The Pfennigers – Fred and Lydia

A Lesson I Recently Shared with My Family

I am a detail-information man and I am starting to understand why. The details and information help to decrease the stress by putting expectations into perspective.

In the absence of details and information, I am left to think that everything is fine.  And then, when things are not fine, I find myself asking a lot of questions in an attempt to not only understand why something unexpected occurred, but also how do I avoid the situation the next time around.

Interestingly enough, I tend to go after more information when something is my responsibility, and less information when it is not my responsibility.  This is difficult at times, such as when I assume responsibility of something or when I pass off responsibility as the expectations are different.

It is, as I explained to my kids, why we study the Bible.  We study with no expectations except to learn the details and information of God and our story. In learning this, we come to understand who He is, what He stands for, and who we are.  We come to understand “God’s expectations” and our nature. In understanding God’s expectations, living life becomes less dramatic, but not necessarily less hard, as we aren’t focused on a specific outcome, but on the moment or the situation we are in.  In this we know not only the importance of growing our faith, but also developing goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, kindness and love. In understanding our nature, we understand that being disobedient is a lot easier than being obedient. My life is now easier as I have both a better understanding of God’s expectations and our nature.

For example, I have become a better father because, from the Bible, I understand that it is easier to be bad than to be good.  I explained to the kids that I recognize that for them, getting up in the morning to exercise or to pick up their clothes and make their beds takes effort and is contrary to their (and our) inherent nature of not getting up in the morning, of leaving our clothes on the floor and not making our beds.  No, I will not reward them for doing these tasks, but I will recognize the effort they have made in starting their day out in glorifying God.

Togo, HBB (Hôpital Baptiste Biblique) – “More Than Just a Hospital”

Soccer Ministry:  Most Saturdays our day starts at 4:30 AM as our house starts to wake up.  By 5:45 AM I am on the road to a church in Beme-Tutu to pick up some Togolese kids. We then drive them to the airfields at HBB where we spend time in Bible study (20-30 minutes) and then playing soccer (for an hour and a half).  From there I am back on the road driving the Togolese kids back to home, cleaning up the van and water coolers, and washing the “jerseys”. In an attempt to develop relationships with the Togolese kids, during Bible study we are starting to have the kids present themselves by telling us a bit about themselves.

OB Meetings:  We have been asked, by the medical director, to meet with the OB nurses to discuss two questions: 1. Would you, as the OB team, like to do more OB? 2. What do we need to be able to do more OB? We have been encouraged by the discussions and responses and are left to ponder the question of how to engage the OB nurses more.  Can you say skilled-birth attendant training program?

Medicine meetings: I have volunteered to do a few lectures for the HBB trained nurses and PAs who staff the outpatient clinic.  My goal is not only form a relationship with them, but provide an environment where we can review and discuss cases.  My first few lectures will focus on determining whether a patient is sick through visual observation, vitals, physical exam and labs.

Carte-de-Séjour: We have completed our carte-de-séjour application to stay in Togo for the next year and are awaiting a response.

Worship: Here at HBB there are daily opportunities to participate in worship and fellowship: Sunday night services, Monday morning medical devotions, Tuesday morning PA devotions, Wednesday morning employee worship, Wednesday noon Bible study, Wednesday night prayer meeting, Friday morning medical devotions, Saturday morning bible study (soccer ministry), daily morning family devotions, and participation in a local national church on Sunday mornings. In considering all this, we are pondering the question, “is there such a thing as too much God?” In 1 Corinthians 7:33 Paul recognizes the divided interest of a married man such that he (the married man) cannot give undistracted service to Christ. On the other hand, we are challenged by Tozer who would spend hours each day with God alone. Where is the line for us?  Logically, it seems the line for each person would be different and be based on where he/she is in life. Please pray for us as we work to find this balance.

OB and Medicine Call: Interesting cases and we are starting to pray with patients.

