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

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

Together We Can Love the World

When Forgotten Voices asked me to be director of student relations, I was surprised and elated and experienced a plethora more thoughts and emotions. To join an organization that is on the forefront of protracting change in southern Africa, one can’t help but jump in with both feet. I don’t know how else to do something except to jump in with all that I am and have. To be able to use my gifts and talents to save lives [bring hope to] and communities in southern Africa is something that I feel honored to do. The AIDS epidemic is so much bigger than me, but as Remmy reminded us, it starts with saving [helping] one child at a time.

The fact that Forgotten Voices isn’t going into a hurting area and telling them how to fix their problems is one of my favorite things about the organization. We don’t know everything and southern African communities are a completely different culture. Those on the ground in Zambia and Zimbabwe understand much better how to support those forgotten voices in their communities whom have lost their parents.

The fact that I get to tell stories and connect communities excites me. Forgotten Voices is a personal organization with stories of personal lives: the fourteen year old girl who takes care of her family, the teen in New York who gives up a car so that an orphan can go to school. It is through personal relationships that we will be able to not only change these lives right now, but also for eternity.

So what is my story? There have been many things that have brought me here. I spent my most recent time in Germany ministering to high school students whose parents were impacting communities all over the world. The gift to mentor students that had such a heart for their fellow man was a very special thing. They have had a special opportunity by growing up in places far from their home.

Students here have the same passions and abilities to change the world. They want to use their gifts now. They don’t need to wait for more schooling or a steady job to start changing their world. They want to help now. And they are. If I can help them to channel their excitement into helping their world, then I will jump at the chance.

So what can we do together? We can spread the word. We can raise awareness about the things going on in southern Africa. This Christmas season we can pray for those whose voice gets so easily lost in the hustle and bustle of American life. We can remember that Jesus came to earth to save the lost and hurting; that when we serve the least of these, we are serving him.

So after you finish reading this please do a couple of things for me. Look us up on Facebook and ‘like’ our page. Follow us on Twitter. And finally, pray about how to serve those who need your help, whether they are down your street or across the world.
And one final question. How are you demonstrating God’s love to your world?

Matt Kirkley - Volunteer Director of Student Relations

True Sacrifice

As a “missionary family”, people are often saying thank you to us for the “sacrifice” we make in our work with Forgotten Voices. I am always a little taken back and never know quite what to say in response to this. I do not often think of what we are doing as a sacrifice on our part. Sure, Ryan travels quite a bit and Avery and I are not always able to join him. Sure, he works a lot of nights and weekends, since calling Africa and working with volunteers requires odd hours. Sure, we might be able make a little more money doing something else with our time. But sacrifice? After spending time in Zimbabwe and Zambia and hearing the stories from our partners in Africa, I certainly do not feel like we are sacrificing much.

I have seen first-hand what I would consider true sacrifice. Sacrifice is the grandmother taking in her twelve grandchildren after their parents have passed away due to AIDS related illnesses. Sacrifice is the twelve-year-old who stops going to school so he can work and care for his younger brother and sister. Sacrifice is the home-based care worker who volunteers her time to visit with widows and children who are orphaned. Sacrifice is the pastor who conducts many funerals in one week – week after week. Sacrifice is the pastor who works tirelessly to support his congregants as they work to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the hurting families in their communities. Sacrifice is giving when it would be easier not to – when it would be easier to focus on themselves, but instead focus on the needs of others.

Sacrifice was Jesus coming to Earth as a man and dying on the cross so that our sins would be forgiven. Christ’s love for us resulted in the ultimate sacrifice, so that we may have life. This leaves us with an incredible responsibility and blessing to honor Christ with our lives. I have learned so much from the pastors, volunteers and families in Zimbabwe and Zambia about what it means to honor Christ with my life through service to others. This Christmas, join our family in praying about how God may be calling us to serve those in our community and in Southern Africa. May we know what it means to truly sacrifice for the sake of others, and as we do, may we learn more about the love of Christ for us and for people all around the world.

Merry Christmas!

Katie Keith