2 Walking Miracles!

In our recent visits to check on our Chips patients, we were amazed to see Vusile and Thembi both walking! 

Vusile is doing amazingly well. He is actually talking and has about 60 words in his vocabulary. Not only that, but believe this miracle, Vusile is walking!! Vusile's father's “new wife “ has done a lot of work with him and this is such an answer to prayer. When we were there, Vusile wanted to go for a ride in the car. Unfortunately on that trip Vusile didn't get to ride as we were on a tight schedule, but hopefully we can get back over to Maphiveni and take him for a ride soon. 

When we visited Thembile in Khomba, we were amazed to see her walking without any aid. She was showing us how well she could walk and was saying 'Look at me, Jesus! I can walk!', giving all the credit to Jesus for her healing.  Thembile has been on ARV's since 2008 and had a stroke in 2009. When we first met her last year, she was bedridden and unable to do anything for herself. The last time we saw her was six months ago and she was able to sit up in a chair.  It is amazing she has come so far in 18 months!

We give God all the glory for these two miracles and thank Him for His mighty power at work in the lives of the people here 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.

Khisimusi Lomule (Happy Christmas)!

We're wishing all our ministry partners a wonderful blessed Christmas and we want thank you for making a special Christmas for the people here. Through your generous gifts we can buy extra food, new baby clothes and provide a school sponsorship. Thank you for your hearts for the least of these. Khisimusi Lomule, love Ian and Jenn!
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.

Shortage of chemicals: hospitals refuse to test blood samples

The hospital and clinics have been refusing to retest follow-up blood samples from our patients. There is just no funding throughout the country to purchase the reagents (chemicals) used to analyze the samples which leaves us in a very serious predicament.

Once one of our patients has tested positive for HIV, their CD4 (white blood cell) count is measured and has to be below a certain level before they can get the free ARV treatments from the government. If the CD4 count is higher than the threshold, then the patient is retested in a couple months to see what their count is. Also, once a patient has been initiated on ARV's, retesting is done periodically to determine the effectiveness of the treatments.

Without the ability to send in the blood samples to be tested, we aren't able to get our patients initiated on life saving ARV's in a timely fashion (if at all) which means that the HIV virus will continue to multiply and spread throughout the body eventually turning into AIDS. We have seen more and more people in the communities come forward, willing to find out their status and get initiated onto ARV's if tested positive. Now we can no longer provide the testing, unless there is funding in place to provide the hospital, mainly Good Shepherd Hospital (GSH), with the necessary supply of reagents.

This shortage concerns us greatly, especially considering the children (HIV+) who tend to get sick more quickly and often fatally without being on ARV's. It would cost about $1,500 per month to supply Good Shepherd with enough reagents and Daran and Teresa, Chips Directors, are raising money to give to GSH.

Can you pray with us, first and foremost, that God would provide all the supplies/monies needed for this urgent and on-going need. Also, if you are interested in helping financially with this need please contact us at piggwr4647[at]aol[dot]com and we will direct you to Daran and Teresa. We know that God cares deeply for  the poor and the needy and know that He can do things that are impossible in our eyes.


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.

Sundresses, Shirts and Shorts

We received a large donation of sundresses, shirts and shorts. The girls all loved their pretty dresses and the guys were thrilled to get the shorts and shirts. For some children, this was the first new item of clothing that they have received.  Every donation that we get, makes such a big difference in the lives of the recipients, even if it seems insignificant to the giver. Thank you for your continued support and generous hearts as you care for the least of these.  

Don't all the kids look great? 

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.

Baby Sihle

Bonginkosi, our former security guard, and Cebile stopped by last week with their 3 month old son, Sihle. Sihle means beauty, and isn't he beautiful!

Bonginkosi is out of work currently and living with family near Vuvulane. Please lift up Bonginkosi and his need for employment as well as his relationship with Cebile, that it would be God-centered, in your prayers. 

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.

Christmas Gifts

Do you want to give a gift to help our ministry? Check out our Swaziland Christmas List for ideas. This is a great way for the whole family to join in the Christmas spirit and give to others. Updates will be provided on the blog regarding all the projects that receive donations and every donation is Tax Deductible as long as it's made through World Outreach.

Please don't forget to email us (piggwr4647@aol.com) telling which project you are wanting to support. We don't have the capabilities of designating the funds when you donate online, but will be thrilled to do it when you contact us! It will also be great to hear from you in this Christmas season.

Thank you and any gifts will make such an impact and be so appreciated.


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.

Abandoned: Julia, 78 and very ill

Julia, 78, has been abandoned by her family. They will have nothing to do with her. 

Julia is one of our oldest Chips patient and has been on ART's (antri-retro viral treatments) for six months. Last week when we saw her, Julia was so frail and had difficulty walking and caring for herself so we determined to come back and check on her soon. 

When we went to see Julia again this week, we were shocked to see how worse the situation has gotten in the last week. She can no longer get about on her own. The house stank and the food she had was days old; maize porridge crawling with insects. It was such a bad situation and we cannot imagine what it is like for her. We prayed with her and then organized some local women to come clean. Hopefully, the rural health motivator will organize ladies to come cook for Julia. She has the food but can no longer cook for herself. Mary and Jabulani took Julia to Good Shepherd Hospital today for a check-up. We'll have to find out the results of that trip. 

Please lift up Julia in your prayers. We're praying that she would come to know the everlasting love of the Father, that the women in the village would come around Julia and really minister to her at this time, and we do lift up her physical needs as well. 

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.

Smiles-Signs of Hope!

Through the chapel in Mbabane, we are able to get tracts in Siswati for free that we can pass out to those who are interested. 

You can see the hope that these ladies have in their lovely smiles. They have hope because of the program Chips, Children HIV Intervention Programme in Swaziland, and are able to thrive having found out their HIV status and getting the proper medical care. 

Mary had met with 70 women from all of the settlements that we serve. She asked them to write a note describing what they are thankful for. Most of the women said the same thing, that they are thankful for Chips which is saving lives and bringing hope. This has always been the vision for Chips from the start three years ago and still holds true today. We thought this was very special affirmation of how God’s hand is guiding and providing for the people who have so little. For us, it made us realize this is not about buildings and numbers but about saving lives and God will take care of the rest.

This lady has found another use for umbrella spokes, knitting needles! She enjoys knitting and making things. 

These smiling faces are one of the reasons we are here serving the beautiful people of Swaziland. Today is  World Aids Day and we want to remind you to pray that we will all see the day when there is a HIV free generation in Swaziland. Thank you from all of us, for your generous support of this ministry. 

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.