Off to the University . . .

We serve with the Christian Health Service Corps (CHSC).
Open or download CHSC for Andersons for donor directions,

Designated Giving via TDF or The Global Foundation possible

Download a PDF with June financial report, click 'blog PDF'

Imagine if the leading secular university of your state invited you and people from your church to come train their professors for a week, even though none of you have doctoral or master’s degrees. They ask because the team of farmers, teachers, nurses, and pastors with whom you work has helped the poorest of the poor in your state turn their communities around spiritually, physically, and economically. The university wants to use the approach in every county of the state, hoping to see lasting transformation happen across the nation. They hope to see happen what they know to have already happened in thousands of communities similar to their own around the world. Can you even imagine that happening in America?

That is exactly the situation as Verlin returns to Côte d’Ivoire during September to teach. Last year, heads of various university departments received the first week of CHE instruction called TOT1 (Training of Trainers 1). This year, two seminars will be conducted at the same time, repeating the seminar for newcomers, and giving the second level of training (TOT2) to last year’s participants. Several projects have already been initiated since last September; research has begun to consider reforming some public health practices. Participation fees will pay the expenses of travel, lodging, food, and materials.

Please pray with us that this training offered September 16-20, 2014, will have its desired effect. Christians, Muslims, and secularists will be exposed to the Gospel, Biblical principles, and cutting edge development practice. Ask for the Lord’s protection as trainers come from the USA, France, and two other African nations, besides those traveling in-country. Verlin is responsible for all oversight and distribution of the lessons, as well as teaching, and counseling. This year university staff will host the trainers.

While there, Verlin will also meet with others not associated with the university who use CHE. These friends are eager to know when we will return to live among them for a four-year term of service, continue binding them together, and give an update on their endeavors. Issues regarding our housing and residency will get attention as well.

Since we last wrote, our mission account surpassed the $25,000 cash base requirement in July. Praise God with us! Included in this update is our financial accounting for the second quarter. In addition, the Lord has provided a used 4x4 vehicle for us to buy from some missionary friends for $6,000. This is great news, but happened some months before we planned to invest in a vehicle. Pray with us that the cash for this purchase will come in quickly.

This month we’ll each move twice. As Verlin attended the national meeting of Free Will Baptists in Fort Worth, Debbie and Corbin returned our things to storage, gave some away, or moved them to our first temporary lodging. On August 15, Corbin began his life of engineering studies at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. This life transition will free Debbie to travel most of the time with Verlin this fall and winter. She will stay with Verlin’s mother in Michigan while he is in Africa. Please connect with her at (615) 906-3524 if she can share about the CHE ministry in Michigan from September 4-24.

Thank you for joining us in prayer and giving to spread the hope of Christ in West Africa. It is a privilege to partner together and see lives and communities transformed by our Savior who transforms each of His children from the inside out!

SPECIFIC ITEMS FOR PRAYER :

• Pray that the Community Health Evangelism (CHE) training of August 11-15 during the Healthcare Christian Fellowship International (HCFI) conference in the capital of Ivory Coast spreads evangelism, discipleship, and church planting via medical practice throughout French speaking sub-Saharan Africa by means of these representatives. 
• Pray that CHE teams throughout West Africa use the information of Ebola lessons and informative picture handouts to limit the deadly disease's spread. We’ve forwarded some made available August 4. While no one has been identified as infected with Ebola in Cote d’Ivoire, friends we have in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea confront it. 
• Pray that God will call us additional supporters so we can train or facilitate the training of additional Ivorian CHE teams. We need $4500 to $5000 more of confirmed monthly support before resuming residential missionary work. 
• Pray for Verlin and Debbie’s strength and focus as they prepare for Verlin’s six weeks in Cote d’Ivoire planned from August 28 through October 8. Besides moving twice, there is much lesson work, advance planning, and financial preparation yet to be done.
• Pray that we as parents adjust to being “empty-nesters” and that Corbin acclimates to the rigors of college life.