Benefits of providing a scholarship

 How does a school scholarship benefit a student?

 Eric, a high school student going into his final year, has been receiving a scholarship from a generous donor. This has allowed Eric to attend a better high school with all the fees and uniform paid for, something his mother couldn’t afford.  When the teachers saw how hard Eric studies and that he would catch fish/crawdads to sell to earn money for lunches and bus passes, they all pitched in to cover his lunches. Last year, with his mother out of the country, the head teacher allowed Eric to board with her.  Eric’s grades have been well above the class average and he continues to study even in spite of the teachers being on strike and no classes being held. 

Please continue to pray for Eric, that God would bless his studies and provide great opportunities for Eric to make a huge impact on those around him. We're also praying that as Eric finishes school and enters the marketplace with his career that God would place him in a great sphere of godly influence and use him to further the Lord's work. 

Again, we, as well as on the behalf of Eric, share our thanks for those who have come along side this student as well as others to provide them with a scholarship and opportunities that they wouldn't normally receive. Know that when you give towards a scholarship, you are impacting many more people than just your one student.

 

  Would you like to help another hard working student like Eric by providing the opportunity for schooling when money is an issue? You can give in the ways stated below and then just drop us an email letting us know your intentions for your gift. Thanks!

 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.

Food parcels and Counseling

When we have a surplus of veggies from our garden or have extra funds designated for food parcels, we are able to pass out food to those Chips clients who need it the most. Having the funds to be able to purchase food and being able to give to the hungry is such a ministry that we are a part of, and will impact more and more people in a huge way as the cost of maize meal is going to increase by about 44% in the coming year. That hike will hit these people very hard when they already often struggle to have food daily and maize meal is their main staple. 

Ian is passing out a food parcel to this woman. 

Please join us in praying that the funds, that we are stewards over, would be able to accommodate the basic survival needs of these precious people. If you would like to donate money designated towards food parcels, please donate at the link below (in the PS section of this post) and then email us letting us know your intentions for the donation. A basic food parcel costs about $10 USD. We're so thankful for our supporters and the heart that you have for the Swazi people and that you send us in such a way that we can daily impact their lives, even with something as basic as food for the week. 

Mary is counseling a woman who has HIV and has just become a Chips client and started on ART's. We clear up the myths and misconceptions about HIV/AIDS, emphasize the importance of taking ART's regularly  and consistently, and that the key to living a quality life with HIV is positive living (fidelity to one partner, protection, and taking care of general health etc.) 

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.

Scholarships make such a difference

January is quickly approaching, which means the start of the new school term. We would like to have the funds available to help sponsor kids who can’t afford the additional fees.  The average annual cost for one student is $200 or $17/month (though the costs increase as students get into high school). Can you help?

   Eric, who is 17 and one of the kids who received a scholarship last year, came to see us in recently. He shared how his Gogo died recently and that he is a double orphan, but that he loves Jesus and has a desire to help people. Eric would love to be involved with building homes for the elderly, providing food for orphans and widows. He has one more year of school left, but would like to transfer to another high school that has IT capabilities and then go to college to become an accountant. After he is finished with college, Eric would like to start his own business.  

   Thankfully, we had just received a notice from a faithful supporter that they had contributed enough money for two scholarships. One of these will be given to Eric so that he can finish his last year of high school.  As you can see, sponsoring a scholarship does make a huge difference in the lives of the recipients and in the lives of those that they will be able to impact upon completion of their education! 


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.

Bonginkosi

We have often heard that people watch Christians to see how they live and what they do but never gave it much thought until the last few weeks. 

Bonginkosi, has been our security guard and friend since we've been here in Swaziland. He works 12 hour nights here in the village and then in the mornings went off to driving school. After six weeks of study, he passed his truck driving test. Now he will be able to get a better job to provide for his family. The sad part is that Bonginkosi will have to go to South Africa in order to get a truck driving job. His plan is to to save up money and then return here and buy a house. We are so proud of him! He has become like a son to us. 

Like a lot of Swazis, Bonginkosi had a very hard life growing up; was orphaned at a young age and did not finish school. Some months ago, we noticed how God was working in him. He would give spinach or a lettuce from his own garden to someone in need and when we told him what a great thing he was doing, he just smiled and said, 'But mummy and daddy do it all the time.'

Then Candy blessed him with his drivers license and now there is no stopping him.  A couple of weeks ago, there was an 18 year old who was abandoned by her mother outside the village(not from this area). Bonginkosi gave her food, shelter and care for 2 days until she was finally reconnected with her Gogo in Mafucula, whom she had not seen since she was a small child.  He gave us 50 onions from his garden, two for each person in the Maphiveni group. We can’t wait to see what God will do next in his life!

Bonginkosi with his drivers license   

How far does $8 go? What can $15 or $20 buy?

It doesn't buy more than a movie ticket or a cheap dinner or a couple of lattes. The small amounts of money that disappear every day could be used to make an eternal difference and a great impact in the life of a child or family.

Think about this:

• $8 can buy a much needed medicine that can make a big impact on a child’s health and life

• $15 would buy a 10 lb bag of sugar beans, providing many meals

• $20 would buy a 100 lb bag of mealie meal, a staple in the Swazi diet

• • $20 can also buy soap for a lot of families, which would help with preventable diseases and illnesses that are spread through bad hygiene

• • $ 150/month would buy enough bread to feed 40 children a sandwich breakfast during the school week

Thankfully, our monthly needs are being met through God’s gracious provision and your generosity. At this time we are serving 200-300 children in the areas surrounding Vulvulane and would like to be able to minister to all of them in the best way possible. It’s through meeting their physical needs for food, medicine and treatments, and education that we can then share the life-changing love of Jesus with them.

In addition to this list, we would like to be able to use the land at our new house to grow vegetables and raise hens. Another thing that we would like to do if funds were provided is to start several micro-industry projects including: making floor polish and Vaseline. All of these ideas would provide food, generate income and employment, and teach vocational skills to the Swazi people ravished by poverty.

As you can see these are amounts of money that we treat as insignificant. We are asking our supporters to look at small practical ways they could join us in being Jesus’ hands and feet to these precious children by giving of their resources. Would you be willing to get your family involved and commit to giving up one or two small things each month and instead sending the money to help these children?

Here are a couple of ideas of small things you can do as a family that would make a huge difference in this ministry to the children of Swaziland. If you have other ideas, please post them as a comment. We would love to hear about your ideas and how you can help! Thanks for your prayers and your very practical support.

1. Saving your loose change and sending it in at the end of the month

2. Giving up one treat (coffee, going out to eat, or a movie etc) once a week/month

3. Having a yard sale

Please send all contributions to:

TEAM
PO Box 969
Wheaton, IL 60187-0969
Memo line of check: Stephens Orphan Care Swaziland

Contribute on-line: www.teamworld.org account #01398