1. A young-teenage mom delivered a baby early at 6 months along.  Birth weight of 1.8lb.  Today the baby is weighing 2.8lb.  We have had the opportunity to talk and pray with the mom and grandma a few times.  Mom is struggling with becoming a mom and the change it has forced in her life;she wants to be in school.  Grandma asked if there was a way we could cause her, the grandma, to produce breast milk so she could take care of the little one. Please pray for this young mom (Mama A) and the baby as they get ready to go home in the next few weeks.   

• First-time mom coming in for routine delivery.  During the labor process she developed severe pre-eclampsia, and because she was not progressing in labor, we had to deliver the baby by c-section. Mom and baby were discharged 2 days later. Praising God for the health of mom and baby.

• Got a call from clinic.  A mom pregnant with twins with one baby already delivered and the other one was still inside mom and had come by taxi. Will I accept the patient?  From a hospital point of view this is a difficult question because the hospital is short of man power and not in a position to accept all cases.  From a medical stand point, it is an easy question.  To send mom on to the next hospital we must ensure she is stable.  To ensure mom is stable, we need to do an evaluation of her.  Mom was admitted to labor and delivery and the 2^nd baby was delivered by c-section.  Baby was floppy (blue, no tone, no reaction to stimuli and minimal respiration but he did have a solid heart rate) and needed some resuscitation. Baby was placed on CPAP, IV fluids, and antibiotics. I prayed for the baby. I wondered if he would survive. Mom and both babies were discharged 5 days later! Thank you Lord!

• Saw a patient (with Dr S) complaining of shortness of breath.  The patient was praying out loud, asking God to help him.  He was afraid he was going to die. Per family, he started having chest pain about 10 days ago.  He came to HBB. On physical exam, his vitals showed a blood pressure of 133/117 (normal is 120/80). Otherwise, and outside of a feeling of impending doom he seemed fine. Moments later, as we were discussing a workup, he “coded” (heart and respiration stopped).  We attempted to resuscitate him with no success.  We did not have a chance to pray with him.  These cases are hard.

• Participated in the care, including prayers, of a first-time young mom (Mama B) at 8 months.  Medical evaluation showed multiple issues and concerns including anemia, elevated liver enzymes, elevated bilirubin, renal failure, and sepsis (all very concerning, possibly life-threatening conditions).  We “sweated” the decision to not deliver right away giving the baby a bit more time inside mom. Shortly after we delivered her. I thought mom would not survive, but her labs normalized and her and the baby were discharged.  During their stay the mom was encouraged in her faith in Christ. (Thank you so much to Dr.G & Dr.T, in the US, who took a lot of phone messages from us in this & other cases!)

• Attempted to resuscitate an infant suffering from breathing issues. When I first saw her in the pediatric ward her pulse ox (oxygen level) was in the 70’s (normal >94).  We attempted medications, oxygen and CPAP. No effect. She died 2 hours later. These are hard cases. 

• We participated in the care ofa young woman (from a nomadic tribe) who came to HBB with a breech (butt-first) delivery in-progress. Unfortunately, the baby passed away. Despite this, her friend made a comment about how well she was treated by the staff at HBB. We were able to be “Christ’s hands and feet.”

• We participated in the care of a young teenage boy who came to the hospital unresponsive.  Work up was concerning for malaria and a bacterial infection.  We thought he was going to die. Seven days later he was discharged. Thank you, Lord, for the encouragements you give!

It is tough, to say the least, as I feel the weight of the decisions. And at times it feels like a very lonely process. I am being pushed in my understanding of medicine and often ponder, am I doing all I can. In the USA it is different.  If, as a doctor, I am in a bind, I consult a colleague and in this the responsibility is, if not completely transferred, shared and the burden is partially lifted. In this I am recognizing not only that we cannot do as much here, but the importance of doing the little things well that we can . . . taking a set of vitals, doing a good physical exam and timely work up, using the medications we have on hand, and talking and praying with the patient. In this, the hope becomes not the result of the situation, but the situation itself, a showing of compassion and love in a time of need.

