Magnetic Thanks

PDF Version w/ financial summary:
The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron so that it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!
—Henry Ward Beecher

There is a kernel of truth in the adage that we find what we look for. When our thoughts gravitate with magnetic thanks to the character of God and His blessings, we hear whispers of His grace everywhere. Philippians 4:8 further entreats us to think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, etc. This is a recipe for calm trust and hope. May we keep focus on the One who is worthy of all our Thanksgiving and Christmas energy!

This edition continues to catch up on our financial reporting by providing the donation records for July through December 2024. We pause to give thanks. The past year did not unfold as expected. Through every challenge and delay, though, we see the faithful hand of the Lord. Our spirits are content with the Lord, and we are eager to get back to Côte d’Ivoire.

PAST PRAISE

We pass along to you the great blessing of the past month: we enjoyed hearing ministry reports from Community Health Evangelism (CHE) trainers who met in Abidjan in mid-November. Verlin listened and contributed via WhatsApp. We helped with some communications and transport costs. All the individual reports are worth sharing. Due to space, we will choose just one.

220924-Soccer-uniform-in-sports-evangelism
Sports Evangelism
Starting CHE in urban areas like Abidjan is more challenging than in rural villages. After all, is it more intuitive to define the community by location, ethnicity, or a common interest? Defining community in a teeming megacity challenges participants. During the CHE university training in 2022, Verlin arranged that an Abidjan pastor using CHE and the husband of one of the CHE trainers join in a soccer outreach. Soccer jerseys donated by ministry partners in East Tennessee were used and appreciated. The week-long effort provided an inroad into the sports community. The Gospel was shared with several age groups.

Since then, CHE-trained Abidjan Pastor M. has continued outreach through sports. He is now the president of a soccer association encouraged by the French. They have an initiative to bring the Gospel message to every region (quartier) of Abidjan, making contacts and seeking entry points for CHE at soccer venues across the city.

PRESENT POSITIONS

Although we had planned Verlin would already be back in Côte d’Ivoire, we both remain in Tennessee. When Debbie’s dad’s health problems escalated for eight weeks, requiring her to spend days away from home, that also slowed Verlin’s progress on what he must complete before leaving—particularly the ramp. Eddie, Debbie’s dad, is finally back in a family home. His strength has waned, requiring more supervision. The family seeks solutions. We expect Verlin to return to Africa around the end of the year, with Debbie following two to three months later. It is our firm conviction that the Lord will lead us in paths of righteousness that allow us to take care of assumed family responsibilities while also helping advance the many facets of CHE in Côte d’Ivoire.

PROSPECTIVE PLANS

Another detail from the Ivorian CHE national meeting is that Côte d’Ivoire will likely host the Global CHE Network missions conference in 2028! This is a huge privilege and undertaking that will require enormous work from now until then. Traveling internationally is too costly for many people in third-world countries. Hosting the meetings on the African continent will encourage hundreds, maybe thousands, of African CHE workers who otherwise would be unable to participate.

Occasionally, we need to share financial information with you. Rarely do we discuss funding, except to say thank you. We have promised to tell you about significant changes. Two dear friends were promoted to heaven this year. They gave monthly. Another beloved couple will not be able to contribute a large lump sum at the end of 2025, as they have done faithfully in past years. He retired earlier than expected. What a blessing to have partners who inform us of changes so that we can prepare! In total, we need to replace about $15,000 of yearly ministry income and we are $24,000 under on average for the year. Thank you for praying with us for one-time donations and new ministry partners to cover the changes. We trust the Lord. He always provides.

As we count our many blessings and name them one by one (see the hymn “Count Your Blessings” here), you all--our incredible prayer warriors, ministry partners, and friends—are counted multiple times! What has happened through CHE in Côte d’Ivoire in the past 25 years is beyond what we could have imagined. Thank you for your part in introducing West Africans to abundant life in Jesus.
With grateful hearts in Christ,
Verlin and Debbie

If you wish to view or print only the catch-up quarterly reports, you can view them as a picture or PDF:
   4Q_2024 JPG or the Q4 2024 PDF  
 
Report text alone link: Anderson Report 251122  

Family pics taken since choosing to serve as missionaries.
 
