Mango Mush

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 240427 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

The season of tummy aches and sticky fingers is upon Cote d’Ivoire! With the dry months past, mangos load the trees. Children often gobble them green or gorge on the ripe ones to the point of pain. The abundant fruit will leave mango mush on the ground around town for a few months. Our one tree in the yard produces hundreds more than we can use, so we collect them to share with neighbors. But everyone has an abundance, so the rotting fruit abounds.

Mango mush beginning

But what if? What if that sweet pulp could be preserved for the months when fruit is scarce? That vision grabbed the attention of the ministry coworker and some neighborhood women. While in Bondoukou, Verlin shared tastes and the idea of making aam papad, a leathery dried mango treat very popular in India. Interested parties watched videos and learned to combine mango mush (puree), heat, sugar, and spices to make a tasty treat for later use. During the upcoming weeks, they will hone their skills and hopefully create microenterprises that will augment family incomes. It will also provide a tasty boost of fiber with Vitamins A and C during the year to accompany moringa leaf powder benefits. These small Community Health Evangelism (CHE) efforts open the door for sharing spiritual truth with friends and neighbors. People of all ethnic groups and religions want to learn techniques to nourish their families year-round. Sharing in the context of teaching Community Health Evangelism, God gets His credit.

Come and See (Psalm 34:8)

Verlin left the mango mush experiment to our coworker’s skill development while making a 42-hour trip to and from Abidjan. The principal reason was a planned UFHB CHE meeting. He took advantage of the journey to resupply household stocks for our July return and renew the annual parking permit to have all vehicle papers in order. The travel also afforded opportunities to catch up with ARC en Christ members and speak with pastors and CHE trainers along the route to discuss the September CHE university and W. African Regional Conference events. Debbie continues to travel between Cookeville and Franklin to help her parents and visit with ministry partners along the way. Her doctor visits continue to regulate blood pressure and CPAP issues.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Thank the Lord for Verlin’s safe roundtrip to and from Abidjan Thursday night through Saturday morning and the successes and encouragements heard and shared. Keep praying God continues to guide the oversight of the UFHB CHE activities and preparations for the September CHE training and the three pastors overseeing micro-enterprise development activities with whom he visited.
   
• 🙏 Pray that the small group in Bondoukou will successfully learn to make aam papad with minimal frustration. Ask the Lord to allow this endeavor to again demonstrate how God generates income for families who faithfully develop products in service to others from his Creation, like mango mush, and give the faithful many more opportunities to reveal Christ in the process!
   
• 🙏 Verlin has eleven days left in Cote d’Ivoire before returning to Accra, Ghana, by bus. From there, he will board his flight for Phoenix, Arizona, on May 11th for the International Wholistic Missions Conference. Pray he can get as much done pleasing to God as possible in the little time left until returning again in July after handling additional family and mission responsibilities
  

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: Reverse the Curse
        - 240427 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

Reverse the Curse

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 240320 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

During the week's series of devotions from a group we've been evaluating for more than a year, a Lectio 365 meditation described Pentecost as God's way to "reverse the curse of Babel." God caused language confusion to separate people and facilitate their obeying His command to fill the earth and exercise dominion. That reality is a bane to spreading the Gospel worldwide since missionaries and other Christians encounter language barriers; however, the same language challenge is a blessing in that the cross-cultural perspectives enrich understanding of God's Word. Ask anyone in a church service where the sermon is translated into several languages! Imagine the wonder of the international visitors at Pentecost hearing the truth about Jesus simultaneously in their own languages from mostly uneducated Jewish men! A significant chunk of our missionary time in the past 27 years has been spent in activities intended to reverse the curse of Babel by enabling others to obey God's interests rather than their own. Cote d'Ivoire has around 69 languages with which to contend inside its borders.

