This Summer, of 2024, Jor-El Godsey, President of Heartbeat International, visited Zambia! Below are some questions Jor-El answered about his experience:

1. Have you been to Zambia before?

Yes! Parts of Zambia are in the world-renowned Copper Belt that holds an estimated 50% of the world’s concentration of copper. It’s been a few years since I’ve been so I was eager to go back to have the chance to be with our joint-affiliate network partners, AFLA (Association for Life of Africa).

2. Why did you go to Zambia and what impact did you and the conference hosts hope for?

Ndola, Zambia was the hosting site for AFLA’s National Directors Conference. Barbra Mwansa, our long-time friend (since 1998), and her AFLA team always create a great opportunity for building friendships, deepening understanding, and envisioning the future. While AFLA has affiliates in nearly 18 countries, their home base is in Zambia (Kitwe). 

3. What was planned for this trip?

It was my privilege to get to connect with African leaders from many countries. Particularly new to me were the many key leaders from French-speaking countries in Africa, such as the Congo, Cameroon, and Ivory Coast. I was also able to support the AFLA conference line-up with a workshop and two keynotes.

4. Did anything surprise you?

My biggest surprise for this trip was an unexpected, and extended, stay in Nairobi, Kenya. After the long flight from New York City (JFK) to Nairobi, Kenya (NBO) I missed my connection by just a few minutes. Unfortunately, the next flight was scheduled for the following morning so that meant an overnight in Nairobi was in order. This included applying for a visa at the airport. When the next day’s flight was canceled as well, the long trek became even longer. In all, it took 73 hours to get from my home to the conference in Zambia. Not only did that scramble the schedule a little bit for my presentations, but it meant lost time with our good friends gathered there.

A fun surprise was speaking (with interpretation) in French. While I have worked with interpreters for Spanish, Russian, and other languages, this was my first time hearing my words in what is often called “the language of love,” French. I’m grateful our French-speaking friends in Africa were able to hear the conference content in the language of their hearts!

      

5. Who did you get to connect with—either for the first time or to foster an existing relationship?

Meeting with Pastor Edward and Barbra Mwansa is always a joy. This couple is, in some ways, the patriarch and matriarch of the pregnancy help movement across much of Africa. In addition, I was able to visit with some familiar friends who have been able to join us for past Heartbeat International conferences in the U.S. But it was the many new leaders in AFLA, who lead pregnancy help outreach and pro-life churches, who I was able to meet with for the first time and hope to see in the future.

6. Why is it important for those in the pregnancy help movement to connect with others internationally?

Community is a cornerstone of the biblical imperative. God created us for community because He existed in community, the Godhead, before creation. That’s why it is important for all of us to seek, affirm, and cultivate our community. The pregnancy help community has a specific, even unique, calling to champion life where we find ourselves. In the United States pregnancy help can look different in, say, Texas, than it does in California. This is also true internationally where the variations in culture, economy, government, and spiritual foundation can be challenging. Building community across the country and around the globe helps us to encourage one another and stimulate each other “toward love and good deeds.” (See Hebrews 10:24-25.)

   

At Silent Voices, we know all days are precious, but today was a very special day for all of us to celebrate.

Thirteen years ago, a woman came into the office seeking abortion. She was in deep pain. Hurt and at the crossroads. Her husband had abandoned her for another woman, leaving her with a pregnancy and four other children to take care of.

Now, with a fifth child in the womb, she saw only reasons to terminate her pregnancy. Besides that, she had no funds for rent or to send her kids to school. She was afraid to go through all these issues alone, without a husband. There seemed no way for her to survive, especially with one more mouth to feed.

Her mind was just abortion.

The woman was counseled, but still she left being abortion minded.

September 21, 2012, the woman called my number and asked if Silent Voices still existed. I told her we are still there and our offices are now at 33 Nsombo Street. She then said, “I would like to come to the office, and I am coming with my 12-year-old daughter who was saved in that same Center.”

She also said, “For many years, I have been talking to my daughter about that place, and I promised her that one day I would take her to meet her spiritual mom.”

Seven days later, the woman came in with a special gift—her daughter that was saved 13 years ago. Her daughter is named “Precious.” We all broke into tears of joy, danced and sang songs of joy.

“I am so thankful for you all and Silent Voices,” the woman said. “When I came, I was in deep pain because I lost my husband for another woman, and I felt I had no choice but to abort this child. Even though I had decided on abortion during counseling, I immediately went back home and meditated on the conversation, and decided to keep this baby. Today I am very proud about Precious and all my children, and I have managed to educate them through my struggles. I am doing business, even though it’s not easy, I can say I am happy I gave LIFE to Precious.”

Precious is in seventh grade now and she is about to write her seventh-grade exams. She is very good at speaking English and she is a leader at the church youth group. She told us she likes reading and going to church.

Precious’ mother is still single and very much committed to taking care of her children. Thank you so much, faithful friends and partners, for standing with us in many ways. Because of you, today we are able to witness God's faithfulness through the LIFE He brought to the Center today.

Your prayers and support are highly valued, be blessed always and rejoice with us always.

Continue to pray for both Precious and her mother as they work hard to pull through in life. Precious has five years to go before she finishes 12th grade and goes into college. Kindly pray with her.

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This letter was originally sent to friends and donors by Barbara Mwanza, Executive Director of Silent Voices Zambia, one of over 300 non-U.S. Heartbeat International affiliates. It has been adapted for use at HeartbeatServices.org.