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.
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• 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. 
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•  Sibusiso, from Maphiveni, is very sick and wasting away. He is 25 years old and we took him to the hospital yesterday.
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• We saw Vusile last week and he is a happy boy running around. 
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• Gogo Doreen, from Maphiveni, has shingles and is in a lot of pain. 
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• 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.

Jenn's Reflections

There were/are so many things that I was looking forward to in our return to Swaziland. I am thankful to be home again and to begin to take part of my home church here.  It will be good to see Sifiso and hear how his new job is going, though we’ll miss his nightly visits as our night guard.  It will be good to catch up with Newman and see how he is doing with his drinking. He did well at taking care of the garden in our absence, it looks great.  I can’t wait to go to the different villages with Mary and sharing the Word together, those are always good times of discipleship, and it will be good to spend time with Jabulane. 

It will be a bit strange to be home, though I felt like I was gone way too long. Both Julia and Babe Shwnage won’t be here. Sifiso won’t be dropping by on his nightly rounds (due to his new job). It will be an adjustment re-learning how to deal with all the daily drama that needs to be taken care of quickly.  When we were in the States, all the news from back home weren’t very positive which just reaffirmed that there is so much we still need to do here in Swaziland and our work is far from finished. 

It was nice to have lunch on Mother’s Day in England with my daughter Rebekah and grandsons, Danial and Thomas. It’s amazing to see how all my grandchildren, Megan, Danial, and Thomas have all grown up into young adults and are continuing on with their lives like going to the university.  I was very impressed to see a young pastor in England, Pastor Malc.  He has such a fire and passion to spread the word. There are so many young pastors in England that want to bring revival to the people and it’s really encouraging to see.

It was great to see Jeremy and Charissa and everyone else in AZ. We had a great time meeting Charissa’s grandparents and visiting with them.  Everyone in Arizona was so welcoming and we just felt like we were part of the family which meant a lot. 

The biggest change that I have noticed since being in the States is the technology, it just blows my mind. I do like the convenience of everything in the States but not enough to come back. There is an extremely fast pace of life in the States which is too much for me and I don’t like it one bit.  I much prefer the slower pace of life in Vuvulane.

I enjoyed going to all the churches and seeing people that I knew. But I felt that the churches were lacking a dynamic interest in reaching the lost world with the Gospel, which was sad.  We did go to one church that was really on fire for the Lord and that was encouraging. The Church in America needs revival and needs to become willing to take the Gospel to those who so desperately need it. The time is short and we want to/need to take as many people with us as we can.

I am so thankful for everyone who was involved with my care during surgery, therapy and afterwards.  They were all good listeners, patient, understanding, had a good sense of humor and were very encouraging. According to Pastor Harry I am a blessed and fortunate woman because I’ve recovered from my knee surgery in half the time it would take an ordinary person.  The entire time that I was away, I had a quest to find fresh strawberries and to try a snow cone for the first time. I was able to accomplish both of those goals and now am ready to return home.

It’s been a time when I’ve had to be completely dependent on others, which I have never had to do; previously I’ve only depended on God.  I’ve had to learn how to receive and be grateful. Ian’s been a good coach and together we’ve made it through this time as a team.  It is so good to be home and I am looking forward to getting back into our ‘normal’ (if you can call it that) routine. Please pray that we can transition well back into life here and that my knee would continue to heal.  

Thankfully there was enough money donated towards the reagent shortage that 100 Chips patients can get tested this month.

 
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.

It's been quiet

It has been a quiet week, both Sifiso and Nchlancha have had days off and thankfully Tropical Storm Funso didn't affect us here in Swaziland. Everything has been drying out since Tropical Storm Dando came through a little more than a week ago.

Due to the limited amount of reagents at Good Shepherd hospital, we have been doing very little HIV testing. Only the most critically ill are able to get tested at this time. This is a continuing prayer need; that funds would become available to provide for the much needed reagents so that we can continue with the testing and getting our clients on life saving ARV's.

Jenn has been helping run the sewing project while Corrine is in the states. The women are working on making pants and will be learning how to make school uniforms next week. This will be a responsibility that Jenn will be more than happy to turn back over to Corrine upon her return!

We have been going around checking on the kids who have school sponsorship's and making sure that they have indeed started the school term. Fanzile passed grade 1 and entered into grade 2 for this term. Eric is still waiting to see if he received placement in the Mhulme high school. That is a sugar corporation school and they have limited room for OVC's (orphans and vulnerable children). Siphewi's father is trying to get her placed in St. Joseph's, which is a school for the hearing impaired.

Funds for school fees and uniforms continue to be a big need now at the start of the new school term. It's hard for families who barely have enough money to put food on the table to come up with the additional fees to send their children to school. Would you like to help by giving a child a chance to improve their situation through education? You can donate at the link below.

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.

