Engaged

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 230429 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

This week, Verlin and a denominational leader of a sister Baptist group traveled to visit a village in the Sassandra River basin. The small community of Boutoubré has fully engaged with a swift adoption of local transformation strategies. They practically apply scriptural admonition since the pastor began to implement ideas after being exposed to Community Health Evangelism (CHE) in 2019. In some prior updates, we reported results the village enjoys from working together: a dispensary and school built, latrines in use, solar panels on homes, and that almost all the villagers now live harmoniously for Christ as their Lord. Verlin, the pastor, and the visiting denominational leader rejoiced to hear in person the testimony of men who formerly adhered to another religion. One of the newly saved men is the village chief; another, a former drunk transformed by Jesus! Front and center in all the remarkable changes is how the entire population engaged by faith together to use their local resources.

Pastor and leader in front of dispensary
on the road fixed by ladies.

One new story reported to us explained how the women engaged together as a dynamic force to widen and redo their road. Taking courage from the 2004 CHE story of Bébou and using only their Africa dabas (daba means "hoe" in the Dioula language), they fixed and widened a 200+ meter route from the civic center to the new dispensary, church, and school. The effort required hundreds of hours of labor. On Saturdays, they check the route, regularly making repairs. Because it is maintained, the road becomes a thoroughfare for others who seek to board the local ferries. The visiting pastor was so impressed by the villagers' changed worldview and their joint success that he plans to encourage CHE as THE strategy for church planting in rural areas of his denomination's efforts to win others to Christ.

Come and See (Psalm 66:5)

Verlin also re-engaged with the university CHE team in a meeting on Friday. (That's an answer to prayer from last week's requests!) As a result, he has the details needed for planning his part of September's UFHB CHE events. Another aspect of the university training we hope to address in all of May is creating copies of the specialized and combined CHE lessons used. An experienced Ivorian CHE trainer has accepted our invitation to come to Bondoukou next week and will review the work with us to begin the editing. Hopefully, he can stay engaged throughout the process. In addition to these UFHB engagements of our time, we facilitate invitations of Ghanaian and other foreign ethnic community members to see the changes here to copy where they live during this year’s events.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Thank the Lord for Verlin's safe and encouraging journey in southwestern Cote d’Ivoire to visit a thriving CHE ministry ready to be multiplied. Pray for continued transformation in that region and for many more churches and NGOs to engage in CHE.
  
  
• 🙏 Pray for the long-delayed lesson editing project we seek to complete in May and June. The lessons used at the yearly CHE seminar of September need to be combined in a single format to clearly present the Education, Evangelism, and Engagement perspectives of CHE. Pray for safe travels and good health of the Ivorian CHE trainer we anticipate seeing next week to discuss the work.
  
  
• 🙏 A planning meeting did take place yesterday with university team members who organize the CHE seminar in September. While added coordination will be required, essential answers were received. We give thanks for this rapid answer to our prayer request of last week and pray we get our parts done!!

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: Carry on
        - 230422 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.

GIVEONLINE to support these ministries
                                   www.che4a.org

Debbie's Facebook Page

Verlin's Facebook Page

Carry on

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 230422 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

Sometimes when situations in life seem unsure, the best thing is to carry on with what you can do, leaving the rest in the Lord’s hands. Debbie felt a taste of this dilemma on Monday when she contacted the Ivorian e-visa site. Because of an email communication glitch, it appeared her e-visa would be delayed another week. Though she provided the last document requested, the service clarified that the e-visa would not be ready for at least 48 hours and, more likely, 3-4 days more. Still, we decided she would carry on with all the steps to leave Wednesday morning in hopes and faith that the Lord would expedite this second process. So she closed down the single-wide storage home and drove to Nashville to get her second PCR COVID test in the week and finish other necessary errands. After business hours on Tuesday night, her e-visa approval arrived by email! She experienced a smooth trip to Cote d’Ivoire. She even enjoyed the gift of being invited by a kind stewardess to move to Premier Business Class on the last flight of the journey!

