It's been quiet

It has been a quiet week, both Sifiso and Nchlancha have had days off and thankfully Tropical Storm Funso didn't affect us here in Swaziland. Everything has been drying out since Tropical Storm Dando came through a little more than a week ago.

Due to the limited amount of reagents at Good Shepherd hospital, we have been doing very little HIV testing. Only the most critically ill are able to get tested at this time. This is a continuing prayer need; that funds would become available to provide for the much needed reagents so that we can continue with the testing and getting our clients on life saving ARV's.

Jenn has been helping run the sewing project while Corrine is in the states. The women are working on making pants and will be learning how to make school uniforms next week. This will be a responsibility that Jenn will be more than happy to turn back over to Corrine upon her return!

We have been going around checking on the kids who have school sponsorship's and making sure that they have indeed started the school term. Fanzile passed grade 1 and entered into grade 2 for this term. Eric is still waiting to see if he received placement in the Mhulme high school. That is a sugar corporation school and they have limited room for OVC's (orphans and vulnerable children). Siphewi's father is trying to get her placed in St. Joseph's, which is a school for the hearing impaired.

Funds for school fees and uniforms continue to be a big need now at the start of the new school term. It's hard for families who barely have enough money to put food on the table to come up with the additional fees to send their children to school. Would you like to help by giving a child a chance to improve their situation through education? You can donate at the link below.

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.

Malsenjwa Family receives their gifts

The Malsenjwa family were so thankful for their many gifts and say Siyabonga to the wonderful friends in America and thank you to Jesu who helped make Christmas special.

Futhi Malsenjwa is a single mom who is HIV+, but has a high cd4 count and isn't able to get on ARV's at this time. Her children, Nolwazi- 12 years old, Nohlawa- 7 years old, and Todvwa- 3 years old are all HIV- and the whole family is in the Chips program. Thanks to our generous friends who gave something off the Christmas list, we were able to bless this special family with clothes and blankets.   

Todvwa is checking out her gift.  

Nohlawa is looking forward to opening her gifts. 

Nolwazi received her gifts of t-shirts, dresses, skirts and sandals. 

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.

When getting Negative Results is a good thing

Nkosikhona is now 5 months old and we just found out the results of his HIV test, it was negative! His twin Constance also tested negative, which means they do not have the HIV virus.  The twins will be tested one  final time at 1 year old to verify these results. We are so thankful for the negative results and know that we are one more step closer to an HIV free generation. 

The Mother2Child transmission education that we give our pregnant mums has done a lot in preventing the transmission of HIV from mums to babies. Besides learning about HIV and how it can be transmitted to your child, the mums are learning the importance of sanitation, good health, and proper nutrition for themselves and their new babies. Once a pregnant mum is registered with Chips, we assist with pre-natal care, education, and teaching how to manage their HIV status. More and more mums are willing to inform us on when they are going into labor so we can get them to Good Shepherd and they can give birth there. This also greatly reduces the risk of HIV transmission to the child. 

Neliswa, from Section 19, was born on Christmas Eve. She will be tested at 6 weeks for HIV.  

Look how contented she is! We just love our role of Mkhulu (grandfather) and Gogo (grandmother) and the babies have such a special place in our hearts. 

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.

Terrible flooding in the region

A tropical cyclone came on land yesterday near Maputo, Mozambique, which isn't far from where we are, bringing very heavy winds and rain.  Again today, we had very heavy flooding rains in the region.  The Chips office is flooded and we are now waiting for all the electrical computor/printer cables to dry out to see if any thing was damaged. We need to get everything mopped up but it's still raining and more rain is in the forecast for tomorrow but should be gone by Thursday. 


Today when we picked up Fanzile to get his school clothes and supplies, we saw that the people were building earth dams and nailing plastic to their huts to keep the water out. It is really bad for them and our hearts go out to them as they struggle to keep dry. We are so blessed with a sound house and thankful that our house didn't flood. 


A six week old baby, Sibusiso, from Vuvulane died on Friday. Mary and I, Jenn, went over yesterday to pray with his mom and offer condolences from Chips. It's so hard to watch the little ones die, but we pray that God will be her comfort and strength at this time and will draw her to Himself. 


