No Fear. God's here!

PDF Version: AWA Weekly 211225.PDF

Video Message

Video Message link
Click image or here for YouTube video message.
Merry Christmas!
 
Please enjoy the linked 2’35” video rather than taking time today to read and reflect. The YouTube facilitated video likely communicates our hearts’ intents this day better and more efficiently than the words of Written Message below in this Christmas Day update.
 
We spend the day in Bondoukou worshipping, relaxing, and re-ordering our home after a week of some travel and sharing. We took special time in familial worship to sing hymns and carols after reading Luke 1-2.40 yesterday and Matthew 1 – 2 today. God bless each and all who celebrate the coming of Emmanuel with us today. May God keep blessing those under His influence who still have not recognized the power of our once and future King. So many souls have yet to join God’s movement! May they gain His peace and goodwill and come to faith thanks to believers’ acts of obedience during our days on earth.

Written Message
Please only read if there's time for reflection
and inability to view the easier to follow, more informative video.)

Like angels of old, today we share tidings of great joy: a Savior has been born to us. Peace and goodwill to all!
 
Like prophets of old, contemporaries of Jesus’ time, and Christians through the centuries until now, we share the angel’s command to Jesus’ family and friends at birth: have no fear, God is here!
 
We recognize today that the only real threat to abundant and fulfilled living is the choice of whom each of us serves. COVID does not threaten our making good decisions to embrace life. No disease can. Earth-bound powers seeking more than God-defined control of information or who attempt to force changes of human behavior by intimidation are proven ineffective against the powers given to humanity by the Savior-King Jesus. We live life more fully when joint choices made in communion and community to obediently collaborate or submit determine group actions. Ostensibly, elections confer what power others called leaders can exert. There is but one true leader of each and all we can elect to serve: the Savior-King whose birth and life we choose to recognize this season.
 
We each choose the good upon which to concentrate. By faith, we use our influence within circles of family, friends, and fellow workers to do good. We can bind ourselves together in many ways to ask the Lord’s blessing for overcoming any of life’s challenges. Chaos only exists where God’s defined world order fails to get recognized as reigning. (God’s Word determines the sun’s place in space, defines the limits of joy-filled human relations, and remains solely capable of describing reality’s wholeness and oneness adequately.) Grace and Truth recognized in praise and obedience structure organization out of confusion. Choose together to see Jesus’ orders reign. Let’s help all find shalom, the peace on earth, and goodwill foretold. Reality is as a favorite president of my grandparents once communicated: ‘We have nothing to fear, but fear itself.’ Knowing Jesus by faith makes courage possible. Fear stimulated by deception shuts us down. Such fears alone empower Satan in the world God created and designed by His Word made flesh. Only a good and reformed conscience effectively resists fearmongering, Satanic deceptions. Jesus overcame. His people overcome. Though not easy and without risk, God dwells here amidst us, by the power of His Holy Spirit, who presently fashions believers’ hearts and minds. Jesus-Christ is Truth. He always lights each of our ways through dark times like a flashlight, letting us unite again in brighter days.
 
May each find their joy of life in thankfulness today, celebrating what we have with childlike gratefulness. For Verlin and Debbie, the greatest gift remains Him who’s continuous giving cannot get exhausted. The gift remains the hope that the angels announced: a Savior has been born to us. We need not live in fear. In that light of Christmas, as Charles Dickens enjoined us through the seemingly immortal character of Tiny Tim, we wish ‘A Merry Christmas to all; God bless us every one!’

Prayer & Praise

  • 🙏 See Season’s Reasons for our Holiday Season concerns.
     
  • 🙏 Exceptionally, our local pastor’s wife suffers a reoccurrence of her ulcers. See Gems of Grace. Symptoms returned during our September through October absence. Unfortunately, aggressive resumption of nutritional interventions did not resume until weeks after we returned.
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: Season's Reasons
        - 211218 PDF
Prior Videos: PA Come & Go
        - Cleanup Champs


2021 Budget Info:
CHSC-0118_ANDERSON-2021-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
No comments:

Season's Reasons

CHSC LINK: Season's Reasons
PDF Version: AWA Weekly 211218.PDF

Reasons He Came

As we celebrate Christmas next week, we choose to celebrate the season's reasons! Join us as we ponder just a few of the reasons Jesus said He came.
    • ● The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor…I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose. (Luke 4:18-19;43b)
    • ● I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. (John 12:46)
    • ● I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. (John 6:51)
    • ● For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45)
    • ● Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners. (Mark 2:17)
    • ● The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)