Speaker Rosi Orzoco

Verlin will continue the effort to reverse the curse's difficulties while attending the International Wholistic Missions Conference (IWMC) on May 15-17 in Phoenix with our Ivorian CHE brother Emmanuel. While they will hear from excellent speakers like Dr. Os Guinness and Rosi Orozco ("Mexico's leading anti-human trafficking activist"), most attendees will relish the opportunity to network and learn from each other during roundtable discussions. Many participants will be Community Health Evangelism (CHE) workers from around the world. Emmanuel pays his way as a first-year member of the CHE Global Council, which provides direction to the member service team. He will make connections and share what the Lord is doing in Cote d'Ivoire with help from Bernie, Dayo, Verlin, and other friends. He will also lead a DMM workshop.

Come and See (Psalm 34:8)

Verlin submitted our 2023 tax return on the day of the deadline and made progress in balancing our books to submit expenses for validation and reimbursement. We had a large backlog of receipts to input and prepare, and the entries balanced within a dollar on the first try! Preparing financial reports with receipts in different languages and of three different currencies (U.S. Dollar, Ghanaian Cedi, ECOWAS Franc) requires hours regularly of us. He also continued addressing local ministry issues and provided training resources to a group preparing to market-test a new micro-enterprise. More on that next week.

Debbie was pleased to be with her parents for part of the week. She continues informing other entities of the financial power of attorney so that she and her sister can better assist them. She addressed two instances of credit card fraud on the phone. Eddie and Sandra have the common hearing issues of octogenarians, making it difficult to handle some of these challenges. Debbie also rejoices at the progress her mother celebrates in learning to manage her congestive heart failure.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Pray for the Bible translation efforts underway for hundreds of unreached people groups. May every ethnic group in the world have the joy of hearing the Holy Scriptures in their own language.
   
• 🙏 Ask the Lord to help international participants who prepare to go to the United States for the IWMC. Getting legal documents in order, like visas, can often be tricky.
   
• 🙏 Thank the Lord for the progress in Debbie's mother's health. The edema related to her congestive heart failure is much reduced. If Sandra continues to manage her CHF so well, the home health nurse will finish her visits in April. We are grateful for this progress!
  

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: The Quiet Ones
        - 240413 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

>

>

The Quiet Ones

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 240313 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

There is a saying when dealing with people that you have to worry about “the quiet ones.” The personalities of serial killers and mass shooters may fall into that category. Still, we prefer to think of amazing, quiet ones we have the privilege to know as friends and coworkers! You know the kind of people we mean—background heroes who energetically engage to accomplish great things. People who sometimes speak before thousands,but can also be seen scrubbing toilets. Friends who do not need their names emblazoned on plaques or in print but who faithfully serve others. Debbie was blessed by kind, quiet ones in Cookeville this week, while Verlin heard an encouraging report from one in Africa.

Side mirror woes

Did you know that some car paints, like that for an older F150 truck, can cost up to $1,000.00 per gallon? Debbie learned that intimidating fact from a seasoned mechanic in Cookeville. She was looking for a used side-view mirror for our 2005 Toyota Avalon, having allowed a small branch to break the driver’s side mirror as she backed out of our driveway during a heavy rain. Thankfully, our regular mechanic directed her to a cheaper alternative, even though that meant he would not get our business this time. She ordered the part secondhand. Although the gray paint may not match perfectly, it will be close in color and save us several hundred dollars. In a world where some mechanics take advantage of those ignorant of car repair, we are grateful for a quiet one who knew that sending us elsewhere would increase long-term loyalty. In addition, Debbie was blessed by other quiet ones who offered rides to and from the repair shop and a good pair of loppers given to us years ago that allowed her to clear the bothersome branches overhanging the driveway!

