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