Seize the Moment

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 241116 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

Isn't it provoking to observe how often Jesus seized the moment to instruct or show compassion based on life's daily activities? Other times, a powerful parable emerged from His lips, prompted by a question from the crowd. Sadly, the hectic pace of life in America often leads us to neglect to seize the moments Jesus gives us to spontaneously interact with children, neighbors, friends, coworkers, and strangers. Unplanned opportunities frequently prove more effective than carefully crafted plans we execute, especially when unplanned encounters revolve around a person in need of encouragement or in crisis. Lord, may we welcome interruptions today that allow us to seize the moment for Your glory! (See the April 25, 2020, carpe diem update).

Come and See (Psalm 34:8)

1 of 7 hibiscus near ready to make
a blood pressure dropping infusion

Verlin invested time in financial reports as he connected with stakeholders and a manufacturer for the CHE project site about eight kilometers north of Bondoukou. He took exercise breaks to walk, readied hibiscus calyx for harvest, fermented some more beans, and made yogurt for healthy, cheap eating while we are apart. He also dealt with an irritating skin rash we have yet to correctly identify after 20 years of experience. It spread to several parts of his body and now seems finished. Last minute on Tuesday, he became informed of an agricultural training event by ECHO rescheduled 3 hours south. Verlin seized the moment and sent two CHE-trained coworkers who use and produce moringa oleifera products. They attend to deepen connections beneficial to the nearby CHE agricultural project and other families.

This update marks the beginning of Debbie's fourth week living in Franklin with her father in her parents' rented apartment to assist her mother in a close-by rehab center. Sandra had a setback with pneumonia this past week, from which she is recovering slowly. We hope she can come home next week to stay active and integrate new habits learned to evade a recurrent event.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Pray the final ownership papers for the 25+ contiguous hectares of land where the agricultural project develops quell debates. The coming of the brick machine excited matriarchal family land interests, again calling into question community commitments. The matter will now be legally judged before we finalize the purchase and ship the machine for use to save building expenses. (It will be 50% or more less expensive to press the needed bricks by purchasing the machine than to make them locally using cement alone.) There's no need to bring the machine if villagers continue to argue over who has land use rights. The CHE trainer, previously judged as the heir of the land by his father, has worked for several years to legalize the necessary papers. The documents to be publicly presented, validated, and authorized as enforceable by the state are reportedly ready.
   
• 🙏 Continue to pray for the transition of the CHE committees in western Cote d'Ivoire from the leprosy work completed in the first 60 of 160 communities. This remains a monumental opportunity for churches to impact their communities that spin-off additional witness opportunities.
   
• 🙏 Pray for Sandra's (Debbie's mom) complete healing from pneumonia and hopefully return home to their apartment next week from rehab.
  

Your partners in the Gospel,
Verlin & Debbie

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: Life's Limitations
        - 241106 PDF
Prior Videos: Worth
        - 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.

GIVEONLINE to support these ministries
                                   www.che4a.org

Debbie's Facebook Page

 

Verlin's Facebook Page

Life's Limitations

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 241109 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

Have you ever thought of life’s limitations as a gift from God? This idea germinated and spread in Debbie’s heart during the week for several reasons. First, she heard a James Dobson broadcast discussing the concept with the author of a book called The Gift of Limitations, by Sara Hagerty. Sara and the host discussed how various limitations in her life were actually conduits to knowing God more intimately. Then, Debbie’s Mom, having a rough day coughing during rehab on Friday, spoke a similar thought about life’s limitations. She had been thinking about her “plan” when she retired from nursing to do many things and serve in many ways that she had not yet been able to do. Yet due to accepted health limitations of the last ten years, the Lord had another plan. So, she counts her days adjusting to A-fib and congestive heart failure as an opportunity equal to that of her serving God for many years as a missionary in Cote d'Ivoire. Truly, life’s limitations do not hinder His pleasure in a daughter or His intent for her remaining years of life

Come and See (Psalm 34:8)

As Debbie spent the last two weeks gladly serving her parents beyond a 40-hour workweek, Verlin communicated with several Community Health Evangelism (CHE) efforts. He inspected the on-site village location where the bricks for the local agricultural demonstration farm will be made. The villagers chose a good location. It will only require stringing electrical cable for about 20 meters and provides easy access to the main road and farm. It’s a good meeting place, too, in the future.

