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.

Shhh...Our Christmas families don't know!

These are our Christmas families for this year. It is amazing how the Lord provides ways for us to bless many people. Last year we were only able to give a Christmas gift to one family, a mom and three children.  This year we will be able to give to three families in desparate need, which includes five adults and twelve children. We are also able to give out shoe boxes filled with necessities and fun items to an additional 20 children. All this is possible thanks to generous gifts from our supporters. 

The Khoaz family includes dad Rafael and  mom Alzira and four children. Rafael is pictured with Westle 2 years old and Gcinile 4 years old. Alzira was out working and had the nine month old baby Botila with her. Mpendulo, 10 years old, was at school.

This family lives at Mambawini.

 

The Ndwanwed family  consists of Elias and Simphewe and their four children. Simphewe is pictured with Phwayintos, 6 years old. Elias was out working and the other children, Bonkosi, age 14, Lindwe, age 11 and Zenhle, age 8 were at school.

This family lives at Khomba.

The Masimula family consists of mom Mohale with her four children. Mohale is pictured with Thabisile 3 years old. The other children, Linda, 12 years, Benele, 7 years old, Temhlange, 5years, were out visiting other family members. This family lives in Mgldzancunu.

 

We will be giving out the Christmas shoe boxes and packages to all the recepiants this week and we are so excited! Pictures of our giving will be posted. 

Thanks again for helping make Christmas special this year for  37 people who wouldn't have had anything otherwise. 

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.

World AIDS Day Celebration

The World AIDS Day celebration was a cool and cloudy day in Vuvulane.

 

About 300 people came out to take part in the celebration, it wasn't as many as we had hoped, but still a good turnout. 

 

There were many organizations represented who help in the fight against AIDS. 

Ian and Jabulane are manning the booth.

For the first time, Chips was asked to be a part of the celebration as an organization on the ground in this area. This was an honor to be included. We had information at our booth about what Chips does in the fight against AIDS, including HIV testing/follow-up, education about Parent 2 Child transmission of HIV(and how to minimize that), and positive living strategies.  

 

While the partnering organizations may have a different approach, we are all united in our desire to have no new HIV infections here in Swaziland by the year 2030. 

 

The people are waiting the start of the ceremony. There were speeches, drama groups, and traditional dancers telling the story of HIV through their dance. 

We pray that the message of HIV and the seriousness of it would continue to impact the community at large and that we would be able to see an AIDS Free Generation by the year 2030. While there is a lot of progress that has been made in the fight against AIDS, there is still much more to be done. 

So, for now, we will get up again tomorrow and continue our work in the community. Please continue to pray for us and the people that we serve. Wisdom, direction and provision for us; coming to know God, positive lifestyle changes and the common goal to see no new infections for the Swazi people. 

 
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.