Greetings from airport - again

After a wonderful meatball sub & avacados & salad meal with sugar mango pudding for dessert, we couldn't sleep with excitemtn - though we all tried. We were all too excited to sleep. Excited to finally be in Africa and pumped to continue getting to know one another. Already the conversation has started about how we can use our collected gifts to help tell the stories of people we've met already.

Stories of kids here always amaze me. About 150 kids were there for the first day at Aurora Primary School yesterday. Aurora is a K-7 school about 30 min from the airport, set on a beautiful farm. It will be two weeks until they have a better understanding of the count. Kids come from 30 kilometers away, some by foot or bus. We got to meet all the kids informally, in a mass setting while they were playing a game. The energy of screaming kids is always reenergizing. Many don't have parents, or have parents absent or abusive. It was clear that Aurora was a place of healing for some and will be for those that arrived yesterday for the first time.

It is always good to see my friends, the Walkers, who lead Aurora, but especially good. There is so much going on in their lives. Please join me in praying for a house closer to the school, building construction & adjustments underway, and plans to floor classrooms and pay more teachers. Some of ths they don't have funds for, but the are faithful people. We look forward to being ambassadors for them as we return to share their stories.

James rose early this morning to the sounds of birds outside. Rob managed to go back to sleep after awaking. I slept soundly until 15 min before we left for the airport. :) Oops. Just picked up some muffins and OJ at the airport lounge so, Katie, you don't need to worry. We will also eat on the plane. We leave in 50 min for Zambia. Excited to see Remmy again.

Thanks to the Lockwood family for picking us up, feeding us, and housing us. We are so thankful for your love and support. Without your assistance and encouragement - "a welcoming place" - we would not enter Zambia as refreshed as we are this morning.

Lots of love to you all. Thanks for joining us on the journey.

Until Zambia,
Ryan (for James & Rob)

PS if you follow our tweets - but especially for our wives - we wisely decided not to buy Ferraris at the Ferrari store. In fact, we managed to tick off the woman mopping the store. She scowled us out before we could even seriously consider it. :) Alas, another day without ferraris. :)

Safely here in South Africa

Greetings from Johannesburg, South Africa. We arrived safely after 19 hrs on the plane. It was a long way, the longest north to south trip I've ever taken. For whatever reason the currents aren't as strong this month so it took us longer than my January trips usually take.

We are all in good spirits, but anxious for rest in a bed. Lockwoods are picking us up in the airport. I'm sending this as we await their arrival in the lobby. The beauty of WIFI in Johannesburg - the New York City of Africa.

James & Rob both went to Deer Foot, a boys' camp in upstate New York, so they bonded instantly sharing names and experiences. It was nice to see such a deep connection so early on. We have al ong road ahead and will need to be supportive of each other.

After being picked up by the Lockwoods, we will drive immediately to Aurora Primary School,  a school where the Lockwoods volunteer their enormous talents as a family. We will be there for about an hour or two, then head home. Too quick, but it's going to be dark. Please join me in praying for our time at Aurora Primary School. I have met with the leaders of the school over dinner, but this will be the first time. We are going to see, learn and encourage those serving in the school. While this is not a project supported directly by Forgotten Voices, it has become a project near to my heart. It is not uncommon to encounter incredible work being done that falls outside of our mission. So, I'm grateful to share one of these projects with Rob & James.

Until later when we arrive home at the Lockwoods,

Ryan (for James & Rob)

Ryan Returning to Africa TODAY

Friends - I begin my return journey to Africa in less than 12 hrs. Amazing that it is time again.I can't tell you how excited I am to return for this special trip. I just sense that the timing is right for the journey. The purpose of the trip is described in this brief video. Thanks for watching. You can read more below. We now know of over 10,000 kids who need a champion. This trip is for me to go meet more of them so I can share their stories with you. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter as we go. 

Enjoy the ride! -Ryan Keith, President, Forgotten Voices International.

