Fireworks and Floods

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 250705 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

Cookeville fireworks

Family, friends, flags, fireworks, and floods: it has been a remarkable Independence Day weekend for the United States. We morphed from jubilant celebration to collective grief, praying for precious little girl campers and many others overtaken by Texas flood waters. All day long, while praying for the still unrecovered Americans and first responders, Debbie’s thoughts turned to the Matthew 24:39 passage about the flood. “…They were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away.” How interesting that Jesus stated the same shock and awe of Noah’s era will occur when He returns to earth the second time. None of us wants to be taken by surprise in that moment.

Despite the sorrow, we cannot help but reflect on the best of American culture as well. Thousands of compassionate people have descended on or will descend on the devastated region to provide organized help in various ways. This contrasts dramatically with the relatively sparse help offered in Third World countries like Côte d’Ivoire. For several consecutive years, flooding and landslides have plagued the economic capital, Abidjan, on the coast. In May 2025, it occurred again. Last year, the government demolished homes in high-risk areas but failed to really help the affected citizens relocate. In addition, little to no infrastructure changes were made to prevent it from happening again. And so, the cycle repeats yearly. Indeed, there is no place like the United States for recovering from disasters. We have been blessed by our heritage. (Proverbs 24:16)

Come and See (Psalm 34:8)

Our week was a hodgepodge of activities, including family, friends, and fireworks—thankfully, minus the flooding. Debbie helped her father in his new location for three days. Verlin sought cost-effective sources for the ramp, supervised the removal of dangerously leaning trees on our property, handled vehicle maintenance, and visited friends and neighbors who were ill in Cookeville. We approach completing our last financial reports that will balance our books with our mission!

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 As you pray for the flooding tragedy in Texas, pray again, as in the past, for a resolution to flooding and landslides in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Ask the Lord to give leaders and citizens compassion and foresight to make infrastructure changes that prevent disasters successfully.
   
• 🙏 Thank the Lord our passports were processed quickly! We received notice that we’d receive them within two weeks, although we will still be unable to travel internationally for at least six weeks.
   
• 🙏 Pray for strongholds to be broken in Ivorian communities remaining resistant to the Gospel.
  

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: Thrivers not Survivors
        - 250628 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.

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