The Choice of Helps

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 260530 PDF

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.

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

• 🙏 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.
   
• 🙏 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.
   
• 🙏 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

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

Debbie's Facebook Page

 

Verlin's Facebook Page

Among so Many

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 260523 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

What are these among so many? The disciples considered that question in John 6:9 when faced by Jesus’ command to feed thousands of people. He asked them what was on hand, and they found a boy with five loaves and two fish. Having recently finished touring and performing many miracles, Jesus was testing their faith. They initially proposed sending the crowd away after the long day together. Jesus told them to feed the crowd. He then modeled giving the throng what they needed, feeding them from what was available there.

Conference Video

Mark 6:30-46 set the theme of ‘Feed Them Ourselves” for the biennial West African French-Speaking Community Health Evangelism (CHE) meeting. Leaders of national efforts gave reports in Senegal. Only two West African nations remain without CHE models; part of the meeting addressed networking to enter those communities. Often, African believers are tempted to wait for outsiders to provide resources for ministries to begin. However, Emmanuel reinforced the meeting’s tone by recalling a CHE pillar: using local resources. Next, the reports shared how the separate national programs had expanded their ministries, developing and using their local resources rather than perpetually waiting on others. That said, several received funds from partnering ministries that chose to accompany them, though any shared funds did not alter the plans made. The minuscule bread and fish were more than enough in Jesus' hands that day as the disciples passed out the portions. Similarly, today, Jesus multiplies the resources of those who serve with what they have.

Come and See (Psalm 66:5)

After completing errands and visiting two coastal pastors who are interested in using Community Health Evangelism (CHE), Verlin returned to our rented home/office in Bondoukou on Tuesday. Finding the house intact with electricity and water functioning, and two dogs alive was a blessing. He reviewed the current state of affairs, oversaw cleaning and pest control, and completed errands and repairs so the place is ready to receive guests. A stove and refrigerator will need repair or replacement. As friends and ministry partners began dropping by to welcome him back, Verlin offered avocados and pomelos from our yard as well as hibiscus and papaya leaf tea infusions.

New prospects developed as Verlin resumed walking for short, in-town tasks. Stopped by a man who adheres to local religions and teaches Koranic recitation, a 30-minute conversation began, spanning health and religious beliefs. They decided to meet again to continue discussing Jesus, which the teacher had started.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Pray for the 60+ pastors trained to use CHE with DMM last month in central Cote d’Ivoire. They need a follow-up to determine how best to implement what they learned in their ministries.
   
• 🙏 Ask the Lord to enhance the prayed-for opportunity for Verlin to engage in meaningful spiritual conversations with the Muslim teacher met to connect with yet others to engage in Bible study.
   
• 🙏 Pray for Dr. Peter Stafford (the missionary who contracted Ebola in Congo), his family, and the many Africans and communities at risk of contracting Ebola
  

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: Sudden Goodbye
        - 260516 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

Debbie's Facebook Page

 

Verlin's Facebook Page

Sudden Goodbye

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 260516 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

Dr. AKA

After arriving safely in Abidjan, Verlin spent less than a day in Cote d’Ivoire before following up on the sad news read during the transatlantic flight of the unexpected death of a friend and a faithful Community Health Evangelism (CHE) trainer from the university. Dr. AKA Desquith Angele was trained during the first three years we began sharing at the university and helped train others in that setting for years. Her medical role was in public health, as the interim chief of service in the government department overseeing vaccinations nationwide for the last several years. She also participated in developing the follow-up statistics of the leprosy program that we have mentioned many times. Her abrupt passing due to complications from a surgery is a heartrending loss for her husband, friends, colleagues, and potentially the strategic use of CHE in the country to open doors of ministry.

Come and See (Psalm 66:5)

Despite this loss, the Lord answered several prayers this week. First, this represents the 4th death of vital CHE trainers integral to different programs. In the past, each loss was made up for by several others stepping up to invigorate their respective programs. This historically traceable fact comforts many. Verlin’s safe arrival in Cote d’Ivoire with a four-day trip to and from the CHE regional meeting in Dakar, Senegal, without problems was a blessing, as others’ flights were delayed or canceled. In addition, he renewed vehicle registration and insurance for HiLux, enabling our mechanic friend to pick him up at the airport after his trip to Senegal on Friday and return the vehicle to Verlin. This permitted Verlin to attend the burial of Dr. Aka today in a village hours from Abidjan.

The trip concluded a profitable week for which we thank the Lord for Verlin’s continued energy and increased leg strength, as driving was easier than during 2022-‘24. He has errands and two meetings with pastors interested in using CHE to complete before heading home to Bondoukou. One unexpected replacement may be a freezer we purchased in 2024. The local repairman said a fix is not possible. Verlin will check with the warranty provider and the seller before deciding what to do. It's common for appliances to fail when we’ve been away for extended periods.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Thank the Lord for Verlin’s safe international travels and a good regional CHE meeting in Senegal. Pray for a CHE leader who was unable to leave Mali to attend the meeting. May he and his cohort and family be safe and effective in an environment hostile to Christians.
   