On the map below, you'll see the 5 new growth areas where we hope to reach in 2011 with the launch of TENTOGETHER.org, a campaign that asks you to join with 10 friends, each giving $10/month to Forgotten Voices and your team of 10 serving 10 hrs a year to a cause local to you in the USA.

Potential growth areas within Zambia, as TEN TOGETHER teams start, are numbered by order. Across the 5 cities, we know about 75 pastors who have about 18,000 kids within their communities. Each child is orphaned by AIDS and has unique needs that their local church is willing to help meet, but needs some support. We've spent the last 2 years identifying and networking these trustworthy graduates of TCCA, our seminary partner in Zambia. We praise God for the opportunity to meet so many and pray expectantly for God to use you and me to respond to this need through TENTOGETHER and supporting Forgotten Voices.

This trip I'll be joined by Rob Pepper, a friend from Messiah College, and James Masterson, a friend from Indianapolis. We will travel first ot South Africa to the Aurora Primary School and visit our friends, Steve & Michelle Lockwood. We then will be in Ndola (just south of Mufulira on map below) to meet up with Remmy (right), who some of you meet when he was here in October/November. Remmy will be our guide every day in Zambia.  We will meet with about 15 pastors for a couple days in Ndola, including a graduation for a widow sewing program Forgotten Voices' supports. The ceremony will mark the 60th woman trained by New Life, a church we serve. After a Leadership Summit with all current project leaders in Ndola, we will be off to Mufulira (#1 on map below) for a meeting with about 12 pastors, then on to Solwezi (#2 on map below) to meet with 8-10 pastors over 3 days. After Solwezi, we return to Ndola before taking a 6am flight to Livingstone (southwest corner near Zimbabwe) via Lusaka. Once in Livingstone, we'll have a lunch meeting with about 10 pastors in the area before taking in the Great Victoria Falls - one of the 7 wonders of the world.

Over the past 2 years, we've been working with TCCA, our seminary partner in Zambia, to build a Graduate Network around the country. We've been finding trustworthy pastors to make sure your investments are wisely spent to make the wisest impact. During this trip, we'll be discerning where we should join with the local church first in responding to the physical & spiritual needs of children orphaned by AIDS. I'm delighted to go and meet these brave men & women serving kids who need a champion. We'll also be spending time throughout listening to what God is teaching the local church about service and how we can bring those lessons to the USA to help us love our neighbors more effectively.

All of this is for our new TENTOGETHER campaign to support our work at Forgotten Voices. In 2011, we hope to equip local churches in Zimbabwe and Zambia to reach 10,000 children orphaned by AIDS. These children will be found through this trip and others to come. Pray for wisdom for when, for whom and how we should join with the churches.

Please join me in praying every day for the trip. Particularly pray for wisdom as we meet pastors, joy with the kids we meet, and humility to learn and listen. Pray also for safety, as we will have many flights over the next 12 days. Please also pray for the role you may play in helping us reach 10,000 kids in 2011. Visit www.TENTOGETHER.org to learn more. Thanks for following our adventure, as we go for you.

New Year's Eve Memories and Prayers

Six days ago, my husband and I were driving to spend New Year's Eve with his parents. I had one more task to complete - my weekly phone call to our Zimbabwe Director, Fibion - before I could relax and enjoy the long weekend with my family. Marveling at the technology that allows me to sit in my car in Pennsylvania and talk to a dear colleague in Zimbabwe, I gave Fibion a call. It was a short conversation, as we both had evening plans. Amidst the business items we had to discuss, I learned that his evening plans involved a 4+ hour prayer service at his church. I was challenged by his and his congregation's faithfulness to prayer, and asked Fibion how I could pray for them. He shared with me the story of Sipho, which I want to share with you. Perhaps, like me, you'll be challenged to make prayer a more intentional part of your life in 2011. And perhaps, like me, you'll start by praying for Sipho. Here is his story:



As millions of people welcomed the New Year with fireworks, we can only imagine what memories were going through this little boy’s mind. Three years ago, Sipho lost four fingers on his right hand and sustained burns to the right side of his body in a fireworks accident. He was on a holiday visit to his step mother in South Africa when this painful experience occurred. His grandmother tells us that Sipho was seriously hurt as he tried to join the celebration with a firecracker. The experience left the boy psychologically shaken to this day.

