And people are lining up!

Chips has received the green light to set up a care point in two more settlements, Khomba and Mgldzangcunu.  We were planning to do a presentation about Chips and what Chips can provide in each of those settlements but it looks like we may not need to do that after all. Potential patients in Khomba have already been calling us and already we took the first patient to get started on ARV's this week.

Last week, when we were at the Vuvulane care point to check in and see if they will need help, there was a number of people who expressed interest in being tested at the Mgldzangcunu care point. Maybe all we need to do is just show up and God will bring people to us.

Speaking of the Vuvulane care point, they won't be needing our assistance as they already have some food sources. We will just visit once in a while to interact with the children there. Also, Mr. George, a teacher at the school in Vuvulane, wants to start/teach a Crossroads class as an after school club. We are awaiting word to see if he will need help with that class. There could potentially be 30 plus students in attendance.

The Sugar Corporation gave us permission to make use of an office in Tambankulu starting in August. Currently this office is being used by researchers who are researching the benefits of Moringa.  Having this office will be such a blessing as we have quickly outgrown the room at the church that we were using. It will also be closer to the communities that we serve. 

Maphivene Children's Program

The children love to come to our Children's Program in Maphivene. Our translator, Abraham, is such a big help. 

There is always a lesson. In July we've been teaching about the Good Samaritan to each settlement. 

We sing songs including: The Lord's Army, Father Abraham, and Onward Christian Soldiers. The kids love to sing and do the motions along with the songs. 

Even the parents like to come and join us in the fun. They are so grateful to see their children being loved, having fun and being taught God's truths. 

Smiles like these are what keep us going. It is our desire that each of these precious children (and their parents) come to a saving knowledge of the one true God. Every of these little ones are so precious to God and to us. We're thankful to have been giving the opportunity to work with these children.

"Let the children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God." Luke 18:16

Floor polish=hope

This is the Women's Support group in Section 19 as they make floor polish. 

Giving out instructions. 

This floor polish does equal hope for these women. Now they will have a marketable trade and business that will be able to provide basic necessities for their children with the money that is earned. 

Everyone pitches in. 

The finished product.

A moment of prayer filled with gratefulness. 

Thank you for your support that translates directly into hope and changed way of life. Did you know that something like floor polish could be used in such a way to impact a whole village?
Please join us in praying that this floor polish business would open these women's hearts to knowing that God is the provider of all things and begin to trust Him for everything.

Meet Jabu and Maria

Jabu is a young lady who has cancer.  She had been going to chemo treatment for a while and then stopped about 4-5 months ago because she didn't want to continue the treatments. Jabu now wants to go back and start the treatments again.  This is where we look to the God of the impossible, because it's difficult to get back onto treatments after one has stopped and this much time has passed. Not only that, there is a long waiting list for people to even get this kind of treatment and there's a shortage of drugs available. Please join us in praying that Jabu would see God as her ultimate healer and that she would come to trust Him in this situation.

Maria is another young woman who has health problems. She has a mass on her uterus and isn't sure how she wants to approach treatment options. Maria wants to pursue medical treatment but also wants to consult with the local juju, witchdoctor, for a magic pill. We are praying that God becomes very real to her in this time and that she would be freed from the bondage of an empty religion that offers false answers.

Situations like this would be very discouraging if we didn't know the God of the universe personally and know that it's His truth that sets the captives free. All we can do is pray and continue to offer the hope of gospel.

Please continue to pray for us as well since this is not a battle of flesh and blood, but a spiritual battle that we are fighting.

Something smells funny

The road from the house to the tarred main road is about 4 miles of dirt. The road was graded on Sunday and was then sprayed with this stuff.  It smelt very weird and finally we figured it out what it was; a form of molasses.  The molasses fills the holes in the road and keeps the dust down. However, the downside is that it corrodes your car if you don't clean it off. 

We are often blessed with gifts from the people.  When they have little, they love to share. Last weekend, we were given 30 green mealies (white corn on the cob) that you roast over an open fire. We never refuse any gift, it is special when given from the heart. This week we received tomatoes. When our garden has produce ready, we plan on sharing the fruits with those around us. 

There have been a couple of praises that has happened in the last couple of days. The first is that we were able to get Vusile an appointment in Mbabane for his dislocated shoulder. The appointment is set for August. 

Secondly, we (Chips) received the green light for expanding into two new settlements. We will be doing a presentation about Chips in Khumba and Mgldzangcunu in the upcoming weeks. Additionally, all the stable Chips patients will be transfered over a 4 month period to the care of the Vuvulane clinic. This will free up additional resources to address the more critical needs of new patients. There are a couple meetings that we have lined up for this next week; to see if the Vuvulane care point needs our help and how we could help, and to see if we can set up another Crossroads training in Vuvulane. 

Children's ministry updates

We have several praise reports of recent happenings and we want to stop and thank God for them. 

Last week, our children's program in Khomba was awesome!!  It is so wonderful and humbling to watch the Lord move in the hearts of the mothers; they are so thankful for us being there and loving their children. We told them that we are doing what the Lord has told us to do. In return, the women blessed us by giving an abundance of fruits. Today we will be at Section 19 doing a children's program there. Each week, on Tuesday, we go to a different section with our wonderful translator, Abraham. His love for the children and willingness to translate is such a blessing to us.  This month we will be teaching a lesson about The Good Samaritan.  Thank you for your prayers for the children's ministry!

There are now 25 youth attending the Crossroads class every Saturday. Please continue to pray that God would use these lessons to not only teach the youth wise life-style choices but also to reveal Himself as the true Father who cares so deeply for them. 

Another Chips patient, Michael, went to be with the Lord last week. He was 36 and had AIDS. We're thankful that he knew Jesus as his Savior before he died. 

Lato, a 9 month old girl, is in need of prayer.  She is HIV + but is not on antiretroviral (ARV) medication. Lato is only about 12 lbs and isn't reaching her milestones. This baby girl is also showing signs of malnutrition. We are trying to get a regular baby milk supply in place for her, since her mother doesn't have the financial means to do so.  

God has blessed us with you, our wonderful ministry partners. Your prayers and financial gifts sustain us and allow us to take the life-changing message of hope and salvation to the precious people of Swaziland.