Family Update

Fred / Lydia / Noah / Nathanael / Noémi / Noll: We are finding our routine of family devotions, physical exercise, family and friends and work and school.  Since arriving in Togo we have gone through the gospel of John together and are currently discussing Acts. Most mornings we are up doing exercise. Noah and Nathanael are involved in soccer with the Togolese most Tuesdays and Thursday afternoons, while all four kids (and Dad) play soccer with the Togolese on Saturday mornings and the kids participate regularly in the Sunday afternoon missionary-compound-sport game, whatever it may be (hockey, soccer, handball, ultimate frisbee, etc.). The kids are still communicating with friends in Sherbrooke, Quebec and Fort Wayne. Fred and Lydia are job-sharing a full-time position at HBB, learning to switch between managing the kids and working at the hospital, on a day-to-day basis. This process is a bit tough at times, as it is hard to let go of a sick patient in thought, and be able to focus on time teaching the kids and managing the home. School is progressing well for the kids as a whole.  The schedule for the 3 younger kids will stay the same next year (Sept to May), with the MK school doing Bible, science, English and history, while they will be continuing to do year around, French, math, music and physical education at home.  Noah’s grade 9 curriculum will continue with physical education at home and French, math, and music on-line as he is currently doing.  In this, we are adding on new on-line courses (English, biology, history, Bible) from Liberty University, Potters School and Veritas Press. We are praying it will go well.

Prayers and Praises for:

Family

Prayers: 

• For the kids schooling, friendships and continued adjustments. (It’s getting easier. 😊)
• Togo carte de séjour –for timely approval. (Application has been submitted, awaiting response so that we can stay in country for at least one year.)  
• Transitioning (still) in medical & OB work; wisdom in the decisions that are being made for the care of patients; and making evangelism a “normal” part of our medicine care.
• Balancing family, community, and ministry life ‒knowing where and when God would have us to invest, both individually and as a family. 
• Wisdom needed in relationships (spousal, parenting & team).

Praises:

• For one of the other missionary moms who is working with Noll in addition to her own kids for basics of reading and writing during the MK school.
• For the friendships that our kids have started locally & the ones they have been able to maintain in Indiana, Michigan, and Quebec.

Togo, Hôpital Baptiste Biblique

Prayers:

• Soccer ministry -that we’ll be able to start developing relationships with the kids who come. (One challenge is that French is their 2^nd language as well as ours. They speak one of several local tribal languages.)
• OB meetings ‒please pray for continued wisdom in these discussions for both us and the hospital staff as the hospital decides if we can “open up” (not limit the patients we accept) OB; also pray that we are able to develop deeper relationships with the OB nurses and that it can become a true team atmosphere.
• Mama A (teen mom with premie baby) -please pray for her to see this baby as a gift and not as a burden, please pray that the door will open for her to be able to return to school in God’s timing; pray for God’s love to be known and grow in her heart, as well as that of her family and the baby’s. 
• Mama B and baby (young mom with multiple problems on admission & delivery) -for full health of baby & recovery for Mom, and that her relationship with God would be strengthened as a result of her stay.  
• For the team, the vision/expansion project (wisdom & construction) ‒solar panels were just installed and the next group is starting on housing construction.
• Encouraging teaching environment –wisdom and grace as we step forward to help lead discussions about evaluating patients.

Praises: 

• For the encouraging cases where patients shouldn’t have survived but they did, and open doors with patients, as some stay a short-time and others stay a long time.
• Opportunities that are occurring in tough patient situations and the discussions with the staff that are happening afterwards.
• For the different short-termers who have come out to help in the hospital and those who are coming to help in other ways (construction, sports, etc).

A belated Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Thank You

We would like to take this time to say a belated Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Thank You!  We pray that you are doing well, and that the new year will see your growth in Christ continue. As we take the time to reflect, we realize that we can only be doing what we are doing because of you, through your prayers and support (both financial & otherwise).  Please know we appreciate your comments, questions, concerns and prayer requests, and we pray that our responses have been adequate. Our goal with our ministry updates and newsletters is not only to keep you informed of what we are going through, but an attempt to further develop a relationship with you.  We are interested in what you are doing and how we can be praying for you!  So once again, a belated Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and thank You!