Learning tea recipe

Secondly, he and an Ivorian coworker were able to share and demonstrate to two local ladies the preparations of hibiscus, moringa, papaya, guava, avocado, and mango leaf teas with attention to steeping temperature to gain storage and nutritional advantages. The teas can diminish blood pressure, provide bio-available vitamins and minerals, prevent malaria, help with prostate health, stabilize blood sugar, provide polyphenols, and reduce kidney stones! The limitations of rural African life give optional health choices that provide great results when not thought a disadvantage. Unknowingly, the two helped prepare us to train others.

Thirdly, a master CHE trainer informed him that the NGO and government-initiated CHE project targeting lepers in the initial western-most region of Cote d’Ivoire closes. The teams trained to work with sixty committees, mostly led by pastors, have been steadfastly encouraged to lead the villages to tackle other community problems with the same CHE methods. Some do. Pray effective outreaches in numerous locations continue introducing many people to Jesus to be transformed.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Pray for the details of preparing the site for the brick-making equipment. Pray villagers continue coming to Christ by working together on this and other endeavors.
   
• 🙏 We give thanks that Debbie’s mother transferred from six days in the hospital to a rehab center close by to build as much strength as possible. She makes good progress.
   
• 🙏 Pray for the transition of the CHE teams trained to combat leprosy. As that government / NGO initiative ends there, pray most teams successfully address other needs in these initial sixty villages letting us learn to transition later to the additional hundred villages targeted by the effort.
  

Your partners in the Gospel,
Verlin & Debbie

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: Patriarchal Witness
        - 241102 PDF
Prior Videos: Worth
        - Simple Servants
 

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.

GIVEONLINE to support these ministries
                                   www.che4a.org

Debbie's Facebook Page

 

Verlin's Facebook Page

Patriarchal Witness

Hi everybody.

This update is late and different. Debbie and I have been so busy separately that we did not communicate about getting this update written and sent until late Saturday night.

Deb remains alongside her parents in Nashville, TN, while I hold down the fort of activities in Bondoukou, Cote d'Ivoire. The week has been blessed. I put together this little bit of news to keep your prayers informed and our faithfulness encouraged.

Deb's mother shed a large amount of her water weight gained at home due to her ongoing experience with congestive heart failure (CHF). Though briefly hospitalized at the beginning of the week, she now rests in a nursing care facility where two weeks of rehab are expected to help her better manage the CHF. Debbie and her sister did much of the running, paperwork, and accompanying at the beginning, but Debbie served as the valuable assistant when her mom transferred to a nursing facility late in the week while her sister took needed time to visit with other beloved family members.

My focus in Cote d'Ivoire has remained with ministry partners in the Bondoukou area. Besides a couple of follow-up meetings on the development of lands at the nearby agricultural site, I completed mundane activities like making banking arrangements for rent, maintenance, and utilities to be paid when I next returned to the US. Debbie and I spoke with mission staff Friday to update them on our third attempt to arrange our following of coached Emotional Focused Therapy (EFT) sessions to learn and use the technique to help ourselves and others. In the meantime, reading and talking over the phone about subjects other than ministry and family will help keep us closer to one another in thought and spirit.

Personal devotions and thought have been focused on the cultural stretching happening here between the matriarchal social culture so dominant culturally, while they also seek the wealth development and maintenance benefits of patriarchal culture. It's an interesting contrast for me to hear the US election news, reminding me that the US patriarchal cultural heritage and families there remain under siege by many who believe that integrating more matriarchal ideas in marriages will lead to more blessing and peace. It reminds me of what my father once regularly expressed when seeing how people could chase futility due to discontent: "The grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence."

In fact, I wanted to share my thoughts as this update, but it took me over 1,500 words over four hours just to get some thoughts down with relevant links to help guide discussions with others. It still needs to be polished and more clearly expressive of my thoughts, but you can read them in development in this linked PDF if you're interested. There's a good story about an 8-year-old witness to Jesus in it. Keeping this share shorter, it's relevant because I actually discussed Scriptural understandings with a believer experiencing distress with his wife who believes the child of a now departed sister is the responsibility of her family even though the father seeks to care for the child and pay for the child's education while he seeks another life partner. That's different to life in the US! In the end, after nearly two hours of conversation about God's design and how to best help others choose to obey God over human traditions, we concluded two things:

A) He would redouble his efforts to teach family by reading progressively through the holy scriptures at home and not depend upon church attendance alone to teach his family God's heart and established ways.

