Thrivers not Survivors

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 250628 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

When we share in churches about the ministry the Lord has given us in Cote d’Ivoire, it is common for someone to express admiration for what we do and add, “I could never do that.” That happened last week after Verlin spoke in Cookeville. However, this precious sister had the great insight to immediately correct herself and say, “Well, I guess I could if the Lord asked me to.” Yes, exactly.

Debbie smiled. She frequently makes a similar comment when people express doubt about being a missionary. As someone else put it, “God does not call the equipped; instead, He equips the called.” Or as Peter, the brash fisherman, most eloquently explains in 2 Peter 1:3, God has given us ALL THINGS that pertain to life and godliness. There is nothing our Lord asks us to do that is impossible. The process of learning to trust and take HIS provision is not easy, but it is doable. With His strength in us, we can learn to thrive in life and ministry, not just survive. (Enjoy this spiritual truth expressed in the song “Thrive” by Casting Crowns.) May we rethink the next time we are tempted to tell the Lord, “No, I can’t.”

Come and See (Psalm 34:8)

We learned this week that American passports can be renewed entirely online. The experience promises to be a time and money saver, praise the Lord, but it also comes with a caveat. The applicant cannot use the new passport until six weeks after the application date. That means the earliest Verlin can get a ticket back to Côte d’Ivoire is after August 7th. There remains a ramp to build and gutters to install amidst visits to ministry partners on an impromptu basis, and a forthcoming visit to celebrate his mother’s ninetieth birthday. Nonetheless, it does change his projected return date a little. There also remains a meeting of minds with the mission staff to clarify our interim objectives during this time of transition for Deb’s dad, Eddie. We continue to think that it may be a month or two later than Verlin before Debbie will be free to return to Africa, based on the remaining tasks to be completed. Ivorian friends and coworkers continue to call us, sharing ministry updates and checking in on how we are.

Sharing in Cookeville

You can view and hear Verlin share in a message during a local church visit with longtime Michigan family and friends in ministry relocated to Mid-TN, the Roger Cooper family. Click here.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 As you pray for a peaceful presidential election cycle in Côte d’Ivoire, would you also include a fellow-missionary who works in Ukraine? Drone and missile attacks in her small town have been fierce during June. She oversees the training of staff in physical therapy that she practices, too.
   
• 🙏 Pray for the Holy Spirit’s conviction in the lives of friends we have who adhere to another religion in Côte d’Ivoire. As the decades roll by, we realize that their opportunities to respond to the Gospel grow fewer. One of these friends made a call to Verlin last week for some medical advice.
   
• 🙏 Debbie’s father is grateful to be out of rehab and in a home environment. Pray that the family succeeds in assembling a team of people around him who can readily assist with various needs.
  

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: Never Again
        - 250621 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

Never Again

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 250621 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

Jonas Brou, image courtesy of 
© Fondation Raoul Follereau

When families suffer tragic, preventable losses, loved ones and friends often vow, “never again.” So began some organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. This week, a Community Health Evangelism (CHE) coworker sent us a report from The Raoul Follereau Foundation, the secular entity that funded the leprosy treatment outreach using CHE in western Côte d’Ivoire. One of the trainers, Jonas Brou, shared why he became involved in the highly successful project. He reported, “Neglected tropical diseases, such as leprosy and Buruli ulcer, have a significant impact on the population. My son had Buruli ulcer and had his leg amputated last year at the age of 31…That’s why I got involved in the project. I never want to see that again!” During this initial, publicly and privately funded joint effort, 185,749 people were registered and screened for leprosy. Instead of finding about 1 case per 10,000 inhabitants, the screenings found one case of leprosy per 1,000 residents—a much higher rate than expected. Overall, CHE visits found 175 cases of leprosy, 4 cases of Buruli ulcer, 136 cases of yaws, 2,113 cases of scabies, and 74,128 other skin diseases. Besides treating the actual leprosy victims who continue to be monitored, 5,490 family and friends in contact with the patients also received preventive medications.

