Ryan Addresses Tailoring Graduates

During my last trip, I had the good fortune of addressing graduates of the New Life Christian Church's Widow Tailoring School. It was impromptu, but a special time indeed.

Enjoy!

-Ryan

Journey updates from Solwezi, Zambia

If you aren't already aware, Ryan is currently leading a team in Zambia, Africa. While they are meeting with various pastors in the rural areas of Solwezi identifying community needs and possible partners to provide for local orphans, here are a few updates they've posted via twitter:

"Many of our friends here daily work their tails off to survive. What an honor to learn from them & serve with them."

"Amazing 12 hr day for us. 5 Baptist churches who have identified 300 kids orphaned. No one but church would find these kids."

"After typing up notes off to bed after 17 Hr day. So beat. Please pray for strength tomorrow. Leaving at 8 for Kitwe"

"Visited with a friend to Remmy, wife to chief who lost sister. Always tough to be around death. After 16 trips still new."


You can tell that this journey so far has been both productive and extremely demanding in many ways. Please keep the team in prayer as they journey from Solwezi back to Ndola, then catch a flight to Lusaka tomorrow to meet with local pastors there.

Stay tuned for more updates ..

Brian

Thank you and prayers needed for Vuyani

Friends - thanks for investing in the hopes and dreams of children in 2010. On behalf of the 5,200+ kids we served in 2010, I'm so thankful for each and every one of you. Personally, I thank you for the opportunity to guide you and introduce you to the children, our partners in Africa, and our network of Board members, volunteers, staff, and supporters in the USA.

When we started Forgotten Voices, we didn't know how or when the needs of those we met would be addressed. We knew that God would work through local churches to meet the needs of children we could not deeply know to a level necessary to determine which needs, when, etc. Every child is known personally by their church. Every child has a story that breathes more hope Dec 31 because of your investment in them. We are so thankful you have helped respond. We don't know all of you or how you came to know us, but we are thankful that these children are not forgotten.

Not every story in 2010 ends with joy, however. I just got off the phone with Fibion, our Zimbabwe Director, who told me that a dear young friend of mine is not well at all. Her name is Vuyani, age 17. She is suffering greatly tonight from anemia. We've featured her picture before (she is in the pink), but never her story. After losing her mother, Vuyani and her twin sister were unable to continue going to school. Fibion's church helps send them to school and meet other needs, such as retreats, food, and counseling.  Vuyani's smile is contagious and she is one of my closest young friends in Zimbabwe. We humbly ask you pray for Vuyani. When I saw her in November, she was so frail she couldn't walk. She recovered for about 2 weeks after 9 months of bedrest. Her sister has been reading course material after school for almost a year because Vuyani had to stop attending because of her pain.  In the past few days, she has turned for the worst. Now, she can barely speak and is very, very sick. We pray for healing, but also for peace as she suffers. Right now, people are caring for her on your behalf. Thank you.

As we go off to celebrate, please remember to pray for Vuyani as we continue working to help your investments realize the needs of the healthy and the sick children orphaned by AIDS in southern Africa.

Finally, Fibion's church wanted me to thank you for your prayers & support. Just today, we sent funds that will help the church care for 230 kids, including Vuyani. The church is entering the new year by hosting a 5 hour prayer service that is underway right now. As we pray for them, Fibion also wants you to know that they will be praying for you.

You can continue to give online to support our work at Forgotten Voices' website. Thank you.

Peace and love this new year,
Ryan Keith
President - Forgotten Voices International

Death to Life at Christmas: Part 2

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10)

Yesterday, I shared a short reflection on why Jesus came. He came at Christmas to die, so that we may have life and have it to the full. In coming to die, we are offered a life of laying ourselves down for Him, just as He taught us with his life.

This year, that's what I'm learning about Christmas. At Forgotten Voices, as I reflected yesterday, we deal with death a lot and it can be incredibly overwhelming for me to process. Then, I think about our partners in Africa and the sacrifices they make by doing this day after day. How does a man like Pastor Fibion wake up knowing he'll likely encounter death several times today? How does Pastor James rise to care for children in his own house, knowing that more will come?

Over and over, our friends and partners in Africa teach us a lesson they have learned from considering the birth of Jesus -- He came to die. They consider this often in their day to day lives, offering themselves up for others to bring redemption in death.