Getting back into the swing of things

It has been a busy week! We have a lot of new patients starting on ARV's so first we do a lot of pre-counsel about positive living and explaining HIV. Then after they start medication, we go back to check on how they are doing and to count the pills to make sure they are taking them.  For the first time in about six months we had a baby tested positive for HIV. This baby has just come into the Chips program and the parents and other siblings are also positive. We will need to give the family a lot of counseling especially about mother to child transmission.  We have been blessed this last six months; all the babies born to moms in the program have tested negative for HIV. 

Other news from the three ring circus that we call home, that awaited us upon our return,. Sifiso got a bad burn on his leg and fortunately it is healing. Nchlachla has been having a hard time dealing with his brother's death and is very anxious about his son's surgery. We were able to pray with Nchlachla and that seemed to help. Please continue to pray for him as he faces his son's surgery, for peace, that the surgery would go well with no complications, healing would be quick, and that God would provide the money for it. Ncomsile, the gal who cleans our house and the rural health motivator for Section 19, was all worried about the new sewing project that has been started in Section 19. Apparently it is not going well and she is having problems with money. Teresa and Jenn will have to sort out the issues that have arisen with the sewing project. 

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.

Sometimes it's like a 3-ring circus

It has been a crazy last couple of weeks here in the village above and beyond the work with Chips.

Mary's father had a stroke about a month ago, physically he is doing well but mentally he is very depressed and suicidal. Mary goes to Mozambique as often as she can to care for him. Please pray that he will find the God of all comfort and joy.

A week ago Sifiso had an allergic reaction . He could not breath, his face swollen and he was grey. That resulted in a quick trip to the emergency clinic where they gave him shots and medication. He is doing a whole lot better but after I questioned him at length about what he had eaten etc. he told me raw wild honey. I told him to not to eat any more, he was very frightened. Sifiso is still trying to start up his photography business and still has chickens but now they have fleas. He is also on the lookout for a good Christian wife. Please pray for Sifiso that God will bring a godly wife and that his business ventures will prosper.

Lately Newman has been really struggling with the alcohol addiction. Last Wednesday he showed up for church and we discovered he was as drunk as a skunk.  He did not act out in church but sat right at the back away from everyone. The next day Ian talked to him and then he came to apologize to me. I told him I was upset by his behavior and my heart was sad but I forgave him. If we have any further incidents we are going to suspend him for a week and send him back to Macetuka to think through what he has done. He has shown up to work after drinking once or twice since that incident. Newman is still coming to bible study which is good. Please continue to pray that this spiritual battle would be won and that Newman would come to acknowledge Jesus as his savior and his life would be changed.

Newman's son, Colani, comes and stays with him on the weekends. Colani just turned 16 and we celebrated with chocolate cake. Colani attends church with us when he can.

Nchlachla was very quiet and upset about Newman drinking. He told me that he had forgiven Newman and Newman is the lost sheep and we needed to keep praying and supporting him.  So we prayed and cried together it was a special time for both of us. So now we go on waiting for the lost sheep to come into the fold. Nchlachla went home this weekend, his elder brother died last week and his three year old son, Bongimenzi, needs surgery. Bongimenzi  has a problem with breathing. There is a defect in his nose that needs to be corrected by surgery. The surgery will cost about $200. We will be helping with transport costs to the hospital and have arranged for Nchlachla to see a financial counselor to work out a monthly payment plan. Please pray for Nchlachla and his family during this time of grieving for his brother and for the stress of having to take Bongimenzi into surgery and the costs related to that. We are thankful for Nchlanchla's strong faith in the Lord.

We tried calling Bonginkosi but with no success.The last we heard he was in South Africa but we aren't sure where he is or how he is doing.

Other than that, we have really been enjoying the bible study on Wednesdays at our church. Chips continues to keep us busy. We have been making plans to return to England and the States in the spring. Please continue to pray for us, that we would have strength and wisdom to deal with whatever comes our way every day and that God would continue to use us to minister to those around with His love. 

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.

Stepping out on Faith

The offer on the Brown buildings was turned down. Chips has made another increased offer on the buildings and we are waiting to hear back from the lawyers. We did find out from Pastor Dana, the pastor of the church we attend in Simonye, that in the past quite a few offers have been made to purchase these buildings but the Brown family has always turned them down. If you would continue to join us in prayer about this, that would be very appreciated. It will be a large step of faith for Chips if the offer is accepted but we know that God is the God of the impossible and provides for all our needs.

The Brown Buildings

Pastor Dana and his wife Astrid have become very interested in Chips and have come out with us on some community visits so that they can get a good idea of how the Simonye church can come alongside Chips with support. A couple ideas are food and warm clothing boxes. Praise the Lord for that extra support especially since we are heading into winter.

Sifiso was baptized recently and loves Jesus. There are a few requests on his behalf. The new security company (that employed Sifiso as our night guard) is very strict on their rules and will fire someone for any infraction including something as simple as wearing the wrong color shirt to work or a shirt that is too long. This is quite the daily challenge for the employees. For a long time Sifiso has been wanting to start his own business of taking pictures and raising chickens and is weighing the option of breaking off from the security company at this time in order to do that. Please pray for Sifiso that he would have wisdom as to what direction God would have him go at this time and that while he is still employed at the security company he would be able to obey the rules easily.