Verlin & Debbie together again!

While glad to see each other after various delays, we have begun remeasuring the costs of what remains for us yet to do here. In the grand scheme of things, even if her efforts had resulted in a perceived negative outcome, Debbie would know she had done what she could. A “no” from the Lord is always acceptable. His oversight makes for unforeseen additional opportunities for witness and service. After all, it is for His purposes within His timing that we carry on.

Come and See (Psalm 66:5)

Verlin had other priorities requiring him to carry on as Debbie waded through red tape and blockades in the U.S. He turned in taxes on the U.S. timetable rather than the two-month delay permitted expatriates and submitted the financial reporting from March that included expenses from Ghana. On Friday, when dining with some missionary friends who face challenging circumstances, the theme of learning to carry on again surfaced. As Verlin put it, when life’s realities place us in clouds of uncertainty, the best course of action is to carry on with what the Lord showed us in the light until He clearly directs us otherwise. The theme remains a constant refrain from our lives, even repeated to others during the week. God is faithful.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Thank the Lord for Debbie’s safe journey back from the States and Verlin being at the airport to pick her up! (Muslim holiday traffic in Abidjan as Ramadan finished was inordinately heavy!)
  
  
• 🙏 Verlin expects to travel to western Cote d’Ivoire to evaluate CHE progress in several locations. Pray our God-found-in-the-details of the trip encourages leaders of many Christian communities
  
  
• 🙏

  

  Follow-up pic of
  knee. See prior.

  Verlin’s knee infection and his scheduled travels interfered with UFHB meetings. The absences complicate planning with that CHE effort. Several reunions are yet needed to elaborate plans for the Scientific Congress (Aug 31-Sep 1) and Community Health Evangelism (CHE) exposition sessions (Sep 4–8). Pray for a planning committee breakthrough this week or next.

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: Unforeseen
        - 230415 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.

GIVEONLINE to support these ministries
                                   www.che4a.org

Debbie's Facebook Page

Verlin's Facebook Page

Unforeseen

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 230415 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

Learning to anticipate the unforeseen is a regular part of missionary life. No matter what, we do not have to let ourselves be shaken because the Lord at our right hand (Ps. 16:8) guides us. He is never surprised. Debbie expected to board an April 11th flight in Nashville to return to Africa and Verlin but found herself in an unforeseen situation. The airline did not accept the scanned biometric copy of her new Ivorian residence card, valid until 2027, though accompanied by her expired documents, or take the time to check with relevant authorities. Gatekeeping personnel, therefore, refused to check her in. United Airlines insisted that she have the original card, despite it having been processed and picked up by Verlin after she left Cote d’Ivoire. They refused all logic from the accompanying formerly valid documentation. Then began a flurry of phone calls that allowed Verlin to consult with Ivorian authorities, who were surprised by the intransigency. Debbie sought means to evade fees for the added delay. She called Legal Shield to check the legality of what happened and see if the airline could be held accountable for the added costs of the delay. After hours of seeking resolution on both sides of the Atlantic, we followed the advice of the Ivorian official. She seconded that Debbie obtain a 90-day e-visa while influencing US airline policy to recognize European and African processes similar to the acceptance of scanned US driver’s licenses. The e-visa would allow Debbie entrance into the country where her five-year residence card waits. She applied for the e-visa on Wednesday and hopes to have it in time to board a flight on April 19th.

Come and See (Psalm 66:5)

Travel with Yu family

Verlin experienced some unforeseen events recently, as well. First, as he drove to Abidjan on Sunday to handle business and supposedly meet Debbie, he also had the pleasure of transporting a Cuban physician of our church movement so she and her two children could meet their returning husband or dad, who was expected to arrive two nights before Debbie.

