Prayerful Action is Contagious

I just got off the phone with a woman that inspired me to write an entry. With my job, I have the opportunity to meet all kinds of people, all over the country. People call about Africa often and I think it's perhaps one of the coolest parts of my "job".

Today, a young woman called to talk about Zimbabwe. She had heard the Bishop of Zimbabwe, Rev. Danisa Ndlovu, give a state of Zimbabwe address as part of his duties for the Mennonite World Conference. Without knowing much about Zim, she began exploring more about the tragic situation unfolding before the hidden eyes of the world.

The more she learned, the more she prayed that God would direct her path. She is now helping mobilize people of prayer around the country and helping share the message of hope here in the USA and in Zimbabwe... letting people know that prayer matters to God.

Our God calls us to prayerful action again and again in the Bible, sometimes (oftne perhaps) asking us to do things by faith that seem to make NO SENSE to our little minds. But time and time again, our God provides for those that take prayerful actions. From Moses and his staff to Daniel in the Lion's Den to David & Goliath to Job to Samson and on and on.... Countless stories really.

What's my point? Zimbabwe is falling apart. The US government can't do much and the governments of African nations won't do much either. But the church can act in a way that others can't.

I've spent the last 3 years of my life telling the story and trying to act. But too many times, I have tried to act without prayer or to pray without action. My phone conversation today reminded me that all of our actions as an organization need to be prayerful actions. It's contagious! How can you prayerfully act to assist the country of Zimbabwe, your neighbor, enemy or stranger that crosses your path in today's errands? I look forward to learning along side of you...learning together about just how contagious prayerful action can be to our world and to us as people.

Another boring paper? Help an orphan and learn stuff. We can help!

Forgotten Voices is proud to announce a new project: The Research Voice. Essentially, we are posting challenging questions faced by Forgotten Voices and our partners. We have divided them into research areas so students can quickly identify a potential topic that they can use for a research paper that they need to complete.

They simply submit their well thought out research, we consider it, and look for ways to use the material to further our mission.

It's an awesome way for students to contribute in a meaningful way, learn about the world, and take a potentially meaningless topic and transform it into a life enhancing tool for Forgotten Voices.

Check it out at: ForgottenVoices.org: Student Research Ideas

So... where did this come from? Here's the background for interested parties.

Over the last 3 years, I've talked with a lot of high school and college students. I keep thinking about my message to students.... orphan care is complicated and we don't just need people with big hearts, but we need people who are wrestling with the different layers of the challenges. We need healthy heads and hearts. My message was we need you to stay in school to help us address the very real challenges occurring right now in southern Africa.

Over and over, students kept telling me that in addition to money, they would love to find a way to plug in to our work in Africa without feeling like they need to drop out of school. As I searched around the non-profit industry, I kept coming back to this idea I had of using research time that students have to address real issues our partners are facing in Africa, as well as questions our volunteers have in the USA.

We have teamed with our partners in Africa to identify critical questions that they are facing in various interests of study. Our list will grow, but for now, we have 9 categories. We hope have 15 by the end of September. Check it out at http://forgottenvoices.org/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=53&Itemid=91.

So - our partners in Africa and our amazing intern, Paul, have identified challenges that need work. The questions are pretty deep and may be used by students to fulfill classroom assignments they are given.

As a former student, I know what it's like to have an assignment without a meaningful topic that I could relate to in real life. This tool can help. Students can select a question, research a response, help themselves, and help us fulfill our mission of empowering orphans.

There is no guarantee the papers will be acted on, but all will be read and considered here and in Africa. I'm building a research team to look through all submitted papers.

We are really excited about sharing this new opportunity and I wanted to specifically invite you all to participate in this initial trial run. Just a suggestion if you find a fit in one of your classes.

If you have ideas/suggestions/questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. I can't find anyone else doing something like this and I hope this pans out for the students, our partners, and Forgotten Voices. At the very least, it will be a good attempt to bridge the gap that exists between the ideas of study and the practical results of our work. I see more and more that we need students to engage in the challenges of this world...not just complain about them and certainly not just drop out of school to help without understanding.

I do hope you all are well!

All the best,
Ryan Keith
President, Forgotten Voices International

_________________________________
Note from Ryan Keith
Forgotten Voices: Empowering Orphans
717.506.0633 | RKeith@ForgottenVoices.org

Local People. Local Projects.
Find out how you can use your voice at www.ForgottenVoices.org

The Now...and the Later

Zimbabwe is in the news lately, but for all the wrong reasons. What was a tragic situation when we first arrived in 2004 has transformed into the world's worst economy and a future that is seemingly bleak.

Every time I receive an article from someone, it is always bad. And I see that. I understand that. But I wanted to take a moment and write that some things are good in Zimbabwe.

Now, there is a man named Horace living in the western parts of Bulawayo. Today, he is busy organizing an orphan retreat for 50 kids. They are going to go away for a few days and learn how to cope with the now and the later in life: Grief counseling, managing money, working a field, cleaning water, etc. Life skills that many of us here in the states never really experience, including managing money.

