Ian and Jenn Stephens are missionaries working with C.H.I.P.S, Children HIV Intervention Programme in Swaziland, to help the orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS pandemic in Swaziland, Africa. Their home base is in Vuvulane and they travel around to various communities testing for HIV, assessing medical needs and treatment options, teaching job skills, providing workshops, and occasionally conducting Crossroads training (character building/positive living/HIV & abstinence). Ian and Jenn's main desire is to share the love of Jesus for each of these precious children while working towards fulfilling the vision of a HIV free Swaziland.

CHIPS Video

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Prayers for healing



There has been a lot going on and so we thought we would take this time to send an update. 

  •  Sifiso started a 4 year civil engineering course on Monday in Manzini. We pray that this will be a good fit for Sifiso and that through this path God would use him in a great way here in Swaziland.

  • Eric's mom is home from the hospital and doing well, praise God
  • We have a lot of sick Chips clients, mainly adults as the Chips children seem to be well. Please pray that the children continue in health and that the adults would return to health. We know that God is the ultimate Healer and we trust in Him for these requests.
  •  
  • Please pray for Dudize, from Section 19, he has defaulted on his medication which resulted in him getting sick. He was re-initiated on  ART's this week. Dudize wanted to know if there was hope for him, and Jabulane assured him that there is always hope. 
  •  
  •  Sibusiso, from Maphiveni, is very sick and wasting away. He is 25 years old and we took him to the hospital yesterday.
  •  
  • We saw Vusile last week and he is a happy boy running around. 
  •  
  • Gogo Doreen, from Maphiveni, has shingles and is in a lot of pain. 
  •  
  • Jabu, from Maphiveni, is sick but we aren't sure what is wrong. We took her into the clinic for treatment. 
Besides dealing with all this sickness , we are looking forward to our trip next week. We will be heading to Zambia, Zimbabwe, and to Victoria Falls. It will be a nice time to get away, reconnect with God and each other.  We've realized that we need to take more time to do mini-retreats to keep our focus centered on God and seek Him for direction and guidance regarding Chips.

 

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.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Praises due to God



Sometimes we do not celebrate the Lord's miracles enough. This picture is of Jabu's recent wedding.  Two years ago she was so sick; her one year old son  had died from malnutrition, liife was very grim and the future very uncertain. Now Jabu lives in Macetuka and is fit, healthy and running a successful business that employs 13 people. This is how the Lord has worked  in her life over the past two years and we continue to pray that she will one day except Christ as Lord and Savior. 

Another praise is that Eric came 3rd in his class of 53 students last term and he had an excellent report. Eric is doing so well in school and we know God has great plans for this young man. 
In the last couple of days, Eric's mother has taken ill  with TB/HIV and had to be taken to Good Shepherd Hospital. Please lift her up in prayer, that the Lord would work amazing healing, both physically and spiritually, in her life just as He has worked miracles in Eric's life. 
  
Prayer need Andile Mbebe is 18 months old and is new to the Chips program. This little guy was sick and malnuourished last month when we got him started on ART. Praise the Lord that we had food to give to his family thanks to wonderful ministry partners who have provided food parcels. 


Mpopoli is doing well since he has returned from the TB clinic. He still not put any weight on, but feels well. His home will be next in line. 

Gogo Doris' home was finished last month and she was so thankful to have a good roof over her head. 
 
Chips was given 300 pairs of children's shoes and we were able to pass them out among several communities. Often the pair of shoes was the first shoes these children have received in their life. 



  
The floor polish and vaseline groups are doing well and have made several batches which have all sold. The ladies who are participating in the Chicken project have been doing a lot of research and getting ready for the launch of their project. They just got chickens and we are praying that this opportunity is a viable one just as the floor polish and vaseline projects have been.  

