God's hand is on the micro-industry projects

The chicken project is going well and the ladies are taking responsibility for the ongoing work of taking care of the chickens and planning to expand the project. They have made a profit of several hundred dollars since  Jan 10th. Now the women are talking about bank accounts, micro-loans  and building their own chicken house when they have saved the money. The original chicken house which was on Gogo Doreen’s property, but Gogo Doreen refused to have the other ladies on her land.  but as a group they found another place to keep the chickens and paid the first month’s rent. Progress is happening but these are great times to share the Word as we talked about forgiveness after what happened with Gogo Doreen. The Lord has really worked through this and has amazed all of us with how well that the project has gone.

Ian has received enough money to provide tire gardens to five families in Macetuca. The tires were delivered in the last couple of weeks and we'll be taking pictures to show you as the gardens grow. 

We were able to visit Gogo Mandatshane's homestead and assess her house and needs. Her homestead is up a rough mountain road and then about a mile down a bumpy cart trail. There's no water on site and her house, made of wood, is in bad shape. There will be a challenge to get the supplies and crew up there, but we're looking forward to helping her out with this need. Gogo Mandatshane was very excited to show us her homestead and land.

There have been some meetings with Lloyd Dlamani, who is the area coordinator for the Sebenta program. This program is government run with an emphasis on literacy and has been going well for ten years. We really liked this program because it focuses on Swazi ownership and responsibility. Lloyd also has all the participants pay a nominal fee to be a part of the program. If there isn't enough money for the fees, that's where Chips would step in and help cover the remaining amount. There is a one time fee of $1.25/person fpr books and $1.50/month. The program is 6 hours a week and continues for 9 months. We are still looking to find a coordinator in our area.

The floor polish ladies group has done extremely well. They keep making and selling batches of floor polish and vaseline, even with a couple different scents.

We're so blessed to see God's hand in all these projects and how He's given the participants success. We continue to pray that they would see God as the one who has provided for them the work and ability to sell their goods.
Thank you for your help with all of these projects and impacting so many lives.

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.

Gogo Mandatshane needs a home

Gogo Mandatshane Masinga is 78 years old and she is unable to work due to chronic pain in her knees, and needs a cane to walk. The only financial aid she receives is the $10 elderly grant per month from the government. Her home fell down two years ago and she has been living with neighbors/friends, basically whoever can take her in for a short while. She has no immediate family and relies on donations of food and clothes for her basic needs. Gogo Mandatshane is not a Christian but for the past several months she has been attending church and is growing in her faith. We are asking for prayer for this lady that she will come to know Jesu as Lord and Savior. Mafucula is about 15 miles away from our home and it is not an area we serve with Chips. Mafucula is located in in the mountains of Shawula.  We had heard of Gogo Mandatshane's needs for the past several months and plan to visit the area next week. We need to raise about $500 to rebuild her home at Mafucula. Can you help? 

We are planning to start a ladies literacy class in Mgldzangcunu. We are talking to several organizations to find out about their programs fees. At this time we do not do any projects in that area and we feel this would be a very practical help as illiteracy is a big problem in the isolated rural communities. We will keep you updated how this new project works out.  Jabulane said the ladies should be very excited to be a part of this. Wouldn't it be great just to be able to sign your name or read a page out of the Bible on your own without depending on someone else? 

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.

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.

Gogo Doris' home-Mid Construction

 The tractor is delivering wood poles to be used in the construction of Gogo Doris' new home.

 

 The poles are being set around the perimeter of the house and will be cemented in place. 

 The guys are hard at work with rebuilding Gogo Doris' home.

 Here they are raising the roof the the proper height. Having a new, secure house will be such a blessing for Gogo Doris. We are thankful for the donations that made this possible. Thanks for helping us love the elderly, who are often neglected by their own families. 

 Moses is standing at the corner of his field. Thanks to donations we will be able to put a fence around the field so Moses can grow moringa and sell it. Moringa is a very nutritious and fast growing plant 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.

6 years and we're home

 As I look at the beautiful mountains and the flowering jacaranda trees, it's hard to believe that we first came to Swaziland six years ago. It has been an amazing six years seeing how the Lord has worked in our lives and all the people He has brought across our path. We are continually blown away by all the opportunities we've had to share the amazing hope love of Jesu with the people here.  We never thought we would call Swaziland home, but it is our home. 

