Ian and Jenn Stephens are missionaries working with C.H.I.P.S, Children HIV Intervention Programme in Swaziland, to help the orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS pandemic in Swaziland, Africa. Their home base is in Vuvulane and they travel around to various communities testing for HIV, assessing medical needs and treatment options, teaching job skills, providing workshops, and occasionally conducting Crossroads training (character building/positive living/HIV & abstinence). Ian and Jenn's main desire is to share the love of Jesus for each of these precious children while working towards fulfilling the vision of a HIV free Swaziland.

CHIPS Video

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Transition to World Outreach Ministries

Dear Ministry Partners,
   We are in the midst of a big transition from being Team missionaries to becoming independent missionaries assisted by World Outreach Ministries, WOM, in order to continue our work with Chips in Swaziland.  There have been several factors that have influenced our decision, with the primary one being that Team South Africa will cease to operate by the end of 2012.         
 
  Additionally, we have felt for a while that we were moving in a different direction from Team as we pursue the vision God has given us to reach the Swazi people.  This decision was made after much prayer and counsel from our directors within Team. We will become in-active with Team as of April 1, 2011. The transition will be assisted by the Team staff and their support and encouragement of us will continue.
  
  World Outreach Ministries, WOM, will help as our State-side office. They will send Tax Deductible receipts to our supporters and facilitate online donations to our account. Please direct all future support to their office and designate it for our account.  We do want to assure you that our work and vision for Swaziland has not changed.

   Please take a few moments at this time to change your ongoing support to WOM. All support will need to be changed as of April 1, 2011. However, the sooner the support is changed to WOM that would be better for us.

Instructions on changing your support from Team to WOM
1.       Call Team at 1-800-343-3144 or email Jean Austin at jaustin@teamworld.org to inform them that you will be discontinuing your support of Ian and Jenn through Team.
2.   Call WOM 1-770-424-1545 or go online to www.worldoutreach.org . Go to 'Donate' and select our name 'Stephens, Ian and Jenn-SWAZILAND'. There will be options online (and on the phone) to set up ongoing support for Ian and Jenn. 

We're thankful for the incredible opportunity it has been to serve with Team over the last few years and all the support that they have given us (and will continue to give us). We're excited to continue our work with Chips, assisted by our new partner, WOM. 
If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at piggwr4647@aol.com. Thank you for your patience and support as we make the transition. 
Love, 
Ian and Jenn

Monday, February 21, 2011

Elizabeth

Elizabeth has been very sick with HIV and TB over the last few months and succumbed to the illnesses on Friday, the 18th. We had spent quite a bit of time with her over the last few weeks and had shared the gospel with her on several occasions. She had said that she knew the Lord, but had never gone to church. It is our hope that she did, indeed, know Jesus as her Lord and Savior.

In the last few days of her life, her daughter Sarah came to visit Elizabeth. Sarah, 16 years old, had run away with an older man several months ago. Mary plans on doing some serious counseling with Sarah with the hopes that she won't go back to this older man.

Please lift up Sarah and the rest of her family as they grieve the loss of Elizabeth. Also, please pray that they would come to know that God loves them so much and wants them to know Him.

It's hard to see so many around us die from diseases that could be treated and breaks our heart to think of the ones who don't know Jesus as their Savior. Please continue to pray that God would shine through us as we work among these people and that His Spirit would awaken the hearts around us and draw them to Him.

Friday, February 18, 2011

First Day of School


We had gotten Popodvo enrolled in school and got him all set up with his new uniform and shoes, arranging to meet him at 7:30a the next morning to take him to school. Well, when we got there in the morning the house was locked and there was no one around. We drove to the school and talked to the Principal who hadn’t seen Popodvo either, and then drove all around Vuvulane looking for him. Finally we gave up and went home. Later that night we found out that Popodvo had been so excited that he had gotten up at dawn and went to school with an older kid. When we had stopped by the school, Popodvo had seen us but we didn’t see him.

His smile was as big as the ocean after his first day of school and he looked sharp in his new uniform. It was funny to see him walk in his new shoes, which happened to be the first pair of shoes that he’s worn, as all he could do is shuffle his feet along. 

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Graduation Day

Jabulane and Mary graduated last week from Bible School. 
We are so proud of them and so grateful to have them as our co-workers and dear friends. 
Jabulane completed his second year at Bible School. At this time there 
aren't the funds for him to go to Bible School for a third year. 


Mary completed her first year at Bible school
 and will be returning for a second year of training. 

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Scholarships for needy children

The education system here in Swaziland is very interesting.  Recently, the government had made the lower levels of school free. However, we came to find out that 'free' just includes the actual classroom experience and doesn't account for any of the supplies or the uniforms; the costs varying at each school level. Also, the higher grades do have a tuition fee implimented. 

The costs for the supplies and uniforms along are enough to prevent a rural family from being able to send their child(ren) to school. Additionally, if the children are orphans or in a vulnerable situation school isn't an option when faced with the struggle of simple survival.

It is our desire to use some of the 'Orphan Fund' monies to be able to sponsor some of the most needy children and help put them through school. Without education it is hard to overcome all of the issues relating to extreme poverty.

As you read in some of our more recent posts, we were able to get Popodvo into school with some monies in the fund. At his grade level, the books, tuition, and supplies are all free but we had to pay $80 for a uniform which included new shoes.