Reasons we Went and You Sent

Jesus very clearly knew the reasons He came to earth. His motivations keep motivating us to leave there and for you to send us here. Over the past 20+ years, our partnership has resulted in thousands more people being introduced to Jesus and has led to striking improvements in the nation's public health system while integrating CHE approaches. The picture is from our main grocery store in town. The scrawny tree and toys on the floor at the store’s entrance show some of the few signs of Christmas in town. Saddest of all, no indication of Jesus anywhere. This is why we came. Thank you, faithful friends, for never forgetting the season's reasons! Joyous Christmas from our home to yours!!

Prayer & Praise

  • 🙏 All praise to Emmanuel for accomplishing His purposes while on earth! Friday was a day of 5-visitors seeking counsel, only one of whom was expected. Subjects fellow witnesses touched on were . . .
    • » DBS uses for denominational growth while fostering a national DMM to reach others,
       
    • » starting where with CHE? – where with DBS?,
       
    • » steps to recommence moringa agricultural project and propagate mushroom production,
       
    • » provide reports to Campus Crusade for Christ from recent uses of the video-projection material provided for witness that a Gideon co-laborer here obtained for use through our contacts.
       
    The day weaved planning around mentions of ongoing encouragement and checkup visits we anticipate making through May. Trainings are scheduled into mid-2022. May our praise supersede the Islamic Jumada al-Ula celebrations to which we listen while prepping to send this update!
     
  • 🙏 All praise to Emmanuel who equips us to accomplish His purposes on earth!
     
  • 🙏 Pray with us for people struggling with grief, illness, and loss this Christmas, including families devastated by the recent tornadoes. We think specifically of ministry partners and friends facing these situations: one family lost a beloved wife and mother this week; another friend buried her father; a couple's granddaughter is in months of recovery after a car accident almost took her life; a missionary colleague started treatments for cancer. Jesus, be their Peace.
     
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: Travel Troubles
        - 211211 PDF
Prior Videos: PA Come & Go
        - Cleanup Champs


2021 Budget Info:
CHSC-0118_ANDERSON-2021-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
No comments:

Travel Troubles

CHSC LINK: Travel Troubles
PDF Version: AWA Weekly 211211.PDF

Trying Times

Consider the travel troubles that ‘young marrieds’ Joseph and Mary experienced during the birth and infancy of Jesus. Nazareth to Bethlehem is about 80 miles. That is the direct route through the then dangerous Samaria. They likely walked over 90 miles. Even healthy peasants would be fatigued from walking for days, mostly uphill. Imagine the fierce sun beating down on the young woman about to give birth, the stress on Joseph as he cared for his exhausted wife. Then, multiply the danger and fear when they fled to Egypt to escape the edict of a murderous politician seeking additional power. Picture the night exodus from home to an African land speaking languages they did not know. How often did Mary hush her young son? What financial concerns riddled Joseph as he looked for food and lodging for an unknown length of time?

Tiring Trends

These details from the life of Jesus resonate with us witnessing in Africa. Part of it is simply the hassle of travel troubles on less developed country roads. Specifically, in Cote d'Ivoire, we prepare adequate food and water if stranded, tools to do roadside repairs (no AAA here!), a strategy if we encounter armed road bandits, and disarming conversations for law enforcement who still occasionally ask for bribes. Offering hospitality is an essential Christian grace. Travelers need help for many reasons. This week, we welcomed two FWB pastors, a pastor's wife, and the bride's brother in town for a wedding. One of our pastor's daughters got married on Saturday.
 
 
Beyond our personal experience, we think of missionary families serving with Christian Health Service Corps (CHSC). Many serve in less hospitable African nations. Political upheaval affects their ministries. We empathize while remembering our family's evacuations a few years ago. Even worse than our collective experiences are the nations' citizens' displacements and sufferings. While some clamor for political power, multitudes walk through similar trials to Joseph and Mary's. They flee from their homes with little food, water, health care to find little shelter. Death awaits many. This tiring trend on our sinful planet makes us long even more for the coming Kingdom where peace, righteousness, and truth reign. It also reminds us that we can offer Peace, Righteousness, and Truth each day as citizens of that Kingdom. The CHE strategy we use is so ubiquitous now that we have met some who use the approaches in refugee camps.