Ian heads to Children's camp this weekend. I don't know who is more excited, the children or Ian! Please pray for them that they would all be safe and that Jesu would work in the hearts of the children. 

Mary's dad, Joseph, passed away earlier this week and she has gone back to Mozambique for a while to take care of all the details. Please lift her up in prayer during this time of sorrow. 

Our Vaseline project will be starting soon and the ladies are all very excited about the project. The Chicken project has received a donation of $300 which was matched by a generous supporter, so that should be able to start soon as well. Progress is being made on building a new home for Gogo Doris.  The weather has been a little bit cooler which is a relief and the internet is working better. 

Love and Blessings! 
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.

Gogo Mamano's New Home!

 

What a blessing for Gogo Mamano when she saw her new house and also received a food parcel which will feed her for more than a month. (You can see her old home behind Gogo Mamano and Jabulane in the picture above and her new home in the picture below). 

 All Gogo Mamano could say is Niyabonga,Niyabonga (thank you thank you)!

We join with Gogo Mamano in saying Niyabonga, Niyabonga! Thank you for your persistent support of  this ministry and for your heart to help provide the blessing of a safe, sturdy house for Gogo Mamano and other vulnerable elderly like her. We give God praise for you and your generosity, it's only through His power and wisdom that we, all of us, are able to be part of His work in changing lives.

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.

Gogo Mamano

 

Gogo Mamano is another recipient of our Housing for Elderly project. We had our builders refurbish her home.

 

Gogo Mamano was born in Mozambique and has lived here for many decades. Because she never became a Swazi citizen, she doesn't receive the elderly government grant of $10/month and relies on handouts for food and clothing. There are many others in the same position as Gogo Mamano and we desire to minister to to as many as we can, sharing the love and gospel of Jesus Christ. Many Mozambican refugees are often shunned here in Swaziland. 

Gogo Mamano's home before we came to refurbish it.

 

First the house got re-framed. 

 Fana, one of our builders, inspects the long grass he'll use as thatch for the roof.

These bundles of short grass will be used to fill in the thatch.

  

Here, Fana is sewing the thatch together to make a good roof.  Notice the wood frame has been filled in with rocks and mud making sturdy walls which will protect Gogo Mamano from the elements.

 

Jenn learns about thatching. 

Gogo Mamano's house has been finished! We are thankful for the quick work that our builders did and for your contributions that made this possible. The builders will began working on Gogo Doris's house next.

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.

Housing for Elderly: Mkhulu Phineos

Mkhulu Phineos is an elderly gentleman whose house we are rebuilding thanks to the donations to the Housing for Elderly project.

It took a while for the builders to gather all the logs needed to frame the house.

 

The wooden frames are then filled in with rocks carefully placed together and held with wire. This makes a very sturdy wall and protection from the elements.

Our builder Moses is inspecting the work that has been done. He has been working on Phineus's home and another home with a great sense of urgency and purpose. We see God's hand at work in Moses's life as well.

Phineus and Moses

The roof is now on, but they weren't able to cover it with plaster (a mud and cement mix) before it started raining. It's been raining non-stop since Thursday. We'll have to wait a few days after the rains subside so that the house can dry out enough to be plastered. 

Mkhulu Phineus was moved to tears that people in America care enough about him to rebuild his house.
 
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.

Needs and Projects

We continue to be amazed at God's faithfulness and provision, as well as your outpouring of generosity!  In the last couple of months we have received several requests from our supporters asking if there is a project that they can help with and donations towards the reagent supplies, school costs for the children, houses for the elderly, and bibles in SiSwati among others. 

Here is a list of ongoing needs to choose from if you have it in your heart to give a gift that makes a difference in someone's life. 

• Reagent Supply-$1,000/month. The government is still not supplying the reagents needed to test CD4 levels. This is such an essential ongoing need that often means the difference between life and death as we find, through testing, people who are HIV+ who need to be initiated onto Anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment immediately in order to survive. 
•  SiSwati bibles for distribution--$10 each. A bible in their own language is something many Swazi's would love to own and simply can't afford to get. Also, we pass out bibles to those who come to know the Lord and it would be great to have a supply on hand!
  