Come and See (Psalm 34:8)

On another continent, Verlin received an encouraging report from a quiet one in Bondoukou during a brief visit. We trained this retired teacher to use Discovery Bible Studies (DBS) some years ago. He has been sharing DBS with rural village Christians without churches or where some have closed their doors. As he conducted Bible studies, he trained interested attendees to lead DBS and join him in training others just as he trained them. In an area where many small but growing Baptist churches formerly helped to surround Bondoukou, DBS became another local leader’s primary means of evangelism. Numerous people have been saved, with more decisions for Christ than have been seen for years. Further, a high school student he trained has started other studies among college students. Praise the Lord for this man faithfully working in hard places, receiving little to no public recognition for the labor.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Thank the Lord for the kind help of quiet ones who helped Debbie with car issues this week. She is grateful for the many people available to help when we spend time apart for ministry.
   
• 🙏 Pray for the CHE university team as they continue developing their village programs and plan the CHE training week scheduled for September.
   
• 🙏 Intercede for our brother, who works in villages surrounding Bondoukou using Discovery Bible Studies to reach people with the Gospel. Pray that the people he has trained to lead studies will, in turn, continue reaching out to many others for Christ.
  

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: Backup
        - 240406 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

> >

Backup

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 240406 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

It impresses us how many plans and backup plans federal and state governments put into place to accommodate crowds expected for the total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8th. States of emergency orders in some areas will help handle crowd control. Elaborate plans exist to backup food, water, and electricity. All is done to manage anticipated crowds during a natural phenomenon that lasts just minutes! It testifies to how people groups whose ancestral habits were changed when obeying God's Word in the past prepare for demonstrations of His wondrous works today. This brouhaha should pale when compared to what must be our more rigorous, determined, and thorough preparation to stand before Jesus for judgment, but does it? Do local churches faithfully prepare their communities for Jesus' unannounced return date? Will our neighbors be surprised when Christ displays His rule over all Creation in person again? As we reflect on these questions, we look forward to the testimony of His ascension by a national holiday in Cote d'Ivoire this Sunday and in the four after that. Preparations for the solar eclipse over the US remind us that neighbors need our help to prepare for the greater astronomical and cataclysmic certainty of Jesus' return.

Come and See (Psalm 34:8)

When growing up in Africa, our children heard ad nauseam as Verlin taught them to make backup plans for any activity—and backup plans for the backup plans! That mental planning for contingencies saved our bacon on numerous occasions! This week, he briefly chatted with a CHE trainer who visited unannounced.

Another micro-biz to glorify God,
support His work --Make aam-papad

In the past, this Ivorian, like others, leaned heavily on outside funds to do ministry. (It is considered an honor to ask you for help in their cultural milieu.) He expected our help early this year with training. Upon our failure to return in February as projected, he did not grow discouraged. He instead proceeded with CHE agricultural and microenterprise projects using a backup plan. He even roped in another trainer who was inactive and lived elsewhere! Thankfully, whether a benefactor is present or absent, his commitment and trust in the Lord persists. That is a measurable change that he acknowledges. He joins a crowd of Ivorians who gain confidence to make do with what God has placed in their hands because of our service here.

Verlin spent most of his time submerged in arranging finances for bills, accounting for months of work and absence, and preparing to submit US income taxes. He made good progress. We also changed our travel dates to conform more closely to our present reality. The resulting lowered airfares let the changes happen with nearly no fees! Debbie continues with family responsibilities and ministry partner contacts as enjoined by Verlin. She wrestles with a stomach virus while striving to regulate blood pressure with medication changes. Verlin discovered that eating lots of sardines and honey with little fiber during a week stimulated gout symptoms in his feet, believed to be the culprit of several years of suffering. Now, he knows lifestyle and nutrition changes to find relief.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Thank the Lord that through flight changes, we only incurred a charge of $25 for one ticket and none for the other two. Give thanks that we learn to resolve lesser health issues than others we have confronted and overcome in our past adventures.
   
• 🙏 Continue to pray for calm on Cote d'Ivoire's northern border with Burkina Faso.
   
• 🙏 Pray for the Ivorian CHE trainer ramping up his agricultural and microenterprise outreach.
  

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: Fear Robber
        - 240330 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

> >