Strike On

PDF Version: Anderson_WEEKLY_170128

"This is my story, this is my song. Praising my Savior all the day long..." In Africa, one thing is for sure. Not only do you need to be ready to witness, preach, and pray at the drop of a hat, but we now add singing to the list as well. Last Sunday we met with brothers and sisters in Bondoukou together as a couple for the first time in months. As is common, Debbie shared greetings from the States and Verlin gave a prayer and benediction, but unexpectedly we were asked to sing during the worship time, too. We took thirty seconds to decide on "Blessed Assurance" by Fanny Crosby because it is also sung in French. The keyboardist quickly found the key we were in, after we had sung about two lines, and we led the congregation in French after one verse. Note to selves: in the future do not leave the songbook in our Hilux truck!

Just after the New Year, disenfranchised soldiers got to the political negotiating table by firing weapons into the air in various towns (including Bondoukou for about thirty minutes one day last week). Now government workers join the fray. It did not sit well with them that the "squeaky wheels" carrying the guns had their demands met, while promises to other types of workers were ignored for years. Children have been out of school for about three weeks as teachers strike. Striking prison guards refuse families who bring meals to loved ones in the prison, turning them away at the gate. Inmates depend on that food from family and friends because rations at the prison are horribly insufficient. We expect this will develop a crisis or a situation to illicitly supplement salaries.

Verlin met with a fourth person mid-week for a second time about beginning a DMM Bible study. It looks like that training will happen each Wednesday at our house when we are in town. Debbie busied herself most of the week by beginning the task of organizing our joint work space. Our ministry and personal files were invaded by mice, lizards, and cockroaches when they were stored. This was because the owner of the previous home we rented sold the house, and we could not supervise the move of our belongings to storage. She began the long task of opening each file, shaking out the mice pellets, dusting, and sorting 17 years of papers on our porch. It will be a relief to have those documents transferred indoors to our study in a format where we can easily find what we need.

Prayer and Praise

• Pray for the people who lead DMM Bible studies, asking that the Spirit helps them share the gospel and train others effectively. We pray to see five groups regularly meeting and multiplying before mid-year.
• Ask for a lasting resolution to the multiple strikes going on. Pray for the situation of prisoners who may not be getting enough to eat.

Your partners in the Gospel,

Verlin and Debbie

Christian Health Service Corps (CHSC) is a mission of dedicated medical professionals who participate in the CHE Global Network. Together, in a loose affiliation of individuals, churches, denominational and nondenominational agencies, we share God's Light and Truth through Community Health Evangelism (CHE). Verlin and Debbie accept donor partners to contribute as led to maintain support as we resume residential ministry to expand CHE ministries in Cote d'Ivoire under the auspices of CHSC & Ivorian partners. Tax deductible contributions by check are to be made payable to the CHSC with Andersons #0118 written on the memo line. Mail to CHSC - PO Box 132 - Fruitvale, TX 75127. Give online via the CHSC @ www.che4a.org (3% fee) or TDF (0% fee).

Last written:
Making Citizens Anderson WEEKLY 170121
Last Video:
DMM(YouTube) Anderson_WEEKLY_160611
2016 Q2/Q3 Report:
Farming_101(web) - 161119.pdf
2016 Budget:
CHSC-0118_ANDERSON-Budget.pdf

GIVE ONLINEto support these ministries:
www.che4a.org
Something to ask? Write: updates@verlindeb.org 

AWA represents
Andersons Witnessing in Africa

Deb's Facebook Page

Verlin's Facebook Page

Making Citizens

PDF Version: Anderson_WEEKLY_170121

One of the joys of working in CHE (Community Health Evangelism) is to learn from and collaborate with other people around the world who also use CHE. Occasionally we share wisdom from some of those godly role models who have seen many come to Christ and transform communities. Dr. Hugo Gomez is such a man. Global CHE Enterprise(GCE), an organization he co-founded and of which he is CEO, has planted 32 churches and continues to multiply CHE ministries in Meso-America. His explanation of what happens when the CHE core value of participatory learning is applied can inspire and help any Christian worker in any setting. The citation is from David Werner, author of the classic overseas medical manual, 'Where There is No Doctor.'

"Transformational teaching requires that we stop trying to talk at people and start talking with them. Werner says, 'To teach is to help others grow, and to grow with them. A good teacher is not someone who puts ideas into other people's heads... but instead helps others build on their own ideas.' At some point in history, the church traded this participatory learning for impersonal, oratory teaching. At this point, the church lost its focus on the practical engagement with Biblical truth.