All these are examples of God's great provision through wonderful supporters like yourself and the work that we have the pleasure of doing here in Swaziland. Your donations and gifts really do make a difference in so many lives, from necessary life-saving treatments of ART's, food, clothing, scholarships, housing repairs, and micro-industry projects. We can't thank you enough for allowing God to use you in this way.


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.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Future Teacher and Role Model



Nchlachla, our day guard, has always wanted to teach. He has a vision to teach and feels that this is what the Lord has called him to do. Lately, Nchlachla has been searching for another employment opportunity and would like to pursue teaching. 

He did finish high school but his grades were low on his final examination.  Nchlachla now has an opportunity to retake his high school final examinations, even though he is 28 years old but the problem is lack of finances to pay for the retest. 

We're asking you to pray for this young man, who loves the Lord, is hardworking and would make a great teacher. Nchlachla desires to honor God in a way that goes against the culture here, and be fully committed to his wife and doesn't plan on taking any additional wives. Nchlachla is a great Christian male role model, which the young people here in Swaziland really need, and we know that God can make such an impact on the next generation through Nchlanchla. 

The total amount needed to retake the high school examinations is $250. Please join us in first praying that Nchlachla will continue to grow in the knowledge of God, that God would use his willing heart in a mighty way and would bring about incredible change for this generation through Nchlachla. Pray also that Nchlachla would continue to have wisdom and love for his wife and that their marriage would be protected. We continue to pray that God would open up opportunities for him to teach and we trust God will work out all the finances, examinations, and employment.

If you would like to provide a tangible help to this future teacher, you can donate to our account and then just let us know that it is for Nchlacla. Your gift will not only be a blessing to Nchlachla, but will be far reaching and will touch the lives of all the students that will be under his care. 


 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.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

What did you do for New Year's Eve?

Happy New Year!  Our New Year's Eve probably looked a little different that yours

For starters, it is in the middle of summer for us and the temperatures have been about 105' F/40' C. With no air conditioning it can be a challenge to stay cool. We knew that the Simunye Country Club had a pool so we called over there to see what the cost would be for us to come swim, which is the only thing that sounded enjoyable on such a hot day. 

To our pleasant surprise, we were told that there would be no charge for us to come and use their pool. So, off we went on New Year's Eve to go swimming! We had a nice swim and then enjoyed a good pot of tea at the Country Club. It was very refreshing and we plan on doing this again. 

Today, we drove up to North Swaziland where we had heard about some beautiful waterfalls. However, by the time we arrived (after the hour and a half drive) and found out that the walk down to the falls and back out again  we realized that it would take longer than the time we had so we just walked around, enjoying the beautiful gardens and will have to make plans to come out here again. We might spend the night in the area and then will have all day to enjoy the hike down to the falls. 

Lately, we have realized how important for us to get away once in a while to reconnect with each other and also spend time refocusing on the Lord and seeking His direction and plan for our ministry. Doing this will help us to keep centered in the Lord and more effective ministers of His gospel. Late January, we will be taking a short trip to do just that. The trip is something that we are looking forward to and know that it will be a time of refreshment, reconnection, and refocusing

Thank you for your continued prayers and support as we go into a new year. We pray that you and your family will be blessed in this New Year. 

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.

