Thumbprint of God

Vusi is a new Chips client in Macetuka. He is very sick. Jabulani took him in the last couple of weeks to Good Shepherd to get him initiated on to treatment. He was admitted into the hospital. Vusi has a wife and young baby, and he is a believer so we spent in prayer with him before he went to the hospital. Please lift up Vusi for strength and healing. Also, pray for his young family that they would continue to trust in the Lord during this difficult time. We continue to pray that young married believers, like Vusi and his wife, would be willing to go against the cultural practices of  having multiple spouses and no regard for family and instead choose to follow God's design for a family. That they would be witnesses to those around them and good examples of the blessings that come from obeying God and living a positive lifestyle.

Last year when we were at Macetuka, a young woman asked me to test her and  sure enough she was positive. But she refused any further help because of her husband, he would not allow it. When we were in Macetuka recently, she came to ask if we would test her and her husband.  They are both positive and so they will go next week to the hospital to get initiated onto treatments. There are no coincidences with God! Please pray for this couple that they would come to know God in a very real and tangible way and that they would also have the courage to live a different life than those around them, one that honors God.

We are planning to start the Crossroads training for some of the youngsters in Tmbankulu Hall in the next couple of weeks. We'll wait until  schools get settled in again. Thankfully, it appears as though the teachers' strike is over. Crossroads is a highly effective curriculum dealing with issues including character building, positive living, HIV, and abstinence. This is something that we have done in the past and have had on our hearts to restart the training for the young people around here.

The houses for the elderly are progressing and that is good news. We are so thankful for all the donations that made it possible.

The ladies of Maphiveni have formed a support group and there are 15 ladies with Mkhulu Shandu as the leader. We meet Thursday the 16^th to hear income generating ideas ranging from strawberry growing, chicken raising, making Vaseline and floor polish. The ladies and Mkhulu Shandu are very excited about this new venture and they have already have a treasurer, secretary and are checking out markets.We're thrilled to see them take initiative like this in developing ways to bring in life-changing income through honest work. Please pray that this group would have unity as they work together to better all their lives and that of their families. Pray that God will use this to break the chains of poverty and bring life changing hope and trust in Him. Pray that there is a good market for these goods and that these women would be rewarded well for their hard work. 

There is one more thing, while we have had a large supply of reagents and have been able to get many tested and onto life-saving treatments, our supply of reagents is running out and the government is still not supplying any more. Please pray with us that God would provided the needed amount each month.

If you would like to help with the reagent shortage or the micro-industry or the housing for the elderly or any other project please follow the directions below on how to donate. Your gift does indeed change lives for the better. It is our desire to use every dollar of your gift in a wise and responsible way in order to touch lives with the thumbprint of God, and we pray that God will continue to use your gifts to bless and change lives. Thanks for being God's thumbprint on us and the people that we serve here in Swaziland. We all are blessed!


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.