Crippled Vehicles

The Chips khombi (bus) continues to be in and out of the shop being fixed. The latest problem is the suspension. Last week, when the khombi was in the shop getting fixed, Jabulane had to drive the Rav (the other Chips vehicle) to take patients to the hospital for check-ups. Jabulane and his pasengers were in an accident that totaled the Rav. Thankfully everyone is ok, but now we are down a vehicle completely and still don't have use of the khombi, which seats 13.   This puts a great strain on us as there are still patients that need to get to the hospital for check-ups or emergency care and we have to use our personal vehicles at this point for transport. There is 3-5 hospital runs per week since we have so many clients.   We at Chips desperately need another khombi that is in top shape in order to continue the constant transport of patients.   We are joining with Daran and Teresa in asking our faithful supporters to share with your circle of connections this great need that Chips is facing. A good vehicle/khombi will probably cost about $50,000 USD. It is costly up front but in the long run it will save us money and time as it won't have to be constantly repaired.   Having the second khombi (that's reliable) and the first as a back up will allow us to continue to serve the needs of our many clients and get them to the care that they so despartely need.  We have to continue with transporting patients to/from the hospital several times a week until God opens the door so we can have our own clinic in the Maphiveni area. Please pray with us that God would provide our immediate need of a vehicle and also that He would provide a way for the bigger need of having a Chips clinic/community center.   If you would like to help with this need, 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.

Once you donate, please drop us a line to let us know the intent of your gift.

Speaking of gifts, we still have the matching gift challenge for the Chicken Project going on, would you like to help?

We couldn't do any of this without your continued prayers and support and we appreciate you very much. Thanks for joining with us in petitioning our God who supplies all our needs.

Closed Door

Due to the economic situation in Swaziland and the risks involved, the funds to purchase the Brown buildings for the Chips Community Center will not be released at this time. This sad news came in the last week or so. The owner of the buildings has been notified that Chips cannot proceed with the purchase.

We, along with the rest of the Chips team, are disappointed as the buildings would be ideal to facilitate the growth of Chips and more effectively reaching Maphiveni and the surrounding communities. However, we know that God's plans are not our plans and His ways aren't our ways. We are taking the next few months to really seek God's direction, guidance and provision in this area. Chips does need to acquire some buildings in order to continue growing.

Would you please pray for us to be in tune with God and that His plan would be revealed clearly to all the members of the team? Also, that God's provision would be more than we could ask or hope? This way, whatever does happen, God will get all the glory for it. On our own we have no options to pursue.

Brown's Buildings

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.

Red tape and complications

A couple days ago, we mentioned that Chips had received enough money for the deposit on the Brown buildings. That's still the case, however, the money is in the States under the control of African Leadership Partners (ALP), the organization that has sent our supervisors here. Only one member out of the 6 board members is willing to release the money so that the deposit can be paid to Mrs. Brown. All along, Mrs. Brown has been patient and gracious with us as we try and come up with the funds, but she is in desperate need of the money. Additionally, there have been several other offers made on the buildings since ours was accepted.

Would you join us in praying that God will continue to do amazing things like only He can do and work in the hearts of the board members to release the funds? We know that God has big plans for the people in and around Maphiveni as evident by how He has worked in the past and we know that He is the God of the impossible. We are trusting in Him to come through despite all these roadblocks that we see. Of course from His perspective they aren't even the slightest hindrance in accomplishing His ultimate plan. Please pray that we would continue see these situations through God's perspective.
Thank you for your continued prayer support!

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.

11th hour answer to prayer

Just as Chips was approaching the deadline to pay the full deposit on the Community Center buildings and we were starting to worry about what would happen since there wasn't nearly enough money for the deposit, Daran and Teresa came back from a meeting and told us that they had been given a monetary gift.  This gift was enough to cover the full deposit as well as providing funds to do all the renovations needed on the buildings. God is so incredible!

We are so thankful for God's gracious provision and our faith has been renewed. He takes care of us in spite of our human tendencies to worry and doubt. Thank you for your prayers and continued support. If you still want to be personally invested in the Community Center, there's still time as Chips has the balance of the loan to pay off. If you are interested in being a viable part in this ministry, you can donate at www.worldoutreach.org and then just drop us a note saying your donation is for the Community Center.