Toyota Hilux damage

Secondly, our vehicle will need repairs due to unforeseen roadblocks in Ghana. As Verlin drove visiting people in Ghana after the CHE Internship, law enforcement added numerous barricades trying to get gifts for Easter or Ramadan. Our truck had a run-in with one intrusive barrier but can be safely driven as is.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Ask for a resolution to Debbie’s travel delay. Pray that the Ivorian e-visa arrives promptly and that she can take a flight on April 19th.
  
  
• 🙏 Thank the Lord and dear friends for an excellent first quarter of donations in 2023! We remain grateful for ministry partners who have given faithfully for many years. In addition, several churches and friends gave exceptional gifts allowing us to replace worn-out equipment without diminishing our level of activities due to lack of funds.
  
  
• 🙏 Our son Corbin’s new job is progressing well. It seems to be a good fit for him. However, he has not yet found lodging within reasonable driving distance, so pray for that need.

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: Overheard
        - 230408 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.

GIVEONLINE to support these ministries
                                   www.che4a.org

Debbie's Facebook Page

Verlin's Facebook Page

Overheard

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 230408 PDF

At the time of publication, our web hosting provider experiences difficulty allowing us to upload files to the server. The PDF became available Monday, April 10 thanks to the tech team assigned to the case.

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

Our words may impact a person in extraordinary ways on any given day, even if our spoken content is merely overheard. When Simon Peter spoke in the high priest's courtyard as Jesus was on trial, a servant recognized that he was there because of Jesus by his Galilean accent (Mt. 26:73). Though Peter wished to hide his identity, his words betrayed him. Likewise, our daily words proclaim our attachment to Jesus, whether spoken directly or overheard! In our world driven by fear, gossiping about the impacts we see and feel of the Gospel touches people; obedient response to the Savior’s love informs more hearts of the Good News than will ever hear attending Easter services.

Similarly, a Muslim teenager in Bondoukou prayed to receive Christ years ago. Immediately, her family began persecution, commanding her not to attend church or speak with Christian friends. Spies followed her around to be sure she complied. Believers who knew her situation came up with a plan. They walked behind her on the street within hearing distance and talked about the Lord, quoting Bible verses or singing songs to encourage her. While they could not speak directly to her without inciting further abusive harm(s), they found a way that she could overhear the truth!

Come and See (Psalm 66:5)

One of 16 places touched by William

While in Ghana, Verlin learned that words he spoke in 2019, overheard by a Christian teacher named William, changed lives. Apparently, Verlin was sharing with CHE interns how the Kingdom of God differs from the kingdoms of this world using the illustration of a pyramid and an inverted pyramid. (Some of you may have heard this example in a sermon he preaches!) Earlier, William had been trained to use CHE by Dayo Obaweya and had begun to use the strategy. Still, he was in a season of impasse using the approach with self-imposed minimums, not doing what he knew he could do. Overhearing Verlin's words to others reinvigorated his commitment to using CHE. He passionately relaunched an effort to reform local education in the Aveyime district. Dayo continued to mentor him and the other people he recruited. Touched by polio in childhood, William perseveres in all things, limping through life to see the glory of God revealed. He now runs a school he started for disadvantaged children, including orphans for whom he finds homes. The team he leads mentors 375 children between the ages of 3 and 23 y.o. The children learn their Ghanaian lessons, memorize Scripture to sensitize their hearts to God’s Spirit, and work with their hands. Sixteen villages in the area now run CHE programs since William decided to do what he knew to do.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Thank the Lord for Verlin's safe return to Bondoukou after excellent visits with an Ivorian ministering in Ghana, the ICS, and fellow Christitan Health Service Corps (CHSC) missionaries.
  
  
• 🙏 Pray for Debbie's travel as she boards the airplane on Tuesday to arrive in Cote d'Ivoire on Wednesday, April 12. Unfortunately, her temporary Ivorian paper permitting entry has expired. We trust the photo of the valid card that Verlin retrieved on December 22 suffices at airport checks.
  
  
• 🙏 This year, the Muslim world adheres to the Ramadan fast as we celebrate a risen Lord on Easter. Pray that Jesus reveals Himself to many seeking hearts while Muslims fast and pray through April 20. Pray that they will overhear Christians speaking messages of truth about our Savior!