Under this tree, the visit of Forgotten Voices was birthed. In the death of this woman, we saw redemption in partnering with local churches to meet the needs of children left behind.

Prudence, age 3, died in Jan 2006.

On just my 2nd trip to Africa before Forgotten Voices was birthed, I remember sitting with sick this woman slumping into the arms of her mother (pictured above). Her name is Mrs. Mpofu. Two Zimbabwean pastors (one, named Garret, pictured to woman's right), my friend Dale (white guy there) and my friend Trevor (Board member - not pictured) visited this woman with me the day before she died in January 2005. She would leave 2 kids, Peterson (pictured below with Ryan) and Prudence (Pictured left), behind in her death. You can click their names to learn/see more.  I remember so distinctly sitting there crying out to God, "What do I know about this and what can I do?"

Working with pastors to decide what would happen to the kids.

Under the tree with Mrs. Mpofu and below around the circle, were pastors who did know what to do. They were offering themselves up before God so that Mrs. Mpofu's kids may have life and have it more fully. They committed their ministries to look after the kids and meet the physical & spiritual needs of the children orphaned by AIDS. They knew their names, histories, parents, situations, etc. They understood what was going on more than you and I could even imagine.

Through the death of so many people that we know at Forgotten Voices, our partners have continually shown us that God wants to redeem death through the example of Jesus' birth, death, and resurrection. In the midst of our pain, God wants us to just come as we are and offer ourselves to Him. I don't think I would've committed so fully to helping develop Forgotten Voices until I saw such an extreme case of death and result. By partnering with the church, we've seen thousands of kids restored to life after losing their parents. We've watched hope win, when death and darkness appeared more logical.

Ryan and Peterson, visiting Peterson's mom and sister's grave site in 2007.

As I continue to walk hand in hand with some of the kids who have experienced death, like Peterson (pictured left with me and below), we get to partner with the church and help redeem death. By investing in the lives of the children left behind by AIDS, we don't just help them. We - you and me - get to experience life-transforming hope in learning more about God's deep love for all of us.

Ryan and Peterson, learning to use a camera in 2006.

On behalf of all the kids we serve and have been served because you all join us in offering life after death, thank you! Thanks for joining the pastors sitting under trees and offering life to their hopes and dreams for the kids in their communities.

As we celebrate our King's arrival tomorrow, may you be encouraged by the work God has allowed you to join. May you find peace in coming, as you are, before Him in worship. May the darkness of our world be enveloped by the promises of our God to redeem of all of this. May you know, without a doubt, that this baby came for you and me. This Christmas, despite the pain we see around us, we have redemption and hope because Christ is born so that we may live fully.

Merry Christmas,
Ryan Keith
President, Forgotten Voices International

Death to Life at Christmas: Part 1

PART I. The story of Christmas is about Death to Life. Jesus came as a baby, born in a manger. The redeemer of the world. God - Literally here on earth. But He didn't just come to be cute and have us throw a party in His honor every year. He came as a gift - offered to all of us for us to accept. He offers Himself to take on the sins of the world so that we may have eternal life if we believe and follow Him. As a Father, God gave us His son, which we celebrate at Christmas, so that He would die for us, which we mourn and celebrate during Easter. He showed us His majesty and triumph over sin by RISING and offering us eternal life.

Can you imagine giving up a child to die for the betterment of others? As a father of a beautiful 6 month old girl, Avery Joy, I'm immensely thankful for this incredible gift that God has bestowed upon my wife, Katie, and I. Avery's giggles, new tricks, and even tears at 3am bring enormous joy to all who encounter her. When I think about Jesus being born for the purposes of dying for me, this strikes me in such a more powerful way now that I have a child. He came to redeem you and me and invite us into His Kingdom if we only believe.

The Christ-mas story of Jesus' birth and future death helps me see the redemptive value of death. Though our thoughts are of great anticipation for life at Christmas, I challenge you to also reflect on Christ's death this Christmas -- His death so that we may have life.

At Forgotten Voices International, we interact with death a lot. A LOT. I've now sat with hundreds of people in their final stages of life. I've met hundreds of parents, caregivers, and kids who are no longer alive. I've sat under trees, holding the hands of men and women...praying for them and asking God to grant them peace in their suffering. I've watched so many parents cling to life, fearing what will happen to their children after they pass away.

