A different perspective

Our dear friend Candy just visited us for 10 days. We had a good time showing her around and introducing her to the delightful people here. She sent this letter back home to her supporters and we thought that it was nice to have a different perspective on what we do so we're sharing the letter with you.

 Hi Friends!

I left the US on Monday and got settled at Ian & Jenn's house on Thur. night.  They live in the western region of Swaziland, surrounded by lush sugar cane fields, in the middle of nowhere.

I went out with them yesterday and had a wonderful time (which means I feel at home here).  They are involved in helping get Swazi's screened for HIV and then getting them set up with the free government ART (anti-retroviral therapy) if they test positive.  The program is called CHIPS (Children's HIV Intervention Program in Swaziland). That is just the surface of what they do!  I will write more and send pics when I am back in the US on a wireless network.

Yesterday, we went to 5 areas (ave. population roughly 250 people each).  The situation here is overwhelming.  High HIV rate, Extreme unemployment, infants dying of malnutrition, vertually no mental health care for the entire country, with the added burden of refugees from Mozambique.

Ian and Jenn are working with populations that other workers were not even aware exsisted until they were place here 6 mo. ago.  The people in this area are not sure what they are going to eat from day to day.  One baby we checked on had been born about 36 hr. earlier and had only recieved sugar water. Thank Jes_s, we were able to secure testing and milk for the infant!

We spent the day, checking on sick individuals and securing testing for endangered infants/children, along the way we provided a little clothing and food where the situation was extreme - trying to ensure that 2 infants would not die of malnutrition.  Sadly, an HIV negative infant died recently due to lack of proper nutrition.

During the evening Ian & Jenn went back out to hold a meeting in one of the areas and teach on substance abuse.  Ian asked what dreams they had.  Just  getting them to think beyond food and the present cirucumstances is an act of hope.  The response was encouraging.  One area is in the infant stages of starting a microbusiness among the women.  It has sparked hope. 

As always, they share the good news wherever they go - they are a strong presence of hope and love here.  I know this because when I arrived I already had 2 "brothers" and 1 "sister" - Swazi young adults who have claimed Ian & Jenn as their very own.  One brother told me how he lost his parents and how Ian & Jenn were  sent by our Father to take their place.  We are one happy family here.  It will be difficult to leave! (which means I may return for an extended stay).

There are other programs Ian & Jenn would love to see implemented here:

1. food pantry for malnourished children
2. micro-industry in each area, led by local Swazi councils
3. literacy program
4. program for Swazi youth, focusing on  abstinance, life-skills, & Jes_s
5. securing land/building to use for garden space & resource center to house programs mentioned
6. seeing the CHIPS program expand to other unreached areas

Right now these are just dreams.  Their ultimate goal is train and empower Swazi's, to work themselves out of a job in 5 years.  To realize these goals will take financial support and asking the Father for dreams to become reality. 

Would you join us?  You can write me or talk to me when I arrive back in the US.  I will be home on Sept. 30th. I will have a video and pics to share.

I will write more later. Please ask the Father:

• Guide us to those most in need
• Open doors for HIS work
• Open hearts to HIS love
• Daily Strength
• Favor with local chiefs to buy land - meeting today

IF this has moved your heart, PLEASE respond by writing Ian & Jenn to let them know they are not alone in this work.  Letters & e-mails are very scarce here!  Ian & Jenn Stephens  piggwr4647@aol.com

Much love,

Candy

testing in Mgidzangcuno

The people of Mgidzangcunu have responded well to our presentations. About 30 people have been tested for HIV, with an infection rate of 45%.

One child, Popodvo, just broke our hearts. He is 7 years old and lives with his alcoholic gogo, grandmother, because he has no other family. Popodvo tested positive for HIV and is so malnourished along with a bad cough that could mean TB.

We will be taking him food as well as trying to get him to the hospital soon in order to start ARV treatment.
The gogo didn't want to undergo treatment at this time.
Please pray for Popodvo and his health needs. Also, lift up his gogo in prayer that she would be freed from alcohol and consent to being tested in the Lord's timing.

Moringa really does help!

A week ago we had good attendance at the public health meeting in Maphiveni. The topic that night was about the benefits of using moringa as a dietary supplement to help boost the immune system. One lady shared a great testimony.

Three months ago, when she started using moringa, she was unable to walk. After using moringa daily, she can now walk 15 minutes a day. We are sure that prayer played a huge part in her recovery.

Our first group of stable patients were treated at the Vuvalane clinic on September 15th. 12 out of the scheduled 17 kept their appointments and we will check on the ones that didn't show up.

We are pleased with the high response of attendance and willingness to participate.

