Three-way conversation

"Vusile, Vusile where are you Vusile?"

Vusile turned in his walker, scanning with his limited vision to catch a glimpse of those familiar voices. His face, much in need of a good scrubbing, broke into a big grin when he saw Ian and Jenn. Instantly he stretched out his hand, knowing that Ian would come and play a tickle game. 

Ian and Jenn could hardly contain their joy and excitement at seeing Vusile and it is obvious that he has a very special place in their hearts. 

Jenn gave Vusile her phone and they enjoyed a chit-chat.  

Ian got out his phone and joined the conversation. Love and happiness was shared in this three-way conversation. 

Then Ian called Jenn's phone (which was being duly monitored by Vusile). Vusile was enthralled with the musical ring tone and when it had finished, he said 'Wow'. 

As said before, Vusile's father doesn't want anything to do with Vusile. Vusile is only taken care of and fed when a new wife is on the scene, but his dad goes through many wives in a short amount of time. Both Vusile and his father are receiving ART's and are enrolled in Chips. Vusile still has a dislocated shoulder, can't walk and spends his days in this walker. He has developed quite the personality and we have come to realize that he isn't blind as we had thought when  we first introduced him to you. 

"BuBye BuBye!" Vusile shouted as we left. It has just been recently that he has started to talk. We love this 4 year old little boy and try to provide as much care and love to him as we possibly can. Please continue to pray for Vusile and that he would be able to receive the care (physical, emotional and medical) that he needs to thrive. 

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: growing in health and hope

Newman would often see the Chips kombi at Macetuka and ask to be tested, but he was always drunk and we refused to do testing on him. One day in September 2010, he showed up at the testing site sober and we tested him for HIV.  The results came back that Newman was  positive. His wife had died many years ago from AIDS and he had a fourteen year old son Colani.  After the testing, Newman was counseled many times about how dangerous alcohol usage was while being on ART.  He has made significant progress since then. Newman is employed as our gardener and has a home of his own; his CD4 count is increasing and he is putting on weight. Newman continues to battle his addiction to alcohol.

Newman

Chips transports him to Good Shepherd  hospital for his refills and doctor visits.  He continues to receive counseling. At this point in time Newman refuses to attend church and talk about God but we believe with  prayer, encouragement and love that his life will continue to significantly improve. Newman has been a blessing to us and it's under his hands that our garden has produced as much surplus that it has.

Newman and Colani
Colani has been visiting Newman over the last couple of weeks since there was first a school break and then now the teachers are on strike.  We took Colani to church with us today. Both Newman and Nchlancha (our day security guard) have expressed interested in attending our church with us at some point and we continue to pray that would come about in God's timing. It has been very good to see Colani work alongside his dad and hear the laughter and friendly bantering over games coming from Newman's house. 

Nchlancha just turned 28 and went home to his homestead to celebrate with his wife and son. Sifiso is at a revivial for the weekend. It's quite without the two guys around and we are looking forward to their return. 

The foundation has been laid for Shandu's house. Please pray that everything is delivered and the construction goes along in a timely manner, without being impeded by the coming rains. 

Daran, Chips Director, is in the States raising money for the purchase of the Brown buildings. They haven't sold since Chips had to retract the initial offer. Please pray that God would provide the complete finances to purchase these buildings and to maintain/operate them after the purchase. After seeing the outpouring of support for Shandu's house, we know that God can certainly provide in the same manner in this request.

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.

An overflow of generosity!

Wow! You are so generous! We have received $860 in donations for Mkhulu Shandu's new home, which is far above the amount that we needed. Thank you so much from all of us. We decided to include a window in the new home, Shandu has never had a window, and then use the remainder for the next need or project that comes along. We are excited to be talking to the contractor and ordering supplies. Pictures of his new home will be posted.

All donations above and beyond our normal support (or a specific project like this) go into a general fund in order to meet needs that arise. Some examples are sponsoring a child to go to school by paying their school fees or providing a food package to someone who has no means to get food or giving a new mum/baby package with clothes or diapers to a new mum.

Thanks again so very much! 

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.

New Home for Mkhulu Shandu

Shandu after receiving the news that we are raising money to build a new home for him

 Mkhulu Shandu, 59, was forced to quit his laborious job of a sugar cane cutter 2 years ago when he had to have a much needed hip replacement. The surgery was successful but the recovery has been slow. Shandu still walks with a limp and the assistance of a cane.

Cane cutter at work

Unable to work and not having family nearby, he is dependent on neighbors and donations from Chips for enough food to survive. Consequently he suffers from malnutrition and needs the most basic things, like batteries for his alarm clock so he knows when to take his ARV medicine. Chips also provides transportation to/from the hospital for check-ups.  

Shandu's home is approximately 9x9 shack made of sticks and mud with a tin roof. The walls have to be constantly re-patched any time it rains. There is a 6 inch gap between the roof and the walls.

 He has fenced off a small area in front of his house and keeps a couple of chickens there. 

We would like to build a concrete house for Shandu to replace the shack falling down around him. The cost of the supplies is $600 and the labor will be donated. As of now we have 50% of the money raised and would like to have the house built by the end of September before the rains come. Ian will be talking with the contractor this week. 

A concrete house similar to the one we want to build. 

When we shared our plans to raise money for a new house, tears of amazement and gratitude sprang to Shandu's eyes. He was blown away by the thought that people who live in a far-away country who don't even know him would be willing to send money for a new house.

Can you help?

If you would like to donate for Shandu's home, the quickest way would be to donate online at www.worldoutreach.org Go to Donate, Select our name from the drop down menu, Continue following the prompts to make the donation.

When you are done, please email us at piggwr4647[at]aol[dot]com and let us know you donated towards Shandu's house.  Thank you very much for your generosity from us and from Shandu himself.  

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.

Cuddle time... here we come!

One of our Chips mums in Khomba, Zodwa, just gave birth to twins a little less than two weeks ago!

Constance Simelane, the girl in my right arm, was born first weighing 1.6 kg (2.6lbs) and her brother Nkosikhana Simelane weighed 2.2 kg (5.3 lbs) at birth. We were able to visit Zodwa with gifts of baby clothes and I got to cuddle the new arrivals. What a great job I have!

Zodwa is HIV+ but was able to deliver the babies safely. We hope and pray that with the proper medication being given to the babies immediately that they will both be HIV- when they are tested in several weeks.

The birth of these two and another baby that was also born in the last couple of weeks push the number up to about 700 patients that we are able to serve through Chips. There are so many new people that are coming forth willing to be tested and get started on treatment.  We praise God for the increase and know that He will give us the wisdom and resources to deal with the addtional patients.

P.S. - If you want to support our ministry, the fastest way is to make an Online Donation via http://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.