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

Thursday, April 28, 2011

God answers prayer!

Today we heard exciting news! The Brown family agreed to Chips' offer to buy these buildings.

This is such an answer to prayer that all of us at Chips and our supporters has been praying for the better part of a year. Now that we have these buildings we will be able to provide a community center in Maphiveni. There will be a medical clinic on site, which will help greatly with the health burdens of the nearby communities as well as taking some of the strain off Good Shepherd Hospital. We also plan to use this community center to teach classes/workshops and as a place to house the micro-industry projects we've already started and plan to start.

The coming community center will be such a blessing to the people of Maphiveni and the surrounding areas. It is a big leap of faith and there is a lot of costs included; to pay back the loan used to purchase the building, to convert it to the community center, to staff it and maintain operations. We along with Daran and Teresa will be raising money for all of this.  If you are interested in helping with the finances you can make a donation at the link below and then send us an email or a note through the blog to let us know the purpose of your donation.

Thank you for your prayers on this topic. We know that it is a God-thing and that He was the only one who was able to bring this about.  Please continue to pray that the buildings and activities that go on in the building will bring God glory.




P.S. - If you want to support our ministry, the fastest way is to make an Online Donation via www.WorldOutreach.org
Go to "Donate" and select our name, Stephens, Ian and Jenn SWAZILAND. The system can process USA and International cards.
Or simply mail your gift to World Outreach Ministries, PO Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 and designate for Ian and Jenn, Fund Code #97.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Sometimes they run!


Mother and Baby time.
Sometimes our small patients decide that there's no way on earth they are going to sit still to be tested and so they run! 
Sweets help to bring them back. 
This baby is finally brave enough to check us out. 
P.S. - If you want to support our ministry, the fastest way is to make an Online Donation via www.WorldOutreach.org
Go to "Donate" and select our name, Stephens, Ian and Jenn SWAZILAND. The system can process USA and International cards.
Or simply mail your gift to World Outreach Ministries, PO Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 and designate for Ian and Jenn, Fund Code #97.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Stepping out on Faith

The offer on the Brown buildings was turned down. Chips has made another increased offer on the buildings and we are waiting to hear back from the lawyers. We did find out from Pastor Dana, the pastor of the church we attend in Simonye, that in the past quite a few offers have been made to purchase these buildings but the Brown family has always turned them down. If you would continue to join us in prayer about this, that would be very appreciated. It will be a large step of faith for Chips if the offer is accepted but we know that God is the God of the impossible and provides for all our needs.
The Brown Buildings
Pastor Dana and his wife Astrid have become very interested in Chips and have come out with us on some community visits so that they can get a good idea of how the Simonye church can come alongside Chips with support. A couple ideas are food and warm clothing boxes. Praise the Lord for that extra support especially since we are heading into winter.

Sifiso was baptized recently and loves Jesus. There are a few requests on his behalf. The new security company (that employed Sifiso as our night guard) is very strict on their rules and will fire someone for any infraction including something as simple as wearing the wrong color shirt to work or a shirt that is too long. This is quite the daily challenge for the employees. For a long time Sifiso has been wanting to start his own business of taking pictures and raising chickens and is weighing the option of breaking off from the security company at this time in order to do that. Please pray for Sifiso that he would have wisdom as to what direction God would have him go at this time and that while he is still employed at the security company he would be able to obey the rules easily.

Bonginkosi called us last week from South Africa. He is very unhappy at his new jobs in the coal mines there in South Africa and sounded very lonely. Please keep him in your prayers that God would encourage him and help him to view his job as a blessing and a ministry opportunity.

Newman is struggling with the desire for alcohol again and we are praying about how to best help and support him in this time. Please pray that he would get a special touch from Jesus and that the desire for alcohol would be removed completely from his life.
P.S. - If you want to support our ministry, the fastest way is to make an Online Donation via www.WorldOutreach.org
Go to "Donate" and select our name, Stephens, Ian and Jenn SWAZILAND. The system can process USA and International cards.
Or simply mail your gift to World Outreach Ministries, PO Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 and designate for Ian and Jenn, Fund Code #97.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Mambaweni Eyes and Ears

Make Bongi (Make means Mother) is one of our Rural Health Motivators in Mambaweni. Our Rural Health Motivators are the ears and eyes in the communities for us. They alert us when they see a specific need, a malnourished baby or someone who needs to be tested. We couldn't do the work we do without the help of Rural Health Motivators. 
Here are a couple people in Mambaweni that we had the opportunity of visiting.

P.S. - If you want to support our ministry, the fastest way is to make an Online Donation via www.WorldOutreach.org
Go to "Donate" and select our name, Stephens, Ian and Jenn SWAZILAND. The system can process USA and International cards.
Or simply mail your gift to World Outreach Ministries, PO Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 and designate for Ian and Jenn, Fund Code #97.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Building a House... Swazi style!



How do you build a house in Swaziland? 
First, you start with a square frame made out of wooden poles.

Then you fill the frame with rocks and stones, leaving space for a window and door. 

Finally, you put a simple roof on it and plaster the outside walls with mud. It may not look like much but this simple home is a blessing to the family that will live in it. At least they are protected from the elements and have something to call their own. Their gratitude makes us realize what really is important. 

P.S. - If you want to support our ministry, the fastest way is to make an Online Donation via www.WorldOutreach.org
Go to "Donate" and select our name, Stephens, Ian and Jenn SWAZILAND. The system can process USA and International cards.
Or simply mail your gift to World Outreach Ministries, PO Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 and designate for Ian and Jenn, Fund Code #97.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Interest in Health Classes and HIV testing

A rural health promoter in Matatuka asked us to come out today to check on a very malnourished 14 month old boy. When we got there we found a neighbor taking care of the baby who only weighs 12lbs. Unfortunately we couldn't do HIV testing on the little guy today as his mother wasn't there. We'll go back tomorrow and hopefully can get him started on necessary medical intervention as well as proper nutrition.

