There is a lot I’ll share over the coming days, weeks, and months about my sabbatical. So many of you were gracious to encourage me to find rest. You helped that effort with your prayers and the ways you supported the ministry in other ways, as well as welcomed Nate Shaffer and our team so warmly into your lives. Thank you for all of these things. More on sabbatical later. Read on… -Ryan

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But before we can explore sabbatical, a storm is looming that I don’t like the looks of – not at all. I remember seeing a tornado as a child, then later in life in college. Vivid memories still today. Seeing a storm coming your way is one of the most frightening things imaginable. One of my least favorite things about storms is the post storm coverage, hearing families recount how if they had only moved this or that, or if only she had not been in that room — things would’ve been better.

Tragedies happen, but when tragedies are preventable?? Especially tragic.

For 7 weeks I didn’t worry about Forgotten Voices and I’m still not “worried,” only concerned. My job (and all of ours) is to advocate for the widow & orphan. I return with a renewed passion to do that. But when I returned one of the first things our Forgotten Voices team told me is that we have an urgent need to raise $7,000 more to support farming training, seed and fertilizer that will begin next week for churches around Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. There, pastors, caregivers to children orphaned, and others caring for these children will receive training in Foundations for Farming.

L to R: Widow, Pastor Obert, Ryan, Foundations for Farming's Pierre, and friend view success of crops after implementing the method.

I just returned and preventing this storm of unnecessary malnutrition for children we love is my top priority.

Last year the training, supplies, and food yielded made an impact on an estimated 1,780 individuals’ food security. We expect similar results. Last year, a looming storm of malnutrition became a wave of God’s provision with this program.

Let’s do it again. To reach this many people again, we need to send $7,000 more by next week so the training can be conducted BEFORE planting season begins in October, so the people are trained, equipped with seed/fertilizer, etc.

I need you to give online at forgottenvoices.org/donate. Thank you! If you would like to talk with me before making a gift to this, feel free to email me at rkeith @ forgottenvoices.org or call our office at 717 506 3144.

Over my time leading Forgotten Voices, there has been no greater return on investment than our partnership with this program. Participants generally yield 300% more than traditional farming, for the first time in their lives have produce to sell, and food security is provided to people who traditionally slip through the cracks into severe malnutrition.

To see what could happen if we all collectively give toward this need is inspiring: hundreds of people trained and equipped with seed. You would not only help Forgotten Voices, but this specific need. To see a storm coming if we don’t intervene – unnecessary deaths due to malnutrition – is too troubling to worry over. Instead, let’s choose to intervene.

I’m anxious to share a great number of things with you about what I learned and the things I was dreaming about, but for now we have a storm coming. We can see how we can avoid it, but we need your help.

Thank you!

-Ryan, @ryanmkeith

President, Forgotten Voices International

Tags: aids, compassion, farming, forgotten voices, Foundations for Farming, orphan, Ryan Keith, storm, widow, zambia, zimbabwe
Filed under: General Blog, Ryan's Blog, Ten Together Blog