more halls of residence and classrooms and cottages must be built for students as well as for workers-missionaries.
Kristina is a geography teacher at school. Also she continues with translations of the Christian literature into Lithuanian language. She also leads Bible studies and intercession with the Academy students in the evenings.
Our sons: Andrius, 16, is Form 4 student in Kalibu Academy. He is interested in computer science and enjoys studying programming languages and 3D modelling, also likes reading books. Ramunas, 15, is Form 3 student, he likes playing drums and playing basketball. Jonas, 12, is in standard 6 of primary school, is interested in planes and would like to become a pilot one day. Nojus, 11, is in standard 5 student, he likes reading books and loves history and geography.
Our vision and future plans During these two years in Malawi we were visiting churches in villages, teaching and encouraging people. We realised that those visits did not bear a long-lasting fruit. We understood that, first of all, the pastors of those churches must be taught the very foundations of Christianity because most of them are totally ignorant of the Word of God.
Therefore, the future plans are the following: To organise a three-week Bible school every second month for pastors of our branch-churches for 2-3 years. There is a great need to have their own transport – bicycles – as public transport is very expensive and in many places there is no any provision of public transport. We have just finished translating the book “The Foundations of Christianity” into Chichewa language. This book will be a helpful tool for pastors of rural areas of Malawi and Mozambique for teaching and leading their congregations. To continue visiting branch-churches in Blantyre, Mulanje and Nsanje regions. Roads in Malawi are very bad and especially after rains. Often it is impossible at all to travel to the villages using our small, falling-apart Toyota Corola. There is a real need for a bigger four-weel drive vehicle. We also run church roofing project providing iron-sheet roofs for branch-churches if a church is built of burned bricks. Now we have 14 churches waiting to be roofed. Also to continue the work with refuges which we started a year ago. It includes teaching the church congregation, providing means for children and adults education. Equip students and churches’ leaders with not only academic knowledge but also knowledge of how to walk with God in victory, power and love daily. We believe that this school will change many lives of students and then through them – future leaders – the destiny of the whole nation can be transformed. We have a vision to open similar Christian schools in other countries - Mozambique, Zambia and Tanzania. Everything begins from a prayer and buying a piece of land.
Concluding thoughts We strongly believe in this investment which in the right time will bring a long-lasting fruit - the young people we are working with here, will make a difference in their families as well as their nation. The Kalibu Academy was built by individual donations from different countries who strongly believe tha this school was vital for the Malawi nation. Now we can see the fruit by having lots of joy working there and able to see the changes in students lifes: their thinking, behaviour, attitudes, abilities, relationship with other students, staff members and their parents. The same can happen in isolated villages – the more general education and solid biblical teachings church communities in the villages receive the bigger changes in their lives we’ll see.
We send our love and blessings to you.
The Family of Edmundas and Kristina
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Kalibu Academy
Privat Bag 1
Chileka Road Blantyre,
Malawi,
Central Africa
Email. afrikoje@gmail.com
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More pictures on http://musunuotraukos.weebly.com
01.10.2008
„The people that sat in darkness saw a great light, and to them that sat in the region and shadow of death, to them did light spring up.” This verse from the Gospel of Mathew just comes to the mind when we think about those children who are in need here in Africa of food, care, affection, teaching, and warmth – both spiritual and physical. This year our school – Kalibu Academy - started a ‘hospital project’. It was students’ desire to do something for others – to give their time and heart and material things for those who are not so lucky in their lives. They wanted to visit children in orphan houses and hospitals and to bring to them the light of our Savior Jesus Christ. First time we went to the hospital students were shocked by what they have seen: miserable wards, poor beddings, parents sitting on a floor (parents of those sick children even sleep on the floor during the night) and children-patients in cloths-rags. Everything you could see around was just a misery. So students talk with parents and children and try to tell them a short and simple message about salvation through Jesus Christ and also about His wonderful healing and recovering power. Then they pray for them and after a prayer give them small presents – toys, coloring books, pencils, soap, and biscuits. You need to see that joy and happiness shining in faces of those small ones with whom somebody have shared their love!