Ministry Update from 12/31/2011

Our latest update in PDF format can be downloaded by clicking on this link : Anderson Update 11_12_31.pdf

Dear Friends and Ministry Partners,

Home for the holidays—what a happy thought! We hope you had a blessed pause from work. Christmas Eve we shared a Christmas feast with American missionary friends. Sunday morning Verlin preached, and then we enjoyed Ivorian foods with our African brothers and sisters.

The past few months were rigorous. Verlin continued visits to some of the remotest FWB churches, sometimes taking him out of phone reach for 3 or 4 days at a time as he traveled on a 50 cc moto or vehicle, slept at times on the floor, took bucket baths, and lived as the villagers do. Yet what a joy to see their encouraged spirits, as he preached, taught, helped with illnesses, and shared a vision for CHE. Those trips will continue for the next year and a half, after which we hope to devote our time to Community Health Evangelism (CHE). Debbie and Corbin enjoyed a much easier life at home, but still missed Verlin and had to deal with cuts in electricity, water shortages, computer problems, and health issues on their own. Changes in Corbin’s Internet school also required much more time from Mom, as she continued to teach the ladies at the Goumere FWB church bimonthly on Sunday afternoons and supervise translations into French. Verlin also spent hundreds of hours in administrative work, continuing to wind down legacy projects on the field. That administration will continue all next year.

Another unexpectedly frequent ministry since August was witnessing to numerous mechanics who worked on our 16 year old vehicle! The Toyota is often disabled for days at a time with correct parts unavailable in Cote d’Ivoire; we break down regularly on trips, including last week. Verlin slept outside on top of the car trailer with the dog, while Debbie and Corbin lodged in a nearby little African hotel until the car could have a temporary repair the next day. We then waited five days after getting to Abidjan for the “real” axle part to be found.

Is it worth it? Absolutely! Recently, as Verlin returned from a remote church, he stopped by to visit a friend of another faith. Earlier in the year this tailor tried to commit suicide, lost in the pit of clinical depression. In October, Verlin was able to help him get the medication he needed to function and begin working again. As they walked and talked in the market, they came upon a group of Muslim clerics meeting. Verlin greeted them and they invited him to speak. He agreed enthusiastically, which surprised them.  Christians very often are scared to interact with them. For over an hour, they had a truth encounter about Christ, as Verlin confronted them with the differences between Him and the prophets, as well as correcting the false teaching they receive concerning what it means that Jesus is the Son of God. They listened intently, asked questions, and invited him to return and speak again.

In closing, we want you to know:  all IM missionary coworkers currently in the States are delayed from returning to their fields of service (or to go for the first time), until the financial reserve of International Missions builds up to 10 percent so that all field ministries can be sustained. Our friends want to share the gospel in Spain, France, and other parts of the world as much as we do. Please pray with us that the Lord will raise up hundreds of NEW donors who regularly give to missions. Perhaps some of you who have faithfully sacrificed for years can give a special gift, or you can share the situation in your church and among friends. Our account is not sufficient to maintain ministry indefinitely, either. Thank you for whatever you can do.

"Another year is dawning: Dear Father, let it be,
in working or in waiting, another year with Thee!"
                        (Frances Havergal)

The Lord bless you richly during 2012,
Verlin, Debbie, and Corbin Anderson

Please pray for . . .
• Lasting peace in Cote d’Ivoire.
• One of our Pastors and his wife whose baby died in a breech birth last week; two other couples suffered similar losses last month. Sadly, this is a regular occurrence here.
• An Ivorian FWB teen sexually assaulted during a robbery at her home last month.
• Strength and wisdom for the tasks at hand.
• Total healing for our daughter Cara after surgery last week to place two pins in a broken finger.
• Wisdom for our son Cason as he seeks the Lord’s guidance in various career options.
• Missionary friends in another city. Thieves tied up, robbed, and injured their guard, but did not succeed in breaking the front door during 45 minutes. Our friends’ five children slept through the ordeal.