Prayer & Praise

  • Grateful that ‘Young Marrieds’
    who believe like these pictured
    marrying today still happen, and
    lives lived obediently keep on going!
    🙏 Pray for the nations where ongoing conflict wreaks havoc and creates humanitarian crises for the suffering populations. Ask the Lord to give our CHSC missionary colleagues peace and wisdom as they make decisions about ministry. Ask for enduring stability in Cote d'Ivoire. Most of all, pray for the citizens whose health, homes, and very lives remain at risk. Violence affects the spread of the Gospel, too.
     
  • 🙏 Pray young married couples like the couple joined today in our local church increasingly choose to live for the Lord as they travel together through their generation's troubles.
     
  • 🙏 Thank the Lord with us that Debbie's mom remains at home and is doing quite well. Pray that she and her doctor find the right solutions to prevent further TIAs.
     
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 Expected
        - 211204 PDF
Prior Videos: PA Come & Go
        - Cleanup Champs


2021 Budget Info:
CHSC-0118_ANDERSON-2021-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
No comments:

The Long-Expected

CHSC LINK: The Long-Expected
PDF Version: AWA Weekly 211204.PDF

Long-Expected

Joy erupts when long-expected
visits by loved Grands happen!

One precious sight we enjoy is seeing our grand-daughter Chelsea wait on the porch for us when she knows we are coming to her house for a long-expected visit. Since our visits are rare, we all are mentally “on tiptoe” in excitement to finally exchange hugs. Of course, the same anticipation abounds in greeting our grown children, parents, and other family and friends. Still, something is particularly endearing about the anticipation of a child.
 
 
Chelsea’s exuberant welcome reminds us of the heartfelt yearning we feel for our Savior’s second advent. When the trumpet sounds and He descends, will He find us eagerly waiting while busying ourselves on the porch? For us, the yearly advent season is a time of reflection and hope. We ponder the prophecies Jesus fulfilled by meditating on Isaiah and listening to Messiah. We marvel and accept His humility to tabernacle on earth and save us from sin. Finally, we surrender to His call to share His first and second advents with others. Come again soon, Thou Long Expected Jesus!

Long-Delayed

Missionary life is full of advents that get long-delayed by interruptions. This week included several visitors and other duties that overturned numerous plans. The visitors were a joy to welcome. They represented people earnestly seeking to improve their walk with Christ, wanting counsel or help reaching other people. Two visits will result in further CHE training, and one will assist a local church. The other time-consuming activities related to next year’s budget, negotiations with our landlord, and verifying how we can cite news articles in these updates that we send. We await “on tiptoe” to see how the Lord works things out for His glory and our good, even on mundane or grueling topics.

Prayer & Praise

  • 🙏 May personal reflection during this advent season cause us to obey Emmanuel completely. May it also reignite our fire to share the truth about His second coming.
     
  • 🙏 Pray for the church that Verlin begins training in the use of Discovery Bible Studies tomorrow. It is located about an hour from our home. He will give testimony, sign-up those with whom to model the process, and then, for about six weeks, help congregation members begin groups.
     
  • 🙏 May we all stay on mission to daily engage with God’s Word. Pray that we zealously model, encourage, and assist other believers in doing the same.
     
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: Transforming Habit
        - 211127 PDF
Prior Videos: PA Come & Go
        - Cleanup Champs


2021 Budget Info:
CHSC-0118_ANDERSON-2021-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
No comments:

Transforming Habit

CHSC LINK: Transforming Habit
PDF Version: AWA Weekly 211127.PDF

"The Power of 4"

Sometimes a simple transforming habit can bring a dramatic change to our lives. The Center for Bible Engagement invested time in polling Christians about their interaction with the Bible. Their research of over 400,000 believers worldwide revealed a phenomenon they call the “Power of 4”. If a person engages with the Bible more than four times a week, incredible benefits accrue. For example, faithful Bible readers are 228% more likely to share their faith with others, 407% more likely to memorize Scripture, 54% less likely to view pornography, and 30% less likely to struggle with loneliness. Many other advantages were noted, as well.
 