Newman, our gardener, wanted his son Colani, to be able to go to school but couldn't afford the costs. We were able to talk to Pastor Dlamini who is overseeing the Hope School students and found out that one student wasn't attending school. Fortunately, we were able to transfer the support over to Colani. Since Colani is in grade 5 his fees were $100 and his uniform was $100 for the year. (All of our Hope School students that we had worked with before moving to Vulvulane have been receiving generous sponsorship for them to attend school).
Newman and Colani
The costs will continue to increase up to $1,000 for the last year high school (high school form 5). Between January and the end of February is the only time that new students are allowed to enroll into school.  Then we will continue to ask for sponsorships that can be collected through the year so that at the next enrollement period we have the money to pay the fees for additional children to go to school.

We are sharing this need because there are many more children like Popodvo and Colani in the settlements that we serve who would greatly benefit from receiving a sponsorship to go to school. We've estimated the average cost to attend a lower grade is $200/year/student.

If God lays it on your heart to help, we would greatly appreciate it. You can click on this secured link to donate to TEAM and
Either sign in if you have an account or click on the 'Give Now' button on the left.


Open the drop down menu under 'Missionaries and Projects'

select 'Missionaries and Staff'
then on the next drop down menu select 'Stephens, Ian and Jenny'


Contributions can also be sent to:
TEAM

PO Box 969
Wheaton, IL 60187-0969

Memo line of check: Stephens Orphan Fund Swaziland

Monday, February 7, 2011

Ncomsile

Ncomsile(top right) is a wonderful woman who wears many hats. Recently, she became our new house help and has been a great help. We've known her since about the time we came to Vulvulane and quickly became good friends. Ncomsile is a single mother of three children ages 9, 4, and 1 years old. The two older children live on the family homestead about 75 miles away and are being cared for by Ncomsile's younger brother (16 y/o) and sister (12 y/o), who are double orphans. Ncomsile and her 1 year old live in Section 19 during the week and she tries to go out to the homestead on the weekends when funds allow. She also is working hard so that her siblings and her children are able to attend school. If that's not enough, Ncomsile often works in the fields earning $3 or $4 a day. In her spare time, Ncomsile is the rural health promoter for Section 19 and loves sharing about Jesus.

A quick note about our rural health promoters. We couldn't do what we do without our rural health promoters. They help us coordinate HIV testing times, weekly hospital runs for patients who need appointments or ART refills, visit the sick, and inform us when there are new pregnant mothers/babies in the village.

We are so thankful for Ncomsile and would like to ask you to join us in prayer for continued provision for her and her entire family.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Familiar Names

Popodvo, 7 years old, from Mgldzangcunu, will be attending school! He's been spending his days running around the village and the headmaster at the Vulvulane primary school just agreed to let him enroll in school.  Even though education up through the 3rd grade is free, there are still fees to be paid for school supplies and uniforms.  After talking to Pastor Dlamini, we found out that one of the Hope students was no longer attending school so the funds for that student were able to be transferred to pay for Popodvo.

Pastor Dlamini is forced to use crutches as his knees are causing him extreme pain. Please lift him up in your prayers for healing, protection, and wisdom as he continues to care for his flock.

Jabu isn't doing well. She has been experiencing a lot of mental confusion and appears to be deteriating quickly. We're taking her to Good Shepherd Hospital this week.

Jabu # 2 looks great! We saw her for the first time in 3 months and she is fit and healthy! Praise the Lord.

Vusile's father is wanting (again) to put Vusile into a home. We'll see what comes of this, because we've tried to assist with this request before and every time his father changes his mind at the last minute.

Bonginkosi was laid off by the new security company that took over the contract. He's been such a faithful night guard and has become a great example of Christ's love. Please pray that he is able to find a job soon as the unemployment rate is extremely high.

Sifiso, who was our day guard, had his shift changed by the new security company to the night shift. We're grateful to still have him around.

There is another lady, Jabu #3, that we need to introduce you too. She was seriously attacked by her boyfriend using a bush knife and has been in the hospital for a few weeks. We visited her and found out that she had lost 3 fingers in the attack. She is healing. The guy is still in jail for the attack. Please continue to pray for her healing and that she would come to know God in a personal way.

Ian's brother-in-law passed away early January.  Please pray for Ian, his sister, and the rest of the family as they are grieving. Also please pray that this situation would draw Ian's family to God.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Chips community clinic becoming reality

It looks like our dream of having a community clinic in Maphiveni will become a reality. TEAM has pledged some finances and there have been generous gifts from some of our sponsors as well as Daran and Teresa's sponsors.

The need is so great in Maphiveni and having this clinic would enable us to address the needs of the community in a holistic manner. The people are so receptive to the HIV testing/treatment, attending public health meetings, and being involved in the two micro-industries that have been started. We would be able to have all our meetings there and run the micro-industries at the same location. Additionally, we could provide more effective care for physical health needs in a central location.

There still needs to be further meetings with the Chief to discuss the location/property and funds still need to be raised for this building project. Please continue to pray that this dream becomes a reality. We are very encouraged by the progress thus far and are looking forward to what God will do in the future.

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Section 19 Woman's Support Group Floor Polish Micro-Industry