Copycat

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AWA Weekly 231111 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

Families rely on breaks and holidays like the upcoming Thanksgiving to pass along family heritage and practice. Recent conversations with CHE leaders reminded us of an amusing example shared in Verlin’s family about being a copycat. His father liked to share a Reader’s Digest story about a family of mothers and how they prepared the ham each Thanksgiving or Christmas. (For a training source, click here.) The method was passed from great-grandmother to grandmother, mother, and child. One day, the child asked the mother why they cut off the end of the ham instead of leaving it whole to bake. The mother replied that it was a family method she learned from her mother and was the best way to prepare the meat. Curious herself, the mother then asked her mother why they did it that way. Not knowing, together they asked the great-grandmother about the family tradition. Everyone was surprised when Great-grandma said, “Well, our baking pan was not big enough to leave the ham whole, so I lopped off the end for it to fit the pan!”

While it is expressly human to copycat, the story and some studies behoove us to ask some “Why?” questions when we pass along family, government, and church traditions. If not, we unwittingly convey useless rituals and wives' tales that benefit no one and persecute some. Conversely, understanding why our forefathers made confident choices has eternal consequences and carries blessings across generations. For example, besides honoring veterans, this weekend’s holiday permits families to share their part in the national story of living in covenant, permitting hearers to become wiser copycats.

Come and See (Psalm 66:5)

The idea of copycats came to mind for another reason this week. Traveling to Abidjan on Wednesday, we stopped and left the puppies at their new homes. We also met with a champion medical CHE trainer. During the week, he and two other trainers detailed fantastic numbers we had been picking up through others. People were trained all over Cote d’Ivoire last year in times and places where we could not participate due to time restraints. Essentially, Ivorian CHE trainers experience regular ‘copycatting.’ The outlook is good that much more multiplication happens because of how it happens here. As a result of how they train others to train others what they do, our CHE report for the fiscal year shared how five CHE teammates account for the training of over 4,000 people who minister or work using CHE’s wholistic approaches. (Verlin reduced the reported numbers significantly since some estimates were supplied without his being able to confirm numbers by second or third parties. And yes, churches have been started or reinforced within those numbers. We train missionaries.)

Our CHE champion friend then discussed how a weakness of the Ivorian mentality about starting new ventures can become a strength when convinced of a good approach.

Restaurant only serving salads

This nation is known to copycat exceptionally well in West Africa, but the people are not eager to innovate or be original or firsts in work or ministry. In his view, an Ivorian only studies methods or processes that others do successfully and then copies them with excellence if convinced it is THE best. He posits that CHE workers must observe and participate in work that shows progress. Eureka! He’s got it! Now that CHE endeavors occur nationwide, with a particular verve on the western side, the multiplication process happens more quickly! Praise God for what will later be measured as remarkable progress as time and interest allow us to inspect, evaluate, and retool without losing momentum.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Thank the Lord that our Ivorian co-worker recovered quickly from malaria because he has seen how to treat himself quickly when first symptomatic. Our earthly belongings and adult dogs here are in his care.
   
• 🙏 Pray that God enables an Ivorian friend who reportedly battles an addiction to identify better defense mechanisms in Christ. He needs to address the unhealed parts of his inner life stimulating the addiction.
   
• 🙏

  

  HiLux parts and supplies for
  service to be done in abstentia.

  We depart Tuesday night to arrive in Dallas on Wednesday evening. After meeting with CHSC principals, we will continue to Nashville on Saturday afternoon. Ask that we enjoy uncomplicated travels and opportunities to promote faith and ministry.
  

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: Time Out
        - 231104 PDF
Prior Videos: Simple Servants
        - Reflect & Rejoice
 

2023 Q2 Report: Pruning Priorities
  -  2nd Q 2023 Report 230722 PDF

2022 Budget COMPLETED:
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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