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.

God's plan is so big!

Since the purchase of the Brown buildings, which we can now call the Chips Community Center we have come to realize that God's plan is so much bigger and more comprehensive than we could ever imagine.  Pastor Dana at the Simunye church was explaining how the Chips expansion will actually be able to reach thousands of people and not the hundreds that we were thinking in our minds. God's vision is so huge! Daran and Teresa were saying the same thing to us and helped us see the wide reaching impact this community center will have.

Along the same lines, the Simunye church donated 35 parcels of clothing and shoes along with food parcels that we can pass out to those in need. That is such a praise and the contents will be able to bless so many lives. Astrid, a member of the church, has a heart for Maphiveni and will help coordinate literacy, English, and sewing classes once the community center is running.

It is the goal of everyone at Chips to raise enough support to pay for the community center in full by the end of the year. The total amount needed is $450,000 and if you wanted to help you can donate at the website below (in the PS section) and then just drop us a note letting us know the designation for the money. We know that God will provide as He has provided the purchase of the community center.

We are so blessed to be a part of God's amazing plan. Please pray with us that we would continue to see God's vision and have faith that He will bring it to pass.
Now to Him who is able to do far more than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him  be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21
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.

God answers prayer!

Today we heard exciting news! The Brown family agreed to Chips' offer to buy these buildings.

This is such an answer to prayer that all of us at Chips and our supporters has been praying for the better part of a year. Now that we have these buildings we will be able to provide a community center in Maphiveni. There will be a medical clinic on site, which will help greatly with the health burdens of the nearby communities as well as taking some of the strain off Good Shepherd Hospital. We also plan to use this community center to teach classes/workshops and as a place to house the micro-industry projects we've already started and plan to start.

The coming community center will be such a blessing to the people of Maphiveni and the surrounding areas. It is a big leap of faith and there is a lot of costs included; to pay back the loan used to purchase the building, to convert it to the community center, to staff it and maintain operations. We along with Daran and Teresa will be raising money for all of this.  If you are interested in helping with the finances you can make a donation at the link below and then send us an email or a note through the blog to let us know the purpose of your donation.

Thank you for your prayers on this topic. We know that it is a God-thing and that He was the only one who was able to bring this about.  Please continue to pray that the buildings and activities that go on in the building will bring God 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.

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.

Holding Pattern

The King of Swaziland appoints about 400 Chiefs to act as overseers of the different areas of Swaziland. Most of the land here in Swaziland is owned by the King. The Chief has the ability to decide who can get which plot of land to work. There is very little private land to be had. A Chief is viewed as having much more importance than the common people. He will charge ordinary people the equivilant of $20 to settle a dispute, even if that is all the money they have to live on for a week. This practice is the Swazi way but is very frustrating to deal with on our end.
 
Ian, Daran and Jabulane tried again to meet with the Chief but were told (through messages delivered by the secretary) that there is some additional government paperwork that needs to be done and to come back when that is finished. Their next scheduled appointment to try and meet with the Chief is April 9th. Please continue to pray that they would actually be able to meet with the Chief about the community center, that everything would be in order, and that the Chief would be favorable to the idea.
 
Other news, an offer has been made for the Brown's garage (the buildings that would be perfect to house the community center) and now we are just waiting to see if that will be accepted.
 
P.S. - If you want to support our ministry, the fastest way is to make an Online Donation via http://www.blogger.com/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.

Meetings and the mini-bus

The meeting that Daran and Teresa had with the owner of the empty buildings seemed to go well. Now we are just awaiting the survey results. Daran feels very positive about the meeting.

Saturday, Ian, Jabulane, and Daran attempted to meet with the Chief of Maphiveni to discuss plans for a community center. They waited for five hours and weren't able to meet with the Chief. They were able to pass notes to the Chief via the secretary and have another meeting scheduled for March 26. Please pray this meeting would actually happen and the results would be favorable.

