Truing Our Timing

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 250830 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

My times are in thy hands… (Psalm 31:15, KJV)

We rejoiced in the Lord’s truing our timing this week. Early on, we were preoccupied with timing our return to Tennessee. Our Toyota started making rubbing sounds in the rear right wheel when braking, but inconsistently. Unable to duplicate the sound when driving to a brake shop, no shop found could evaluate the car until Thursday. We wanted to begin wrapping up Verlin’s time in the USA before then. Also, we could not follow up on a repair if the Michigan shop did not correct the problem the first time. We decided to return on Wednesday, hoping to avoid the presumed issue from worsening dangerously. We made it safely home, but by the end of the trip, the rear passenger brake was grinding; the wheel was warm to the touch after consistent braking on mountain roads. We were inclined to think our timing was a mistake.

Then, we received an early morning call from Cason, our older son. He was at the hospital. Our daughter-in-law, Suzanne, had just come out of an emergency abdominal surgery. Their arrival at the hospital and getting her into surgery quickly was crucial timing. Cason asked if we could help watch our two granddaughters. Neighborhood friends had lovingly accepted the girls in their home, but he did not want to impose on their hospitality for a long time. We dropped off our belongings in Cookeville and continued to their place in Nashville. The girls returned home two hours later. Suzanne was released from the hospital that afternoon. Debbie stayed to help care for the girls and to handle some household chores as they adjusted their routines. Suddenly, the timing of our return home felt truly providential, not problematic.

Come and See (Psalm 34:8)

Trued timing also played a role in our visits with ministry partners in Michigan. Visiting primarily to handle family concerns before returning to Cote d’Ivoire, Verlin saw one ministry partner in the hospital before he unexpectedly entered the presence of Jesus. A childhood friend who expects to retire in December spent some hours with us last Tuesday evening. He is eager to help Verlin’s mother with the multi-step process of preparing and sending our quarterly reports.

Review an idea for health
training and literacy in
W. Africa. It’s for use with
Bible reading, too!

She adds him to the team of people who help her help us, as macular degeneration, despite her compensation and its slowed progress, still makes contact database management tasks more difficult. Once again, the Lord’s truing of our timing was on shining display. He also let us serve some partners with nutritional counseling to compensate and slow their similar disease processes, while another ministry partner provided a backup for Verlin’s 2019-purchased laptop. We even took some calls from Africa and reviewed some shares. We trust the Lord to continue to true our timing as Verlin now focuses on adjusting our finances and finishing the deck extension with a ramp to return there for planned work ASAP.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Thank the Lord for preserving the life of our daughter-in-law, Suzanne. Pray for a speedy recovery from her emergency laparoscopic abdominal surgery.
   
• 🙏 We are grateful that a lifelong friend of Verlin’s will assist Verlin’s mother with our printed quarterly reports when he retires. This is an answer to prayer from our request a few weeks ago!
   
• 🙏 The drama continues regarding who can run in Côte d’Ivoire’s presidential election on October 25. Pray for a peaceful election process. Here is an article detailing some noise of the conflict.
  

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: Digging Deep
        - 250823 PDF
Prior Videos: Worth
        - Reflect & Rejoice
 

2023 Q2 Report: Progress and Pain
  -  3-4th Q 2023 Report 250712 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

Digging Deep

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 250823 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

Have you recently been faced with the dilemma of whether to answer a fool according to his folly so that he is not consumed by his own conceit (Pr.26:5) or to NOT answer a fool according to his folly so that you do not become like him (Pr.26:4)? These two verses appear contradictory and obviously require mentally digging deep to apply correctly. Sometimes, in witnessing or sharing truth, it is difficult to read the other person’s status or intent. Three attitudes often surface. Perhaps they have never been exposed to the claims of Jesus. In other situations, they have been indoctrinated to sincerely believe lies about Him. In yet other scenarios, they choose to ignore the truth because they want to follow an ungodly lifestyle. Digging deep to learn where the person stands can help guide us to decide whether to continue a discussion or leave them to their folly.

Gentle polemic 

Verlin recently found two encouraging examples of continuing the conversation with people of misguided faith, who do not know or misapply Biblical truth. Because we deal daily with followers of different religions in Cote d’Ivoire, we loved the wise, winsome, and kind approach exemplified in these two YouTube interactions. Listen to this gentle polemic from "Sow and Reap" with a Muslim and this rebuttal of a person claiming Jesus made mistakes.