 
Interestingly, if the Bible interaction occurs less than four times a week, the person’s behavior, including divorce rates, is about the same as an unbeliever. In other words, going to church and mid-week service is not enough to live a victorious life. We need the Word of God to filter our hearts and minds constantly. The most effective transformation a few million Christians could make is reading God’s Word daily with our families. Other believers find it helpful to have accountability partners to remain personally engaged with the Scriptures as DBS groups do.

Prayerful Praise

How many does it take to
install a water filter?
Besides a lovely Thanksgiving dinner with new American friends, we thank the Lord for His progress accomplished through mission paperwork, projects, and home repairs this week. After two weeks of boiling water, we coached the installation of a carbon water filter because our ancient Katadyne water filter broke. Our local plumber brought two apprentices with him, as you see in the photograph. Young women learn an increasing number of roles here.

Thank you for expressing concern and prayers for Debbie’s mother. She returned home Monday evening after a three-day stint in the ER and under observation in a Nashville hospital. After numerous tests, it appears that she had a transient ischemic attack (TIA). At home, she is followed by a two-week heart monitor and will receive Home Health care. Debbie was thrilled to hear her speak in complete sentences this week on the phone. Sadly, last Friday, she was not able to form words.

Prayer & Praise

  • 🙏 Rejoice with us that Debbie’s mother is home again after three days in the ER and hospital. Pray that her two weeks on a heart monitor and follow-up visits with physicians will reveal if there are further issues to address.
     
  • 🙏 Pray for upcoming travels that Verlin will make to Abidjan and hopefully north to check on a possible CHE training location.
     
  • 🙏 May we all stay on mission to daily engage with God’s Word. Pray that we zealously model, encourage, and assist other believers in doing the same.
     
  • 🙏 Pray for a renewed collaboration with two pastors. They visited today to ask us for help in troubleshooting their church’s use of Discovery Bible Studies (DBS) in a regional town.
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: Thinking Thanking Change
        - 211120 PDF
Prior Videos: PA Come & Go
        - Cleanup Champs


2021 Budget Info:
CHSC-0118_ANDERSON-2021-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
No comments:

Thinking Thanking Change

CHSC LINK: Change Thanking Thinking
PDF Version: AWA Weekly 211120.PDF

 
 

Thinking to Change Thanking

Substitute Squash for pumpkin.
 Does anyone know its name?
On Thanksgiving Day, we plan to eat dinner with an American father and two children who moved into our neighborhood. Some dishes will require some creative thinking before the traditional thanking starts!! Pumpkin is rarely available here, so we use a large gourd with dark orange flesh to simulate pumpkin pie and sweet potato casserole. Both dishes taste amazingly like their American counterparts. We will prepare a Thanksgiving Day story or historical document to share, to demonstrate how thanks are transgenerational and therapeutic. Happy Thanksgiving! During family togetherness, games, and tables loaded with food, may we each remember and thank the Author of our many blessings. May the day develop or reinforce daily habits of rejoicing in Him.

Thanking to Change Thinking

Although the Thanksgiving Day celebration stems from a Christian worldview and is greatly loved by our family, a growing dichotomy puzzles us. Social media remains abuzz with people posting about their blessings as if it were the only occasion to do so. A good number of the same people spend eleven months of the year in rabid debates. They grouse about politics, gas prices, aches and pains, and other difficulties of life, as tempts us all. Of course, the freedom of civil discourse is a good thing that lets us discuss and develop efficient ways to address problems like COVID-19. (Links to great home treatment protocol model for CHE adaptation). What happens now in our country seems quite another. How sad when we as Christians succumb to frenzy rather than always rejoicing in public to find solutions while offering sacrifices of praise. Have we forgotten that as we think, so we become?

Romans 1:21 (ESV) offers insight into our propensity to complain. The passage gives a sober warning about the downward spiral taken by people groups who eventually abandon God. The first two characteristics listed are that they no longer glorify God as God nor give Him thanks. Daily counting our blessings changes who we are. The practice actually rewires brain circuits. Neuroscientists now study the impact of expressed gratitude on health, sleep, work capacity, relationships, etc. It is fascinating stuff (PT). (Other resources: AHA – NIH1 - NIH2 – NIH3 - NIH4.) However, there is something much more awe-inspiring. Trusting God’s entire revelation is a more reliable witness. Many people practiced the habitude of gratitude before any scientist explored the idea. The Lord knew our need to give thanks from the moment He created us!! He had reasons for instructing us to give thanks and rejoice. The question is, do we honestly believe Him and obey His Word?