We've been dealing with getting the certificate of inspection for the mini-bus for the last couple of weeks. However, there's a problem where the license plates had gotten changed and the old certificate doesn't match the blue book of ownership records. Daran has been helping us resolve this issue but we still have to drive it even though we don't have the proper paperwork on it. We have 500 Chips patients now, with the numbers increasing daily, and they need transportation to and from Good Shepherd hospital. Please pray that God would work out this situation.

Siphewe is doing so well and she is back in school. Popovdo is doing well too and looks like he's put on weight. They both like going to school (though sometimes we have to get on Popovdo to attend every day). We praise God for the difference He has made and is making in both of these precious children's lives.

Meeting Tomorrow

Earlier this week, the meeting with the Member of Parliament went well. Praise God! He is now going to put some pressure on the Chief of Maphiveni to allow us to start this project. However, it is now marula (a potent wine made from local fruit) season and the Chief is with the King sampling the latest marula batches and it might be several weeks before his return. 

Needless to say, there is progress being made for the Community Center plans. Here in Maphiveni, there is a garage and other buildings which have been empty as long as we've been here. Originally we were told that the buildings had been sold, but then we found out that they are still available.  One of the buildings would be ideal for the health center and also to house the project center. The buildings do need to be refurbished, but there is water on site and the place is already fenced off. 

Daran and Teresa will be meeting with the owner tomorrow, Wednesday, March 9 at 5p local time.  (when it's 5pm in Swaziland it is 8am CST- US). Please pray for this meeting to go well. 

If this plan to buy the existing buildings, we would have to look into other options such as buying property. Which in that case, Daran already has a company lined up to drill the bore hole for water, and an architect firm in Louisiana willing to donate the architect's plans for a solar-powered building. 

This is actually Manzini, another big bustling city, where we go on 

occasion to do all of our heavy shopping. 

We are heading to Mbabane tomorrow to spend a couple of days with Pastor Ken and Brenda and to do much needed shopping in the 'big city'. 

This is what our local town looks like. We often go here to purchase our produce, 

 other necessities, go to the library and the post office. 

Why a community center?

We wanted to give you some background and detailed information about the Community Center that we hope to start in Maphiveni and why there is such a great need for it.

Our Chips supervisor, Daran Rehmeyer, had put together a report to share with supporters back home and we have taken excerpts from it (with permission) to share with you at this time.

At first he shares the history of how Chips was started in 2008:

Caregivers and by default their children living in rural Swaziland do not have the resources to access HIV/AIDS related interventions. These resources include transportation, the knowledge to know when, where, and why to go for testing and treatment, symptoms that require immediate interventions, importance of drug adherence, nutritional requirements, and even drug storage.

CHIPS was organized to begin a program to identify children who are in need of testing and begin the process of counseling with their caregivers to bring them to testing. To make transport available to and from facilities for testing, counseling, treatment, and care as well managing the schedule of the child to ensure adherence.

And he shares the need for immediate intervention:
Without successful, comprehensive intervention and support, the morbidity and mortality rates of children who are HIV+ will only increase. Current statistics# indicate that 66% of children will not receive the anti-retroviral medications and support they need. As a result they will die. The mortality rate of children born with HIV and remaining untreated is:

32.5% by 1 year of age

52.5% by 2 years of age

66%-75% by 5 years of age

85% by 10 years of age

Initially focused solely on HIV+ children, the program was expanded within the first six months to accommodate caregivers to children who were also HIV+.

 

Daran, and his wife Teresa, soon realized that patients' health care needs changed as they started anti-retro treatments for HIV, ART. Patients now need long term care to address the other health issues that are there, TB, hypertenison, diabetes, various cancers, and STD's. With the increasing amount of patients needing various treatments and transport (which Chips has provided) to/from Good Shepherd Hospital, the quality of care decreases and the need for a local clinic has shown to be a great necessity. They chose Maphiveni for the site of the clinic because the of the close proximity of the homesteads in the area as compared to other settlements.

 

A stand alone clinic to cater to the ongoing health needs of the HIV+ population in Maphiveni would better serve the long term needs of this community. CHIPS transport could continue servicing the surrounding communities but bringing them to this clinic versus the 50 or more kilometers to GSH. The clinic would provide holistic health care to the HIV+ population. The clinic would serve as a dispensary for ARV’s as well as TB meds (a major opportunistic disease that co-infects many HIV+ patients). CHIPS would continue its proactive role in engaging people in the community to be and remain adherent to the drug regimens they are on (for HIV, TB, etc.).