Because CHE teams were the vehicle used to enter these 60+ villages, they addressed other wholistic health issues, as well. The foundation shared that women’s groups began sweeping their village streets and marketplaces, also learning to make local soap. Men built new classrooms for an overcrowded school. Children learned that washing their hands faithfully meant no more stomachaches that plagued them. As our CHE trainer friend Emmanuel Konan explained in the Follereau report, “At the beginning of the project, when we arrived in the community, people told us, ‘We have nothing here.’ Today, they see that they are capable of taking action with their own resources.” Thank you for participating in this wonderful endeavor through your prayers and donations to CHE ministries! We have played an integral part in this development of Ivorians ministering to other Ivorians. When Verlin visited the Gagnoa team last October, he met two pastors leading project committees and affiliated Bible studies. Many villagers heard the Gospel during house visits from Ivorian CHE workers and now continue working together to address other problems in their communities. In some locations, CHE committee members or trainers introduced Discovery Bible Studies.

Come and See (Psalm 34:8)

For the first time in ten years, you did not hear from us for two weeks in a row! We did not write while moving Eddie from the rehab facility to a new town to live with Laura, Deb’s sister. Debbie still assists with doctor visits, arranges senior home services, unpacks, handles financial matters, and works to clear a storage unit while overcoming an intestinal bug. She expects to help her father through the end of July. Verlin moved two loads of Eddie’s belongings with friends, cleared fallen trees, and planned the ramp. He stays connected, preaches locally, and plans to visit family so that a return to Côte d’Ivoire is possible at the end of summer.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Thank the Lord, Debbie’s dad, Eddie, was released from the rehab center. The entire family now works together to settle him into his new home with Deb’s sister. Debbie spends half weeks helping with the move, doctor appointments, unpacking, and getting home health services set up.
   
• 🙏 Pray for Ivorian villages to continue laboring to bring community transformation through CHE, as program leaders change. Ask for wisdom and grace for volunteer CHE trainers who supervise multiple sites.
   
• 🙏 Ask the Lord to help Debbie find ways to evade knee injury. Pray Verlin’s timing coordinates with God’s, so that groups and individuals who have offered to help with materials or labor to build the ramp can.
  

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: Let Prevention Prevail!
        - 250531 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

Let Prevention Prevail!

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 25052431 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

Defang the mosquito's power!

It is a time to rejoice with those who rejoice as science discovers a potential way to prevent a worldwide scourge like malaria. When prevention prevails in the treatment of diseases, costs, human suffering, and death decline. In a novel approach reported publicly this week, Harvard researchers found two drugs that kill the malarial parasite in the mosquito. In this scenario, it would not matter if the mosquito bit you, since the parasite would already be dead. Rather than insecticide, mosquito nets might be impregnated with a cocktail of drugs to be absorbed via the insect’s feet and legs. This method may become commonplace in a decade. For those of us who have endured malaria, we rejoice to know ANY hope of diminishing this equatorial enemy.

We dream of a day when Medicare in the United States can prioritize prevention, enabling families to care for their beloved elders with fewer health issues. While reimbursement improves, training with practical tools, equipment, activity, and nutritional habits that could prevent falls, disease, and lengthy rehabilitation stays is rarely targeted by insurance. Prevention demands more work. It also requires more expense if not planned for integrally over the decades before strength flags, hearing diminishes, and eyesight dims.

At the annual Level 2 University FHB studies in Abidjan, we begin the first day of sessions by emphasizing how Community Health Engagement/Evangelism/Education programs (CHE approaches) reduce public and community health expenses while conducting regular household visits with training in good health practices. In the U.S., illness and painful falls often precede families seeking counsel on how to live wisely. Then, needed adaptive expenses often fail to qualify for Medicare reimbursement. The system prefers paying for treatments that develop other treatments over time rather than helping families design bathrooms or teaching a senior adaptive use of a shower chair, despite their having fallen multiple times for lack of prior attention. Physical therapists and friends in similar situations of helping elderly parents lament, too. The focus on curative care instead of prevention imposes high financial and personal costs on families. Thankfully, Debbie’s father, who may be released from the rehab center next week, is blessed with several items that will help him move more safely in daily life despite his weakened frame. Debbie anticipates an additional $500 or so. Still, the frustration is real and shared!

Come and See (Psalm 34:8)

Since Debbie’s dad, Eddie, will likely be discharged from the rehab center soon, we anticipate an exceptionally busy period for several weeks. We will move him to another town, where Debbie’s sister, Laura, has rented a large home to accommodate her needs and her father. Eddie will NOT have to climb unmanageable stairs outside. Additionally, the interior is spacious for a rollator, and it also features a walk-in shower. Once we have him safely installed there and have helped him clear a large storage unit in Nashville, Verlin will build a ramp for the entrance to our small home. This will serve as a secondary, safe place for Eddie to stay, and it is now possible to build, as we have caught up on our financial reports. As soon as possible in June, Debbie will keep a promise to her dad by taking him on a short visit to his childhood hometowns in Arkansas and Oklahoma for closure. Eddie would eventually like to rent a small, one-bedroom place of his own, but that is not something his daughters envision soon, based on reports from physical therapy.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Thank the Lord for ongoing efforts to eradicate malaria. Pray that other research and remedies will find ways to eliminate the parasite in the mosquito, rather than simply killing the mosquito.
   