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 Weekly: Shock Value - 251115 PDF
Prior Videos: Rejoice and Reflect
        - The Great Story

 

2023 Budget Info (little changed for yet-to-post 2024):
CHSC-0118_ANDERSON-2023-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

 

Shock Value

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

Sometimes, a little shock value can encourage a group of people to move beyond complacency or willful ignorance. As Verlin conference called with the Ivorian CHE national network meeting at 3:00 this morning by WhatsApp, he was blessed to hear a trainer encourage another to provide some shock value about dependency. The second trainer lamented the disappearance of help from a mission agency as he and his team seek to grow CHE in southeastern Cote d’Ivoire. The first trainer, another pastor, boldly reminded him that more harm comes from receiving gifts than giving them from non-participating collaborators. The first CHE trainer had just given testimony about how his poor, isolated town worked together for advancement without external funding. Below is a summary of the pastor’s story of hope:

251115-Church-they-built
Church they built
When Pastor S. introduced CHE in his isolated village, they initially focused on health and education. The villagers agreed to build a small school to educate their children. It all started with 50 CFA francs, about 8 cents. People brought in wood from the bush, one-by-one and one piece at a time, and began building the school. Then, the pattern of individual participation continued as each contributed bricks or sacks of cement. As the school building and teacher financing developed, they decided to construct latrines since the children were defecating in the bush. Then each household chose to build a latrine. Next, the village chief encouraged the construction of a church building. Eventually, the village constructed a small dispensary to address its medical needs, which the population considers a miracle. As we have shared in the past, this village transitioned from approximately 10% Christian to nearly 100% of the population, who now serve Christ in southwestern Côte d’Ivoire.

Come and See (Psalm 66:5)

This week, Verlin again split his time in connecting with Ivorian and US ministry partners while notching ramp posts. The Ivorian meeting manifested the growing and joyful determination that is increasingly evident, and we thank God that all partners shared in the costs to cover the international communication for us and three other International partners, as well as some Ivorians who were unable to travel to participate in the Ivorian CHE meeting. We anticipate sharing other highlights from the rare national CHE meeting, interspersed with other news, in the coming weeks. Debbie managed to get her father discharged from rehab on Tuesday and back to her sister’s rented house. He is significantly weaker than he was three months ago. Continue to pray for wise caregiving decisions. Otherwise, she visited family, worked on our financial report, wrote this update, met with other US ministry partners, and sought to get to bed early, following medical advice to aid recovery from a pesky respiratory virus.

Prayer & Praise

  • 🙏 Thank the Lord for a good CHE network meeting in Cote d’Ivoire today. They were able to create a WhatsApp conference call connection for absent or distant partners like us to join and listen.
     
  • 🙏 We have missionary colleagues in Ethiopia who are in an area where there is an outbreak of Marburg virus (a highly contagious hemorrhagic fever, like Ebola). The WHO dispatched responders to the region to assist. Pray that the virus will be contained quickly with as few fatalities as possible. Pray for one missionary family with three children amidst others as they make decisions about safety.
     
  • 🙏 Pray Ivorian CHE leaders sensing isolation grow encouraged upon reflection after the meeting. May their capacity to start holistic ministries and fund activities locally continue to grow. Thank the Lord for other CHE leaders who encouraged and gave pertinent examples to the discouraged.
Your partners in the Gospel,
Verlin & Debbie
TN_Homestead-VerlinDeb-20191214_103927.jpg
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: Stages
        - 251108 PDF

Prior Videos: Worth
        - Reflect & Rejoice

 
2024 Q1 Q2 Report: First Resort
  -  2024 Q1 Q2 Report 250906 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

Stages

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

I have found that there are three stages in every great work of God: first, it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done. — Hudson Taylor

One testing ground of the Community Health Evangelism (CHE) strategy is hearers trusting the Lord to try something considered impossible. When hearing the testimony of others who step out in faith to create community growth in ways they have never seen, it takes faith to step forward. Those who do later share their testimonies to multiply changed lives. The three stages described by Hudson Taylor—impossible, difficult, done—ring true. Majorities of third-world nations, in particular, struggle with dependence on outside sources to fund projects and ministries. When outside funding ceases, the work typically comes to a halt. CHE mentors a commitment to developing local resources that sustain growth and ministries for future generations. When we add funds, amounts rarely exceed what is needed to provide training for workers who grow the means to sustain themselves independently.

251108-Urban rooftop gardening effort
Urban rooftop garden effort
We were delighted this week to hear of Ivorian CHE leaders who continue to engage in new efforts to expand CHE ministries that their church (or denomination) has started. One pastor we trained at the university was convicted that his church was focused inwardly. His local church has since initiated two new locations. With that comes the need for funds to travel and provide CHE outreach and projects at each location. They learn agricultural means and micro-enterprise fundamentals to sustain their efforts without outside funds. A second CHE champion continues efforts, like raising pigs, to model for outgoing missionaries ways to start and maintain ministries when local people do not provide salaries. Another trainer learns the intricacies of hydroponic gardening, as observed during the CHE internship in Ghana. The determination of these men, and others, is inspiring and intended to multiply self-sustaining work.