Because of Christ's example of sacrificing Himself so that others may have life, the Church has an example to follow. A promise of redemption in the darkness.

Tomorrow, in Part 2, I'd like to share pictures from a profoundly significant day in my life leading Forgotten Voices. Pictures I haven't seen in a couple years until preparing for this post. Pictures that are around me but I've been unable to look. But this year, by looking at Christmas as a story of Death to Life, I'm learning to love and trust in God in new ways. I want to show you what God is teaching me and how our partners in Africa are offering hope to all of us, in the midst of darkness. Jesus' birth showed them.

May God grant you peace and joy in the busy season that is Christmas in America. May you stop and reflect - with great anticipation - for the coming of our King.

Until tomorrow,

Ryan Keith

President, Forgotten Voices International

Welcome to Starbucks, would you like to save a life or just coffee today?

"I’ll have a grande extra hot soy with extra foam, split shot with a half squirt of sugar-free vanilla and a half squirt of sugar-free cinnamon, a half packet of Splenda, oh and put that in a venti cup and fill up the "room" with extra whipped cream with caramel and chocolate sauce drizzled on top?"

As Americans, we want what WE want, when we want it and how we want it. It’s hard not to be surprised by the labels we receive like “selfish, egotistical, or narcissistic,” when we have so much and millions of others have so little. The saddest part about this is that as Americans, we have to make sure everyone else around us knows just how much we have, compared to others.

In contrast, Forgotten Voices International (FVI) sees the needs of those that are suffering and less fortunate and humbly works to care for them. FVI focuses its energy in Africa, specifically within Zambia and Zimbabwe, to come alongside the churches and selflessly fulfill God’s calling to help those, specifically orphans, affected by AIDS/HIV. These orphans struggle to have even just one meal a day, medications, education, or even a parent alive to show them love --- and our biggest difficulty in life is trying to decide what kind of milk we should get in our coffee?!

Psalm 119:36 says, “Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.” The New Living Translation of this verse offers clarity, “Give me an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money!” The selfless nature of FVI, to go follow and serve the Lord demonstrates a sharp contrast to that of many people today.

Forgotten Voices does not simply swoop into Africa like Superman with a camera crew, a bunch of McDonald’s cheeseburgers and Nike sneakers to come save the day and receive instant gratification and personal gain. Instead, in Zambia and Zimbabwe, Forgotten Voices goes into communities and partners with the local churches to holistically empower and uplift the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the people. They do this by funding HIV/AIDS orphans’ schooling costs, hosting sewing classes for widowed women, equipping the jobless with the tools/skills needed to have their own farm for a financial/food source, and many other initiatives.

I support Forgotten Voices and work to help build and grow this organization because I see genuine needs of forgotten people in Africa who have nothing, while I have so much. I frivolously waste my money and time doing things that only serve myself. Did you know that it only costs $15 to send one child to primary school for an entire academic term (4 months)? Considering that a typical Starbucks coffee costs at least two or three dollars, it puts things in perspective. By fulfilling my own frivolous needs, I am, in essence, closing a door on the opportunity to change and perhaps save an orphan’s life.

This organization and the people that work with it are not trying to leave a personal legacy or receive praise and honor for what they do. Much of the work done through Forgotten Voices is “behind the scenes” and if you asked any of the assisted children what “Forgotten Voices” was, they probably wouldn’t even know what you were talking about. Instead, FVI is trying to demonstrate Christ’s GENUINE love and compassion through their service to those that have been forgotten or disregarded by society.

Working with Forgotten Voices is not meant to make me feel like a better person or to receive a nice pat on the back for “sacrificing so much of myself,” -- it’s about having no other option. We all cannot just sit back and go on with our lives as our brothers and sisters in Christ suffer and fall by the way side. We need to volunteer, donate (even if it is just giving up one cup of coffee for the week), pray, etc. because others’ lives depend on it.

