We communicated with many of you while we were in the States last that God had laid a future ministry plan and direction on our hearts for the communities we have been actively working in eastern Swaziland. The Children’s HIV Intervention Programme in Swaziland (CHIPS) has been a tremendous benefit to the hundreds of HIV+ clients we have been able to literally bring lifesaving medical care while opening doors to share the Gospel in the CHIPS communities. The vision we shared for CHIPS included developing a community health centre in Maphiveni. A health centre in this isolated community could serve thousands vs. the hundreds we are able to help now.
Sustainability of a clinic dependent entirely on donor funds will always be at the mercy of the continued generosity and ability of donors to continue to give. We have the opportunity to develop a different model. We have been looking at a property in Maphiveni for some time now. The property has significant commercial development potential. The clinic sustainability will derive from lease income from the current and future commercial tenants. In other words, the commercial tenants on the property will pay for the operation, maintenance and expansion of the clinic.
We approached the owner in February and subsequently made an offer based on the valuation we had performed. It was rejected. Everyone involved in CHIPS felt God saying ‘just wait.’ Waiting is not something any of us do well. Last week, the owner of the property called us and made a counter offer, which was still below the valuation and not significantly higher than our original offer. We accepted the counter offer.
Our plea now is to raise the monies necessary to purchase the property outright (we want to avoid paying interest to a bank). Our goal is to raise 10% in the next thirty days with the balance in six months. The agreed upon purchase price is 2 900 000 Emalangeni (the current exchange rate is not in our favor and moving in the wrong direction at 6.55 Emalangeni to the U.S. dollar today). In U.S Dollars that is $442 748 (10% is $44 275).
We are trusting God has given the vision and opened doors that just a week ago were firmly closed for moving forward. As well, we trust that He will move on hearts to make this clinic a reality in a community accustomed to being marginalized and passed by.
All donations towards the clinic need to be designated “Maphiveni Clinic.” We have detailed plans and budgets developed for this project. If you would like a copy, please email me and I will forward a copy.
Blessings,
Daran & Teresa Rehmeyer
African Leadership Partners
P.O. Box 994044
Redding, CA 96099
Maphiveni Property Details
1.7078 hectares (4.22 acres)
Existing structures on site:• Two buildings to house the Health Centre, Community Education Centre and commercial development.
• A home to be developed for Mission Team housing (medical teams for the Health Centre, outreach teams for work in the community, teaching teams for the Community Education Centre).
• Several residential flats.