B) We would each meet with two pastors on Sunday and set a time to get together as a group to discuss the relevant issues and seek counsel from one another.

The conversation allowed me to surprisingly rejoice about a family involved in a neighborhood Discovery Bible Study I encouraged him to start over three years ago. He did not share until today that a drunk who had been abusing his wife got saved and that he and his now-saved wife moved to another town for work. They now attend a church faithfully there. That makes the third neighbor who has professed the Lord and moved on since we've been in this house since 2016. Their meeting with God happened during our absence from here between November 2023 and April 2024. This encourages us as we map out plans to win others we speak of as 'wayward brothers' or 'wayward servants' who follow another religious tradition and cannot experience the power of the Holy Spirit in their day-to-day lives since they do not know Jesus as Lord. That planning will likely be part of the discussion with the other pastors, too.

PRAYER ITEMS: 

1) Please continue praying for Debbie and me as we do the EFT together while apart and re-plan our times together. The plans we made prior to my return here in July were shifted for care and scheduling reasons.

2) Keep praying for the leprosy outreach and the locally funded Christmas Tree-operated gift witness. A couple of calls did not connect me for an update this week.

3) Thank you for your ongoing prayers and support. We have four months of back expenses to catch up on and provide an accurate reading of how our account finances are doing. Your prayers that we can concentrate and have the time to do those reports while active with everything else are appreciated.

Blessings,
Verlin & Debbie 

Recalibrate

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 241026 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

We appreciate friends and ministries that regularly recalibrate to improve their effectiveness for the growth of God's Kingdom. Our mission, Christian Health Service Corps (CHSC), frequently evaluates systems in place to meet the needs of missionaries and keep bookkeeping simple. That is not easy when we have grown 10-fold in the past decade! Recently, administrative staff spent hundreds of hours evaluating how to recalibrate their giving platform. Nothing changes if you contribute by mailing in donations. If you give recurring gifts online, you will begin to receive receipts from Qgiv after November 1st. The change should happen automatically, so there is nothing for you to do. Please get in touch with us if you experience any difficulty. We usually can find answers in minutes. CHSC's staff will always respond quickly and kindly if we fail. Thank you for continuing to help us equip the Ivorian people in extraordinary ways to experience abundant life in Jesus.

Come and See (Psalm 34:8)

Stakeholders

Verlin visited a clinic administrator and some missionary friends who minister about three hours south of Bondoukou this week. They seek ways to recalibrate their Community Health Evangelism (CHE) approaches in clinic and village outreaches. The missionary family also desires to recalibrate relationships so their children can better thrive. Pray that their staff and partners will receive clarity and learn concrete steps to make them more effective. Verlin also met with stakeholders from the small village where the brick-making equipment will likely be placed and initially used after soil studies. Thankfully, on Wednesday, he received the contact information for the equipment makers to check the availability of parts, etc.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Pray that the clinic and staff consider a re-training or two for using CHE effectively. May they decide to engage wholeheartedly for the sake of the Gospel and health in their community or realize they need another method to advance.
   
• 🙏 Sandra Payne's body (Debbie's mother) needs to recalibrate by losing water weight caused by congestive heart failure. She was admitted to the hospital on Thursday.
   
• 🙏 Jerry Pinkerton was promoted to Heaven last Sunday night. Continue to pray for his wife Carol and all the family.
  

Your partners in the Gospel,
Verlin & Debbie

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: A Phone Call
        - 241019 PDF
Prior Videos: Worth
        - Simple Servants
 

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.

