Small Spaces

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

It only takes a small space to lay our heads down to sleep. Jesus regularly sought small spaces for himself and his disciples as they wandered the country sharing the gospel of the kingdom. Most of us eagerly return home to familiar haunts after just a few days of travel. Imagine depending on others daily for necessities for three years! Even the tomb where Jesus lay for three days was not his own. His poignant comment to the scribe who claimed he would follow Jesus wherever He went is a crucial encouragement for us today: Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head—Matt. 8:20.

Nothing is wrong with using spacious homes and nice vehicles should the Lord so bless us as stewards that serve Him. Abraham, Joseph, Daniel, and Solomon are biblical figures who became extremely wealthy and influential during their lifetimes. However, most Christ-followers around the world match the description of God’s people as sheep prepared for slaughter quoted to describe Jesus’ experience (Ps.44:27; Ro.8:36). It’s common to suffer and struggle to have small spaces for self-care. It is a disservice to potential believers to promise blessings on demand. Experiencing saving grace, spiritually and physically, without personal sacrifice is a promise Jesus never made.

Come and See (Psalm 66:5)

260711-Porch-cooking
Porch cooking
Verlin gives thanks for the wherewithal to safely create a small space on the porch for cooking meals and preparing tree-leaf infusions. It makes do until he finds a gas stove that operates safely with an oven that maintains a temperature. Hired and assistive hands make repairs to the home and furnishings. He connects with ministry partners using CHE across the nation most days, and plans visits to several locations.

On Wednesday, Debbie stayed in the small space of an MRI machine without a blood pressure spike or any other problems. Nashville friends helped with lodging and transport to ease the experience. When she returned to Cookeville on Thursday, a sickeningly sweet smell greeted her as she entered our single-wide. With phone help from a technician, she realized it was a leak of refrigeration gas. She followed Verlin’s advice to open the doors and windows, then, the next day, found a replacement on sale at Lowe's to fit in the allotted small space. The Igloo cooler will be exchanged for the new refrigerator on Monday! We thank God for better material resources at this stage of life, due to lessons learned from nearly going bankrupt in the early years of marriage. The U.S. price she paid is 20% of what the unit costs in CΓ΄te d’Ivoire! It will take us a couple of months or longer to confidently locate a less expensive replacement unit for our Ivorian refrigerator, which is not cooling sufficiently to maintain anything but fermenting foods safely. It can no longer lower interior temperatures below 4°C / 39°F after local repairs were done. Formerly trustworthy suppliers can no longer provide adequate after-sales service.

Prayer & Praise

  • πŸ™ Praise God that Debbie was able to complete the MRI this time with no problems, with the help of Nashville friends. She expects the imaging results and further instructions next week.
     
  • πŸ™ Thank the Lord that it should only be about another two weeks before Verlin can use the driveway at our rented home to park the vehicle and trailer.
     
  • πŸ™ Begin praying for upcoming visits to sites where CHE approaches are implemented that Verlin expects to undertake while recruiting trainers to teach at the university in September.
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: Foundations
        - 260704 PDF

Prior Videos: Among So Many
        - Worth

 
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

Foundations

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?—Psalm 11:3

As has been the case for the past decade, flooding, landslides, and deaths are occurring in Abidjan again. Water-related disasters increase as Abidjan expands. Long-term infrastructure planning or code enforcement remains inadequate for managing the rains, though it has improved. People who feel too poor to live elsewhere suffer the consequences. A friend recently pointed out a building that is being rebuilt a 5th time. Water surges endanger hundreds of thousands of people living in low-lying areas.

260704-Bkou-drive-inaccessible
No vehicular entry or exit
Even smaller projects, like widening the water drainage system on our road in Bondoukou, pose challenges. We were not informed about the project or its length; the workers do not project a termination date. As a result, Verlin does not park our truck on our enclosed drive. At first, a church friend let him park in her nearby yard 10 days ago. Then, on returning two appliances to the registered Haier service provider in Abidjan for repair or replacement, he left the HiLux with a mechanic friend. After the tires are changed and a few other details are taken care of, he plans to visit communities using CHE from there. Blessedly, we keep a 50 cc motorbike for local errands that fits through the courtyard’s unobstructed pedestrian entrance.

