Nadine and I first learned about the country of Burundi back in 2011. At the time, it was the poorest, hungriest nation on the planet. 

When we learned about Burundi, we knew we would build a home there one day. 

In February 2012, we shared with our friends and church family that we were moving to Burundi. We started fundraising, and the lessons came fast and furious. At the time, we thought we had committed to volunteer at a rural health center. It wasn’t long until we discovered that it was so much more than that. 

We needed to build. Systems, a team, a donor base, a community, supply chains, all of it. From scratch. 

With the support of an incredible community of friends, donors, supporters and colleagues, we opened the doors of Shammah Health Center in early 2014. While it looks different from our original vision, I am proud that Shammah is still running today and serving its community, even with a few of our original staff still there. 

In 2015, we moved to Uganda to start building again. I was employee #1 for LifeNet’s first country expansion. Fast forward to 2021, and we had a team of over 50 staff, serving over 120 health center partners. 

In the blink of an eye, a decade passed in East Africa. We had built a home for ourselves there. 

Above all else, we were able to build a family – God’s greatest gift and calling he’s ever given us. 

In 2023, it’s time for us to start building again. 

Let me tell you about Bezulu. 

In Siswati, the local language in Eswatini, it means “the people who are from heaven.” 

It is a call to action, to love and care for those around us. If you are Bezulu, you have the opportunity to make a difference. 

Bezulu is a Canadian nonprofit that exists to transform orphan care. It exists to build families and restore hope to the world’s forgotten children. 

To carry out this work with some incredible partners in Southern Africa, we need to build. Once again, we must build systems, culture, branding, a donor base, and more. Once again, I’m employee #1 in a brand-new nonprofit. 

Through our journey, God showed us that family is the ultimate and most sacred thing to make. He also showed us how crises break families apart. We learned firsthand how building and rebuilding a family is the key to transforming lives. 

I would love for you to come alongside us as we build Bezulu. There are many needs, but there are many ways to get involved. Visit our website, watch our heartbeat video, share this update with your friends and family, write me an email at josh@bezulu.org or give me a call at 825-436-0464. 

Together, we are going to build something amazing. 

As always, lots of love. 

Josh.