Labels

$15 (2) Aero (6) Aero Mthembu (1) Alfred (2) Andile Mbebe (1) Andiswa (1) Auntie Rose (2) Ayanda (1) Babe Shongwe (3) Baby Lato (3) Bethusile (3) Bible Study (3) Bomenze (1) Bongi (1) Bongimenzi (1) Bonginkosi (19) Bongsile (3) Brandi (1) Brown buildings (6) Bucket List (3) Caiphus (1) Care Point (7) Cebsile Malambe (1) Chicken Project (11) Children's Camp (2) Children's Program (5) CHIPS (109) Chips:Success (15) Christmas Families (2) Christmas List (6) Christmas Shoebox (4) Clement (3) Clondile (1) Colani (4) community center (14) Community Meetings (2) Constance Simelane (4) contact (2) Contribute (14) Crossroads (5) daily bread (2) Delsiwe (2) Dudzie (1) Elias (2) Elizabeth (2) Eric (11) Evangelism team (1) family commitment (1) Fana (2) Fanzile (19) Floor Polish (3) Food Parcels (8) Frank (1) fun (40) Futhi Malsenjwa (1) Gabsile (1) Gardens (2) Gavin (4) Gcina (1) General Fund (13) God-thing (91) Gogo Doreen (2) Gogo Doris (6) Gogo Mamano (4) Gogo Mandatshane Masinga (2) Gogo Maria (1) Good Shepherd Hospital (23) Goodbye (10) Henry (1) HIV free generation (3) Hlecibo (1) Home Care (1) home visits (1) Hope School (3) Housing for Elderly (13) Jabu (8) Jabu #2 (6) Jabu #3 (2) Jabulane (22) Jam Project (2) James (1) Jane (1) John (1) Julia (4) July (1) Kayanda (1) Khoaz Family (2) Khomba (24) Kim (1) Kwaneie (1) Ladies Bible Study (3) Ladies Literacy (2) Langelile Kunene (1) Life in Swaziland (28) LomaLungelo (1) Lunga (1) Lungile (2) M2C (2) Macetuka (11) Mafucula (2) Make (1) Mambaweni (8) Mambawini Khaylethu (1) Maphiveni (47) Maria (3) Marula Log (1) Mary (21) Masimula Family (2) Matatuka (5) Mayenjane (1) Mayibongwe (1) Mchele (1) Mdudize (1) Medical/Construction Team (4) Mfundo (1) Mgldzangcunu (23) Mhulme (1) micro-industry (14) minibus (5) Mira (2) Mkhulu and Gogo Sifundza (1) Mkhulu Mpopli (2) Mkhulu Phineus Matimaba (1) Mkhulu Shandu (8) Mlando (1) Mnqedisi (1) Moses Mkhulu Phineus (1) moving (2) Mpopli (2) Mxolisi (2) Nchlachla (8) Ncomsile (3) Ndwanwed Family (2) Neliswa (1) New Baby (3) new home (8) New Hope Children's Ministry (1) Newman (13) Nkosikhana Simelane (4) Nohlawa (1) Nokulunga (2) Nolwazi (1) Noncedo (1) Nothando (1) Nowlnuga (1) Ntsetselo (1) office (2) Orphan Care (5) Orphan Fund (4) OVC (8) Parent to Child (1) Philemon (1) Phumzile (1) Picture (127) PMTCT (3) Praise (127) prayer home visits (1) Prayer Request (126) Preschool (1) Project Mushrooms (4) Public Health Meetings (7) Reagent Shortage (10) Rose (1) rural health motivator (11) Samuel (1) Sandy (1) Sarah (1) Scholarships (11) Sebenta Literacy program (1) Section 19 (31) Sewing Project (6) Sibusiso (1) Sifiso (9) Sihle (1) Sikhumbuzo Kaumalo (1) Simunye (1) Simunye Church (9) Siphewe (6) Siphosethu (1) Small Sacrifice (6) Soloman (1) Sphelele (1) Staff Devotionals (1) Student (5) Sunday School (2) surgery (1) Tambankulu (3) Thab'sile Simelane (1) Thandi (1) Thankful (28) Thembi (2) Thembile (3) Thembili (1) Thobili (1) Thuli (1) Timbankulu (1) Tire Garden (2) Tmbankulu Hall (1) Todvwa (1) Toys for Swazi Kids (1) twins (4) Umpopoli (1) Vaseline Project (5) Victoria Falls (3) Visitors (1) Vusi (2) Vusile (15) Vuvulane (24) Vuvulane Primary School (13) World AIDS Day (2) Zambia and Zimbabwe (4) Zinkle (1) Zodwa (1)

Section 19 Woman's Support Group Floor Polish Micro-Industry