World AIDS Day

 World AIDS Day December 1^st

It has been 25 years since HIV/AIDS was first reported in Swaziland and so on the 1^st December we will commemorate what the country has achieved in the fight against this disease:  free ARVs (antiretroviral treatments), declining Mother to Child transmission, and greater awareness.  The statement for this year is the goal of no new infections by 2030 and greater disclosure from the HIV positive people, many who fear spousal abuse and discrimination which hinders their willingness to get tested and know/share their status. 

This year the regional day will be held in Vuvulane and for the first time Chips has been asked to partner with other aid organizations by attending the event to explain what CHIPS does. We will have a table in the information tent where we will have the opportunity to explain to people why Chips is so unique here in Swaziland and what services we offer including HIV testing, initiation on ARV’s, and positive living. 

We are asking for prayer, as there could be 5000 people who may attend the event, that through the speakers and drama groups many seeds will sown to bring about behavioral changes.  Also, we pray that the men would come participate in large numbers.  Often most of the events related to HIV perhaps two men will attend and forty women.  Instead of Mother to Child transmission, Chips is now calling it Parent to Child transmission to show the men have as much as a role to play as the women in protecting a new generation from being infected.

 
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.

Sick patients and a long nap

We have several sick Chips patients at this time. One is Lungile from Khomba. She is the rural health motivator now is bed ridden because she was in denial about the fact she could have TB and she did not want to go on ART's. We have persuaded her to the hospital and I know she is not a believer.  Fana at Maphiveni (he roofed one of the houses) is sick with a reoccurrance of his TB has reoccurred. Gogo Doris her asthma is really bad but she should be in her new house very soon,that’s a praise. Please lift up all these patients and ask that God will heal them both physically and spiritually.

 

Gogo Doris' house is almost complete. We're praying that this new home will be a blessing to her. 

There is so much grass that is needed to thatch a roof.

Bomenze, Nchlancla's 4 year old son, came to visit Nchlancla. He was so worn out and very much appreciated a long nap under the fan. 

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.

Newman's Dismissal

It's with heavy hearts that we've had to dismiss Newman from his job as our gardener this week. Despite multiple chances and warnings, he continued to drink and neglect his responsibilities. There were several instances of behaviors/actions that were specifically against the policies we have in place for our employees and no remorse when we would confront him. 
As part of his dismissal, we had to tell Newman that he was no longer welcome to stay in the house on our property and he and his son Colani would have to leave.  That was a really hard thing to do, especially concerning Colani whom we have grown very fond of and hate to see him suffer for choices his father has made. 

 All along it has been our prayer that we would be able to be used of God to bring Newman to a personal relationship with Him. We will continue to pray that God gets a hold of Newman's heart as well as Colani's. It is also sad to see Newman neglect his responsibilities as a father especially during a time when Colani needs a good strong relationship with his father. 
Please lift them up in prayer and us as well at this difficult time. We are looking for another gardener and pray that God will bring the right person to us. 

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.

Lollipops make new friends

 On a recent visit to Section 19, we met some new friends. 

 Do you think the lollipops helped?

 

This friendly gentleman wanted to get in on the camera action. We have made so many friends here in Swaziland and we 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.

Sunday School Camp

Here is my (Ian's) account of Sunday School Camp. 

Friday 12^th October started with rain. Would camp go on? Yes. We meet at the church at 3:30pm and started to load the kids into the cars to take them to Siteki. After we all settled in we had supper.

We then sang songs and played games and was told what we would be doing on Saturday. 

The theme for this year’s camp was LIGHT OF THE WORLD.We as Christians should carry the light around the world.

We had to imagine that we were on an aircraft and flying to different places around the world.

First stop was the Sudan, and we learned how hard it is to spread the word of Christ in that country. The Muslim dominated military continuously attacks churches, hospitals, schools and Christian villages in an attempt to rid the country of Christians. The Gideons give out bibles to the schools and have to be very careful not to get caught.

Second stop was Afghanistan. With a population of 29 million plus there are only about 14,559 Christians. The lack of religious freedom makes Afghanistan one of the least reached countries in the world and requires a lot of prayer and help for Christianity.

Our third stop was China. As a communist country the government has total control over religion.

We learned that the government has limited Christianity by allowing state-monitored churches to operate. This led to underground churches being formed. Anyone who attends a house church and is caught is subject to torture and imprisonment by the government. With a population of over 1.3 billion only 8% are Christian’s China needs a lot of prayer.

Another place we visited was the UK where Christianity has seen a serious decline for many years. English culture has become very secular with a large focus placed on pleasure as the ultimate goal in life. England has demonstrated a fair amount of hostility towards Christianity and has focused more on providing rights for minority religions. I must say though that during our time in England in March we learned that there is a lot of new pastors coming out of bible college, and in the area we were in many young people were attending church and so many people going to church they have to have two services. England still needs prayer. 

Our final stop was Guatemala which is a predominantly Christian country with the majority of the people practicing Catholicism. Christianity in Guatemala has not experienced much growth in recent years and there is a lack of discipline among the church. Prayer is needed to help bring the people to a disciplined relationship with GOD.

Matthew 5:14-16    HOW CAN YOU SHINE YOUR LIGHT FOR JESUS

John 8:12     WHO IS THE LIGHT OF LIFE?

The kids had a good time (including being rowdy at bedtime). I'll be teaching the Sunday School class and interacting with the kids every week. Please pray that God would use me in their lives and that I would be a good model for 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.

Surprise! Two boys!

 We finally got a chance to see Bongsile's twins and they are adorable! Bongsile was able to get an ultrasound (which is unusual here in Swaziland) during her pregnancy and found out she was having twins. She presumed that she would have one girl and one boy and bought a lot of cute pink clothes. Well guess what, she had two handsome boys!

Ayanda (his English name is Jack)

 

Andiswa (his English name is Jackson) 

The boys are six weeks old and we are awaiting the results of their HIV testing to see if they test positive or negative for HIV.  Bongsile and her boys are all doing well and we'll be by as often as we can. We just love rocking the babies! 

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.

Elderly man discharged to a falling down home

Mpopli got sent home from the hospital, where he was being treated for a drug resistant strain of TB. We're not quite sure how this happened as the doctors had said that he wouldn't get sent home until he had a safe home to go to, but it is Swaziland. When we found out, Mpopli was already home and staying in his ramshackle shack that is about to fall down around him at any time. We had to scramble to find a one room house in Macetuka that we could rent for him for the next month until a more permanent home can be arranged (or his home rebuilt). 

Thankfully,  we have had donations for food so we could at least provide him with the basic necessities. Mpopli does look well, which is another thing we are very thankful for and we'll be working on his housing arrangements. You can read more about Mpopli here.  Please continue to pray for his complete recovery and that he would see God's love through us.

Another blessing is that Simunye church gave us a donation of 28 boxes of clothes to give out. We had a clothes give-away in Macetuka and Khomba which ended up being organized chaos like usual. 28 boxes may seem like a lot of clothes, but it really is only a drop in the ocean compared to the need. Our church is such a blessing to us, and it warms our heart to see how much they care about the people we serve and are always so willing to come along side the ministry by providing clothes and food parcels.

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.