And here is the kicker. Horace is in his 20s. Limited education, but a willing heart. He doesn't have the luxury to sit around and think about what to do with all these kids until later. He needs to respond NOW! Forgotten Voices is helping him get these orphans to camp, but he's the one acting NOW.

There are so many stories to share. But I just spoke with Horace on the phone in Zim, so I thought I'd share the Now story of the day.

As for later? We'd love to help many more. Your support is allowing us to find leaders like Horace and partner with them for local projects, run by local people. Thanks for doing what you are doing. Right NOW, your gifts are giving life and hope for orphans...for the now...and the later.

Finally, I'm headed up to our wedding site. As you can imagine, I'm pretty pumped about it! Marrying Katie will be the greatest and most amazing aspect of my life...ever (now or later). :) I'm leaving in a couple hours. But I couldn't leave without telling you that you have all forever changed my life. As I began one of my last days as a single man (we get married Saturday), I kept thinking of all the people that have helped make me the man I am today and have been patient with me, amidst the many flaws I have.

You all are investing in our dream at Forgotten Voices: to empower orphans in Africa. You need to know that you are also fueling my life's ambition: to empower people here and there. For now and later. I have committed my life to equipping churches in the USA and in the world to help the vulnerable. God has called me to this life and I'm thankful for each of you for helping make this life a reality for Katie & I.

Keep up the good work! The world needs you and I do too...now and later.

Blessings,
Ryan

What I learned from a kid recently

Recently, I was speaking at a church in Pennsylvania. They had asked that I talk about Forgotten Voices to 60 kids, from the ages of 5-10. Gotta be honest with you. Out of all the groups I have the chance to talk with, this age group is my FAVORITE!

They are always so willing to learn, engaging, trusting, and fun! Plus, they always ask hilarious questions. As we watched a presentation about orphans in Africa, the kids were locked into the show. We pretended to fly into Zimbabwe, fly even lower into the Matopo Mountains, and then bike up a hill before finally walking a LONG way to a small boy's village.

As they kids met Peterson on the screen, they all stood and yelled an Ndebele greeting that i just taught them with no regard to the fact that Peterson couldn't ACTUALLY hear them or see them. It didn't matter to them. They were engaged.

Over 5 minutes, I introduced them to Peterson's life. How he lives by himself. How he cares for the animals and takes care of the fields. How he has to get himself up in the morning and walk 2 miles to school. How he needs to cheer himself up when he has a bad day or someone makes fun of him. And the crazy thing is? they got it. No, they really got it. Unlike any other group, kids just get it. They didn't ask questions that were only being asked to avoid dealing with the heart of the situation...orphans caring for themselves at way too young of an age.

As my time with these children came to a close, I was humbly touched by 1 small boy, age 8. I was in the middle of describing how they can help millions of kids just like Peterson: Pray, Share, Give. Before I finished the Give part, a young boy came right up to the stage in front of everyone and said, "I have 2 quarters. Could you make sure that this gets to the kids in Zimbabwe?"

In that moment, I was floored. "Faith like a child" took on a whole new meaning for me in that moment. I'm thankful for kids and the lessons they can teach us. And I'm thankful for the thousands of lives that will be touched in the USA and Africa as I have the chance to tell that story over and over.

-Ryan (writing from Pennsylvania)

In Conclusion: Thoughts On Zimbabwe

 

I have so many thoughts and so much to say about Zimbabwe and everything that I experienced that I'm deliberating on how to bring that about and how long this blog/email should in fact be. I'm just going to let it happen and see what comes. If I'm repeating then I apologize.

 

First the People

The initial thing that comes to mind in regards to my trip is just this group of kind people that I involved myself with. Everywhere I turned there seemed to be someone who was willing to help me and guide me, etc.

 

Second the Peril & Possibilities

The day that I got back I was pondering my trip and I was trying to figure out how I felt about everything that I saw in Zimbabwe. It was put to my pefectly and succinctly that what I saw was both "peril and possibilities." Using that phrase really helps to sum it all up nicely. Constanlty my eyes just saw people in peril. One becomes so familiar with the place that they are in, that I tended to forget that I was in fact in a third world country. We use that phrase here back home in America without thought or care and with ease but in fact it means so much when you are there on the ground. People are in peril. Children with AIDS. People losing their homes. People being killed by the goverment. People having a real reason to hate their goverment. At the same time I reference you back up to my first section of this blog, due to these people at the same time you see possibilities. Zimbabwe was at one time a thriving country, and in reality it was not that long ago. It can be again I believe, or at least in a much better situation.

