Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Zimbabwe Missions Trip


Zimbabwe has one of the worst economies in the world. With the highest inflation rate in the world, over 80% unemployment, a corrupt government, and a skyrocketing AIDS epidemic - the situation seems to be hopeless. For no one is this more true than the children who have been orphaned by AIDS and are left to survive on their own. These orphans have voices that have been all but forgotten. My friend, Ryan Keith has a heart to help these children, and so he began an organization called Forgotten Voices International (FVI) to do just that. FVI works with leaders in Zimbabwe to develop Local Action Plans. In working with local leaders, they are sending orphans to school, starting farms, providing HIV tests, offering grief counseling, supplying vitamins, and developing skills in the local community.

So, this Fall (October 25 - November 7), I will be traveling to Zimbabwe
with Ryan and my good friend, videographer Adam Merritt. Our mission is to document the work of FVI, to tell the story of these children, and to help make their voices heard!! We will be traveling through the country photographing & videotaping the work that FVI is doing and those who are serving and being served by the ministry. I am so excited to be using my gifts in this way! As many of you know, my passion is documentary Missions Photography - and this trip is exactly that! It is such a blessing to feel like I'll be doing exactly what I know God has called me to do. I cannot wait to be a part of this trip!

Though there are just a few of us going on this trip, we can't do it alone -
WE NEED YOUR HELP!!

We desperately need your prayers. Prayers for our safety, prayers for God
to open up doors and create opportunities to connect with people, prayers for this picky eater to eat whatever she's served :) Prayers for Zimbabwe, and for the work being done there. Prayers for the documentary we're shooting, and for the impact it may have on these kids. All sorts of prayers!

We also need financial support. Each of us needs to raise $3500 to cover
our expenses on this trip. If you would like to contribute to the trip costs, please download this form, and send it with your check to the address on the form (a church in PA is handling all of our support for us). If you'd like to support me personally, and you don't care about tax deductions, you can also send a check directly to me at the address below with Zimbabwe in the memo. All contributions will go directly to the costs incurred preparing for and going on this amazing trip. Please prayerfully consider supporting us financially! If you'd like to follow along with us while we're on our trip, I hope to be able to make updates on the blog. You can also keep track of us through Ryan's blog as well! If you'd like more information about the trip, or have any questions, or just want to send some love - leave a comment below, call or email me! I can't wait to see what God will do with this opportunity, and I hope you will partner with us!

4 comments:

  1. I just stumbled across your blog while searching for photography missions trips. They are hard to find! Do you know of anyway I could get involved in one of those? It is a very obscure ministry, but photography and missions are my passions and I would like to combine them. If you could get me any information at all that would be fantastic. Email me at onlyonelife4Him@gmail.com
    Thanks!

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  2. I just came across this blog also, I wold love to find a way where i could get involved in this too, I have a heart for missions and I love photography, if you could e-mail me a christa.lea32@gmail.com, if you know I way that I can get involved...Thank you!
    -Christa

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  3. how does one get into "photography for Missions"
    I've been thinking about that for years, and don't know where to start looking...

    Tell me how you started...

    ~Cio

    cio.shutterbug@gmail.com

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  4. I agree with the top three- I have a passion for both photography and missions and to combine the two to serve God would be such an amazing experience. If you could let me know of any information or know of any opportunities could you email me at anniekeffer87@yahoo.com?
    Thank you! - Anni

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