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

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Andersons Witness in Africa.
It is also a brand of bottled water in Cote d'Ivoire where we serve.

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