GIVEONLINE to support these ministries
                                   www.che4a.org

Debbie's Facebook Page

 

Verlin's Facebook Page

iContact

Read online:
A Phone Call

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 241019 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

We are blessed to maintain connections with several ministerial friends who make multi-generational impacts on families and ministries. When our family arrived in Cote d'Ivoire (the RCI) in July of 2000, Jerry and Carol Pinkerton were one of two missionary couples who received and situated us for life in the RCI during a few days of orientation before we traveled north. Debbie loved "Uncle Jerry" and "Aunt Carol" when growing up as a missionary kid in Cote d'Ivoire. Carol taught her to bake Snickerdoodles and wrote notes of encouragement. Our children called them uncle and aunt, too, and were blessed by their influence. They were never more than a phone call away whenever we desired advice. When shared ministry objectives needed someone to fill in during the absence of others, like at a boarding school or a Bible Institute, the Pinkertons often adjusted their ministry priorities to keep joint ministries going. They served the Ivorian people faithfully for decades. We pray for this family of friends as Jerry receives hospice care at home and will likely draw his last breath soon.

People who are willing to be a phone call help in any setting. This week, Debbie, her parents, and her sister were surprised and blessed by the kindness of the Paynes' general practice doctor. As Debbie's mom has endured some added setbacks while recovering her physical health in the last month, the doctor gave us his personal cell phone number to keep him aware of progress after some medicine changes.

Come and See (Psalm 34:8)

The 2-ton press for brick-making

After a 9-hour drive, Verlin and a local brother initiating the regional agricultural project saw the brick-making equipment last week. They learned some new details, including that the numerous pieces of equipment were unpacked but never assembled to make bricks because the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted and displaced a ministry. Sourcing documents to verify that all necessary pieces are present and making connections to obtain replacement parts assure us that all can be put in working order via phone calls is part of the decision-making process. The process promises to deepen local relations in the region of Bondoukou. A 13-hour return trip with a stop in Abidjan confirmed that the site there could not be readied in time to make use of the automated hydraulic press to produce cement-stabilized compressed earth bricks during this year.

While evaluating the status of the equipment and validating plans for its use, Verlin and M. visited with a CHE trainer who remains intrinsic to the CHE leprosy prevention and treatment outreach. The carefully documented number of lepers continues to stagger the region. The public health effort integrating CHE approaches with volunteer church and community leaders identified over 185 thousand individuals in sixty communities with oversight committees, assessed over 181 thousand individuals (>97%), and found more than 1 person in 200 having leprosy. Those identified for treatment exceed 0.6% of the regional population. All the evaluations and diagnosis confirmations were accomplished without costing the government health system an additional cent and the NGO very little, except for minimal-cost community gestures like providing contributed wheelbarrows. The measurable CHE successes piqued the interest of other leaders. Observing educators connected with CHE-trained NGO team members now consider increasing involvement and efficacity to build community support for the local educational system. Another 'Christmas Tree' project inspired by Operation Christmas Child, depending only upon local operation funding while using CHE processes, was considered in a Thursday meeting. Verlin has yet to hear initial news from the meeting.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Pray for our friends Jerry and Carol Pinkerton. Jerry is reportedly in-home Hospice care and just breaths away from Heaven. Pray for the entire family's continued vibrant testimony of the Lord’s faithfulness.
   
• 🙏 Ask the Lord to prepare the path for smooth transport and set-up of the cement-stabilized compressed earth bricks block press (improved géo-béton).
   
• 🙏 Pray for the CHE teams involved in the leprosy programs in western Cote d'Ivoire, especially as CHE trainers remain sparse in the region containing the 60 villages, growing to a targeted 160 villages. Also, pray for the supportive and auxiliary Christmas outreach spearheaded by some Christians on the CHE teams.
  

Your partners in the Gospel,
Verlin & Debbie

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: Soil, Sacks, and Salvation
        - 241012 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.

GIVEONLINE to support these ministries
                                   www.che4a.org

Debbie's Facebook Page

 

Verlin's Facebook Page

A Phone Call

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 241019 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

We are blessed to maintain connections with several ministerial friends who make multi-generational impacts on families and ministries. When our family arrived in Cote d'Ivoire (the RCI) in July of 2000, Jerry and Carol Pinkerton were one of two missionary couples who received and situated us for life in the RCI during a few days of orientation before we traveled north. Debbie loved "Uncle Jerry" and "Aunt Carol" when growing up as a missionary kid in Cote d'Ivoire. Carol taught her to bake Snickerdoodles and wrote notes of encouragement. Our children called them uncle and aunt, too, and were blessed by their influence. They were never more than a phone call away whenever we desired advice. When shared ministry objectives needed someone to fill in during the absence of others, like at a boarding school or a Bible Institute, the Pinkertons often adjusted their ministry priorities to keep joint ministries going. They served the Ivorian people faithfully for decades. We pray for this family of friends as Jerry receives hospice care at home and will likely draw his last breath soon.

