Neck up

Neck up

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 240106 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

Transitioning from one year to another is a good time to consider a "checkup from the neck up." We first heard this catchphrase from a gifted, Godly psychiatrist, Dr. Barney Davis, whom our mission uses for consultation with missionaries and staff. All agency missionaries are encouraged to have an annual mental wellness "neck-up checkup" with him or perhaps another experienced mental health professional. Unsurprisingly, missionaries face many stressful factors in life and ministry as they uproot families and move into new cultures. Anxiety, depression, grief, isolation, cultural adjustments, interpersonal conflicts, moral injury, disasters, trauma, physical assaults, famine, war, persecution, PTSD, and spiritual warfare are just a few of the challenges regularly encountered by those who live the calling. Mental health or coping issues derail Kingdom work more than physical ones. We are thankful that our mission, the Christian Health Service Corps (CHSC), takes the "checkup from the neck up" seriously by providing people and resources to help. The goal is to root out unhealthy thought processes before resulting habits damage us (2 Cor. 10:5; Gal. 5)

Interestingly, military veterans and missionaries share similar symptoms despite enduring apparently different combats where one seems physical and the other spiritual. Moral Injury (YouTube link) affects soldiers and missionaries frequently, causing unanticipated mental stress. It can happen to others, too. Educators, lawyers, social workers, couples and children, pastors, counselors, etc., and perhaps you. If you like, view the 7-minute YouTube video linked above and by image to understand how this conflict often impacts military and missionary friends. Or, see the more comprehensive yet simple 50-minute Rumble DocSnipes lecture. There is an article specific to missionaries here submitted by CHE research friends or the more general magazine intro here that touches on COVID-19. Most missionaries experience some moral injury regularly but usually do not know how to identify what they are experiencing or cope with it. Jesus suffered the greatest temptation and moral injury risk when called to bear the world's sins on the cross through no fault of His own. He showed us the way to overcome

Come and See (Psalm 34:8)

Speaking of "checkup from the neck up." Our testing in January includes this area. Because of post-COVID and vaccine symptoms, we see physicians to perform neuro-cognitive testing. Verlin already had his initial visit with bloodwork and one cognitive test (MoCA 29/30). An MRI scan and another evaluation are ahead. One test has a long waiting period. Debbie begins the same process on January 23rd. Soon, Verlin expects to complete the online psychological testing that Debbie squeaked in before we left Cote d'Ivoire. Don't worry. We will not subject you to test details unless something affects how we do missionary service. However, we will try to pass along helpful info besides keeping you informed along the way! We delight in visiting ministry partners and friends as we travel to and from testing locations. Thank you for the warm reception at every visit that we have been able to make privately and in church services (more than a dozen)!

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Thank the Lord for His provision in every aspect of missionary life. Pray for the new missionary orientation happening at our mission, CHSC, in mid-January. Usually, Debbie would be there to help with Missionary Kids, but finishing our battery of tests takes priority due to scheduling conflicts this month.
   
• 🙏 Debbie's mother had another episode with Afib recently. It seems better now with medicine adjustments. Deb plans to spend several days with her parents this week, helping in whatever ways possible and enjoying their company!
   
• 🙏 End-of-year giving was plentiful, which helped cover lower-than-average giving in October and November! Praise God, and thank you for your part in that blessing.
  

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: Dad's Way
        - 240101 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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