Bonginkosi called us last week from South Africa. He is very unhappy at his new jobs in the coal mines there in South Africa and sounded very lonely. Please keep him in your prayers that God would encourage him and help him to view his job as a blessing and a ministry opportunity.

Newman is struggling with the desire for alcohol again and we are praying about how to best help and support him in this time. Please pray that he would get a special touch from Jesus and that the desire for alcohol would be removed completely from his life.
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.

Guards and gardens

We've employed Newman full time as our gardener. He will be very busy over the next few weeks as it is the best time to plant veggies. We will have to go to the nursery in Vuvulane to get some more seedlings.

Our new day guard, Nchlachla, is a Christian and has been very pleasant to work with. 

The other day, Newman and Nchlachla found a spitting cobra in the flower beds. They were able to quickly dispatch the snake. We just have to be careful as it is the height of snake season. 

Bonginkosi was able to get a job working in the coal mines in South Africa. He has to report on March 21st, but will come visit us before he leaves. We didn't think that we would miss having him around as much as we do, but we are thankful that God has provided another job for him. 

Our night guard, Sifso now has a girlfriend. We're thankful for all these men who are a great help to us and continue to pray that God would draw them ever closer to Himself, and that they would be godly examples in the community. 

Familiar Names

Popodvo, 7 years old, from Mgldzangcunu, will be attending school! He's been spending his days running around the village and the headmaster at the Vulvulane primary school just agreed to let him enroll in school.  Even though education up through the 3rd grade is free, there are still fees to be paid for school supplies and uniforms.  After talking to Pastor Dlamini, we found out that one of the Hope students was no longer attending school so the funds for that student were able to be transferred to pay for Popodvo.

Pastor Dlamini is forced to use crutches as his knees are causing him extreme pain. Please lift him up in your prayers for healing, protection, and wisdom as he continues to care for his flock.

Jabu isn't doing well. She has been experiencing a lot of mental confusion and appears to be deteriating quickly. We're taking her to Good Shepherd Hospital this week.

Jabu # 2 looks great! We saw her for the first time in 3 months and she is fit and healthy! Praise the Lord.

Vusile's father is wanting (again) to put Vusile into a home. We'll see what comes of this, because we've tried to assist with this request before and every time his father changes his mind at the last minute.

Bonginkosi was laid off by the new security company that took over the contract. He's been such a faithful night guard and has become a great example of Christ's love. Please pray that he is able to find a job soon as the unemployment rate is extremely high.

Sifiso, who was our day guard, had his shift changed by the new security company to the night shift. We're grateful to still have him around.

There is another lady, Jabu #3, that we need to introduce you too. She was seriously attacked by her boyfriend using a bush knife and has been in the hospital for a few weeks. We visited her and found out that she had lost 3 fingers in the attack. She is healing. The guy is still in jail for the attack. Please continue to pray for her healing and that she would come to know God in a personal way.

Ian's brother-in-law passed away early January.  Please pray for Ian, his sister, and the rest of the family as they are grieving. Also please pray that this situation would draw Ian's family to God.

Back into the swing of things

Just a couple of updates as we get back into the swing of things here in Vulvulane.

We were encouraged at the TEAM conference and were able to renew friendships. One of our goals for the conference was for wisdom and discernment as to our role for the next year and we did receive clear direction through a lot of wise counsel. 

On the way home, we stopped by the ocean for two days and enjoyed the time of rest (also we were able to finally warm up as it was really cold in South Africa). It is good to get back and we plan to start the public health meetings in Maphiveni again on January 21st.  Our garden was under several inches of water, looking like wetlands, when we returned and looks like we've lost the tomato crop. The 2nd maize crop is doing well as well as several other vegetables.

Bonginkosi and Sifiso have been employed by the new security company but they will find out if they can stay in this village or will be transfered elsewhere. We hope they are able to stay. Mira and Luke have left the hospital and disappeared. Please pray for them wherever they are at.

The micro-industries are both doing very well. We will be visiting the mushroom houses on January 26 as one of the final steps of training before we can get that micro-industry going. The floor polish production in Section 19 has taken off very well. The people in the area around Tambankulu, where the Chips office is, often stop in and buy the floor polish. The participants in the Maphiveni jam making project started with paw-paw jam and have now increased production to include mango and lemon jam.

We are still praying and weighing how to bring Chips into Mafucula. This settlement is very spread out and there are a lot of needs to be addressed. Central points of contact would have to be established and home visits would take a lot longer. There is a lot of distances between homesteads and the main road is a steep winding dirt road that is used by smugglers since it is on the border of Mozambique and Swaziland.

Another thing that we will be focusing on now that we are back is meeting with the Chief of Maphiveni to continue our discussion of the community center that we (Chips) would like to build in Maphiveni.

Please continue to remember us in your prayers as you can see that there is a lot going on and many decisions to be made.  We greatly appreciate all of you!

Mary is holding Standiwe, whom we affectionally call Rav-4. Remember he was born in the back of the 

Rav-4 on the way to the hospital? He is doing very well!