Communications this week with our Community Health Evangelism (CHE) partners in Cote d’Ivoire both invigorate and concern us. There is a growing, pent-up need for training of trainers that will surpass our available time when we return, hopefully in summer. CHE trainings for the fall are scheduled, expecting our return and full participation. Other training will be delayed by perhaps a year. Thankfully, not all will be slowed. A spring training of evangelical pastors nation-wide will be completed by a CHE trainer and associates who do not live in Cote d’Ivoire. This training occasion was initiated last October and we had expected to be on-the-ground facilitators. Our flesh cries out against the delays and potential setbacks since missed training opportunities means missed converts and transformed life stories. Still, there is peace when we remember that our God only allows what turns out for the best. Our extended absence allows for further pruning, maturing, and measuring of team strengths.
We just reviewed our 2014 account numbers in January. The Lord is so faithful! All that hinders our return to Cote d’Ivoire now is 40 x 100. That's only 40 churches, groups of people, or individuals choosing to give $100 a month. This is very do-able, although we will not be able to hold 40 Sunday services and get back before August! We are available to talk about what the Lord is doing in CHE every day of the week. One determined Sunday School class stepped up by collecting quarters every Sunday to support us and another missionary family at $25 a month each - then they chip in some more from a general fund. We are grateful for commitments of every size, not for our sake but for the thousands more who will experience new life in Christ through CHE in West Africa. Thank you so much for your partnership in praying and giving.
Please pray for:
- Dry ground. We are developing a permanent address in Tennessee to meet insurance, tax, and college residency requirements for ourselves and Corbin. With help of family and friends, a trailer is being placed on family land that needs some clearing. Delays related to utilities, TVA power lines, and bids brought us to this time when the ground is too wet for clearing and ditch digging. Even if all our financial pledges were fulfilled tomorrow, we would have to find a way to complete this job. Once done, though, we will be able to move back and forth from Africa with little time lost setting up home base.
- Opened doors. We need ease in making contacts to raise the remaining 50% of monthly support prior to June 1. To multiply witness through CHE in the region, Verlin has offered to work in Ebola Treatment Units beginning June 8, which can demonstrate the usefulness of CHE in other West African public health programs.
- Revival. An Ivorian FWB church will receive a medical team in March from a Colorado church committed to helping people with dignity through CHE. The visit of this team gives a chance for the region to kick start their revived efforts among people who often choose to be dependent rather than interdependent.
Verlin and Debbie
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