Macetuka and Section 19 Bible studies

I decided to use the self-timer function on the camera to show you two of the bible studies that I am teaching.  This first picture is of the group in Macetuka. 

One of the men took it upon himself to build a structure where we will have our meetings. That way we will be out of the rain/sun. It is encouraging to see how the people are taking initiative and responsibility for the bible studies.  Both of these bible studies are growing in number. We continue to pass out bibles to those who want it (that is always an ongoing need we have, for money so we can purchase more Bibles.)

This group is the one at Section 19. Both groups were so amazed that I can actually have the camera take a picture of the group with me in the picture (and not touching the camera). They enjoyed seeing themselves in the picture when we were finished.

Jenn has started going to Khomba weekly since the people there are so hungry for the word of God. She taught on Matthew 18 about forgiveness to Khomba and the people were really responsive, saying that there is a spirit of disharmony there. However, when she taught the same message at Mgldzangcunu there wasn't a lot of positive feedback. Bongingkosi even said it was too hard of a topic and shouldn't be discussed. Well we share what the Lord has placed on our hearts and we know that He will cause the growth. 

Keep praying that we would be given wisdom and for soft hearts of the people in the communities. 

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.

Visiting evangelism team from Kentucky

We are so thankful for the Team from Kentucky who came on the 22^nd of July and spent four days visiting the communities served by Chips.  Rodney, Miles, Peggy, Alvin and Michelle were a real blessing and encouragement to us and we really appreciated their prayers over our ministry and lives.

The gospel was shared with many people hungry to know God in Mgldzangcunu. 

We were refreshed and renewed personally and so glad to see that the "embers were stirred" among the people that we serve.

The team was wonderful to work alongside of as we prayed with adults and children for healing. Some people prayed for Salvation and others for release from abusive situations.

We ask for continued prayer for the Swazi people that they will  receive discipleship and encouragement as they continue to grow spiritually through the different churches and our Bible studies that are in the communities. 

Peggy and Jenn praying for healing at section 19

Michelle and Bonginkhosi praying for children at section 19

So many wonderful things happened when God shows up! Healing miracles take place, people are set free from the bondage of  spiritual darkness and oppression, and lives changed when redemption and salvation come into their lives. Amen to God be the Glory!

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.

Salt of the World

As you know we have been doing bible studies in several of the communities that we serve. The response has been great, with more people in attendance each week. The people are so hungry for the Word to be planted and watered in their hearts, and keep asking for Bibles that they can have in their own language. (Providing Bibles is an on-going request. If you would like to contribute towards this need, you can follow the instructions at the bottom of the post to donate towards providing Bibles.) We spend a lot of time each week teaching in these various Bible Studies.

Here are the Bible Studies that Ian has been teaching.

Section 19 has just started their Bible Study and meet every two weeks on Wednesday afternoons. They have been covering Acts 1, Acts 2, the early church and Peter's Sermon. About 30 people have come and this group loves to sing! 

Macetuka meet every week on  Tuesday afternoons. The past studies here have included Joseph, the Exodus, Holy week etc. They are currently in a 4 week series of Ruth and will study Acts next. 

Chips devotionals  Ian teaches the devotional Monday and Friday mornings every week and teaches what ever the Lord shows puts on his heart to share. 

Jenn has been teaching at these locations

Khomba is a fairly new Bible study and they meet Thursday afternoons every other week. They have covered Simeon and Anna, and Hannah. Bonginkosi has shared his testimony from a man's point of view about supporting one's wife when she is going through difficult circumstances. There are several people willing to share their testimonies. 

 Chips devotionals on Wednesday mornings every week and teaches what the Lord puts on my heart  such as faith, or walking with God. 

Mgldzangcunu meet Monday afternoons every other week. They have covered Esther, Lot's wife, Hannah, Ruth, and Rahab. One Bible Study at Mgldzangcunu was  titled “Salt of the world" based on Matthew 5:13. We had 22 people who attended the Bible study and they all received an amazing prize of a bag of salt for  having the correct answer! It was a fun afternoon and lots of interaction. 

Attendees with their salt. 

Please continue to pray for us that God will give us wisdom on what to teach about and that He would speak through our words and impact the hearts of those we serve. We have come to see ourselves, not as pastors, but as teachers or shepherds and we know that only God can implant His Word into people's hearts. Pray for the people that they would come to know God in a very personal way and that their lives would be changed.  

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.

A snapshot of what we spend our days doing

Here are a few things that we have been busy with doing lately.

Last week, we did prayer home visits in Maphiveni and visited five folks including Shandu. The last homestead we visited one of the ladies told us that on Sunday she heard a voice saying  'Someone would visit you tomorrow to give you a word from the Lord'. She thought she was going crazy! So the next day when we show up she was just astounded at the special touch from God. God is amazing! She was saved some while back but does not go to church because no one took the time to disciple her after she accepted Christ. We did say we would visit again. We did prayer home visits in Mgldzangcunu (Tuesday) and one at Section 19 (Friday)

Devotionals with the Chips staff are going well and we are starting to get more more response from the lessons. Ian teaches on Mondays and Fridays and Jenn teaches on Wednesday.  We have made a prayer sheet for each of them to write down any confidential prayer needs they may have and Ian and I will pray for their requests at home. It has just come to our attention that when the staff have been on their phones during the devotional (occupied with what we thought was SMS'ing/texting), they are actually inputting the Bible verses that we use so that they can read them later. A couple of the staff have started doing their own mini study over their lunch hour. Please continue to pray for us that God will give us wisdom on what to say and how to answer their questions and please pray for the Staff that their hearts would be fertile soil for the Word of God to fall and that they will grow in their faith and knowledge of God. 

