Hidden Among us

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 230819 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

As we walk through this world, many people's spiritual and physical needs are visible to discerning eyes. However, at times suffering souls are hidden among us. We traveled from Bondoukou to Abidjan on Thursday and ate lunch with a highly engaged Ivorian CHE trainer. He gave a report stunning the concerned medical community. It related to findings and progress of the CHE endeavors that screen and initiate leprosy treatment in western Cote d'Ivoire. When the first screening was completed, they identified 6 leprosy cases in 1,500 people. One leper in a population of 100,000 is considered an infected area that merits screening, training, and treatment. Indeed the local population was shocked to learn of so many lepers hidden among us in their communities. Once an individual with leprosy is identified, the whole family needs preventive treatment. The findings of that one screening provided an earthquake of awareness in the whole area. It now motivates the entire population to be tested and treated.

One of the vast blessings of the situation is how the CHE teams engaged with God to help people. Their careful advertising of the service and promoting health teaching about leprosy removed the shame and guilt associated with the disease. This approach that our joint efforts facilitated encouraged all village members to be tested. In addition, the established local CHE committees renew defunct health committees now responsible for following up with lepers and their families. These overseers ensure that affected community members continue their treatments and report any problems. As proven in generations of CHE-initiated projects, this local locus of control dramatically increases participation and the probability of success. Praise God for this beautiful beginning to help the suffering lepers hidden among us in Cote d'Ivoire! CHE strategies put into use continue growing in impact around the country.

Come and See (Psalm 66:5)

At times, the hidden among us are not the suffering sick. They are saints endowed with specific skills not always used. The Lord provided such a person to us this week! Knowing Verlin would risk further damage to an injured foot by driving the 7 hours to Abidjan, we sought an experienced Ivorian driver licensed to pull a trailer. Such people are rare here, but it "just so happened" that a faithful brother of the FWB church we attend was a driver of a United Nations transport for years. The brother made himself available.

Truck on delivery to one site, see fb

He safely took us to the outskirts of Abidjan Thursday evening after spending 8 hours during two days driving around Bondoukou learning from Verlin to safely drive a smaller vehicle towing a trailer. On the trip to Abidjan, he stepped down to visit an uncle; Verlin drove the last hour to the guest house. The Lord's provision continually impresses us!

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Thank the Lord with us for a safe trip to Abidjan. We are so grateful He provided an experienced driver so Verlin's foot could rest. In addition, Verlin's foot condition improves, albeit staying sore due to much activity. Pray the pain continues reducing due to alternating warm and cold water foot soaks each morning and evening over the next two weeks.
   
• 🙏 Continue to pray for the CHE groups in western Cote d'Ivoire, providing leprosy screening and treatment in villages. The CHE committees follow up with those stricken with the disease to make sure they and their families faithfully take the free medication provided.
  
• 🙏 Verlin was mercifully enabled to quickly replace our broken printer on Friday! We now have the means to patch in and cover any last-minute printing required for materials during university events we and fellow CHE team trainers facilitate.
   

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: Fair Warning
        - 230812 PDF
Prior Videos: Reflect and Rejoice
        - The Great Story
 

2023 Q1 Report: Pruning Priorities
  -  2nd Q 2023 Report 230722 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