Shock Value

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 251115 PDF

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:

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

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

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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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