Prepare

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 221224 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

Prepare, prepare, O prepare
The white breeze is invading
The sun is winning the race
Rain is in coma
The dust is dancing
and ringing its whistling alarm

- link to full poem by Patrick Ituma

So begins a poem about the advent of dry season dust winds called the harmattan in West Africa, the closest we come to snow in Cote d'Ivoire. Harmattan descended upon Bondoukou recently, leaving a blanket of dust on everything while stimulating many respiratory allergies and infections. Verlin confirmed the season's arrival when mentioning that our Ivorian helper washed the car, and it was covered by thick dust the next day. He also felt the effects in his sinuses and began to control allergic reactions through masking, diet, and testing temporary interventions with new medications. "Prepare, prepare, O prepare" preoccupied Tennessee residents, too, as frigid weather hit the state midweek. Frantic shoppers focused not only on Christmas shopping but equally sought supplies for being stuck at home for days in subfreezing conditions. Debbie traveled early to safely make it to the firstborn's and spouse's house before the icy air and snow arrived so she could participate in family celebrations.

Whether adjusting to the arrival of "brown snow" or white snow on separate continents, we remember a phrase from a favorite Christmas carol. "Let every heart prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing!" (Hymn link). Preparations surrounding Christmas can be exhausting and extensive. Sadly, in the self-imposed and socially encouraged hustle and commotion of the season, we challenge ourselves to find moments for reflection upon the One who prepared and fulfilled everything for our salvation. From the foundation of the world, He knew what He must do to offer us a restored relationship with the Father, and He did it. Do we, in turn, faithfully set time apart to receive Him and prepare our lives and families for humble service? Janet Martin phrased it well in a poem entitled Preparing for Christmas:

Christmas Eve descending
We brave the cold perhaps
To find within a chapel
A pew, where we collapse
My house sure looks amazing
The food, a work of art
Wouldn't it be something
If this had been my heart?

Come and See (Psalm 66:5)

Merry Christmas, friends!

While Debbie welcomed our granddaughter, Chelsea, in Cookeville for three days, Verlin made a 16-hour trip to and from Abidjan to pick up our 5-year resident cards, processed in record time for us. In addition, he coordinated with Ivorian CHE trainers who anticipate attending the CHE Internship in Ghana in March and followed up with other CHE initiatives. (Some were village teams giving gifts to school children from their own earnings.) Debbie again pursued the doctor's office in Nashville and the medical supply company in order to process a replacement CPAP for Verlin. Hopefully, she will pick his machine up before returning to Cote d'Ivoire and evade our developing a situation like that caused by November's CPAP loss.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Praise God for His perfect preparation for our redemption in sending Jesus! May we each be faithful to purify and prepare our lives for useful service to Him! Have a most blessed Christmas, friends.
  
  

• 🙏 Pray for several Ivorian CHE trainers preparing by various means to attend the CHE Internship in March 2023. Verlin assists two of our four candidates in the process.
  
  

• 🙏 Continue to pray that Debbie and Corbin recover full strength after COVID and for Verlin to overcome allergic reactions from the harmattan.

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: The Exchange
        - 221217 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
 
  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.

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