Come and See (Psalm 66:5)

Verlin contacted several CHE Ivorian workers this week for news. The coordinator of the Ivorian CHE network arranges the national meeting for November 15th and plans to use Zoom so Verlin and others can participate. Verlin finished placing 22 deck posts this week, with notching for framing about a third done. Debbie has worried about him moving 80 to 130-pound posts by himself, but the heaviest part is about finished. When all landscaping and framing are in place, a team of friends can help plank the ramps and decks quickly. Two friends continue to come by to help or give advice regularly—what a blessing! Debbie spends half the week with her father and the other half at home. We hope this tiring schedule improves when Eddie is released from rehab on Tuesday! Next, she will concentrate on two different projects of his that must be completed before she returns to Africa. Approximately 2/3’s of our commitments to him have been accomplished.

Prayer & Praise

  • 🙏 Rejoice that Debbie’s dad will be released from rehab on Tuesday! This brings us all joy. Pray for wisdom as doctors, home health professionals, and family members monitor his capacities at home.
     
  • 🙏 We PTL for the blessed knowledge that lets Verlin evade self-injury and recover strength by handling large ties and posts while making a handicap accessible entry (the ties weighed 150 to 225 lbs.). When the ramps are framed, he will enlist multiple friends to help him complete the project quickly. Let us know if you’re interested in helping.
     
  • 🙏 Pray for the upcoming national CHE meeting in Cote d’Ivoire, scheduled for mid-November. Thank the Lord for their efforts to include Verlin in a Zoom call.
Your partners in the Gospel,
Verlin & Debbie
TN_Homestead-VerlinDeb-20191214_103927.jpg
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: Frosty Days
        - 251101 PDF

Prior Videos: Worth
        - Reflect & Rejoice

 
2024 Q1 Q2 Report: First Resort
  -  2024 Q1 Q2 Report 250906 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

Frosty Days

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

Christian, remember the goodness of God in the frost of adversity. — Charles Spurgeon

Little reveals more about our trust in God than reactions to adversity. Remember the ten Boom sisters in the Nazi concentration camp, rejoicing over lice and fleas in their barracks? The vermin kept guards from entering their space, allowing them to share Scripture and pray more freely with other prisoners. Or consider Joseph viewing his brothers’ betrayal as the means to save his family, and Esther realizing her precarious position in a pagan kingdom was to preserve the Jews.

The entire nation of Sudan endured another horrific round of genocidal terror this week, making our challenges appear minuscule in comparison. Nevertheless, every “frosty” adversity, little or large, is an opportunity to consider the goodness of God. Learning to count it all joy while facing trials of various kinds (James 1:2-4) has grown easier as we age. We have experienced seeing God’s grace overcome adversity with blessings. We praise the Lord for His kindness to our family, a peaceful election day in Côte d’Ivoire, and His grace when life does not go as planned.

Come and See (Psalm 66:5)

251030_1925-14posts-marked-for-drilling-and-notching
Posts marked for drilling and notching
Verlin made slow progress on the ramp project this week due to several factors, including the weather and a lack of proper tools. Friends blessed again with help. We both took time to support our family during a granddaughter’s surgery at Vanderbilt. Verlin spent two days and a night in Nashville while Debbie spent four nights: a complication occurred after Chelsea’s surgery on Monday, causing the surgeon to reopen the site on Wednesday. Praise God, she recovers at home now, although she is saddened that the second cochlear implant could not be reinserted as all had hoped. Debbie finally kicks off a respiratory virus, and now begins to regain energy and feel relief. Eddie, her dad, grows weary of being in rehab and longs to go home. Both daughters make every way seemingly possible to support him.

The care led us to check out a new area of CHE instruction available on the Global CHE Network website: CHE for Seniors. Like our family, Christians everywhere strive to honor their parents and support them in their last years. Just like the disabled we mentioned a few weeks back, many cultures also view the elderly as a liability, not the blessing they are. Debbie begins digging into these lessons to glean knowledge that will help her with her dad and equip her to encourage others in similar circumstances. Resources are limited in many places worldwide, making the advice of these practical lessons valuable.

Prayer & Praise

  • 🙏 Pray for the genocide to stop in Sudan. May government leaders put sanctions on the warring factions and otherwise use their influence to save hundreds of thousands of lives. Join us on Sunday, November 2, to pray for the persecuted church around the world.
     
  • 🙏 Election day in Côte d’Ivoire passed peacefully. The current president was elected to a fourth term by a wide margin, though only 50% of the population voted. Major opposition parties contest the victory because their candidates were not permitted to run. Still, we rejoice that no blood was spilled.
     
  • 🙏 We praise God for protecting Chelsea, our granddaughter, through two surgeries this week, despite a complication. Pray for her to adapt to the reality that the surgeon did not reinsert a cochlear implant on the left side. It was not the outcome we wanted, but we know our Father is always good, even in the frost of adversity.
Your partners in the Gospel,
Verlin & Debbie
TN_Homestead-VerlinDeb-20191214_103927.jpg
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: IDOP, not IHOP
        - 251025 PDF

Prior Videos: Worth
        - Reflect & Rejoice

 
2024 Q1 Q2 Report: First Resort
  -  2024 Q1 Q2 Report 250906 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