To say we have been blessed in the USA is a monumental understatement, as our families now enjoy hard-won liberty and provision by trusting God over 250 years! Our forefathers thought and fought long and hard, risking much to provide the great privileges we have. May our generation reinforce the foundations being dismissed and destroyed by ungodly belief and policy! May we leave a country able to progress with godliness leading to abundant life in generations to come!

Come and See (Psalm 66:5)

In addition to the parking issue, Verlin cooks on a locally made single butane burner on the porch. (It came with a leaky gas tube that he corrected to use safely.) About 10 days ago, he purchased a new “commercial” gas stove in Abidjan at half price ($525)! The one inherited from others who left in the 1990s finally gave up the ghost; half its burners and the oven do not work. He arrived home only to find that the new oven did not hold a temperature under 300 ℉ and that the wrong knobs were included. Also, the “repaired” small freezer did not freeze ice cubes! This is not a complaint, just typical African life issues. When delays occur, Verlin takes the opportunity to share Truth with the people placed in his path and pushes forward with the listed alternative plans.

Debbie has an MRI rescheduled for this Wednesday, on July 8th. Friends will kindly help that day so that she can take a sedative and not have to drive. She enjoyed having our granddaughter, Chelsea, in Cookeville for a few days this week!

Prayer & Praise

  • πŸ™ Pray for infrastructure development in Abidjan to prevent yearly landslides and deaths.
     
  • πŸ™ Pray that the second effort on Debbie’s MRI this Wednesday is successful.
     
  • πŸ™ Ask for good resolutions to the appliance replacement and repairs, so that Verlin’s ministry travels do not take additional time. Meanwhile, there’s furniture to repair or renew.
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: Come and See
        - 260627 PDF

Prior Videos: Among So Many
        - Worth

 
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

Come and See

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

It is fun to see international travelers enjoying American food, geography, and hospitality as they visit our country in hordes for the World Cup. Many seem surprised at the contrast between what they imagined or were told in their culture about the USA and the reality they see with their own eyes. From tears of awe at the Grand Canyon's immensity to jubilant praise for free refills at restaurants, numerous visitors appear enthralled by the experience.

It reminds us of the life-changing difference between just hearing about or observing Christianity from afar and experiencing the indwelling peace and joy of the Holy Spirit. It is a wonderful thing to testify of God’s presence and goodness in our lives, but maybe sometimes we forget the best offer we have. Like the Samaritan woman after her encounter with Jesus, or Philip when he spoke to Nathanael, we can confidently tell people, “Come and see.” King David put it this way in Psalm 34:8: “Taste and see that the Lord is good!” Every week, we share some of our “tasting and seeing” with the greatest hope that you, too, are doing the same.

Come and See (Psalm 66:5)

260627-New-lodging-option
New lodging option
Verlin made two trips to Abidjan in the past week—one planned and the other not. He attempted to get our freezer repaired and bought a much-needed stove. The repair did not work, and the new stove does not function properly. More importantly, he visited the new location where the CHE university team expects to host the trainers this September. With the highest number of preregistrations, this training will likely require more classes and more trainers, so he wanted to be sure the proposed lodging location will work.

Debbie did not get her MRI on Wednesday as planned. Her blood pressure was very high, which led to her shaking like a leaf for over two hours. She spent a few hours in the ER getting the blood pressure under control. This episode might have been caused by the growth on her adrenal gland, or not. She meets with her primary care doctor on Monday to devise a strategy for getting the MRI and addressing the new symptoms.

Prayer & Praise

  • πŸ™ Pray for the many details to finalize the upcoming CHE university training in September. It will be a significant year of change. This week, pray about the change in lodging and food preparation for the trainers.
     
  • πŸ™ Ask the Lord to give Debbie and her doctor wisdom in how to deal with the MRI situation. Pray that a second attempt will go well.
     
  • πŸ™ Verlin continues to have faith-based conversations with many people. Pray that God’s Word will take root in hearts.
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: You Feed Them
        - 260620 PDF

Prior Videos: Among So Many
        - Worth

 
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

You Feed Them

PDF Version w/ financial summary:
Mighty things from small beginnings grow.—John Dryden

Christians should not be surprised, at this time in history, to see the marvelous ways God uses small and seemingly insignificant people or events to accomplish wonders. Think of Moses’ staff, David’s slingshot and stones, the widow's cruse of oil, Gideon’s army of three hundred, or the boy’s lunch of fish and bread. It is no wonder that Zechariah instructed the people of Israel to rejoice in the day of small things (i.e., beginnings)! To these, we add songs of praise, seeing the Lord use the strategies of CHE and DMM in Africa for the world.