[A few hours before posting this, Debbie’s beloved mother was taken to the ER because she could not talk. Sandra stayed in the hospital overnight to have testing today, Saturday. Thank you for praying that the source of the problem will be found.]

Prayer & Praise

  • 🙏 In awe of King Jesus, Who only provides and commands what is good for us!
     
  • 🙏 Thankful for our families who love the Lord and have fully supported us all our years of ministry!
     
  • 🙏 Thankful for your unceasing prayers and giving that together make ministry possible!
     
  • 🙏 Thankful that Verlin’s mother’s abdominal infection does not appear to need surgery at this time!
     
  • 🙏 Pray with us for Debbie’s mother, Sandra Payne. She was taken to the hospital on Friday evening, unable to talk. She is to have an MRI on Saturday, and hopefully, we will know more soon.
     
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: Reboot Life - 211106 PDF
Prior Videos: PA Come & Go
          - Cleanup Champs


2021 Budget Info:
CHSC-0118_ANDERSON-2021-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
No comments:

Door Dynamics

CHSC LINK: Door Dynamics
PDF Version: Anderson Report 211113

DOOR DYNAMICS

211113-door-dynamics-doorwayLet your door stand open to receive Him, unlock your soul to Him, offer Him a welcome in your mind, and then you will see the riches of simplicity, the treasures of peace, the joy of grace. Throw wide the gate of your heart, stand before the sun of the everlasting light.
—— Ambrose

In Scripture, the symbol of a door is used in several places to help us better visualize the Lord's salvation, authority, and desire to commune with us. The crowning example is Jesus, the Door Himself. If any of us enter by Him, we will be saved to find sustained sustenance while going about (John 10:9). Also, Jesus reminds us in Rev. 3:7-8 that when He opens a door, no one can shut it. Likewise, when He closes a door, as done on the ark, none can open it. We cannot frantically pry at doors with screwdrivers to move the ministry forward. Instead, we must trustfully knock in prayer (Luke 11:9-13), faithfully work in obedience, and walk through the doorway(s) after the Lord opens the door(s). All believers can work in abiding trust rather than striving because of His absolute authoritative presence as revealed in His Word. Finally, in Rev. 3:20, we see, as did Ambrose, the matchless, humble authority of Jesus Who knocks at OUR door. He seeks to enter and interact with us once we zealously repent.

In this report, we pursue the imagery of 'doors' to share wide-open ministry and personal opportunities, others that seem slightly ajar, and a few that seem squeaky or a little stuck.

DOORS WIDE OPEN
    (see Moving Moments)

On September 2-3 the second Scientific Congress occurred at UFHB (Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny). Realizing that CHE initiatives sustained 27 of 48 presentations moved us! That number is up from 19 of 52 presentations in 2019. Thus, CHE approaches that give witness to God's glory become mainstreamed through public and private health endeavors. The progress surpasses that what we previously thought possible.
 
2021 UFHB Scientific Congress Team
Photo credit - Joseph Kouadio
September 6-10, the UFHB center for scientific research hosted the week-long CHE training. Eight trainers from the Ivorian CHE network joined university personnel to train forty-five participants in two Training of Trainers 1 (TOT1) classes and another eighteen in a Training of Trainers 2 (TOT2) class. Several attendees mentioned they had received theoretical training for community development with few or no tools for practical application. However, the hands-on approach of CHE training assuaged their thirst. The university's vice-president and the director of INFAS, which trains all licensed nurses and midwives in the nation, lauded the week's organizers. These two influential leaders encouraged using CHE nationwide as they distributed completion certificates.
 
In follow-up meetings after the 2021 training, the university team decided to designate 10 staff members to regularly assist in CHE training. In this way, they can integrate research into areas beyond the coastal regions. This impacts CHE efforts and projects in all of Cote d'Ivoire. The university's involvement grants reciprocal credibility. We expect this decision to reinforce growing church outreaches. That number has grown from 20+ locations to over 60 in the last 2 years!
 
How great will this become? We do not know. Reflect with us. In just two weeks, one affiliated UFHB group saw 8 villagers saved, 800 community health workers of one region were trained in CHE approaches to collaborate with many groups, and the nation's training authority for nurses and mid-wives announced that every worker is to be trained in CHE. The Lord opens excellent doors with opportunities to witness!

