For Everything There Is a Season

A Letter from Jeremy and Luta Garbat-Welch, serving in Malawi

Winter 2022

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Dear friends,

I (Jeremy) love movies. They stick in my brain and rattle around and come to mind in a wide variety of situations. As I was considering how to write this letter, a line from the Matrix movies came to mind: “Everything that has a beginning has an end, Neo.” I think the purpose of the Oracle saying this to Neo, was to encourage him that though the situation he was facing looked bleak, the fact that he was facing an ending is inevitable. Endings happen. Rather than resisting the ending, we should consider, how can we end something well?

This came to mind, because our time of ministry with the General Assembly of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) is coming to an end. Our current term ends at the end of June, and yet the pandemic continues to delay our return. We do not know yet what is next for us. We have many questions, but we are trusting that God’s grace, which has always sustained us, will continue to sustain us.

We are continually grateful for the support we have received during our ministry in Malawi. The financial gifts that have been given have enabled our ministry. Especially during the COVID pandemic, and all of the uncertainties and strains it has brought, it has been humbling to see the faithfulness with which you have supported us. Your prayers and emails and friendships have carried us through both times of blessing and times of difficulty.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NRSV)
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

There is a time for everything; that does not mean everything is wanted. There is much we are learning from this time, and much we will take with us. Though we wish that our end in Malawi was much further in the future, we remain grateful for the time we had. We will miss our friends and colleagues, but we will keep the impact that they had on us.

Of course there are many questions to answer. We hope to return to Malawi in January to pack up our things and say goodbye. You should have already received a letter from Mission Engagement and Support offering suggestions for other mission co-workers within the PC(USA) to support when our term has ended. We pray that as you blessed us through your mission partnership with us, that you will find similar connections with other mission co-workers.

In Christ’s Service,
Jeremy (for the Garbat-Welchs)

Dear friends,
We would like to remind you of the fund numbers to support our mission personnel. Please give “in honor of” the mission co-worker(s) that you like to support and include their name(s):
• Individuals: Please give to account number E132192.
• Congregations: Please give to account number D500115.
Churches are asked to send donations through your congregation’s normal receiving site (this is usually your presbytery).
Thank you!