• 🙏 Pray that the Ivorian people will remain calm in the face of presidential elections this fall.
   
• 🙏 Debbie’s father will likely leave rehab sometime next week. He plans to move in with Laura, Deb’s older sister. She has recently rented a large house in another Tennessee town. The next few weeks will be busy as we help him move again, assist him in clearing a large storage space in Nashville, and build a ramp at our house to provide him with a secondary, safe place to stay.
  

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: Freedom's Scars
        - 250524 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

Freedom's Scars

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 250524 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

5 of our WWII soldiers

We ruminate over the idea that “freedom isn’t free,” this weekend dedicated to honoring and remembering the more than 1.1 million soldiers who gave their lives for liberty. A popular poem and song beautifully articulate the emotions we experience from the thought. At the same time, Memorial Day reminds us about freedom’s scars—missing limbs, PTSD, nightmares, survivor’s guilt, and suffering families whose loved ones returned in body but not in soul, never the same. Each of us has had uncles and other family who served in World War II—storming the beaches of Normandy, parachuting into Germany, cutting hair, cooking meals, and using sniper skills and explosives expertise. These courageous men did not let fear prevent them from doing what needed doing and did not discuss their wartime experiences, except in rare, sanitized remarks. There is little to say peaceably when you start one morning with thirty-five men poised for an invasion, and only six remain alive come eventide. Freedom’s scars cut deep. They can last a lifetime.

The holiday serves as another kind of reminder. Amidst other metaphors, Holy Scripture paints the Christian life as a battle. We have an Enemy who snipes at the souls of our families. This world system targets soldiers of the cross in horrific ways around the globe. In America, anyone seriously working out the salvation of themselves and others in accord with Biblical truth frequently sits under judgment by an ungodly culture. Christian workers experience regular attacks—physical, spiritual, and emotional. Their experiences get little press coverage. It is no surprise that more than ever, believers experience trauma, secondary PTSD, depression, burnout, temptations, and family crises. Fighting on spiritual frontlines remains dangerous work. The greatest comfort remains our resting in service with a Savior well acquainted with freedom’s scars, Who has already won our battles. As we remember to bless and pray for military families in various ways, pray for Christians in the military and elsewhere who serve while wounded. As best possible, let us not shoot our own!

Come and See (Psalm 34:8)

The Lord blessed us with a busy week when we felt some accomplishment. We finished four financial reports and connected with mutually encouraging ministry partners. On the flip side, Debbie’s dad, Eddie, encountered additional difficulties during this week’s therapy sessions. Unanticipated swelling and bruising led to extra testing. Finding an old, torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder requires some changes to therapy and daily habits. Eddie does not plan to have surgery.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Join us in looking for ways to honor and help military families and war-weary Christians. Ask the Lord to remind us of the Enemy’s schemes and to arm ourselves with the whole armor of God.
   
• 🙏 Pray for countries where war, unrest, or persecution hinder the Gospel of Christ.
   
• 🙏 Once again, Debbie’s dad, Eddie, experienced setbacks this week. An X-ray revealed a torn rotator cuff in his shoulder! Pray for needed adjustments to physical therapy and daily habits.
  

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: Pay it Forward
        - 250517 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

Pay it Forward

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 250517 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

Pay it forward is a popular axiom about generosity in our generation. The concept seems a little like Jesus’ teaching in Luke 14 about inviting those who cannot repay you to the banquet. When experiencing this, we think of someone having done a kindness for us, but instead of returning kindness to the giver, we pay it forward by helping someone else. Before it became popular here, many organizations helping people in need worldwide copied a program that Heifer International instilled as a principle in their operations. Heifer International calls it “Passing on the Gift.” When they donate cattle, goats, or an agricultural ability to someone, they expect the recipient to pay it forward to someone else by giving a cow or goat and repeating the training.