Heather Murphy - Forgotten Voices Public Relations Intern and student at Messiah College

Generosity Small Enough to Change the World

One of our partners in Africa once told me “Even the mighty Victoria Falls began with one drop of rain.” I will never forget that conversation or the lessons I learned that night about God’s provision. When we respond to the call to service, there is no telling how God will enhance, magnify, and multiply each individual act of generosity into an enormously powerful and far reaching impression on the world.

To me, Forgotten Voices represents all that God can accomplish when even a few people are willing to sacrifice of their time and resources in order to serve the needs of others. Through what started as a very small group of committed volunteers, God has blessed our efforts and used the resources of our donors to make a difference in the quality of life for thousands of vulnerable children and their communities devastated by the AIDS pandemic.

Although, I am no longer involved in the day to day operations of the organization, our family is committed to continuing to donate our time and resources to Forgotten Voices throughout the year. We know from experience that a small sacrifice here can mean a world of impact for our brothers and sisters around the world.

Matt Hoover - Forgotten Voices Board Member and Director of Commercial Leasing, Triple Crown Corporation

December Prayer & Praise

At this midway point in our Advent series of blog posts, it seems fitting to turn our and your attention to God's ever-constant promise to hear our prayers. Each month we receive prayer and praise updates from the churches with whom we partner across Zimbabwe and Zambia. Below are just a few of those updates. We hope you'll take some time to pray about these requests and praises, and remember the work of our church projects in Africa this Christmas season.

Northrise ECZ – Zambia

Praise God that many children have been inspired to achieve new educational goals with the provision of school fees!

Pray that the Lord would provide moments of dawn in the midst of discouraging times for many orphans who are attending school. Ask that God would provide encouragement in the form of friendships and pastoral care.

Echoes of Mercy Project – Zambia

Pray for a twelve year old girl who lost both parents to HIV-AIDS and has also tested positive for the disease. Pray that God would comfort her as she attends school and that He would cover her with a sense of love and purpose.

Pray that the project would continue to find new and sustainable ways to raise the required resources to serve children in their community.

Free Methodist Church – Zimbabwe

Praise the Lord that a number of woman have recently attended a literacy class in which they are receiving an education to help them better care for orphans! Ask that God would bring to bear immense fruit as a result of their studies.

Pray for the church to strive together in unity and for God to intervene in love when conflicts or pressure arise.

Pray for those who are currently looking for employment. Ask that God would bring about wholesome employment opportunities that will meet the needs of many families.

Pray for the encouragement and strengthening of local leaders who serve everyday with courage and compassion.

No Greater Joy

The mission of Forgotten voices is to equip churches in Southern Africa to empower AIDS orphans and other vulnerable children. In so doing we directly help widows and the downtrodden of the world. I love this because it allows us to directly fulfill a biblical mandate; Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (KJV). Wow. It doesn’t get too much plainer than that. My son Stephen got me involved with Forgotten Voices International several years ago. Stephen went on his first trip to Africa in 2007 and I had the opportunity to go in 2009 and then again in 2010. While these trips are always a bit depressing because you experience first hand the horrors of the AIDS epidemic and other assorted atrocities it is also an unbelievable opportunity to serve. In my opinion there is no greater joy.

Forgotten Voices is making an immediate and direct impact on peoples lives in a very positive way. This is what I love so much about the ministry. The funds raised go to the people in need and they see immediate benefit. Period. I’ve seen this first hand and it melts my heart every time I see the results whether it be with an orphan feeding program, a farming program, school fees or whatever.

My work at Forgotten Voices has been the single most rewarding thing I have ever done. It makes me feel that I am playing a small role in not only helping people who are desperately in need help but I am also helping to build the Kingdom of God. What cold be a more noble purpose or fulfilling activity? If you are considering helping out in some way – there are so many ways that you can – I highly encourage it. I can personally assure you that you will not regret it.

Steve Bozzo - Forgotten Voices Board Member and Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, 1-800-Flowers.com

Grandmas are my heroes

Earlier this fall, my husband came down with a nasty flu bug which turned into a nastier sinus infection. He was sick for over a week, which left me balancing my job, our household, his care and our newly mobile eight-month old son. By the end of the first week, I was exhausted.

Enter the hero of our story - my mother-in-law. Armed with chicken soup and a stack of adorable baby clothes (she can't help it, she's a grandma!) she spent two days helping take care of our son so I could get work done. She played with him, fed him, rocked him to sleep, and I could relax knowing he was in good hands while I tended to other matters.