This past Monday, I, Jenn, started the Ladies Bible study at Mgldzangcunu about 26/27 ladies came, we sang praises, prayed and went through John 4:1-15. Part two will be in two weeks covering verses 15-30. Bonginkhosi, who came as my translator, was a little nervous to start with but he really got into his stride and did well.  He did say he learnt a lot. Then I asked if there were any questions and one lady put her hand and asked, 'Are we really meeting in two weeks?' I said yes. A second lady put her hand and said 'So if we are meeting in two weeks, will we meet two weeks after that again?' I replied, "Yes, as long as you need me to come or until the Lord tells me stop.' Then a third lady raised her hand and said she had a Bible and was going home to read the second part so she would know the end! Please pray for these woman that they would grow in their knowledge of the Lord. 

Wednesday Bonginkhosi and I did food parcels/prayer/visited several home bound old folks at Khomba.  I always really enjoy going out in the communities and visiting with the people here.

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.

There are seven kids who need to go to school

Ntsetselelo, Fanzile, and Sphelele

These are the three boys that we have put into school by paying for their school uniforms and school fees. 

Ntsetselelo, 6 years old lives in Mgldzangcunu with his mom who does piece work in the fields and there is no support from his father. 

Fanzile lives with his grandparents but often goes to school hungry and unkempt. His grandparents are not much of a support with regards to school. We've written about Fanzile before and he's won his way into our hearts. 

Sphelele is about seven and lives with his mother also in Mgldzangcunu. We don't know much about their family except that their house burnt down a couple of months ago. 

There so many more children who are just as needy and destitute, but there are seven in particular that we have identified.  They are unable to attend school without their uniform and school fees. Please pray for these children and that the Lord would give guidance to how we can best help them. If you would like to help with the school fees, it costs $100 for the fees and the uniform per child per school year. 

We have decided that, with whatever donations come in for school fees, we will try to help as many children as we can attend school with their most pressing need. This will help take some of the financial burden off of their parents, while allowing the parents to still own responsibility for their child's education, and enable us to help more children get access to school.

You can donate online at 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.

This is the day that the Lord has made

The Mgldzangcunu children listening to the story of Jesu.

We played games and had lots of laughs!

Bonginkosi had so much fun that he is already planning what we can do next year!

More than 250 children received a toy and some fruit. We had fruit that we were able to give away to the adults as well. 

Thank you for making this day possible with all of your donations! 

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.

Medical Team

The medical team worked tirelessly seeing patients all day over the duration of their stay here. 

Patients were seen in Maphiveni, Section 19, Mgldzangcunu, and Khomba for a multitudes of ailments. 4 nurses and two pharmacy techs were able to see patients and prescribe medicines if necessary.  

Mary was doing HIV testing for those who were interested in knowing their status and Kay West (our neighbor here) was doing spiritual counseling.  

We lost count of the total patients seen after we reached the number 400. 

It was several long and hot days, but many people were able to receive care and treatment for their complaints. We are thankful for the willingness to serve that everyone in the team exhibited. Our prayer is that the Swazi people would not only receive physical care but that this act of kindness would in turn show them the love of Jesus and that they would be drawn to Him. 

Pictures about the construction team will be coming soon. 

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 Blessings

The Christmas blessings.
We used this opportunity to tell our Christmas families of Jesu's love for them.

Khoaz family at Khomba

So we left a very happy family and drove to Mambawini, We have had very heavy rains and we were having doubts if we could get down the track in the kombi. 

 

Well, the answer was no, we were really and truly stuck in the mud!

  

But we know God has a sense of humor and we made lots of new friends. Some came to help to try and push the kombi out while others came just to watch.

Thought you would enjoy these pictures as they,show how dedicated we are to serving the people Ha-ha!

The tow truck-Swazi style- had to come rescue us!

Finally on the move again, the family from Mambawini walked up from the village to meet us in order to receive their Christmas blessing.

 

Ndwandwe family from Mambawini 

Masimula from family from Mgldzancunu received their blessing as well, it was a great day and we had a lot of fun.

We just want to thank you for the joy you give us especially at this special time of the year as we celebrate the Savior's birth. We still can't get over how many people we were able to bless through your generosity. Thanks for making our Christmas very special as we got to see the look on the children’s faces as they looked into their goody bags and saw a new pair of silver or red sandles, brand new shorts and tee shirts. It was wonderful to see the joy on their faces and we know none of this would be possible without special ministry partners who know the true meaning of the Christmas spirit.

 With love

Ian and Jenn

May you have a Happy and Blessed Christmas!

 
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.