Please pray for all the people in this region that they would be able to pull through the rains and the flooding, and also that this would be an event that reveals their need for God and His power in their lives. Also, lift up Sibusiso's mom and family. 


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.

What a sad face!

Mayibongwe is 14 months old and just had his final test for his HIV status; he is negative but not happy about being stuck.

He is very cute, but today we were not his friend! At least children have short memories:-)

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.

Independence... a good thing?

We are sometimes reminded how independent Swazi children are from a very young age.  Jabulane usually takes a whole group of children down to Good Shepherd hospital on Wednesdays and often their caregivers don’t go. One little guy, Mnqedisi is 6 years old (his father Mandla died back in August). Jabulani left Mnqedisi at the clinic and went to deal with other business. When Jabulane got back Mnqedisi was gone! After a search around the clinic, Jabulane drove into town and searched around the bus rank. Finally, Jabulane was told that the boy had gotten on a private kombi (bus) from the hospital and tried to get another kombi to take him back to Simunye. Mnqedisi didn't have enough money for the second bus ride so they took him to the police station. Jabulane made his way to the police station and was greeted by the officer who said, "You must be the driver Jabulane".
Mnqedisi had told them who he was, where he came from and who his driver was!

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.

Green light and a heavy heart

Good Shepherd hospital has given us the green light to start testing patients again, meaning that there is a supply of reagents to do the testing. We don't know how big the supply is or how long we will be able to continue testing our client's HIV status but we are grateful to be moving forward. Please continue to pray for this situation and that God would provide the funds for the necessary reagents so that we can continue with testing.

Other news, the Lord chose to heal Alfred by taking him home this weekend. It saddens us to see how HIV continues to ravage the communities that we serve, but we know that God is still in control and has a plan. We will continue to work towards the day when there will be an HIV free generation here in Swaziland. Please lift up Alfred's family in your prayers as they mourn his death.


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.

Sewing Project Ladies

A sewing project was started up in Section 19 to teach some of ladies a valuable, marketable skill. James, our very qualified instructor, will be giving 4 ladies a total of 54 sewing lessons. James will be meeting with the ladies 8am-4pm Monday through Friday for three months and then will get another group of ladies to begin the training in March.

All the ladies really enjoy the sewing. They have learned how to make girls' sundresses, men's shirts, and hats. Eventually, when the quality of the sewing has reached a good standard, the ladies will be sewing bags to sell in the US. 

James, the instructor, and Jane

Chips has bought several sewing machines and is renting others. We're hoping to acquire quite a few machines which would provide more women with the opportunity to make a living and support their families. 

Please pray that these women would learn quickly, work together well, and that this project would be a blessing to them. 

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.

Special Days

Some of our days are so special. On this day in early December, we went to check on our new Chips babies. It's always a great day to spend snuggling with the little ones. 

Jenn with Mambawini Khaylethu, 2 months old, who tested negative for HIV, praise God! There will be a final test at 1 year as a double check on his status.

Ian in Khomba with Nkosikhoma, one of the twins, is doing well along with his sister Constance. Their HIV status should be known soon.

Mary is holding the newest Chips baby, Sibusiso,at one week old. Sibusio lives in Vuvulane and will have his first HIV test in six weeks.

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.

Alfred

Alfred is 32 years old and has only been in our program a short time. He started ARV's about 7 weeks ago and is not doing well at all. When we first visited him, it had come to the point where he was bedridden and needed full time care. Thankfully his family is willing to help care for Alfred, which is kind of unusual for families here. We suspected that he has either pneumonia or TB and sent him to the hospital to be checked out. Alfred was admitted to Good Shepherd hospital and is in critical condition complicated by his body not responding well to medications. 

Please join us in asking the Great Physician for a healing touch for Alfred and strength for his family. It is so hard when we see someone in what should be the prime of their life struggling to survive with HIV. Every day we are here, our hearts long even more for the day when there is an HIV free generation in Swaziland. 

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.