…i am going to a place i love dearly; yet a place that i have never been…

That one phrase pretty well sums up the feelings that I have had as I prepare for my first trip to Zimbabwe. There are so many people that live there whose stories I have heard for years – orphans that I have prayed for constantly. I still remember first hearing about Prudence and Peterson. It broke my heart. I was overwhelmed, not knowing what to do, but knowing that I must do something.

…there is so much pain; where do i start…

Forgotten Voices was just uncovering what things could possibly be done and how we could help. For years I prayed and helped in the ways that I knew how. A couple of years ago, I was asked to join the wonderful Forgotten Voices team as director of student relations. I became more deeply involved and learned of more people and their stories in the face of adversity.

…i want to but can i? will i?…

All of this is so important to why I am going? No longer is hearing the stories enough. The stories still greatly affect me. But I need to experience. I need to meet my own Peterson or Prudence or Neatness or Dillon…the list goes on and on. This trip allows me to better serve Forgotten Voices and to give you a glimpse into the amazing need and work being done.

…i’m scared…

If a story breaks my heart, how will meeting someone who lives in abject poverty affect me? I’m scared. I don’t know how I will be able to handle the emotional upheaval that I will experience. Will I close off? Will I spend the trip in tears? I do know that this trip will be amazing. I know that it will be life changing. God will bring the peace and pain that I will need to process through on this trip.

…i’m loved…

I know that I am loved dearly by my creator. The God of the universe cares deeply not just for me, but for all of us. Every person that I will meet in Zimbabwe is loved so greatly by God that we can’t even begin to understand.

God is in control and I must do something.  Two truths that I cannot separate.

…we can…

Forgotten Voices is doing something and so can you. You may not be able to go like I am, but I didn’t start by going, I started by just trying to help in the little ways that I could.

I prayed…I gave…I talked…

So can you. Tell someone about Forgotten Voices. Pray for us as we go on this trip. And give. Help us send another child that has been orphaned by AIDS to school. Click here to donate.

…can we? will we?…

Matt Kirkley – Volunteer Director of Student Relations

Tags: #FVAfrica, Africa, aids, do something, education, forgotten voices, orphans, Prudence, zimbabwe
Filed under: General Blog