Sipho lives with his grandmother in Zimbabwe. His father has been imprisoned in South Africa on charges of theft. Sipho is one of the beneficiaries of the partnership between the local Free Methodist Church and Forgotten Voices.

In school, Sipho struggles to write with his left hand. He’s just learned that he did not do well on his grade seven exams. He used to succeed academically, but is now has learning difficulties at school.

Pray that Sipho will experience continued physical and emotional healing, as well as psychological stability. Pray for those around him who are seeking appropriate educational tools for him. Pray for his grandmother and for his father who is still in prison. Pray that the church’s involvement will bring about the total healing that is needed.

Ellen Shaffer, Director of Project Management

Prayer & Praise: January 2011

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.

ZBA OVC Support Project – Zambia

Pray for the ten ZBA church planters and their families who are serving and promulgating the Word of Christ in some of the most remote areas.

Pray Mushili Baptist Church as their sanctuary is in need of repair. Ask that God would provide the resources, both physical and human, to refurbish the building.

Praise God that recent seminary graduates will be joining the ZBA workforce as church planters!

Fruit of the Vine (Vineyard World Outreach Church) – Zambia

Praise God that a number of leaders have experienced a direct call to love vulnerable children!

Pray that God would fill the leaders of this project with confidence and grace as they begin working with vulnerable children. Ask that the Lord would send His Spirit in power to equip these leaders to meet the needs of the many broken children in their community.

Free Methodist Church – Zimbabwe

Pray that God would attend to a young boy named Bright who was unable to complete his year-end ninth grade examinations due to sickness. Ask that God would completely and expeditiously restore Bright’s health as he recovers from malaria.

Ask that God would provide rain for the many farmers who have planted crops. Pray that God would provide a plentiful harvest to be shared among the community.

Praise God that many children successfully completed their year-end examinations with the love and support provided by FVI!

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

Merry Christmas from the almost forgotten

Last night at Katie's parents' Christmas Eve service, I watched with delight as my daughter quietly jumped up and down throughout the whole service...quite a feat for a six month old. On the inside, I could tell she was singing because her bouncing to the beat was so passionate. Only occasionally would a shriek of joy cry out. Being that it is our first Christmas, I'm soaking up every minute.

Her passionate joy taught me two things that I wanted to share with you this Christmas:
1) That as we celebrate our King, let us dance about with joy for the birth of Jesus. He's not just "the reason for the season", as the phrase goes.  He's the reason for our salvation. He's the reason for our Hope. He's the purpose of our lives. He's redemption from death. He's life for you and me, if we believe and follow Him.

2) As I watched her dance, I was again overwhelmed by how much I crave this joy and security for the kids our ministry serves.  I kept thinking about what would've happened if local churches weren't helping bring life after death of their parents. I couldn't stop thinking of the hundreds and thousands of people who live, in part, because of our ministry. This means that they are still alive, in part, because of your investment.

You can click on the captions below each picture to learn more about each child.

Eddie, a future pilot

Nelson, a future farmer.

Peterson, a future cameraman

Neatness, a future accountant or air hostess. Now, maybe a teacher.

Shelton, Concilia and Magret, back in their home for Christmas.

While I hope you take some time today to read back through the many reflections from our advent contributors, I wanted to also let you see some of the many faces who live and have the opportunity to teach us to live like Christ because you helped them stay alive. When Christ ascended into heaven, He left behind His church as Plan A. There is no Plan B. Through your investment in local churches, by God's grace, we are helping bring redemption and hope from death. I will, without exaggeration, be forever thankful for each of you.

On behalf of all the people we serve, our volunteers, our staff and Board, Merry Christmas from Forgotten Voices International.

With great joy and thanksgiving,
All the best,
Ryan Keith
President, Forgotten Voices International