Mind Games

CHSC LINK: Mind Games

PDF Version: AWA Weekly 200926.PDF

Vain Imagination

Mind games lead to unnecessary worry. Have you had an occasion when your imagination ran away with you before knowing all the facts of a situation? We were tempted to do that this week. We tried over months without success to reach an Ivorian Community Health Evangelism (CHE), and Discovery Bible Study (DBS) trained pastor who lives in a remote area. To our surprise, he left Verlin a brief and unclear message recently that we received Monday. His quiet, low voice gave us the impression that something was wrong. Our thoughts raced. Was there a serious problem? Political violence? Deterioration of his wife's health? A death? After three phone call attempts failed, Verlin responded by text messaging him to say we did not understand the message.

 

Imagine our relief to hear back from him within a couple of days. There was no crisis. Instead, he shared great news. Despite COVID-19 hindrances to church planting and being in the area less than a year, his family sees good progress for their labor of love. Thirteen faithfully follow the Lord with him where he lives. Another twenty follow in the village to which he had sensed the Lord leading him.

 

Perhaps the Apostle Paul was thinking of mind games with which we torture ourselves when he prayed for the Thessalonians, "Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means." Since each day has enough trouble of its own, join us in practicing the commitment of anxieties to Jesus so that mind games do not hamper ministry progress or our mental well-being.

Valid Input

Conversely, mind games lead to dismissing vital information. When scared or over-confident, we miss essential warnings and crucial info that others offer to us. We are thankful that a friend mentioned last month that the way we had set up a living trust to handle family inheritance issues could produce some harmful outcomes. After researching additional and relevant tax-law changes, we discovered that he was right to caution us. It is a blessing to spend some time still in the U.S. to correct the planning for family heritage issues as we enjoy benefits from faith-walking in covenant with God.

Four trainings done by one of 7
denominations whose churches
now use CHE in Cote d'Ivoire
 during July and August 2020

Similarly, besides the above news, other Ivorians recently called to affirm our expected return and stay linked by communication. We help them apply CHE strategies and keep our household there intact. Hurrah for faithful friends refusing to let their and our mind games shut down God's workmanship in our lives!

Prayer and Praise

• 🙏 Pray for our faithful pastor and public health worker friends as they work in difficult areas. Please continue to pray for all Ivorian believers who share the Gospel in less-than-desirable circumstances. Pray that they will vote on the last day of October without interference or fear.
• 🙏 Thank the Lord for the information we received to repair our revocable living trust plan. Ask Him to guide the fix so our earthly possessions can be distributed without probate while planning for the best before we return to Cote d'Ivoire. God graciously reminds each of us to be ready to meet Him, our Maker, at any time.
• 🙏 Pray for our daughter Cara who is immersed in master's level studies while working full-time as a RN. Also, please think of our granddaughter Chelsea who will return to the classroom next week.

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 provide support as we maintain 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).

Prior: No Retreat - 200919 PDF
Prior ministry Video: Among Us
          - 200815 PDF

2020 Q2 Report: The "C" Continuum
          -  AWA Report 20_08_01 PDF

2020 Budget Info:
CHSC-0118_ANDERSON-2020- Budget.pdf

Something to ask? Write updates@verlindeb.org

AWA represents
Andersons Witness in Africa.
It is also a brand of bottled water in Cote d'Ivoire where we serve.

GIVEONLINE to support these ministries
                                   www.che4a.org

Debbie's Facebook Page

Verlin's Facebook Page

No Retreat

CHSC LINK: No Retreat

PDF Version: AWA Weekly 200919.PDF

Glowing Testimony

William Borden was born into a millionaire family in the late 1800s but renounced his privileged lifestyle to choose the life of a missionary. His parents sent him on a worldwide vacation after high school graduation and before he entered Yale. On the trip, Bill's heart was touched by the needs of the world without Christ. Later he heard a missionary passionately share about unreached Muslims in China and decided he would spend his life ministering to them. After college and after spearheading several ministries for the needy in America, he sailed for Egypt. There he intended to learn Arabic and effective means to win Muslims to Christ. Instead, he died three months later of spinal meningitis. Shockwaves shook the American press as news spread of the death of this handsome, winsome, generous, servant-hearted, and talented millionaire-turned-missionary. Although he never reached the mission field, his example and passion for the unreached touched thousands of American young people who did become missionaries. Found in his Bible were several simple statements: "No Reserve. No Retreat. No Regret."