 

Third the Breaking of the Cycle

We need to pray for new goverment. I would rather not even touch on the current goverment because who am I to really start pointing blame, but I do think in my honest opinion that change can first occur if a new goverment comes into power. Just because that happens doesn't necessarily mean things will change, but part of the possibilites I think hinders on a change of regime. There is a cycle of corruption in Zimbabwe that I fear is going to be hard to break. It begins with the uppermost leaders in goverment and filters down into the everyday people. It is a vicious horrible cycle. Life for the everyman revolves around the parallel market ( a.k.a. black market) due to the immmoral and insufficient goverment restrictions on the necessities (gas [petrol], food, power, money, etc). Because of this goverment and these unlawful (but of course they are the law) restrictions and legislation people are forced to become "movers and shakers" just so they can live at a normal level. I fear that even if a goverment change does occur this part of the cycle is going ot be hard for some to break. It will be a slow process if anything. Furthermore, the corruption cycle runs into the civil servants. This is a major problem. If the police are not being fair and just and honorable then that has so many explosive counteractions for a society. I was driving home from Hwange National Park on my last two days before I departed for home. I was driving on a main highway (meaning paved and one lane each way) and a police officer off in the distance stood out in the middle of the road and waved me over to the side as I approached. This is common practice in Zimbabwe. I got stopped 4 times on my trip home form the park. Except, now, as you get pulled over, everything is up in the air. The third time I got pulled over the police officer asked for my license (I was not speeding, there was not even a radar gun out, I was driving safe and fine) then started walking around my car looking at it suspiciously. He asked me to get out of the car and then proceeded to accuse the car of being stolen. He did not go back to a police cruiser or check some system - in fact I didn't even see one around at all - he just made the accusation after walking around the vehicle. I told him it wasn't. He said that I didn't have the proper tags on the car. This car was not even mine, it was a rental. I knew at this point that this police officer is making this whole thing up. What he is doing is looking for a bribe. This happens all too often in Zimbabwe and has unfortunatly been woven into the fabric of the culture. This is an every day occurance. Corruption like this must stop.

 

Fourth the Last Thing I'm Going To Say

That is all I can say. I have written a lot and I have so much more. I feel like I can go on forever. I feel blessed and I appreciate, and I will see Zimbabwe again sometime soon. I have said my thanks in essence, but I will conclude with just specifically the people who helped me over in Zimbabwe.

--- Specifically Denis, a godsent, just a huge help in times of need and basically always. The King family (Warren, Tez, Kayla, Davin, Byron, the baby in Tez belly), this is a large family (with the extended family almost all living on the same property outside Bulawayo) that just gives and gives and gives. They put me up for countless nights and fed me countless times and I took food from them and took time from them out of their lives and they were so willing and so amazing. I miss them already. The Anderson family (Paul, Syliva, Daniel, Emma, Scott, Abby) related to the King's, and everything I said about the King's I echo for the Anderson's. They put me up for a few nights and fed me and just made me feel like I was at home and let me use their internet and just everything. Victor Nakah (president of TCZ) put Ryan and I up for a few nights and took teh time to speak to me privatly and is a kind and caring man who cares about TCZ very much along with Forgotten Voices. Bishop Danisa Ndlovu (along with Trezia, Winnett, Dudu) a man who is determined to help Forgotten Voices and is in fact going out of his way to help a group of young actors who are travling from stateside blind into Zimbabwe. Along with that he fed us and gave us shelter and spoke to us kindly and let us sit and pray while he and his family prayed in the native tounge. It was great. Richard Ndlovu (along with Snow, Vuyo, and little one on the way) again, same as above, gave us shelter, love, food, some music, a great family. Fibion Ndlovu who is giving his life to the church and the people in his community as people pass away daily. It takes a strong man to attend funeral every day for people he knows, Fibion may have the nickname of "the little elephant" but he is a strong man definitely and I appreciate him.

 

Until next time,

Stephen Bozzo
 

Thanks, Before I Go

 

I haven't been able to write much because I have not been near a computer much over the last few days. I am leaving to go to the airport to fly home. I will write a final blog when I arrive at home, but I wanted to quickly say thanks to everyone. Specifically thanks to my donors (I love you), the people here in Zimbabwe who helped me along the way (I appreciate it very much), those reading this blog who donate to FVI and AIDS related charities (keep it going and praying you are very much needed), those who read this blog for the entertainment and stimulation with my wonderful anecdotes and nuance filled prose (keep praying for this country and supporting FVI whenever you can, it is much needed and it definitely helps), and thanks to FVI (you rock).

Stephen

Quick Update

Been driving back and forth yesterday and today. I have met again with Victor Nakah the president of TCZ, John Stamboli the vice president, Fibian Ndhlovu the pastor of the Free Methodist Church, Warren and Tezwin King assitant pastor of The Rock church. Now I am headed to a late tea with Bishop Danisa Ndhlovu bishop of the BICC. Quick prayer request: Today after meeting with Fibian one of his volunteer assistants Horace came rushing into the office, his father is severly ill at the moment and had to rush to the hospital. I offered to drive, so we set off. Pray for his recovery. That area in the western suburbs has it hard enough as it is. Tomorrow I am going to a local orphanage to spend some time with the kids and offer up my services for the day. God Bless.
Stephen