Come and See (Psalm 34:8)

There are never enough hours in the day to see everyone we want to see in Michigan. The family celebration of Verlin’s mother’s 90th birthday was fantastic. Verlin and siblings also met with her to make sure her financial questions are answered and to discuss a possible move for her to downsize in the upcoming year. We were pleased to connect with ministry partners almost every day, too. Debbie expects to return to Tennessee next week. Verlin came return at the same time or stay a few more days in Michigan to handle family and ministry meetings.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 We thank the Lord for a wonderful Michigan experience with lovely family gatherings and great interactions with numerous ministry partners! Debbie struggled with a respiratory virus for the past ten days. Please pray that Verlin’s mother does not succumb to the virus since we shared close quarters.
   
• 🙏 Pray with us as we dig deep to complete a long list of errands and activities—particularly finishing the ramp at our house—so that Verlin can return to Cote d’Ivoire by the end of September. If you can donate some hours of manual labor, now is the time to call Verlin to offer help when we return home.
   
• 🙏 We are constantly amazed at the generosity of friends and ministry partners. Thank you for meeting with us, feeding us, giving us opportunities to share, and donating items like a computer and tablet for mission and personal use.
  

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: Pleasant Places
        - 250816 PDF
Prior Videos: Worth
        - Reflect & Rejoice
 

2023 Q2 Report: Progress and Pain
  -  3-4th Q 2023 Report 250712 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

Pleasant Places

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 250816 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.—Ps. 16:6

90 years young

In a world of so many broken and blended families, it is an immeasurable blessing for both of us to have grown up in stable family units with father, mother, grandparents, uncles, and aunts. This weekend, our extended Anderson family celebrates Verlin’s mother’s 90th birthday. It has been a hectic time since we arrived midday Friday. For that reason, this update has no great theme or insight. We simply praise God for pleasant places and goodly heritage. That stability has helped us in a myriad of ways when life throws us curveballs. Home and family are always there, just as the Lord intended.

Come and See (Psalm 34:8)

We appreciate the people who responded to last week’s update to offer advice about possible solutions to our car problems. The Toyota drove very well on the nine-hour trip to Michigan this week, thank the Lord! For those curious, the final repair was to replace worn-out CV axles—in addition to the back struts, swaybar, and four new tires addressed earlier! Nothing surprising there, given that the vehicle has over 225,000 miles.

Several weeks ago, we mentioned the need to assemble a team to help Verlin’s mother maintain our ministry partner database and prepare and mail our quarterly newsletters. Thank you to two sisters in Christ who helped her get the last quarterly out! Two other people have offered to help in months to come. We are blessed by these offers to help.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Thank the Lord for a safe trip to Michigan. It appears that all our car repairs were successful.
   
• 🙏 Our discussion on Thursday with Christian Health Service Corps leadership was productive. They gave a green light for Verlin’s return to Cote d’Ivoire, likely in September. There is much to wrap up. Debbie expects to follow within three months after completing some projects for her dad.
   
• 🙏 After several weeks of failed attempts, we were able to connect with ministry partners in Cote d’Ivoire, especially those who manage our rented property and keep our bills paid. Thank the Lord, all is well.
   
• 🙏 Thank the Lord for the generosity of a ministry partner who again donated airline points to help us. Cara, our daughter, was unable to make it to Michigan because of some car problems. We were able to surprise Verlin’s mom with her arrival tonight by air flight. What a blessed surprise.
  

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: Bolts, Balance, and Beginnings
        - 250809 PDF
Prior Videos: Worth
        - Reflect & Rejoice
 

2023 Q2 Report: Progress and Pain
  -  3-4th Q 2023 Report 250712 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

Bolts, Balance, and Beginnings

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 250809 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

Loose bolts

We never know what a week will hold, do we? Our days were a mish-mash of bolts, balance, and beginnings. Our primary travel vehicle is a 2005 Toyota Avalon, donated to us a few years ago, that has faithfully served us. Extreme shuddering and shaking led us to replace tires and back struts, as well as balance, rotate, and align the tires. One shop balanced and rotated tires. Another replaced the back struts and sway bar. A third repair shop found a defective tire and discovered that the second repair shop had not tightened three strut bolts. Occasionally, severe shaking still exists. The Avalon has been at one repair shop or another for 5 days, and the shuddering remains a mystery. We need this balance problem identified and repaired before we travel to Michigan. On Monday, the first and last repair shop will investigate CV joints to eliminate the possibility of a worn transmission.

While rejoicing that no injury happened due to a poorly functioning car, the experience reminded us of how teamwork helps us navigate the Christian life. Three shops found different problems with our vehicle, yet the vehicle’s good function has not been restored! Similarly, Holy Scripture encourages us to seek counsel from the wise in our lives: “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed (Prov. 15:22; The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice (Prov. 12:15; The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise (Prov. 15:31, all ESV) Praise God, working in community lets us learn from one another to improve life

Come and See (Psalm 34:8)

The Lord answered a prior prayer request. Someone assisted Verlin with the deck and ramp work every day this week. The new friend exited a rehab program last Sunday. He was glad for the opportunity to work to reimburse family and friends while he found a new job that begins Monday, August 11. The extra manpower blessed us. An even greater blessing was his seeking spirit, willing to listen, learn, and share spiritually and medically. He desires to sidestep falling back into old habits. We pray that he will succeed in this new beginning by following Godly counsel.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Thank the Lord for the help Verlin received while helping another seeking counsel. Pray that our interactions with this new friend in recovery will be fruitful in his life.
   