DOORS AJAR
    (see Jehoshaphat NOT Jumping)

On a joyous family note, hats off to our daughter Cara for completing her Master of Management in Health Care degree at Vanderbilt University in Nashville with honors. This degree will open doors of opportunity for Cara to positively impact patient care in nursing. Debbie was ecstatic to be at her graduation.
Grassroots CHE TOT1
near Monrovia, Liberia
Verlin spent half of October preparing for travel and helping train a group of Liberians in CHE. So may they walk through the doors that the Lord opens because of their new skill set and understandings!

Other doors ajar but not yet traversed include around ten groups of which we are aware who await CHE training on location around Cote d'Ivoire. Pray with us that various CHE trainers can coordinate their full-time work schedules to meet this exciting, growing need. It is a marvelous problem to have!

DOORS SQUEAKY OR STUCK
    (see Reboot Life)

Ministry is never all sunshine and roses. We regularly accentuate the positive by choice, but please know that difficult situations and decisions abound. Case in point, after the university training, Verlin helped confront a young CHE trainer about some personal habits and past choices. Thankfully, he received the correction and instruction with grace. We ate supper with him recently. We were encouraged by his testimony and recent decisions. Pray for this brother as he renews his habits of dependency on the Lord. We also give thanks that he has new CHE possibilities in schools.

Another area with a "squeaky door" situation is the agricultural project site near Bondoukou. You may recall we have waited two years for legal possession of the land to be clarified. When Verlin had not had the time to pursue developments earlier this year, we were informed that all was done. Soon, we expect to see if this long-awaited door has indeed fully swung open.

This past quarter also provided pauses because of our aging bodies. Verlin continues to deal with the hernia produced after his appendectomy, two broken teeth, and ear drainage that lingers. Debbie experienced a bout with malaria, high blood pressure, and a case of cellulitis. Thankfully, the above-known ills are regulated or believed not in need of immediate care.

"DOORDASH"
    (see Dynamic Difference)

Money News
In July, we gladly learned that a local restaurant actually offers home delivery! We have never made the call, but knowing the possibility exists nearby astounds us.

That feeling pales in comparison to the gratitude we experience with you, our treasured ministry partners. Your faithful prayers and giving keep us working without pause or distraction to seek funds. This is the time of year when we specifically trust the Lord to touch many hearts, so end-of-year giving provides abundantly for the coming year. He knows the amount required for ministries and fixing supports like house repairs, broken equipment, or appliances. Thank you for continuing to generously follow His lead. We know all will be well because of His work in each of us. The ministry's financial status confirmed by CHSC numbers is shown on page 3 of this report's print version (PDF).

DOORS OF UTTERANCE

  • 🙏 Since our last mailing, Debbie's parents sold their home and moved into a separate apartment at her sister's apartment complex. In addition, our daughter Cara's condo was sold. She moves to her new home soon. She also graduated with honors from Vanderbilt with a Master of Management in Health Care. Thank you for helping us pray through these recent family events. We also praise the Lord for arranging Debbie's time in the U.S. so that she could help her parents during the last phases of moving.
  • 🙏 Pray for the CHE trainer in a nearby town who has new CHE opportunities in public schools. This trainer anticipates marrying within the year, despite many perceived obstacles.
  • 🙏 Ask the Lord to validate for us that another has properly completed the legal paperwork so that the local agricultural project can progress this dry season.
  • 🙏 Ivorian CHE ministry partners continue laboring all over the country. Some live in challenging circumstances. Pray their zeal does not falter and that their labors bear much fruit. Your prayers demolish strongholds and encourage boldness as they share the transforming power of Christ through CHE. Paul worded it for us this way in Col. 4:3 : Pray that God will open a door of utterance for us all to speak the mystery of Christ. We pray the same for you!
 
Your Partners in the Gospel,
Verlin and Debbie

Check out the p.3 JPG of the 210731 Anderson Report PDF to review contributions and the ministry's 3Q-2021 expense summary.

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: Reboot Life - 211106 PDF
Prior ministry Videos: PA Come & Go
          - Work, Watch, Wait

 

2021 Budget Info:
CHSC-0118_ANDERSON-2021-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

 

Family pics taken since choosing to serve as missionaries.
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