Although Community Health Evangelism (CHE) promotes the practice directly, the strategic approach operates very similarly as a whole. We train or disciple others to multiply themselves rather than only increasing the number of participants. People learn new principles in Christian living, health, nutrition, farming, and husbandry for themselves, then pass the disciplines on to others, who get encouraged to do the same. A dear Ivorian CHE ministry partner shared a story with Verlin this week about a pay-it-forward ministry he recently started. Ministering in an area of Cote d’Ivoire where most resist hearing the Gospel, the church-planting pastor targets outreach to young people. Youth in Côte d’Ivoire who do not have jobs frequently get into trouble. In one village, he gifted a young man two ducks to raise as a micro-enterprise. (We did not ask him the source of his funding. Funds usually come from himself, a collection, or a received gift.) Part of the agreement is that they will give a duckling to another person and train them in the process. A great joy of Christianity is freely giving to others, knowing we have freely received from the Lord the Gospel and the capable expertise that blesses and enriches the lives of anyone willing to receive.

Come and See (Psalm 34:8)

Grandma joy on Mother's Day!

Verlin spent numerous hours communicating with Community Health Evangelism (CHE) ministry partners in Côte d’Ivoire. We jointly worked on financial accounting, completing three reports in the week. Hopefully, by the end of the month, we will be caught up on the monthly reports, then complete our quarterly and annual reports to send in a printed newsletter.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Thank the Lord for the reports we heard from partners in Côte d’Ivoire. Pray for CHE-formulated outreaches in areas resistant to Christianity. Ask the Lord to provide constant opportunities to share the Gospel as they help youth learn husbandry and spiritual lessons. Also, pray for health-based ministries adapting to USAID changes. Some have not paid staffers who minister to AIDS and other patients for more than three months as the US State Department refocuses priorities.
   
• 🙏 Continue to pray for calm to reign as political rhetoric and threats heat up related to Côte d’Ivoire’s presidential election scheduled in October.
   
• 🙏 Debbie’s father, Eddie, is back on track, progressing in physical therapy.
  

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: Mama Warriors
        - 250510 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

Mama Warriors

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 250510 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

“You are as much serving God in looking after your children, training them up in God’s fear, minding the house, and making your household a church for God as you would be if you had been called to lead an army to battle for the Lord of hosts.”--Charles H. Spurgeon

Happy Mother’s Day to all the beloved mama warriors we know!

Sandra Payne, mama warrior

Elsie Anderson, mama warrior

Come and See (Psalm 34:8)

This week, setting up computer backup routines to preserve work slowed financial reporting progress, although Verlin and Debbie devoted 80+ hours to mission-related financial work. Banking transfers worked flawlessly in Côte d’Ivoire to cover some current expenses there. Verlin also provided nursing and nutritional counsel to some early in the week as mothers sought to provide for husbands, children, and aging parents. Together, we gratefully received a visit from another working mother, an Occupational Therapist who heard Verlin speak last month. She gave us excellent counsel on current appliances or services that we can use further to ready the house for anyone with mobility challenges.

Today, Debbie enjoyed sharing a Mother’s Day devotional by Zoom with the ladies of Verlin’s home church, Central Oaks, in Michigan. All the church, including these lovely ladies, has been a faithful ministry partner since the laying on of hands and our first days as we embarked as missionaries.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Pray for mothers overwhelmed by their calling today, especially single mothers.
   
• 🙏 Continue to pray for revised plans for CHE training in September (see last week's update for details), since the university will not host the multi-level sessions this year.
   
• 🙏 Debbie’s father was moved to an area with more supervision in rehab after slipping to the floor from his chair twice in one week. Thankfully, his respiratory issue has improved.
  

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: Delayed, not Deleted
        - 250503 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

Delayed, not Deleted

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 250503 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

Delayed, not deleted. Sometimes it takes eyes of faith to remember that a delay may be a victory. Last week, Verlin spoke with Professor Luc about the yearly university CHE training, which usually occurs in September. Changes abound at the university. First of all, new leadership begins taking the reins of the university’s college of public health education. Although he is committed to broadening the reach of the CHE program and has supported the CHE programs, he does not feel ready to assume responsibility this year. Secondly, the legal paperwork for Professor Luc’s marriage ministry’s new location remains incomplete. Although it appears they will close on the land in June, there will not be enough time to erect a new building or buildings to host CHE trainers and participants from villages. Thirdly, several university CHE team members who spend hundreds of hours planning the training are unavailable this year due to other commitments. As a result, the team decided to delay the next CHE training until 2026. However, to maintain regularity, a much smaller CHE training will likely occur around the same time, possibly at a different location, instead of four classes running simultaneously on campus. The process lets all consider alternative possibilities to enrich the skills of committed CHE workers in the Abidjan area.