People who are willing to be a phone call help in any setting. This week, Debbie, her parents, and her sister were surprised and blessed by the kindness of the Paynes' general practice doctor. As Debbie's mom has endured some added setbacks while recovering her physical health in the last month, the doctor gave us his personal cell phone number to keep him aware of progress after some medicine changes.

Come and See (Psalm 34:8)

The 2-ton press for brick-making

After a 9-hour drive, Verlin and a local brother initiating the regional agricultural project saw the brick-making equipment last week. They learned some new details, including that the numerous pieces of equipment were unpacked but never assembled to make bricks because the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted and displaced a ministry. Sourcing documents to verify that all necessary pieces are present and making connections to obtain replacement parts assure us that all can be put in working order via phone calls is part of the decision-making process. The process promises to deepen local relations in the region of Bondoukou. A 13-hour return trip with a stop in Abidjan confirmed that the site there could not be readied in time to make use of the automated hydraulic press to produce cement-stabilized compressed earth bricks during this year.

While evaluating the status of the equipment and validating plans for its use, Verlin and M. visited with a CHE trainer who remains intrinsic to the CHE leprosy prevention and treatment outreach. The carefully documented number of lepers continues to stagger the region. The public health effort integrating CHE approaches with volunteer church and community leaders identified over 185 thousand individuals in sixty communities with oversight committees, assessed over 181 thousand individuals (>97%), and found more than 1 person in 200 having leprosy. Those identified for treatment exceed 0.6% of the regional population. All the evaluations and diagnosis confirmations were accomplished without costing the government health system a cent and the NGO very little, except for minimal-cost community gestures like providing contributed wheelbarrows. The measurable CHE successes piqued the interest of other leaders. Observing educators connected with CHE-trained NGO team members now consider increasing involvement and efficacity to build community support for the local educational system. Another 'Christmas Tree' project inspired by Operation Christmas Child, depending only upon local operation funding while using CHE processes, was considered in a Thursday meeting. Verlin has yet to hear initial news from the meeting.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Pray for our friends Jerry and Carol Pinkerton. Jerry is reportedly in-home Hospice care and just breaths away from Heaven. Pray for the entire family's continued vibrant testimony of the Lord’s faithfulness.
   
• 🙏 Ask the Lord to prepare the path for smooth transport and set-up of the cement-stabilized compressed earth bricks block press (improved géo-béton).
   
• 🙏 Pray for the many CHE teams involved in the leprosy programs in western Cote d'Ivoire, especially as CHE trainers remain sparse in the region containing the 60 villages, growing to a targeted 160 villages. Also, pray for the supportive and auxiliary Christmas outreach spearheaded by some Christians on the CHE teams.
  

Your partners in the Gospel,
Verlin & Debbie

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: Soil, Sacks, and Salvation
        - 241012 PDF
Prior Videos: Worth
        - Simple Servants
 

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.

GIVEONLINE to support these ministries
                                   www.che4a.org

Debbie's Facebook Page

 

Verlin's Facebook Page

Soil, Sacks, and Salvation

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 241012 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

Soil, sacks, and salvation may seem odd to discuss in a missionary update! It makes perfect sense in a Community Health Evangelism (CHE) context. One agricultural technique becoming popular around the world is sack farming. We know numerous people in West Africa who use this method effectively in their CHE ministries. City dwellers with little space find sack farming a great alternative, as do people concerned about water conservation and the capacity to move crops around. Other benefits include pest control, weed reduction, proximity to home, and making experimentation easier. Check out this phenomenon online in articles and YouTube videos!

Sack farming in action

One of our FWB CHE pastors began using this agricultural tool after seeing it effectively demonstrated at the CHE Internship Center when he attended. Soil, sacks, and salvation relate to sack farming in his context because it is a witnessing opportunity. He now has over 40 people (most of whom adhere to a religion besides Christianity) ready to be trained in CHE. Neighbors and friends have seen his family's use of sack farming and other agricultural or health improvements, and they are now prepared to learn.