As an ancillary function, the clinic would also house a community outreach building. The community outreach building would serve as a focal point for individual empowerment: adult literacy, support groups, training for income generation projects, etc. This is critical for two reasons. First, for the people of these communities to effectively take control of their lives, the underlying issues that maintain endemic poverty must be addressed. Secondly, long term health is also related to nutrition and nutrition is related to a person’s ability to purchase (or grow) sufficient and proper food for a balanced diet. Opportunity here would help these communities improve their baseline nutrition status and help move towards self sufficiency.

As you can imagine, there is quite a cost involved to purchase the land and build the clinic. Our estimated need initially for the clinic is about $50,000 and then there will be operating costs to maintain the clinic. Hopefully this will have answered many of your questions. If you would like more information, please don't hesitate to let us know and we willl do our best to answer your questions.

 

If you would like to help fund the clinic, the fastest way is 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 check to World Outreach Ministries, PO Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 and designate the check for Ian and Jenn, Fund Code #97

All italicized material quoted with permisision from CHIPS Children HIV Intervention Programme in Swaziland, Kudvumisa Trust, by Daran Rehmeyer 11.30.10

Chips community clinic becoming reality

It looks like our dream of having a community clinic in Maphiveni will become a reality. TEAM has pledged some finances and there have been generous gifts from some of our sponsors as well as Daran and Teresa's sponsors.

The need is so great in Maphiveni and having this clinic would enable us to address the needs of the community in a holistic manner. The people are so receptive to the HIV testing/treatment, attending public health meetings, and being involved in the two micro-industries that have been started. We would be able to have all our meetings there and run the micro-industries at the same location. Additionally, we could provide more effective care for physical health needs in a central location.

There still needs to be further meetings with the Chief to discuss the location/property and funds still need to be raised for this building project. Please continue to pray that this dream becomes a reality. We are very encouraged by the progress thus far and are looking forward to what God will do in the future.

Swaziland...what do you do there?

As we start the new year, we wanted to take a bit of time to go over what exactly it is that we do in Swaziland. Hopefully, this will answer your questions and help you understand what we are doing.  If you have any more questions, please contact us and we will be happy to give you more answers. 

CHIPS (Children’s HIV Intervention Program in Swaziland)

We are the field leaders for Vuvulane CHIPS. In April, 2010 we moved from Mbabane, Swaziland (where we had worked with the Hope School) to Vuvulane, Swaziland which is across the country. This move was made so that we could assist Jabulani and Mary (who are national staff) run and expand the CHIPS program.  Currently, the CHIPS program in the Vuvulane township services 5 communities, two located inside the township and 3 on the outer parameter. The villages range from areas with permanent structures such as a preschool to areas with nothing but squatter homes on the edge of sugarcane fields. Most areas have 100-300 inhabitants. The five areas serviced are Mgidzangcunu, Section 19, Macethuka, Khomba, and Maphiveni. 

Along with Jabulani and Mary, we work to provide care for minors and caregivers of minors who are HIV+. Our duties vary from screening patients for HIV, public health education, and transporting patients to and from Good Shepherd Hospital. Once patients are enlisted into the government's HIV ART (anti-retroviral therapy) program, the ART medications are free. CHIPS workers help facilitate entry into the program and then provide support as needed. 

Our CHIPS supervisors are Daran and Teresa and we are working closely with them to get the funds/permission to build a medical clinic/community center in Maphiveni. Having this community center would enable us to care for the health needs of this village while also providing a place to have classes and a central location to run the micro-industries. Another one of our projects, is to start micro-industries, in these communities, which involves teaching the local people a marketable skill so that they can then provide for their families. 

Overall, our main purpose here in Swaziland is to share the God's love and His salvation to everyone we meet, that they would come to know God as their loving Heavenly Father who has provided a way to Him through His Son Jesus Christ. Please continue to pray for us as we go about the Father's work here in Swaziland. 

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!