• Home Care Kits--$30 each. Each kit includes personal hygiene items, laundry powder and bleach that we pass out to the many home bound clients (often elderly and very ill) we continue to meet. A supply of Home Care Kits on hand is a definite need. 
• Housing for the Elderly: New Roof--$150ea or Complete Home Refurbishing--$300ea. There are a lot of homes belonging to the elderly that are in a sad state of neglect and disrepair in all the settlements. The elderly people are often abandoned and neglected by their family and neighbors and have no strength or resources to fix up their homes. 
• Food Parcels--$30ea. The price of maize and other food continues to rise making it more difficult for people who are either out of work or earning very little to afford basic food staples. 
• New Baby Parcel--$30ea.  This package of clothes, diapers and other supplies is given to a new mom for her baby, often the only gift of new clothing the baby will receive. 
• School Sponsorship: Primary School--$200/student for a year or High School--$300/student for a year. Families don't always have the money for school fees and uniforms for their children to attend school. A school sponsorship will cover all the fees and will provide a uniform. Educated children will grow up to be the country's future leaders. 
• Micro-Industries: Start-up costs and ongoing supplies. These micro-industries provide opportunities for women, especially, to learn a marketable skill and to earn an honest income, which gives a sense of hope and the ability to provide basic necessities for their families. 
  
• The Sewing Project at Section 19 is ready to expand. The cost of a basic sewing machine is $150 and there is always a need for other supplies and material. Each lady who participates in the project will receive a sewing machine to use with a portion of her monthly profits being deducted to pay for the machine, which can take up to 2 years. These payments are used to purchase more machines and supplies, giving other women an opportunity to join the project. We are hoping to start a second Sewing Project in another settlement in the near future with 10 additional women. 
• The Vaseline Project at Maphiveni--initial setup $200. Ladies from Maphiveni have come up with the idea of making Vaseline with Aloe as there is a market already available for this item. 
• The Floor Polish Project at Maphiveni--initial setup $200. The support group at Maphiveni is very excited about this opportunity to earn income by producing floor polish which has an immediate market available. 
• The Garden Project at Maphiveni--$100 to fence one garden.  If the garden is fenced so chickens and other critters can't destroy the crops, that will allow for an individual to grow vegetables providing food for their own family and generating income as they sell the surplus.
• The Chicken Project at Maphiveni--initial start-up $1,000. There is always a market around here for chicken and this will be a community operated project. The start-up will consist of building chicken houses and buying day old chicks. 

We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your generosity and kindness to people that you have never met. Each gift greatly impacts one or more people and allows us to share God's love in a very practical way. It is such a blessing to us to see the many requests to come along side and help this ministry that God has given us to do, without even having to ask you to help. It is our prayer to plant seeds with each donation and trust God to do the watering and bring the increase.


Any gift that is earmarked is used for that specific thing or held until that need once again presents itself (ex. all school fees are due in January, but any scholarship money collected prior is kept for when the school fees are due).

The fastest way to make a donation is to go online at www.WorldOutreach.org Go to 'Donate' and select our name, Stephens, Ian and Jenn SWAZILAND or you can mail your gift to World Outreach Ministries, PO Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 and designate for Ian and Jenn, Fund Code #97. Once you have donated, please email us at piggwr4647@aol.com and tell us of your designation of your gift.

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.

Thumbprint of God

Vusi is a new Chips client in Macetuka. He is very sick. Jabulani took him in the last couple of weeks to Good Shepherd to get him initiated on to treatment. He was admitted into the hospital. Vusi has a wife and young baby, and he is a believer so we spent in prayer with him before he went to the hospital. Please lift up Vusi for strength and healing. Also, pray for his young family that they would continue to trust in the Lord during this difficult time. We continue to pray that young married believers, like Vusi and his wife, would be willing to go against the cultural practices of  having multiple spouses and no regard for family and instead choose to follow God's design for a family. That they would be witnesses to those around them and good examples of the blessings that come from obeying God and living a positive lifestyle.

Last year when we were at Macetuka, a young woman asked me to test her and  sure enough she was positive. But she refused any further help because of her husband, he would not allow it. When we were in Macetuka recently, she came to ask if we would test her and her husband.  They are both positive and so they will go next week to the hospital to get initiated onto treatments. There are no coincidences with God! Please pray for this couple that they would come to know God in a very real and tangible way and that they would also have the courage to live a different life than those around them, one that honors God.