Let us return to the way of Christ, who invited his disciples to walk alongside him for three years, who challenged the assumptions and false beliefs of the public, who answered the questions of both outcasts and elites, who preached the news of the kingdom that involves every area of life, who trusted his followers to spread the Gospel and build his church. Christ's primary goal as a teacher was not to conform or to reform; his mission was to transform citizens of earth into citizens of heaven. [The photo and material are provided by Terry Dalrymple and Transforming Lives and Communities. The full article can be read here: https://chenetwork.net/2016/11/29/che-core-values-participatory-learning/]

Prayer and Praise

• What a joy to see the orderly transfer of presidential power this week in the USA. For those of us who have lived in countries where refusal to relinquish political power is common, it is always a meaningful event. Pray this principle is respected and protected in our republic, no matter the differing political views, and grown here.
• Months ago we asked you to pray that the money we paid personally for Debbie's hospitalization in Abidjan would be reimbursed by our US health insurance. Thank the Lord with us that about 3/4 of it was reimbursed this week.
• Prayerfully rejoice with our many missionary friends working with FWBIM (Free Will Baptist International Missions) whose deficit accounts were erased this week by surplus general fund giving! As to our Christian Health Service Corps account #0018, December giving greatly helped us recover much of the monthly deficits we ran in 2016. We thank you for faithfully praying and giving so that the gospel can reach the whole world.

Your partners in the Gospel,

Verlin and Debbie

Christian Health Service Corps (CHSC) is a mission of dedicated medical professionals who participate in the CHE Global Network. Together, in a loose affiliation of individuals, churches, denominational and nondenominational agencies, we share God's Light and Truth through Community Health Evangelism (CHE). Verlin and Debbie accept donor partners to contribute as led to maintain support as we resume residential ministry to expand CHE ministries in Cote d'Ivoire under the auspices of CHSC & Ivorian partners. Tax deductible contributions by check are to be made payable to the CHSC with Andersons #0118 written on the memo line. Mail to CHSC - PO Box 132 - Fruitvale, TX 75127. Give online via the CHSC @ www.che4a.org (3% fee) or TDF (0% fee).

Last written:
Come Apart Anderson WEEKLY 170114
Last Video:
DMM(YouTube) Anderson_WEEKLY_160611
2016 Q2 Report:
Farming_101(web) - 161119.pdf
2016 Budget:
CHSC-0118_ANDERSON-Budget.pdf

GIVE ONLINE to support these ministries:
www.che4a.org
Something to ask? Write: updates@verlindeb.org 

AWA represents
Andersons Witnessing in Africa

Deb's Facebook Page

Verlin's Facebook Page

Come Apart

PDF Version: Anderson_WEEKLY_170114

"The bow cannot be always bent without fear of breaking. Repose is needful to the mind as sleep to the body...Rest time is not waste time. It is economy to gather fresh strength." Charles Spurgeon

The Lord gave us a wonderful setting this week--isolated, serene, beautiful--to reconnect. Rest was part of it, but also much discussion and some planning. Along the way, we found our Father gave numerous opportunities to encourage and share His truth. One expatriate came to the hotel traumatized, trying to recover from being robbed at gunpoint Monday night. She heard her companion being gun-whipped and pleading for his life as the thieves stole everything of value. She sought out counseling. The owner of the hotel proudly showed us the moringa plant she found on Friday, after watching us drink moringa tea every morning at breakfast and learning from Verlin a multitude of the plant's nutritional benefits. A French professional translator enjoyed entering into a lengthy and deep conversation about American politics in which it was possible to share a Christian worldview. A worker who wants to reach out to her neighbors of the 5 pillar faith was glad to be informed of a Disciple Making Movement approach to sharing the Word with them in a non-threatening way.

Negotiations with the disgruntled soldiers did not go especially well during the week; they blocked roads in a few large cities again. A government agreement was supposedly reached on Friday. No one is holding their breath, since political history suggests that it may take more rounds sitting at the table to really reach a solution. It is a sign of the changed nation that none of this seems to have stopped everyday life from what we have been able to observe. People we know seem to simply readjust their plans and try to not let memories of what "was" dominate in what "is" now.

Prayer and Praise

• We praise the Lord for several answers to prayer this week. Chelsea's surgery went well, and she is now recovering at home. The surgery requires she be observed for possible complications that could occur this week.
• Cason and Suzanne received what they feel was a good settlement on their totaled vehicle. We now pray for reimbursement sufficient for other expenses like the rental car, a new child car seat, etc.
• Debbie arrived safely back to Verlin in Cote d'Ivoire, no delays or lost bags.
• Continue to pray for a peaceful resolution between the government and disenfranchised soldiers.