• 🙏 Thank the Lord who preserves our safety when driving our Toyota with its unclear problem and the older vehicles. Pray the cause is found before we travel to Michigan on Thursday to visit ministry partners and celebrate Verlin’s mother’s 90th birthday with family.
   
• 🙏 We received notice this week that the Community Health Evangelism Internship at the African Internship Centre in Aveyima, Ghana is February 2-27, 2026. The cost is $1000 per participant. Pray that the twenty to thirty select participants make or find provision to attend. Space is made for one or two trainers per W. African nation to keep the regional network informed of one another’s activities.
  

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: Make Mistakes
        - 250802 PDF
Prior Videos: Worth
        - Reflect & Rejoice
 

2023 Q2 Report: Progress and Pain
  -  3-4th Q 2023 Report 250712 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

Make Mistakes

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 250802 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

The biggest mistake you can make in your life is to be always afraid of making a mistake.--Dietrich Bonhoeffer

None of us likes to be pushed outside our comfort zone. That’s why it is called a comfort zone! Yet the Christian walk of discipleship is peppered with daily choices when we must stretch our verbal faith into action. Perhaps it is trusting God’s Word about a subject when we have believed the opposite all our lives. Or garnering the courage to witness to someone for the first time. Maybe we choose to risk a lifestyle change that others oppose. Or, in the case of Bonhoeffer, he boldly opposed the totalitarian Nazi regime, which eventually led to his imprisonment and death, just days before the Allies freed the region where he died. His book, The Cost of Discipleship, is all the more powerful because he embodied its life-changing principles until his dying breath at age 39.

The camp doctor who witnessed his hanging on April 9, 1945, described it this way. “I saw Pastor Bonhoeffer, before taking off his prison garb, kneeling on the floor, praying fervently to his God. I was most deeply moved by the way this lovable man prayed, so devout and so certain that God heard his prayer. At the place of execution, he again said a short prayer and then climbed the steps to the gallows, brave and composed. His death ensued after a few seconds. In the almost fifty years that I worked as a doctor, I have hardly ever seen a man die so entirely submissive to the will of God.”

Come and See (Psalm 34:8)

Drilling holes

This past week offered the joy of having our granddaughter, Chelsea, stay with us. She learned in simple terms that it's okay to make mistakes by trying new things. She stained wood for the first time and helped Grandpa measure distances using a right angle and measuring tape. She watched Verlin wield a Dingo with a 12” auger so that he could dig 32 post holes in 48 hours, instead of it taking maybe two weeks to do the same work manually. It challenged her and encouraged her to help build the ramp, which will bless great-grandparents who visit. She learned to make homemade sauerkraut with Grandma and committed to working on her multiplication tables so that 6th-grade math would be easier. There was good food, games, reading, and an outing to a park with water spouts in between!

In the Community Health Evangelism context, Verlin engaged with CHE-trained brothers and sisters via WhatsApp as they try new things for the glory of God. A Lobi pastor followed through on a plan to dry and pulverize guava leaves, then vacuum-pack the powder for sale to fund ministry. Another exchanged advice on care for sickle cell anemia, sharing how to use eggs and oranges to diminish the frequency of attacks and gaining an increased appreciation for moringa leaf powder to treat the same. This week, the Ivorian CHE coordinator, Emmanuel, finished a second year of CHE training in a nation where Americans cannot enter. Working with leaders there, they set up a committee to spread the witness of Christ and begin positive interaction with the public health department using the model we pioneered in Cote d’Ivoire. It is a country known to be brutally repressive at times. The men are committed to doing annual training sessions.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Praise God, our friend safely entered and exited another African nation to complete a second CHE training. He followed up on safe travel information Verlin provided earlier in the year, and all went well. Pray that the growing team works well together and keeps their commitment to host a training every year. May they continue to positively expose and include the Public Health Department to grow outreach.
   
• 🙏 Pray that Verlin makes good progress on the ramp this week.
   
• 🙏 Pray for a FWB International Fellowship happening in Cote d’Ivoire this week.
  

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: Burden Bearing
        - 250726 PDF
Prior Videos: Worth
        - Reflect & Rejoice
 

2023 Q2 Report: Progress and Pain
  -  3-4th Q 2023 Report 250712 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