We are planning to start the Crossroads training for some of the youngsters in Tmbankulu Hall in the next couple of weeks. We'll wait until  schools get settled in again. Thankfully, it appears as though the teachers' strike is over. Crossroads is a highly effective curriculum dealing with issues including character building, positive living, HIV, and abstinence. This is something that we have done in the past and have had on our hearts to restart the training for the young people around here.

The houses for the elderly are progressing and that is good news. We are so thankful for all the donations that made it possible.

The ladies of Maphiveni have formed a support group and there are 15 ladies with Mkhulu Shandu as the leader. We meet Thursday the 16^th to hear income generating ideas ranging from strawberry growing, chicken raising, making Vaseline and floor polish. The ladies and Mkhulu Shandu are very excited about this new venture and they have already have a treasurer, secretary and are checking out markets.We're thrilled to see them take initiative like this in developing ways to bring in life-changing income through honest work. Please pray that this group would have unity as they work together to better all their lives and that of their families. Pray that God will use this to break the chains of poverty and bring life changing hope and trust in Him. Pray that there is a good market for these goods and that these women would be rewarded well for their hard work. 

There is one more thing, while we have had a large supply of reagents and have been able to get many tested and onto life-saving treatments, our supply of reagents is running out and the government is still not supplying any more. Please pray with us that God would provided the needed amount each month.

If you would like to help with the reagent shortage or the micro-industry or the housing for the elderly or any other project please follow the directions below on how to donate. Your gift does indeed change lives for the better. It is our desire to use every dollar of your gift in a wise and responsible way in order to touch lives with the thumbprint of God, and we pray that God will continue to use your gifts to bless and change lives. Thanks for being God's thumbprint on us and the people that we serve here in Swaziland. We all 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.

5 new houses:ready to build

 

Due to several generous donations, we have the funds to build a sturdy house for 6 elderly clients, Gogo Doris, Gogo Mamano, Mkhulu and Gogo Sifundza, Mkhulu Phineus Matimba, Mkhulu Mpopli. All live in Maphiveni except Mkhulu Mpopli who lives in Macetuka

These houses will be such a blessing to these abandoned wise souls and will protect them from the elements by providing a safe place. Now if we can just get our builders to start and finish before the rains come! The two builders spend a lot of time in the forest cutting down trees or in jail for something or other.We look for the most vulnerable and needy among the elderly in the communities that we serve to be beneficiaries of the Housing for the Elderly project.

Many thanks to our friends who have donated towards the Housing for the Elderly project. We pray that this generosity will impact our elderly friends in a way that they can see the love of God. Please pray that the building would commence and go smoothly. If this project is something that you would like to be a part of, please consider donating in the ways below and drop us an email letting us know where you desire your gift to be used.

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.

Housing for the Elderly

Our hearts have been burdened for the elderly who, along with the Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC's), are extremely vulnerable to being neglected, cast off, and isolated. Babe Shongwe was not just another statistic but he was our friend and we were horrified to find out that he had to spend his last days alone in filth and squalor of a home falling down around him with no food or comfort. 

As we mentioned in our last newsletter, it's our desire to come alongside this fragile population and show them care, love and Jesus in every way possible. 

One elderly gentleman, Mpopli, is in the TB clinic getting treated for multi-drug resistant TB and will be there for several months. His house is decrepit and we would like to refurbish it before his return. We can't build a permanent new home due to regulations but can make it a better and safer place for him.  

Mpopli's house

Our rural health motivator in Maphiveni has pointed out Gogo Mamano's house that desperately needs a new roof. Gogo Mamuno is not a Chips client but is very frail and in the most need of assistance at this time. A generous friend from the States is providing the funds to help restore her roof, which is so appreciated. Hopefully this project will be done here in the first couple of weeks. 

Gogo Mamano's house

If you would like to help with making housing safe for the elderly and to provide for their other needs please donate at the link or address below and drop us a note letting us know the intention of your gift is for Housing for Elderly.  Please pray for these people, that God would reveal Himself to them as the One who never leaves nor forsakes them, and that He would give us wisdom on how best we can help each very special elderly person. 

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.