The Missing (almost) Trip

Last weekend we went to the Kuger National Park to celebrate our 21st anniversary. When we arrived, the park didn't have our reservation even though we had proof that we had indeed paid. After 20 minutes of this, we started to get a little worried that we wouldn't be able to stay. The manager did find an unbooked cabin for us to stay in for the weekend. A couple days later, the manager did come by and say that they had found our payment in their banking system.

In spite of the rough start, we did have a great weekend. We saw a lot of animals, including many cute baby elephants, and went out to dinner one night (thanks to a generous gift from a friend). The cabin was clean and very comfortable.

It was a very relaxing and enjoyable weekend. We are so amazed at God's faithfulness over the years and how He's brought us to here and now. We're looking forward to see how God will continue to work through us and our marriage. Please keep us in your prayers, that we would continue to grow closer together and be used for God's glory.

treasured visits

Pastor Ken and Brenda came to visit at the beginning of Sept, soon after he returned from Europe. We were so encouraged by their visit and had a good time sharing what God has done and is doing. They gave a lot of good advice and helped us gain a different perspective on several things. Ideas for various micro-industries were flowing when they were here.

There was good news about Pastor Dlamini, he is doing well, though his wife, Siphewe, is sick. Please pray for her. The Hope School children are all doing well. Praise God!

Several days later Pastor Ken called with an offer of money to start a day care. So we found an abandoned community kitchen in Macethuka (the Swazi spelling of Matatuga) that would be ideal. The day care would be such a blessing to the families around as most of the women spend all days working in the field for $3 (US equivilant) a day. We will meet with the people who oversee the bulding.

Pastor Ken, Brenda and the congregation of Mbabane chapel has been so encouraging and supportive. We're so thankful to have them in our lives.

We are looking forward to the visit of our friend Candy, from the States. She will arrive in Mbabane on Sept 16 and will stay over a week.

Please pray for these patients

There is always a mixture of joy and sadness as we work among the people. Here are a few updates on some people that we have mentioned before as well as a few new people that need prayer over the last couple of weeks. Patients who are stable are being transferred to the Vulvulane clinic. We continue to pay the bus fare for them and moniter them to make sure that they go to their appointments and get medication refills.

Jabu #2: Her baby died from malnutrition. He was only 6 months old.  Jabu is doing better and is finally on the ARV's. However, she is experiencing some liver problems from the ARV's. Please keep her and her family in your prayers.

Nochlembo: She was only 32 months old and died from HIV and pneumonia. Now she is with Jesus.

Siphewe: This is the 9 year old girl that we made the night call on, going through the maize field. She's been suffering from severe asthma and is HIV+, was in the hospital, out for a few days, and then went back into the hospital. She is not doing well; very sick with meningitis. Please lift her up in your prayers as she is alone in the hospital and must be very afraid.

Elizabeth: She is a mother of six children and was very sick with HIV, though in complete denial. Through the power of prayer she went to the hospital on Sept 1 to start ARV's. To God be the glory!

Jabu #1: She is doing ok, has good days and bad days. There are times she isn't able to go to the hospital for her chemo treatments when she doesn't feel good. Jabu#1 had met another woman with the same type of cancer but who is dying. Now Jabu #1 is very thankful to be on treatment and wants to continue with treatment.

Maria: Her surgery went well and she is out of the hospital and is recovering very nicely.

Baby Lato: She is officially HIV+. There was a lot of mix up with her blood work, but that is now straightened out and she is receiving food aid. This will allow her to receive proper nutrition.

Vusile: He is doing well and loves scooting around on the baby walker that we found for him. He has gone to one doctor who ordered more x-rays and tests to be done.  He now gets proper nutrition.

Vusile

Chips keeps growing

Chips just went into Mambaweni, a small settlement with about 50 people. This settlement has 10 Chips patients.

Also, we recently visited Mgldzangcunu, another settlement that Chips has moved into, and met the community police.  However at that time the overseer was sick and the rural health motivator wasn't available, but we estimate that there are about 200 families that reside in this settlement.
We later went back and did a presentation about Chips and the services we offer.  It went well and there were a lot of good questions. We will return on September 15th to start HIV testing.

The first presentation in Khomba didn't go as well as we had hoped, so we did have a second presentation which went well. 16 people came back for testing.

Another big change is that Chips was able to get an office space in Tambankulu. This is 'across the river' and more accessable to the communities than where our office was previously. It is exciting to have the room for a food pantry and clothes closet (along with donations to help start both, from a couple of generous people).  Our hope is that the people will begin to see us as more approachable since we are now working with and among them.

There are an additional 12 villages near the office that we will be going to visit over the next couple of months. Please pray for open hearts among the leaders/government in the communities to allow Chips to come and bring much needed help to their people.