It was surprising to see how many people showed up at the classes Teresa and I (Jenn) taught in the last couple of weeks. On March 28, we taught a first aid class and had 32 people in attendence. Then on April 4, we taught a class about HIV/TB and had 30 people show up for that. There was good feedback from this class. It's been a while since I have taught any classes and so it was good to be able to share. We were asked to come and do both of these classes by the community members. There has also been a greater interest in the communities with regards to having HIV testing days. Patricia is one lady who came to us asking that we do testing in Vuvulane for a total of 10 people. Another request came from Mambaweni to test 11 people. We have additional testing days scheduled for Section 19 and Mgldzangcunu this month.


 
It will definitely be a busy April but we are thankful for the amount of people who are willing to come forth and be tested for HIV. If the results come back as HIV+, we will then transport patients to Good Shepherd and get them started on ARV's. The ARV's are provided free of charge to patients. One major key to controlling HIV is getting on ARV's and then continuing with the treatment long term.
 
P.S. - If you want to support our ministry, the fastest way is to make an Online Donation via http://www.blogger.com/www.WorldOutreach.org
Go to "Donate" and select our name, Stephens, Ian and Jenn SWAZILAND. The system can process USA and International cards.

Or simply mail your gift to World Outreach Ministries, PO Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 and designate for Ian and Jenn, Fund Code #97.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

It's Planting Time

This is a hanging garden often seen here in Swaziland as most of the people don't have any land to have a real garden. They use old soda bottles for their containers and the plants also help to bring a little beauty to their home. 

This is one of our friend's garden. Not only does this garden supply food for her household, but also is a way to bless others. Our friend will often share the abundance from her garden with new mothers and those who are in need.

 Newman, our gardener, is about ready to start the spring plantings in the several gardens around our home. He doesn't have much experience but makes up for the lack with plenty of enthusiasm. We were able to surround our home (pictured) above with approximately an acre worth of gardens which have been great as we are able to bless those in need with fresh produce. Please pray that the plantings go well and that the Lord brings plenty of rains and a good harvest. We know that God does a bit of gardening Himself and has brought us to Swaziland to plant the seeds of the Gospel and to work the harvest of people who are coming to know God personally. Please pray that this planting and harvest goes well according to His plan and that we would be faithful workers. 
P.S. - If you want to support our ministry, the fastest way is to make an Online Donation via www.WorldOutreach.org
Go to "Donate" and select our name, Stephens, Ian and Jenn SWAZILAND. The system can process USA and International cards.
Or simply mail your gift to World Outreach Ministries, PO Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 and designate for Ian and Jenn, Fund Code #97.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Holding Pattern

The King of Swaziland appoints about 400 Chiefs to act as overseers of the different areas of Swaziland. Most of the land here in Swaziland is owned by the King. The Chief has the ability to decide who can get which plot of land to work. There is very little private land to be had. A Chief is viewed as having much more importance than the common people. He will charge ordinary people the equivilant of $20 to settle a dispute, even if that is all the money they have to live on for a week. This practice is the Swazi way but is very frustrating to deal with on our end.
 
Ian, Daran and Jabulane tried again to meet with the Chief but were told (through messages delivered by the secretary) that there is some additional government paperwork that needs to be done and to come back when that is finished. Their next scheduled appointment to try and meet with the Chief is April 9th. Please continue to pray that they would actually be able to meet with the Chief about the community center, that everything would be in order, and that the Chief would be favorable to the idea.
 
Other news, an offer has been made for the Brown's garage (the buildings that would be perfect to house the community center) and now we are just waiting to see if that will be accepted.
 
P.S. - If you want to support our ministry, the fastest way is to make an Online Donation via http://www.blogger.com/www.WorldOutreach.org
Go to "Donate" and select our name, Stephens, Ian and Jenn SWAZILAND. The system can process USA and International cards.

Or simply mail your gift to World Outreach Ministries, PO Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 and designate for Ian and Jenn, Fund Code #97.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Eight months is not long enough

The little 8 month baby that we wrote about the other day was actually a little girl named Nondumiso. Her mother died from AIDS on Friday. The mother had been on ARV's for a while and then stopped the treatments. Stopping treatments is the worst thing someone who has AIDS can do as the virus will grow stronger and then when the ARV's are restarted, they are no longer effective against the virus. The result is often death of the patient. Another thing that Nondumiso's mother did was not to tell her partner that she had AIDS and was on medication, this practice is quite common. It was just in January that Nondumiso's father found out about the mother having AIDS.  He has been tested for HIV and as of now the results are negative. We will test him in another couple of months to make sure.

Nondumiso died yesterday in the hospital. She will be buried with her mother on Tuesday. It breaks our heart to see such a sweet life taken before having a real chance to live. Looking for comfort we come back to the knowledge that Jesu didn't heal everyone and now sweet baby Nondumiso is in a better place with no sickness, suffering, or pain.

Please continue to lift up Nondumiso's father in prayer. Pray that he comes to know Jesu personally and that God will use this situation for good and for His glory.

P.S. - If you want to support our ministry, the fastest way is to make an Online Donation via www.WorldOutreach.org
Go to "Donate" and select our name, Stephens, Ian and Jenn SWAZILAND. The system can process USA and International cards.
Or simply mail your gift to World Outreach Ministries, PO Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 and designate for Ian and Jenn, Fund Code #97.

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