Growing Technique

Interesting for us to share with you was Borden's incredible outreach during his college years at Yale. He initiated a prayer time and Bible study with a few friends during his freshman year. By his senior year, a thousand of the one-thousand-three-hundred-member student body gathered together in these Bible studies! It reminds us of the hundreds of thousands of people who come to Christ around the world through Discovery Bible Studies (DBS). For that reason, even as we travel in the States to visit ministry partners, we offer to teach believers how to lead these studies with no reserve. It was our joy to initiate another group with their first session on Thursday with some Michigan friends. Who knows how the Lord may use them to impact their families, church, and community!

Prayer and Praise

• 

  2017 Training led by article
  author, promoted by
  article's subject
  

  The Global CHE Network site posted an article entitled Lessons in Tree Climbing. It is about the COVID-10 outreach in Cote d'Ivoire by CHE volunteers. We referred to the effort in our update of August 8. We believe you will be blessed to read more details illustrating one of the five different ministry foci for us that touch several areas of the country. Rejoice that CHE co-laborers have not flinched during the pandemic, but advanced in numerous communities. We know of no retreat.
• The Ivorian supreme court ruled this week that the sitting president could run for a third term. Many accepted that decision as justification to stoke riots throughout the country. Trucks are once again being burned by protestors to shut-down major roads as done during prior civil conflicts.
• Please pray for another Christian Health Service Corps medical missionary couple whose hospital in the Congo is adjacent to an Ebola outbreak. Ask the Lord for protection over their hospital staff and the Congolese people. Pray that Ebola prevention can be effectively shared.
• Also, if you will, lift-up the believers that we train to lead DBS in the U.S. Pray that all encourage themselves in the Lord and guard the practice. One must continue to become effectively equipped to reach any unchurched in their circles of friends and have no regret. People need to find hope in Christ and be directed by His Word to straighten our crooked worlds.

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 provide support as we maintain 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).

Prior: Tunnel Visions - 200912 PDF
Prior ministry Video: Among Us
          - 200815 PDF

2020 Q2 Report: The "C" Continuum
          -  AWA Report 20_08_01 PDF

2020 Budget Info:
CHSC-0118_ANDERSON-2020- Budget.pdf

Something to ask? Write updates@verlindeb.org

AWA represents
Andersons Witness in Africa.
It is also a brand of bottled water in Cote d'Ivoire where we serve.

GIVEONLINE to support these ministries
                                   www.che4a.org

Debbie's Facebook Page

Verlin's Facebook Page

Tunnel Visions

CHSC LINK: Tunnel Visons

PDF Version: AWA Weekly 200912.PDF

A Light? A Train?

Perhaps you have heard the joke about competing ‘tunnel visions’: “I thought I saw the light at the end of the tunnel, but it was a coming train!” The phrase aptly describes how many feel about the events of 2020. It may help us to remember that the time will come when COVID-19 no longer dominates the news or our thoughts. We will never forget the precious lives lost during the pandemic or the grief of their families. In contrast, though, we want to share the hope of good news from Medical Ambassadors International (MAI). MAI coordinators trained us to use the Community Health Evangelism (CHE) strategy. Ravi J. Jayakaran, MAI’s current president, reported this week, “We are excited to share that of the 2.56 million people that our CHE program impacts, we have not had a single death due to COVID-19 so far! Praise the Lord!” CHE workers and volunteers that MAI oversee labor in 75 countries and 5,282 communities. Similar to the CHE efforts in Cote d’Ivoire, their teams share COVID-19 prevention information, make face masks, supply hand sanitizers, broadcast radio programs with Q&A sessions on the pandemic, make community visits to inform hope, and help churches develop plans to evade the spread of the disease. They have further advanced by encouraging backyard gardening, providing seeds, and teaching microenterprise skills that help families with wavering incomes. The numbers are stunning when you consider the impoverished communities where these teams serve.

Tunnel Vision

CHE implementers unrelentingly pursue, engage, and offer hope in Christ to every household in given communities. A pandemic like COVID-19 spotlights statistics from MAI that illustrate how CHE practitioners can develop good “tunnel visions” that shine sunlight on issues. While curative care provides immeasurably good service to the suffering people, the useful keys that evade or overcome pandemics require hope-inspired visions for preventive care that let people exit the tunnel safely. Gospel witness taking root in every community of a nation develops the capacity to overcome. Thank you for joining us in prayer and action for the sake of the Kingdom.

Prayer and Praise

• As of September 11, the latest COVID-19 numbers in Cote d’Ivoire are 18,916 reported cases, 119 deaths, and 17,960 recoveries.
• Not only will our special needs granddaughter return to the classroom in late September, but she will be in class at the elementary school just three minutes from home. Another answer to prayer!
• Thank the Lord with us for safe travels to Michigan and a good beginning of meetings. We look forward to sharing with ministry partners, some of whom have helped bless the people of Cote d’Ivoire with abundant life in Christ for over 20 years!