We continue to report backlogged financial summaries to ministry partners, so this ministry synopsis of weekly updates, published at awaupdates.blogspot.com, is one page rather than two. Thank you for following with us, fervently praying, and faithfully giving so that our long-term influence to strengthen congregational decision-making continues within Community Health Evangelism (CHE) efforts.

After several delays, we managed to get Verlin back to West Africa and CΓ΄te d’Ivoire in May. Debbie expects to follow up on completing the care of her deceased father’s affairs. A few health issues she ignored while caring for Eddie have, however, shown themselves. A trip to the ER revealed diverticulitis and an adrenal gland lesion. An ordered MRI will clarify whether further intervention is recommended.

West African CHE Regional Meeting

260523-ESC-Conference-participants
Conference Picture - click text for video
Before arriving at our rented home and office in Bondoukou, CΓ΄te d’Ivoire, Verlin spent a week in ThiΓ¨s, Senegal, for the French West African CHE Regional Meeting. The reporting let him see and hear from fellow-CHE workers from eight countries! Mark 6:30-46 set the theme of ‘Feed Them Ourselves” for the biennial meeting. Leaders of national efforts gave reports from developing and burgeoning ministries. Only two West African nations remain without national CHE organizations to promote the use of the integrated strategy, building churches and health. Part of the meeting addressed networking to enter those communities. Due to how the French colonized, Francophone African believers typically wait for expatriates to provide resources to begin ministries. However, Emmanuel, an Ivorian trainer brother, reinforced the meeting’s tone by recalling a CHE pillar: using local resources. The reports then shared how the separate national programs expanded their ministries by developing and using their local resources rather than waiting on others.

Big is beautiful” may be a clever slogan, but God still asks, “Who dares despise the day of small things?”(Zech. 4:10)… A few loaves and fishes fed thousands. Little is much if God is in it. — Warren Wiersbe

A CHE trainer from Togo shared a striking story. A simple man rode his bicycle seventy kilometers to offer help to a village. The chief looked him over from head to toe and told him they did not need his help. Move on. He did. His offer was accepted in a nearby village. There, his witness inspired villagers to establish a mechanics school, build two schools for their children, start a women's enterprise center that now sells naturally bottled fruit drinks, and build a water tower to serve the region. In fact, the village chief who had refused his help later knelt before him to ask that he return to help his people. That chef’s village now gets water there!

Unexpected Goodbye

260516-Dr.AKA
Dr. AKA
The day after Verlin returned to Cote d’Ivoire from the meeting in Senegal, he drove hours to and from the burial of a friend and faithful CHE trainer from the university. Dr. AKA Desquith Angele was trained during the first three years we began sharing at the university. She helped train in that setting and others for years. Her medical role was in public health, serving as the interim chief of service in the government department overseeing nationwide vaccinations for the last several years. She also participated in developing the follow-up statistics of the private-public partnership using CHE to address leprosy. Her abrupt passing from surgical complications was a heartrending loss for her husband, friends, colleagues, and the strategic use of CHE in the country is adjusting, opening doors of ministry to others.

Prayer Points

  • πŸ™ Pray that the steps taken for the CHE agricultural project in our region have a solid footing.
     
  • πŸ™ Ask the Lord to direct testing and doctors in evaluating the spot on Debbie’s adrenal gland.
     
  • πŸ™ The university CHE Expo in September has over 75 people registered and prepaid! Pray for this yearly endeavor to continue changing the nation as new leadership develops.

Your Partners in the Gospel,
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:
  Q4 2025 JPG or the Q4 2025 PDF  
 
Report text alone link: Anderson Report 260620 

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: First Efforts - 250613 PDF
Prior Videos: Rejoice and Reflect
        - The Great Story

 

2022 Budget Info:
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

 

The Waiting Game

Dear Friends and Ministry Partners,

We had a quarterly report ready to send to you today but ran into a glitch trying to complete the financial report that goes with it. The time difference with Verlin in Africa and Debbie in Tennessee makes solving this problem more complex. So sorry for the delay! Hopefully you will have our report in your inbox on Monday.