Deleted, not delayed. A political reality also affected the university’s decision to delay the CHE training until next year. October 2025 is the presidential election in Côte d’Ivoire. Even in the past week, there were growing tensions about candidates. Two popular menwere recently deleted from the roster of potential candidates, one for a criminal record, the other because he was still a French citizen until February. Everyone knows the months right before the election are likely to be volatile. Dealing with elections has complicated planning for CHE training before. However, it is difficult to manage large groups of CHE workers in Abidjan without lodging them in areas known to have experienced electoral violence in the past.

Come and See (Psalm 34:8)

Delayed, not defeated. Delays have been such a regular part of our 25+ years of missionary life that we barely blink when they occur. Pray that Verlin clearly perceives how to prioritize time for other CHE ministry opportunities, since the university training will not require the usual months of preparation. Perhaps this will allow the agricultural outreach to progress more quickly. Debbie’s dad also had a delay in recovery the past week. He recovered well from one physical setback, only to fall prey to a respiratory problem. We hope it is not pneumonia.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Pray for the university CHE team and other trainers in Côte d’Ivoire as they discuss changes. The large CHE seminar in September at the university will likely be replaced this year with a smaller training. The UFHB expects to resume the popular multi-level training in 2026.
   
• 🙏 Presidential elections in Côte d’Ivoire are scheduled for October. That means the next few months may be fraught with tension and riots. Pray for a peaceful election process.
   
• 🙏 Eddie, Debbie’s dad, recovered from one physical setback in rehab, only to be hit with a respiratory issue this week. Continue to pray for strength and healing.
  

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: Follow Through
        - 250426 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

Follow Through

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 250426 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

Guinea CHE training

Isn’t it encouraging when people follow through with commitments they make? KONAN Emmanuel traveled to Guinea to complete a CHE training, which represented the fruit of an initial training commitment made years ago. During the Francophone Regional CHE conference in September of 2024, the Ivorian and Guinean team leaders reviewed their activities and planned to complete this follow-up training. Côte d’Ivoire teams successfully integrate CHE into the public health sector in various ways. The Guinean effort focuses on the impact of a regional mission hospital established by an African missionary at a renovated, former UN crisis hospital that was abandoned and not appropriated for use by the government. The regular exchanges guard their motivation to train teams in their respective countries. (See a previous update, Imitation, for more details)

16 are CHE certified

Emmanuel Konan, the president of the AISEC CHE network in Côte d’Ivoire, facilitated the training in Guinea by himself. Usually, you want three or four trainers, but Verlin has also had to complete the work alone at times. He teaches each trainer to be prepared to do the same. Transportation costs within W. African nations and trips to neighboring nations often seem prohibitively costly when a vision is initially cast. Sometimes, providing transport, lodging, and food for a trainer, besides the needs of the participants, seems like a luxury compared to simply limiting lessons or extending the time together. On this occasion, we share from WhatsApp reporting that we are privileged to follow. Sixteen people participated, including midwives, nurses, lab technicians, and a surgeon. Praise God for the follow-through! Pray that the newly initiated quickly begin to put into practice what they learned by forming collaborative teams, patiently working through obstacles they will undoubtedly encounter.

Come and See (Psalm 34:8)

We were contacted this week by two Cookeville groups that donate their labor and/or materials to build accessibility ramps. A ramp is a present need for Debbie’s dad to consider our home as a future place to stay, temporarily or permanently. However, he still feels that other areas in Tennessee, or even Arkansas or Oklahoma, are a better fit for his future. His uncertainty on where to settle understandably prevents volunteer building groups from committing resources to help here. The step-challenged person must live regularly where they help. Pray that follow-through in decision-making occurs this week.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Pray that the newly trained CHE trainers in Guinea integrate CHE into their daily practices as health professionals, as such continues to grow in Côte d’Ivoire. Ask the Lord to open many doors and give spiritual and medical success to their efforts.
   
• 🙏 Ask the Lord for uninterrupted times to get finances ordered to handle what is needed.
   
• 🙏 Continue to pray about the many other details related to housing, health, and other issues for Debbie’s dad. Pray for ministry partners and family in your circles of influence who face similar challenges in helping their parents.
  

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: Interlude
        - 250419 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