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 provide support as we maintain 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).

Prior: Our U.S. COVID-19 Life - 200905 PDF
Prior ministry Video: Among Us
          - 200815 PDF

2020 Q2 Report: The "C" Continuum
          -  AWA Report 20_08_01 PDF

2020 Budget Info:
CHSC-0118_ANDERSON-2020- Budget.pdf

Something to ask? Write updates@verlindeb.org

AWA represents
Andersons Witness in Africa.
It is also a brand of bottled water in Cote d'Ivoire where we serve.

GIVEONLINE to support these ministries
                                   www.che4a.org

Debbie's Facebook Page

Verlin's Facebook Page

Our U.S. COVID-19 Life

CHSC LINK: Our U.S. COVID-19 Life

PDF Version: AWA Weekly 200905.PDF

This is Your Life
(a take off from 1950’s English TV show)

Often people wonder what keeps missionaries busy during their time stateside, especially in our age of COVID-19 scares. Hopefully, this summary will provide a peek into our lives and inform your prayers.

TOGETHER

Last Sunday morning, we attended a local church. Verlin preached. We both shared during the Sunday School hour. Our van stalled on the way home due to a loose wire. Verlin and a Good Samaritan got the vehicle going, and we arrived home without calling a tow truck.

Attending a Christian concert
to which ministry partners invited us.

*Tuesday night, we gathered with others in Nashville for the funeral remembrance of a beloved friend. Her unexpected departure from this life to her Heavenly Home reminded all to redeem the time we have on earth. *Thursday, we took lunch to her husband and daughter. We comforted one another by recalling some happy memories shared by our two families and acknowledged the love of Christ demonstrated to and by their family during these difficult days. *That night, we attended an outdoor Christian concert with other treasured friends, accountability, prayer, and ministry partners. *Saturday morning, we attended a regional meeting of churches where Verlin shared a short ministry report. We also started editing this update that generally takes us ten to fifteen hours to write, edit, and post.

Verlin

On his own, Verlin had a full plate of activities throughout the week. Sunday night, he preached for a minister who felt under the weather as Debbie rested her injured ankle at home. Monday, he tuned-up our travel vehicle to fix the stalling problem, then prepped information for our mission report. *Tuesday, he replaced an emission control valve on our vehicle and planned for a family museum. *Wednesday, he called and texted pastors in TN and KY, read a recommended book, and met with a group of local believers being transformed as they help broken people. Their 5P to 7P worship helps new believers replace their formerly addictive habits with renewed hope. Fellowship members gain capacities for change as they exercise faith in and obedience with Jesus.* Friday night, he joined a service with an association of churches.

Debbie

Debbie also stayed busy while we were briefly apart. She spent over 25 hours during the week . . . 

• writing thank you and sympathy notes,
• attempting to reach Ivorian ministry partners,
• handling a Synchrony Bank problem,
• reading materials sent by our mission and preparing input they requested,
• corresponding with ministry partners who had questions about CHE or other matters,
• connecting with accountability partners,
• setting doctors' appointments,
• researching and updating information on ministry partners and
• investigating a new method to pay doctors' bills with our health insurance's online app.
• In addition, she prepared a meal for our bereaved friends, ran personal and mission errands, and spent two nights with our son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter, where she was delighted to help with Chelsea's first-grade distance learning.

Prayer and Praise

• We resume our out-of-Tennessee ministry travels this upcoming week. Thank you for praying with us for safe travels, productive meetings, and Spirit-filled services as we head to Michigan on Thursday.
• On Friday, we were able to connect with the Ivorian CHE partner who oversees our home in Cote d'Ivoire. All is well, although he said that police or gendarmes continue to visit churches and mosques every week to check on social distancing and other COVID protocols.
• Our granddaughter's school district prepares to receive special needs students on-site in several schools before the end of September. This is an answer to prayer.

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 provide support as we maintain 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).

Prior: The Long Haul - 200829 PDF
Prior ministry Video: Among Us
          - 200815 PDF

2020 Q2 Report: The "C" Continuum
          -  AWA Report 20_08_01 PDF

2020 Budget Info:
CHSC-0118_ANDERSON-2020- Budget.pdf

Something to ask? Write updates@verlindeb.org

AWA represents
Andersons Witness in Africa.
It is also a brand of bottled water in Cote d'Ivoire where we serve.

GIVEONLINE to support these ministries
                                   www.che4a.org

Debbie's Facebook Page

Verlin's Facebook Page