Your partners in the Gospel,
Verlin & Debbie

First Efforts

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

There is something nerve-wracking related to personal pride when first doing an activity in public. Remember sharing your first sermon, Bible lesson, musical solo, sports effort, or apple pie? We have heard many an experienced pastor remark that after studying for hours for an initial sermon, expecting it to last half an hour, they finished in five minutes! Rarely are first efforts memorable to observers; it seems even harder to keep calm when experienced people listen or watch.

No mature teaching or piano prodigies happen without small beginnings. It is just that way. Jesus sent out His disciples, two by two, to minister to the masses when He could do the task perfectly … but that was not the task! It is likely that if some people walked in His shoes, they would never have trusted the disciples’ bumbling efforts. Others would have followed at their heels, breathing down their necks, pointing out every little error. A key component when training people to use Community Health Evangelism (CHE) is quickly sharing what they learn with others. On day two of the first discipleship training, we send each participant to witness. On day three, each maps a neighborhood. On day five, each facilitates a lesson. Participants are encouraged to begin training and implementing the process immediately upon returning home. It is one reason CHE ministries, like Disciple Making Ministries (DMM), can multiply rapidly when appropriately encouraged from the heart. Of course, experienced CHE trainers mentor and follow up with new workers, remembering the awkwardness of doing a first. Whatever the learning environment, we have learned to embrace the messy process of “first efforts.” It is the only way for the next generation to successfully embrace serving to expand God’s Kingdom.

Come and See (Psalm 66:5)

Verlin lost electricity for parts of five days this week. While hampered from completing an expense report, the time became free for conversations and repairs. During a surprise call, he reviewed nutritional education with a network developer and a new father who had ridden with him to a CHE-trainer friend’s funeral. Debbie chips away at her to-do list while addressing health issues that were ignored while caring for her father. The attempt to fix our stateside refrigerator by clearing a hoped-for ice dam failed. She will invite a repairman to help in the process next week.

Prayer & Praise

  • πŸ™
    260613-video-image-Kent-Brantlyjpg
    Dr. Brantly
    Our mission facilitates missionaries at the Nyakunde hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a care center addressing today’s Ebola outbreak. While our co-workers are not presently there, they raise prayer, financial support, and care partners to address the dangers and growing operational needs. Click here to view a 1’41” video by the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of our mission, Dr. Kent Brantly. He suffered Ebola during the Liberian epidemic, where the spread abated and stopped threatening entry to Cote d’Ivoire when Samaritan’s Purse integrated CHE techniques into trained household visits. Kent survived by God’s grace and sufficient supportive care through others. Samaritan's Purse is now preparing two treatment centers to help stem the outbreak in two cities of the Ituri region in the DRC: Nyankunde and Bunia
     
  • πŸ™ On Friday, Debbie had a CT scan for abdominal pain. She has diverticulitis and a spot on her adrenal gland and her liver that merit further follow-up.
     
  • πŸ™ Pray regularly that Verlin’s connections with people from another faith lead them to accept, then pass along to their clans, the claims of Christ.
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: Special Seeds?
        - 260606 PDF

Prior Videos: Among So Many
        - Worth

 
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

Special Seeds?

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

260606-FFF
Planting Corn with FFF
Several years ago, when we planted demonstration plots of corn using the Foundation for Farming (FFF) techniques, onlookers were amazed. Instead of the usual one ear of corn, or maybe 2, per stalk that Ivorians were accustomed to, our planting had 2 to 4 ears per stalk the first year. Some observers thought we had brought “special seeds” from far away, which was why the corn grew better. No, the seeds were from the same local market they used. What made the difference was the simple planting techniques used, including remembering to use locally cut grasses to cover the ground. The instructions are summarized in the picture above. To understand the combined Christian worldview and techniques, click here to view a Farming God's Way Field Guide.

We revisit this topic because last week, Verlin walked land outside the village where the CHE agricultural project will get underway in various stages. The fields are about 6 miles from our town. To date, our CHE partner, M., and the villagers have used an old tractor to clear land. They recently planted 5 hectares of corn (1 hectare equals almost 2.5 acres). As M. continues to work on the final paperwork to prove several generations of land ownership, putting crops on the land further validates his claim. Now it is time to teach (or reteach, in some cases) the processes and techniques to increase corn yields to fund regional ministries using CHE techniques to witness.