I read multiple reports each week from our church partners in Zimbabwe and Zambia. The week my husband was sick, I read through these reports with new eyes. Over and over, they referenced the needs of families made up of grandparents caring for grandchildren, after the middle generation of parents has died or become too sick to help. In Zimbabwe and Zambia, 86% of children orphaned live with a grandparent. Often these grandparents are both physically and financially unable to fully care for their grandchildren. The entire family faces hunger, children drop out of school, housing becomes unreliable and they become increasingly vulnerable.

I was tired after just one week of taking care of my child and sick husband. It's hard to imagine the impact of raising my son while my husband slowly died of AIDS-related complications.

I was relieved when my mother-in-law babysat my son so I could be gone for a few hours running errands. I can't imagine being HIV-positive and wondering who would care for him after I was gone - forever.

The holiday season is a time when many of us see our grandparents more than usual or remember the times we had with them more frequently. Will you join me this Christmas in making the grandparents in your life feel extra appreciated? And when you see them or think of them, remember to say a prayer for the millions of grandparents in southern Africa bearing an incredible burden of care for their families.

Ellen Shaffer - Director of Project Management

PS – One way to pay tribute to a grandparent in your life this Christmas is to give a donation to Forgotten Voices in their honor. Click here to find out more!

Fleeing Rwandan Genocide to a Life of Service

Separated during a brutal attack on their village during the Rwandan Genocide of 1994, Pastor Murekezi and his future wife would not see each other again until years later at a refugee camp. Once married, the couple has since decided to follow a higher calling to become leaders of the Free Methodist Church outside of Ndola, Zambia.

Through the church and with help from Forgotten Voices, 26 orphaned children are able to attend primary school, and a community farm has been established that allows people without land to plant crops and feed their families.

The efforts of the congregation and leadership at this church have not only changed lives, but an entire community. More than a dozen families actively participate in their farming program, and plans are in place to use a portion of the crops grown to generate income that will sustain their efforts to send orphans in their community to school indefinitely.

What a powerful ministry. Right now, a team from Forgotten Voices is visiting the Free Methodist Church outside of Ndola, and bringing their expertise and encouragement to the congregation and Pastor Murekezi as they continue to care for those without a voice in their community. You can be a part of this exciting project, just one of nearly two dozen that Forgotten Voices is involved with.

Join our efforts through volunteering, donating, or sharing these stories with others.

We're focused on locally developed and run orphan care in Zimbabwe and Zambia. We hope you'll join in our efforts to help those without a voice wherever you are.

On to Zambia!

After 6 days in Zimbabwe traversing between multiple project partners including Foundations for Farming, Mtshabezi Secondary School, and The Rock Church among others, the team from Forgotten Voices has moved on to Zambia. You may have noticed from their tweets that the team's schedule has been incredibly busy, a roller coaster ride of mixed emotions as they reunite with old friends and also become reacquainted with their hardships.

Today the team has landed in Ndola to visit the Theological College of Central Africa and meet up with Zambian Program Director, Remmy Hamapande. Leading up to this trip, Remmy had the opportunity to visit the United States for the first time, speaking at numerous events and learning a lot about America culture (and enjoying no small amount of pizza along the way!).

Tomorrow the team will visit Lubuto Church of Christ, an hour and a half drive from their current location in Ndola. Through partnership with Forgotten Voices, Lubuto Church of Christ has been able to send over 80 orphans to school, provide sewing and empowerment projects to 32 widows, and construct a hammer mill for the community.

With the hammer mill in place, the church is now able to generate enough income to sustainably provide for the orphans and widows it currently supports. This project is a powerful example of what successful international partnership can look like, a model that Forgotten Voices is seeking to replicate elsewhere. It's important to note that the ideas for these self-sustaining projects are generated and spearheaded by the local people, as they clearly know what's most needed in their own communities. Forgotten Voices can then act as a conduit for their plans to become a reality.

Please continue to keep the Lubuto Church of Christ in your prayers, as well as our team. May the team's visit provide encouragement to the local community and leadership there as they seek to empower a growing number of orphans and widows across the region.

You can also keep up with the team's journey on facebook as they continue their time in Zambia.