Counting Costs

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 221203 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

Jesus said much about counting costs in the New Testament. He spoke of taking up our cross and following Him: since the world persecuted Him, we, too, can expect persecution. In another scene, He mentions a military leader evaluating troops and assets before confronting an enemy or considering the supplies and workers needed to build a tower. For followers, He encouraged sober judgment and rational decision-making. Though emotive, He never manipulated emotions or used bribery to advance others’ faith. Prudently counting costs is part and parcel of living an abundant life in God’s Kingdom.

Overworked CPAP!

We counted costs related to replacing Debbie’s lost CPAP machine in the last three weeks. First, a significant problem remains if we ship it by a courier like DHL, as initially thought. The confusion we encountered between US shipping and RCI receiving offices heightens the likelihood that a device seen here infrequently will be held for an undetermined time by customs. Secondly, we cannot purchase the machine outright because an initial rental period is now obliged for insurance reimbursement. Additionally, suppose the device gets confiscated, damaged, or lost. In that case, we will be obliged to pay the medical supply company the entire cost of the machine and then, of course, have to take on the expense and process of replacing that one! Lastly, the lesser total of shipping by courier almost matched the purchase of a round-trip flight. Considering our prior experiences with lost book bags, mail, and express mail, we decided that Debbie return to the States and pursue a follow-up in person with the sleep specialist. In addition, she expects to ...

• assist Christian Health Service Corps with another missionary orientation in January,
• make a trip to Michigan to visit family and ministry partners, and
• spend some time with her parents. (This year has been physically challenging for them.)

Debbie’s flight schedule has her departing Wednesday, December 7, and returning on March 14.

Come and See (Psalm 66:5)

Verlin has three accountings to complete by December 15. One is for renewing our Affordable Care Act insurance. Honest planning, in our circumstances, takes 10-20 hours to allow for the submission of a reasonably accurate application. We hope for a better rate this year, but think it unlikely in our ‘empty-nest.’ In addition, he will affirm 2023 budgets and review 2022 expenses to plan for our submission of US and Ivorian taxes. Finally, after the 15th, he intends to contact the woman who mentioned in March that her family’s home might be available for our use in Bondoukou. Finding a cheaper option to maintain and provide a friendlier, quieter environment for others to visit us in the future would be nice.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Pray Debbie travels safely and smoothly to the US and begins healing rest with the new CPAP machine. (Fatigue now impacts her thinking and acting despite our sharing a machine in split shifts.) Also, pray that her temporary Ivorian residence card to facilitate return travel is ready by next Tuesday.
  
  

• 🙏 Pray for Verlin as he begins a process of UFHB lesson correction while preparing two Ivorian pastors to go to Ghana for the CHE Internship in February 2023. They need initial contextualized help with the paperwork to make collaborative study and travel plans with others from Cote d’Ivoire who will attend.
  
  

• 🙏 Ask the Lord to direct us about housing. Should we stay and make extensive repairs where we are or move? Pray we experience a confirmation others perceive as evidence of God’s direction if moving a second time within Bondoukou seems to be a good choice.

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 - specifying Verlin and Debbie Anderson in the optional Memo.

Prior: Thanksliving
        - 221126 PDF
Prior Videos: Reflect and Rejoice
        - The Great Story

2022 Q2 Report: Someone Greater
  -  2022 2Q Anderson Report 220521 PDF

2022 Budget Info:
CHSC-0118_ANDERSON-2022-Budget.pdf
 
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