Come and See (Psalm 66:5)

We experienced some unexpected hiccups on both sides of the Atlantic this week. An Ivorian helper, K., injured his finger and suffered from dehydration. An X-ray will be performed on Monday to determine whether a bone is broken. Lady, our 14.5-year-old Belgian Shepherd, died overnight. Verlin, K., and K’s son buried her today. Verlin finished reconciling recorded expenses with funds we advanced during his absence. The work included tracking expenses to multiple transfers involving three bank accounts and numerous pay-by-phone transfers, a service used in Africa as commonly as Americans use credit cards. Debbie’s respiratory virus has improved to the point that she sleeps peacefully once again. The clothes dryer was repaired on Monday. She now attacks a refrigeration problem: the freezer has stopped freezing. If unplugging and replugging to clear a likely ice dam does not resolve the issue, friends have provided her contacts for local repair people.

Prayer & Praise

  • πŸ™ Pray that the agricultural work in the village leads to powerful spiritual conversations; may the villagers implement the FFF instructions to perceive God increasing their corn production.
     
  • πŸ™ Ask the Lord to comfort and heal family members who recently suffered the miscarriage of a child, and another who awaits surgery in July.
     
  • πŸ™ We cannot let remembrance of D-Day pass without thanking the Lord for the incredible liberty we enjoy in the USA today. One of Debbie’s great uncles stormed the beaches of Normandy 82 years ago, reminding us with grateful hearts that freedom isn’t free.
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: The Choice of Helps
        - 260530 PDF

Prior Videos: Among So Many
        - Worth

 
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

The Choice of Helps

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

What would most villagers choose if they had the two following very different offers of help? You? Imagine, on the one hand, foreigners or officials arriving in a vehicle and offering people funds to help build a needed well. Then picture a simply dressed man of their own ethnic group arriving on a bicycle and offering to walk beside them to bring community transformation using local resources and their own sweat equity. Few choose the more rewarding but harder second path.

At the 8 West African national CHE associations’ meeting in Senegal, the story of a CHE trainer in Togo was shared. He rode his bicycle 70 kilometers to offer help to a village. The chief looked him over from head to toe and told him they didn’t need his help. Move on. He did. His offer was accepted in a nearby village. There, he inspired villagers to establish a mechanics school, build a school for their children, start a women's enterprise center that now sells naturally bottled fruit drinks, and build a water tower to serve the region. In fact, the village chief who had refused his help later knelt before him to ask that he return to help his people. Their village gets water there!

Come and See (Psalm 66:5)

During a second week in Bondoukou, Verlin focused on logging into our records the hundreds of small expenditures incurred during our absence to verify that the funds were spent as authorized. He continues to oversee the M-Sa cleaning and daily one to two repairs while listing parts or supplies needed to complete others, such as storage shelving, supports, or cabinets whose wall anchors fail with age, as poorly made cement gives way over time. Those repairs, like the others, will get assigned or delegated and then inspected for sufficiency. Verlin only takes time to repair something himself in our place, which serves as a way station between ministry site visits, if the local work quality is known to be insufficient to be safe or to endure our expected time here. Despite having someone faithfully working around the house during absences and maintaining the appearance of habitation, issues like roof leaks go unnoticed unless someone lives in a 50+ year-old house.

260531_0716-2ndMoto.jpg
April 2018 Purchase w/ >120,000 Km
Our second 50cc motorcycle purchased over 18 years, still runs well, remains useful as another mobile, tangible testimony for how God restores usefulness and power efficiently. It has been readied with new tires and maintenance for the short in-town errands that Verlin does not take as an opportunity to walk for exercise and meet neighbors. Conversations with neighboring church leaders about eating together weekly, or at least twice a month, to catch up over the next few months began. He continues to receive a visitor every day or two and hopes to begin making local in-town visits next week. The health of our two dogs has improved with his return.

Debbie continued sorting her dad’s possessions, visiting ministry partners, and connected with the Speed Queen seller to get a squealing clothes dryer serviced while fighting a respiratory virus.

Prayer & Praise

  • πŸ™ Pray that the new CHE ministries, having no direct connection to us other than a 2nd or third generation trainer who began creating new outreaches, endure with patience and clear vision.
     
  • πŸ™ Ask the Lord to continue renewing opportunities for Discovery Bible Studies in our area among people who do not feel free to safely attend local churches.
     
  • πŸ™ This week, Debbie hopes to receive clarity on just a few remaining questions regarding her father’s financial affairs. Sorting and releasing his belongings for remembrance proceeds well.
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: Among So Many
        - 260523 PDF

Prior Videos: Among So Many
        - Worth

 
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