Patient Waiting

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 230128 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

Waiting exposes our idols and throws a wrench into our coping mechanisms. It brings us to the end of what we can control and forces us to cry out to God. God doesn't waste our waiting. He uses it to conform us to the image of his son.

— Betsey Childs Howard, from Seasons of Waiting

During a hectic yet enjoyable week in Texas, Debbie heard several interesting testimonies of patient waiting on the Lord. One story bubbled from a female doctor during missionary orientation who did not marry until her late thirties. She could write a comedy routine of the unfortunate comments people made about her singleness over the years or the many "frogs" who waded past before she found her "prince." Another couple, having given up hope of having children as decades passed, were surprised by pregnancy as they prepared for missionary service! Currently, a new CHSC mission staff support team leader vibrantly lives the needed patient waiting of having left her mission field due to long-COVID symptoms. Earnest patient waiting on the Lord does not happen in vacuums of inactivity. Instead, the heart attitude and mindset exhibit trust in our Father's decisions that sustain other life-giving acts. We busy ourselves obeying what we know to do of the Lord's will, walking the ways opened to us.

Come and See (Psalm 66:5)

CHE lesson in process with Deb

Beginning an enduring Community Health Evangelism ministry (CHE) often has its fair share of patient waiting. Choosing a location usually takes three months to two years of analysis. Since CHE outsiders selecting priorities signals an eventual death knell for any effort, structured times must be created for community stakeholders and inhabitants to choose and enact their plans. Woven into each step of the process is a need for patient waiting. Parts of the training that Debbie led this week focused on the toolkit CHE trainers use while practicing this vital concept.

Verlin continues his version of patient waiting with symptoms that abruptly became apparent after accepting a COVID vaccine in February 2022. Infrequent chest pains troubled him until six weeks ago. His stamina, measured in the distance walked before weariness impedes progress, is half his 2019 level. However, two abdominal surgeries and three oral surgeries accompanied by minor knee and ankle injuries since 2019 probably play their parts, too! We appreciate your prayers as we adapt to our age-related realities. Verlin increased his exercise walking distances while adding some crawling, jumping on gravel, and stretch routines in the last few weeks. Staying home a bit also lets him schedule the repair of inconveniences and test a furniture oil substitute he developed as he completes some personal and mission finances. (It's tax season!) Increased exercise and sleep let him sense some returning strength.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Thank the Lord for Debbie's safe trip to and from Texas for ministry opportunities during missionary orientation. Her voice held up for the CHE training portion of the week, as requested for prayer last week! Keep praying for Verlin's recovery of stamina so agricultural field work can take place or be reviewed.
  
  

• 🙏 Praise God that our youngest son Corbin was offered a patiently sought engineering job in Tennessee. He anticipates signing a contract next week. Please pray for all the adjustments related to his new position, like finding an apartment and establishing new friend-finding and personal routines.
  
  

• 🙏 Verlin has had difficulties communicating with a CHE trainer approved to go to the CHE Internship in Ghana. It's likely related to his rural travels and activities. Pray they can connect to finalize plans for his training. Also, pray for leaders and trainers investing many hours of preparation for the internship.

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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: Goodbye Grief
        - 230114 PDF
Prior Videos: Reflect and Rejoice
        - The Great Story

2022 Q3 & Q4 Reports: Reckon
  -  3Q|4Q 2022 Report 230121 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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