Your partners in the Gospel,

Verlin and Debbie

Christian Health Service Corps (CHSC) is a mission of dedicated medical professionals who participate in the CHE Global Network. Together, in a loose affiliation of individuals, churches, denominational and nondenominational agencies, we share God's Light and Truth through Community Health Evangelism (CHE). Verlin and Debbie accept donor partners to contribute as led to maintain support as we resume residential ministry to expand CHE ministries in Cote d'Ivoire under the auspices of CHSC & Ivorian partners. Tax deductible contributions by check are to be made payable to the CHSC with Andersons #0118 written on the memo line. Mail to CHSC - PO Box 132 - Fruitvale, TX 75127. Give online via the CHSC @ www.che4a.org (3% fee) or TDF (0% fee).

Last written:
Readying Changes Anderson WEEKLY 170107
Last Video:
DMM(YouTube) Anderson_WEEKLY_160611
2016 Q2 Report:
Farming_101(web) - 161119.pdf
2016 Budget:
CHSC-0118_ANDERSON-Budget.pdf

GIVE ONLINE to support these ministries:
www.che4a.org
Something to ask? Write: updates@verlindeb.org 

AWA represents
Andersons Witnessing in Africa

Deb's Facebook Page

Verlin's Facebook Page

Readying Changes

PDF Version:Anderson_WEEKLY_170107

This has been a week of continued preparation for 2017 that includes a weekend of travel for us. Verlin drives south to Abidjan to receive Debbie at the airport; Debbie voyages from Nashville on Sunday to arrive in Cote d’Ivoire Monday night. When she arrives, we will spend a week east of Abidjan to rest, reconnect, and plan together for 2017. Although eager to be back together in life and ministry, we thank the Lord for the things He helped us accomplish apart.

The rough aspect, as always, is to step through the preparations for our earthly duties with family on one continent and then leave most of them behind for another to find the greater family of which Jesus spoke to His disciples (Luke 18:18-20). For those who are curious, the separation does not necessarily get easier as the years go by. As with military life, it is just part of the calling. Having Skype available makes a difference, but hugs and touch will just have to await the invention of teleportation! On Wednesday, January 11, our beloved granddaughter Chelsea will have surgery at Vanderbilt in Nashville to shrink her tonsils. Although in most cases the tonsils would be removed, that is not possible because of interconnected issues due to her hearing impairment, her palate, and a cochlear implant. Would you pray with us that the surgery will go well and be effective without her losing ground in speech therapy?

The chains of construction that work to build a united future in Cote d’Ivoire were rattled by demobilized soldiers for a few days this week. The disturbance of the peace got them a seat at the table to discuss their grievances with the government. The display did not target local citizens, thankfully, nor does it seem to impact our ministry. It is also not the cause of any terror as experienced in Fort Lauderdale this week or in Grand Bassam last year. The worst that seems to have happened is that some regional markets were briefly closed. Verlin was even invited to teach CHE in the region where the noise sounded, the day it started, with people close to the epicenter of the rattle.

Prayer and Praise

• Ask that the Ivorian government will continue to work peacefully through many issues as it makes the huge effort to put into place a more equitable and prosperous democratic republic. Pray that the spread of the gospel is never hindered.
• Pray that Chelsea’s surgery goes well, that her recovery is without complication, and that God’s peace guard the hearts of Suzanne, Cason, and the rest of us who intimately love this miracle child of modern medical grace.
• Ask that our time apart will be a Spirit-filled time of rest, reconnection, and a help to prioritize and plan well our activities in 2017. It is a beautiful burden to have much to do, and we expect that all will be done in the Lord’s timing and for His glory. We simply need to be in stride with God. Together, we serve as useful catalysts more than reagents of change as God does the work to bring others to Himself through your obedience and ours.

Your partners in the Gospel,

Verlin and Debbie

Christian Health Service Corps (CHSC) is a mission of dedicated medical professionals who participate in the CHE Global Network. Together, in a loose affiliation of individuals, churches, denominational and nondenominational agencies, we share God's Light and Truth through Community Health Evangelism (CHE). Verlin and Debbie accept donor partners to contribute as led to maintain support as we resume residential ministry to expand CHE ministries in Cote d'Ivoire under the auspices of CHSC & Ivorian partners. Tax deductible contributions by check are to be made payable to the CHSC with Andersons #0118 written on the memo line. Mail to CHSC - PO Box 132 - Fruitvale, TX 75127. Give online via the CHSC @ www.che4a.org (3% fee) or TDF (0% fee).

Last written:
Ending Well Anderson WEEKLY 161231
Last Video:
DMM(YouTube) Anderson_WEEKLY_160611
2016 Q2 Report:
Farming_101(web) - 161119.pdf
2016 Budget:
CHSC-0118_ANDERSON-Budget.pdf

GIVE ONLINE to support these ministries:
www.che4a.org
Something to ask? Write: updates@verlindeb.org 

AWA represents
Andersons Witnessing in Africa

Deb's Facebook Page

Verlin's Facebook Page