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: Narratives
        - 230401 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.

GIVEONLINE to support these ministries
                                   www.che4a.org

Debbie's Facebook Page

Verlin's Facebook Page

Narratives

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 230401 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

Our nation mourns the heartbreak of another school shooting. This time hit closer to home as our ten-year-old granddaughter attends a school in Nashville, too. Politicians and special interest groups pressed their own narratives to advance various causes. One journalist tried to get a pastor whose precious daughter was murdered on Monday to comment about gun control! More alerting to us: a transgender group tried blaming the Christian values of the school for the deranged woman’s actions. A day comes to debate and better protect our children, but this is not the time. Certainly, the Church must further grapple with learning effective means to love and assist transgender people in finding personal peace without compromising Biblical truth or kowtowing to harmful demands. Nevertheless, pressing divisive narratives does not hold hope to heal the wounds of any who grieve right now. Displacement of blame abounds. May we learn to overflow with compassion and help during tragedies yet resist succumbing to a simplistic, worldly narrative.

Come and See (Psalm 66:5)

Last week of CHE Internship

Anyone can get caught up in believing an unfruitful or harmful narrative. Most reading these words are being saved from some! Misunderstanding reality with failure to apply God’s directives to every aspect of life hinders personal and professional growth. Verlin and another master Ivorian CHE trainer, Emmanuel, facilitated eleven of the 33 lessons shared during the week. Five of Verlin’s seven sessions emphasized Biblical narratives that birth and sustain abundant life. Lessons of spiritual emphasis displayed multiple graces that God gives believers to show He is the King and Law-giver of our world. Confounding and deceptive human narratives, designed to stoke fear and exert human powers, must be confronted by sharing accurate, Biblical narratives that address our social morass. In this way, people escape further tragic experiences inculcated by self-loathing, despair, grief, and other ills. When Biblical truth permeates a person’s chosen life purpose, decision-makers can guide and collaborate with them to use common understandings and communicate God’s love in action.

Verlin and Emmanuel shared the strength of using Discovery Bible Studies (DBS), Bible storying, organization, team development, and motivational examples that build God honoring social narratives in a society. Because many participants were eager to hear details of the extraordinary growth of CHE in Cote d’Ivoire (RCI), the trainers from the RCI affirmed knowing of around 200 groups in that nation. We explained how narratives have made the difference. Interns from other countries learned how the Lord opened doors for us sharing Community Health Engagement at the university to change false intellectual narratives.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Thank the Lord that our diesel Toyota Hilux keeps going and going! The tank was accidentally filled with gasoline, emptied, and refilled with only diesel before starting last Saturday. There seems to be no damage!
  
  
• 🙏 The CHE Internship finished Thursday, with most participants leaving before today. Verlin expects to be in Ghana for eight additional days. He plans to visit pastors who minister in Ghana with interest in, or who already use, tranformational CHE strategies to build church communities, transform local societies, and build God’s Kingdom rule. He also hopes to see another medical missionary couple who serve at the Lord’s call to Ghana with the Christian Health Service Corps (CHSC). We’d appreciate prayers to the Lord for the safe and uncomplicated travels of all who return home, and that they grow to effectively use what they learned.
  
  
• 🙏 Pray that the Lord of the harvest sends more laborers to rescue valuable ‘grain’ out of the myriad of sins and unbiblical narratives that plague the nations, including the US. Next, pray we become more effective in teaching resistance and demonstrating His power to overcome the ungodly thinking and efforts that confound God’s revelation in today’s generation. Finally, pray that accurate narratives from the Lord’s Word gets increasingly embraced to bring peace on earth, goodwill to all, and comfort those who grieve their losses.

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: Keep Watch
        - 230325 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.

GIVEONLINE to support these ministries
                                   www.che4a.org

Debbie's Facebook Page

Verlin's Facebook Page