• 🙏 Ask the Lord to comfort the family, friends, and coworkers of Dr. Desquith Aka, the government doctor and CHE trainer who passed suddenly last week after surgery complications. Verlin attended her funeral service in Abidjan on Saturday at 7 AM, followed by her burial that afternoon, hours west of Abidjan in N’gohinou with Ivorian ministry partners.
   
• 🙏 Pray for the leprosy outreach ongoing in central Côte d’Ivoire.
  

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: Warrior Mama
        - 260509 PDF
Prior Videos: El Roi
        - 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

Debbie's Facebook Page

 

Verlin's Facebook Page

Warrior Mama

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 260509 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

Happy Mother’s Day to the many wonderful, faithful mothers we know! Included in that group are godly single and married women who have never physically borne children, but who participate in nurturing and training up the next generation in the ways of the Lord.

In a recent sermon on Deborah, the historical female judge from the tribe of Ephraim mentioned in Judges chapters 4 and 5, Egyptian-American Michael Youssef made an insightful point. During the victory song after Israel defeated the Canaanites in Judges 5:7, Deborah described her participation as “a mother in Israel.” She could have emphasized her leadership role as the judge and prophetess of that epoch, or mentioned that Barak, the army commander, refused to go into battle unless she agreed to accompany him. In our age of distorted roles, some might envision her on a feminist rampage to break the chains of the patriarchy, since she was the only female judge in the Bible. But that was not her ambition. Deborah arose with the courage and steadfastness of a mother, prodding a fearful general to fulfill his role and trust God’s promises. Her influential, mothering role in a stunning military victory was how she wanted to be remembered.

Come and See (Psalm 66:5)

Verlin leaving Nashville

Verlin began his journey back to Cote d’Ivoire on Friday. He arrived in the early evening of that world today and was able to review this update by 8 p.m. EST. It was a hectic week of doctor appointments, errands, and visits. He sets up travel to Dakar, Senegal, for Monday's four-day regional CHE meeting after church and a visit to friends grieving the loss of a university-based CHE trainer we encouraged in Christ. Debbie remains in the USA for a few more weeks, finishing her father’s affairs and a long list of family and ministry projects.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Pray for an encouraging and incident-free regional CHE meeting in Senegal.
   
• 🙏 Our vehicle will not be available to Verlin until he returns from Senegal at the end of the week. The Toyota cannot be driven until insurance is renewed, and that requires Verlin to renew several banking and payment services. So, pray the reacclimating process goes smoothly.
   
• 🙏 Pray for mothers struggling alone or who are afraid or uncertain of their roles. Women have many laudable skills and roles, but none is more important for a nation's future than being faithful, godly mothers.
  

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: Remote Control
        - 260502 PDF
Prior Videos: El Roi
        - 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

Debbie's Facebook Page

 

Verlin's Facebook Page

Remote Control

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 260502 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

Verlin and his mom

We learned the value of Microsoft’s “Quick Assist” as Verlin completed the installation and preparation of his mother’s new computer. A gifted ministry partner, who now helps Elsie get out our written quarterly reports when we are overseas, showed us how it works. In case you do not know, Microsoft’s Quick Assist Windows feature allows one computer to view or take control of another computer, using a passcode and several permission steps to solve problems remotely. So Verlin, or our friend, can access her computer with her permission to see whatever problem she may face and work to correct it. The user or helper can cancel the connection between the computers with one click. It is amazing technology when you have trusted helpers!

Debbie mused about the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives as she watched Verlin and our friend open files and make changes on Elsie’s computer screen from their computers. Great trust is required to give another that kind of access and control. Similarly, the Holy Spirit does not force His way into our hearts and minds without our permission and cooperation. It’s an incredible joy and relief to invite Him to daily correct our faulty programming and help us make the best choices! Conversely, what damaging viruses and sins take root when we do not give Him free rein!

Come and See (Psalm 66:5)

Visiting family and friends in Michigan seemed to pass too quickly! The essentials were done. We were blessed to meet or visit with nine ministry partners, in addition to the essential family interaction and planning. It appears that Verlin is on target to leave the States in mid-May. We learned that he will not need a visa to attend a regional meeting in Senegal, as his visit will be less than 90 days. Secondly, since coordination among all concerned regarding a pending meeting was difficult, we did not receive a useful invitation letter in time for him to leave a StarLink Internet antenna in Ghana. We will handle obtaining the visa in Côte d’Ivoire when it is useful for other purposes. We prefer getting Ghana visas from an American consulate. Usually, they issue us 5-year visas more easily than 1- or 3-year visas, which the embassy grants in Côte d’Ivoire. The visas work the same, but we were trying to get 5 years instead of 3 for less money.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Thank the Lord for good ministry and family visits in Michigan. As this update posts on Saturday, we travel to Elizabethtown, Tennessee, setting up visits as we travel. Verlin is scheduled to share and preach on Sunday. We intend to visit other ministry partners and friends along the way to Cookeville.
   
• 🙏 Pray for us to find the best price possible this week for Verlin’s airline ticket back to West Africa.
   
• 🙏 Ask the Lord to guide the CHE university team as they spend hundreds of hours preparing to host the CHE training sessions again in September. A new director heads the effort.
  

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: Train, not Try
        - 260425 PDF
Prior Videos: El Roi
        - 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

Debbie's Facebook Page

 

Verlin's Facebook Page