April-June Update

Greetings from Zambia! Life and work in Lusaka is passing quickly by. In the last few months there have been some fairly major changes at ACU and we have made some decisions ourselves. When we initially moved to Zambia in the fall of 2023 it was for a two year exploratory period, which will be complete in the fall of 2025. After much prayer and deliberation, we have decided to continue working at ACU at least through the end of 2026. However, we will be visiting the United States in December of 2025 and January 2026. We will be primarily spending time in Texas, Washington, and Idaho, and we would love to see as many of you as possible while we are home! 

The work at ACU

At ACU we are wrapping up term 2. Isaac has been teaching General Chemistry and History of Thought (Philosophy). He has enjoyed teaching both of these courses for the second time. Chemistry has been especially enjoyable this term, as we have been able to improve the lab tutorials. A highlight this term was tasking the students with creating a pH buffer from common household ingredients (vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda, and crushed egg shells). The lab teams competed to see who could make the strongest buffer. The students enjoyed the competition and there were chocolates for the winners. In term 3 Isaac will be teaching Foundations of Science (Philosophy of Science) and environmental science. Last year, Isaac helped teach Foundations of Science, but Environmental Science will be a completely new course. Your prayers in these endeavors are most welcome. 

Isaac and some of his students doing experiments for chemistry lab

The most exciting news at ACU, since our last letter, is that the agriculture degree program has been recommended for accreditation by the Higher Education Authority. There are some additional steps to get the degree fully recognized, but this is a massive step and is a great relief to the students and faculty. Thank you for your prayers in this matter!

Isaac with Mr. Tembo, the Dean of Students at ACU

ACU also hosted our annual Christian Scholars Week in June. At Christian Scholars Week we highlight faithful Christians and excellent scholars in a specific domain. This year the theme was “Post Harvest Loss, Stewarding Zambia’s Abundance”. Isaac was part of the team that organized this event. Zambia has major post harvest loss issues with some estimating up to 50% of the produce grown in Zambia does not actually make it to food consumption for people. Post harvest loss is sad to see in a country where many people are hungry. The students were very interested in the topic with several of the students expressing interest in entrepreneurial food preservation businesses. 

Isaac is also working to establish an agriculture research club at ACU that would serve local farmers in helping them solve practical problems, while allowing Isaac to mentor students in some of the skills he has developed in agriculture research and extension. We continue to invite students to our home for simple visits, fellowship meals, and singing around the fire. Many students have told us that these gatherings serve as a great encouragement to them. 

Isaac speaking at disputatio on implementing ACU's vision in the agriculture program

Family Life Update:

Homeschooling and family life continues as ever. The kids are growing quickly and they seem to be turning a new corner every day. Korinne has really struggled with learning to read (She takes after her father in this regard), and finally passed through the level one reading this week! She was very excited and it is great to see her recognizing the connection between persistence and accomplishment.

The homeschool coop has been hit or miss for consistency as we have struggled a bit in terms of physical health. Please pray that we stay in good health. We are not dealing with anything terrible, but we do get sick quite often, and it reduces our efficacy in all areas of life. Specifically, we routinely get stomach issues and frequently get coughs. Some of these are quite easy to power through, but occasionally they really do slow us down. Also, please continue to pray for increased community for Faith and the kids. We are growing community slowly, but Zambia can still feel isolating for our kids.

School time!

We also have some logistical needs as a family. Our landlord is planning to sell the house we are staying in. He has been renting it to us at an extremely generous price, and it is unlikely we will be able to find another place at such a good price. One of the great advantages of our location is that it is within walking distance of ACU’s campus. Please pray that we would be able to find something equally close, as moving further away would hinder our ability to host and disciple the number of students we do. 

Since last writing, we have had two friends from the US visit. Our friend Jonathan Tullsen came out for his second visit in April and we went on a road trip with him.

Then in June a friend from Moscow, Ethan Sanchez, came out for about a month to work with the media team at Family Legacy (a Christian organization that serves the vulnerable and orphaned children in Zambia). Toward the end of his time here he came and spent several days with us.  

In our Lusaka Community

Since our last letter, three previous ACU students, who are good friends of ours, were married. It was wonderful to get to celebrate with these young people as they begin life together. Faith was a bridesmaid in one of the weddings and was heavily involved in the wedding and events leading up to the wedding. It was a very eye opening experience for her and she learned a lot more about Zambian cultural traditions around weddings.

Faith and Korinne at Lumba's kitchen party (bridal shower)

There are many traditions around family and marriage which are wonderful and community oriented, but there are others which are antithetical to the scriptures. It should go without saying that the same can be said of the US. Please pray for these young couples as they establish their homes. To establish a Christian home is a battle no matter where in the world you are. 

Lumba and Lerato's wedding! Lumba is an ACU graduate and good friend of ours

Our church is also in a point of transition. It is quite a small mission plant church, and our pastor is part time. For the past two years a missionary family from South Africa has been working to help develop the leadership of Christ Church Lusaka. However, their appointment at our church was temporary and they are now transitioning to their primary work of equipping pastors in Mongu (Western Zambia).  We will miss them greatly, but we are excited for the work God has called them to in Mongu. We are serving on the leadership committee as we seek to make decisions about where the church should meet and the best way for it to move forward. It has been difficult and we would appreciate prayer for Christ Church Lusaka. Pray that God would guide us and that we would have unity in the brothers here.

Fellowshipping with friends after the service at Christ Church Lusaka

One of the wonderful things about living in Lusaka is that as other missionaries travel in and out of the country they stop through Lusaka. This has allowed us to meet missionaries who work in more remote regions. Most recently Isaac connected with some soil science/agricultural missionaries attached to a mission in Kasempa (North Western Zambia). We hope to go visit their work to build connections and see how ACU students might compliment the work they are doing. 

Thank you for all your prayers and support! We are looking forward to seeing many of you when we are home this winter. 

In Christ,

The Madsens