Come and See (Psalm 34:8)

Verlin finished some home projects this week, including repairing the hot water heater and ridding our cement patio of green slime and holes that invited falls and twisted ankles. Having been gone months, important banking and upkeep issues remain for Verlin to address, but several were handled. Late in the week, he drove to Gagnoa to evaluate large brick-making equipment we mentioned last week. Géo-béton bricks, made of soil and 5 to 10% cement, are very durable and significantly cheaper. He also visited a CHE teammate and some Raoul Follereau CHE sites (prevention of leprosy programs).

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Thank the Lord for Verlin's safe journey to western Cote d'Ivoire to see the builders of the physical and spiritual Kingdom of God and to evaluate the brick-making equipment.
   
• 🙏 Pray for CHE practitioners learning to use sack farming and having Gospel opportunities by teaching their neighbors some practical agricultural methods.
   
• 🙏 Continue to pray for Debbie as she searches for new housing for her parents. She had a 3-day setback when a back muscle spasmed, but moving and driving is almost pain-free now.
  

Your partners in the Gospel,
Verlin & Debbie

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: Venture Out
        - 241005 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.

GIVEONLINE to support these ministries
                                   www.che4a.org

Debbie's Facebook Page

 

Verlin's Facebook Page

Venture out

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 241005 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

This week, we rejoiced as stories surfaced of veterans, pilots, first responders, pastors, churches, and neighbors rescuing Hurricane Helene victims, working to do good despite discouragements of overwhelmed governance. We have many friends in devastated areas. Thank the Lord for the people who venture out of their comfort zones to share supplies or rescue others. In one story of romance, a father walked 30 miles overnight to attend his daughter's wedding in Johnson City, Tennessee, to perform his responsibilities! These individuals make us proud to be Americans.

Candidly, the global church needs reminders of the impacts that happen when believers venture out together into our communities and their worlds. The Kingdom does not grow when believers huddle in homes and church buildings. Venturing out requires time, effort, and risk. Thankfully, the outreach rarely requires heroics. It can be as simple as giving a meal, providing a ride, or mowing a neighbor's lawn. All of us can take the opportunity to venture out in Jesus' name if we keep our eyes open and cultivate servant hearts daily, even if bedridden and receiving visitors.

Come and See (Psalm 34:8)

Part of training

Verlin interrupted his week to venture out and bless a brother in Christ with an unplanned ride to Abidjan. On Tuesday, he went to Goumere to deliver a repaired printer needed for income generation and visit one of our pastors who helped at the university CHE training. As Verlin prepped to leave, he helped receive a Nigerian pastor giving a one-day seminar the next day. The workshop aimed to help the congregation venture out of the walls built by their heritage of African Traditional Religions and become more effective witnesses in life and ministry. After the visiting speaker showed interest during a brief exchange on seeing the video we shared last week, Verlin decided to attend with three others who promote family Bible studies in Bondoukou. The speaker's message overlapped with CHE and Discovery Bible Study (DBS) principles. He and Verlin decided to further their exchange. Verlin's driving him to Abidjan provided sufficient time when a bus ride was missed. (He also needed to finish two other follow-up meetings in Abidjan). The 6 hours of ministerial conversations let Verlin connect the speaker as one partnering with another Nigerian Baptist pastor in Abidjan with whom Verlin has already been planning training in Community Health Evangelism (CHE)! Verlin met with the other on Thursday. The two met today at their conference to examine with others the interest of all considering using CHE as their ministerial strategy during a future training of trainers (TOT). We pray that these will form a CHE team in SE Cote d'Ivoire, where no training team is dedicated to growing and planting churches.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Ask the Lord to guide the group of Nigerian Baptists who met today and whose leadership planned to discuss considering CHE as a primary evangelistic and discipleship strategy to use.
   
• 🙏 Pray for the ongoing development of strong CHE training teams and sites in nine areas of Cote d'Ivoire. Thank the Lord that groups exist in seven of the nine regions anticipated since 2008, making participation in TOTs less expensive. We pray and work that the CHE training happens in all nine areas annually.
   
• 🙏 Pray for a safe and productive trip to see the brick-making equipment, which will probably be late next week. Ask the Lord to clarify if the first use of the equipment is feasible for partners living and working around Abidjan.
  

Your partners in the Gospel,
Verlin & Debbie

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: Worth
        - 240928 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
 
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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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