Beyond what was asked or thought !

As I write, nurse Eugene finishes teaching the last lesson of Wednesday’s Training of Trainers 2 (TOT2), with eleven of last year’s seventeen participants. He is one of four experienced Ivorian believers and trainers who have helped us occasionally since 2006. At the same time, a Training of
Trainers 1 (TOT1) is in session for 31 doctors, health department leaders, and a few pastors. In all, two people we trained, combined with six other Christian trainers representing five denominational groups, offer hope to a nation.

The response remains overwhelmingly positive. The organizer of the meeting affirmed yesterday that we are to keep the second week of September fee every year to repeat the training. Each participant paid around $150.00. They learn how to apply God’s Word in such a way that their lives and those of their neighbors can be transformed. Biblical principles are shared like confession of error, how Jesus taught, and health being defined as living right with Creator God, oneself, others, and the creation. Judeo-Christian values are rediscovered as the foundation for the delivery of health care and scientific investigation to problems of daily Ivorian life. Depending upon the community being targeted for public health intervention, either Community Health Engagement or Education or Evangelism (CHE) is developed in local programs. As the participating French collaborator shared from his experience in an Asian nation where missionaries cannot obtain visas to plant churches, the CHE approach opens the door for people to ask why we live differently. The same proves true here where people in some locations seem initially ‘closed’ to the Gospel message.

There’s much more to share. I cannot keep the news coming out fast enough while I am busy in it and with some cell phone limitations. Briefly, here are some bullets of good news:

1. The University Community Health Engagement (CHE) team is at work in two locations.
2. The response remains so positive from so many that we are invited annually to return at the expense of participants. The university withdrew subsidization for budget purposes, but participant fees will cover the costs including flight, travel, and material expense of the training.
3. The UEESO and the General Baptist program shifts their women’s micro-enterprise groups to have more evangelism training
4. A UEESO leader plans that their Bible Institute students study CHE and a create a local model project for launch in Northwestern Cote d'Ivoire.
5. The cocoa project in the nation's southeastern region now has seven active committees. Two more have been trained since when I was here last.

In common service with you to the King of Kings,
Verlin & Debbie Anderson

  **photo uploads failed over 45 minutes; prior newsletters have some photos of last year** Download a PDF of August Newsletter with June financial report, click '2014 August'
Download a PDF of May Newsletter with March financial report, click '2014 May'