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Thobili, our house-cleaner, receives a Bible in her heart language! Thanks to donations, we are able to purchase and pass out Bibles in SiSwati so that the people can read and understand the Word of God in their own language. Please pray for Thobili that God would reveal Himself to her as she reads His Word.
Bongsile, our newest Chips mum, had her twin boys. All are doing well and we can't wait to see them when they return from the hospital. We'll post pictures of the new babies. Please pray that both little guys are HIV-. We won't be able to test them for 6 weeks to get their initial status. After the first testing, they will be tested again later as well.
Eric and Fanzile have both come by recently needing school fees taken care of and new pencils. It was good to see both of them, and we were able to take care of their needs and send them on their way (Fanzile with a lollipop and pocket money:-)
We had to go to Mbabane to sort out our passports and renew our resident visa. Thankfully, everything went very fast at Swaziland
government offices and they were so polite and helpful. We even had time to go
to the mall in Mbabane and enjoy lunch with Daran
and Teresa.
Daran and Teresa have another idea for an income producing project for the people we serve, to make logs out of Marula nut shells, and they are working on getting approval for this new project. All of us want to see the ministry of Chips be self-sustaining and that the people served would be able to earn an honest living in order to help lift their families out of poverty. The Marula fruit is an abundant local resource and is used in great quantities to produce the local alcoholic brew. Once the brew is made, then the nuts are discarded. Daran had the idea to harvest the nuts, package them and sell them to local grocery stores and restaurants. As he saw the mounds of discarded shells all over, another idea came about to use this discarded resource and press the shells into logs which could then be sold as firewood. Not only does this project use readily available supplies and provide yet another income opportunity/marketable skill, but it connects back to the Swazi heritage as in years past the Swazis' had used Marula nut shells for fuel.
Please pray for the approval for this project and the funds to start it up.
Here is a video Daran and Teresa made that highlights Philemon's Story (Siphewe's father) and the Marula Log project.
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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