 Sherbrooke

Language School:  We finished language school on Dec 19^th, and although we have not received our final grade, we understand that we have passed B2!  In all this, we had two opportunities to make a presentation in French, about our ministry in Togo.  The first one was a 10-minute presentation on Dec 7^th at l’Église Baptiste Évangélique de Lennoxville from which we received a few comments that it was well done. The second one was a35-minute presentation to the Parole de Vie Bible College students that included a question-and-answer period where we must have answered15 plus questions about everything from the kids’ education to who is ministering to the missionaries.  It was an interesting experience to speak in front of a crowd of people in a second language.  In this I (Fred) was sure of what I was trying to say, but I was unsure of what was being heard.  If the question-and-answer period was any indication, the students heard what we were trying to say.

Togo, HBB (Hôpital Baptiste Biblique) – “More Than Just a Hospital”

Updates:(from other missionary newsletters)

HBB’s PAACS surgical residency program: a new surgical resident is starting in Jan. (PAACS is a missionary medical program designed to train African doctors who are committed to staying in Africa as surgeons.)

Evangelistic Mobile Medical Clinic in Fanyidewoe:  400 people crowded into the church waiting to be seen; due to time and limited providers, only 150 patients were seen but several pastors were there visiting with people and sharing the Gospel.  

OB department: received a gift of new handheld dopplers (used to detect and measure baby heart rates of expected mothers); and 4 maternity OB labor delivery beds (mechanical).

Medical Team: treating 2 kids for Burkitt’s lymphoma, who were abandoned by their mothers (a 4-year-old & 7-year-old).  They have completed their third and first treatments respectively and are responding.  And most importantly, the Gospel is being shared with their extended family.

Surgical/Medical team: aided a woman with a 15 cm mass on her right arm; she required emergency amputation secondary to bleeding and was found to have cancer with “cannonball metastases” (lung metastasis).  The cancer is not curable. The gospel was shared with her.

A day in the life of a CCAA-RRT (Certified Clinical Anesthesiologist Assistant) at HBB: “So, on this day, I started with an upper endoscopy on a child who had severe esophageal scarring from swallowing lye a few years earlier . . . Due to complications, (the used guide wire broke and caused a perforation and a pneumothorax) this was followed by an exploratory open laparotomy on the same child and insertion of a feeding tube directly into his stomach through his abdominal wall and a chest tube insertion.  This child is 13 years old and weighs just 35 lb’s.  For perspective, I used a blood pressure cuff on his arm that I would normally use on a two-year old.  So that was my morning.  In the OR next door, my colleague Franck, was providing anesthesia for a 2-year-old to have a mass removed from his face; then he had 2 patients in for hernia repairs, followed by removal of infectious or dead tissue and bone on a lady’s foot.  Next we had a mastectomy, and I sedated a 3 year old for a lymph node biopsy to send for testing for Tuberculosis.  And to end the day, I sedated a 3 year old so I could do a lumbar puncture on him to send his CSF for testing.”

For such busy days and complex cases, we are grateful for the roles that God allows HBB to play in the lives of those in Togo! 

“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:18

Preparing to go to Togo: We continue to move forward in our preparation to leave for Togo.  Everything is almost done.  Tickets are bought. (We leave Jan 16^th.)  All we are waiting for is Lydia’s Togo visa. (Fred and the kids have received their visas, but Lydia has not.) Fred will be making a “U-Haul” run to South Carolina to drop off our bikes and totes for a container that will be shipped sometime in 2026 when it is full. We have had a conversation with HBB and understand that we will start work on Feb 4^th (Yes, we are nervous and have started to mentally prepare for this task.  We have also reached out to a visiting OB-GYN, Dr. A who will be at HBB when we start, to give her a “heads-up” that it has been a bit since we last delivered a baby). Lydia and Fred will be working as one full-time physician and plan to divide the shifts assigned between ourselves, while the other stays home working through schooling and other responsibilities for the kids.

We were able to find on-line music and French teachers and an on-line “self-paced” math course for the kids. As such, the schedule is almost set for the kids. The three younger kids will be doing MK school from 8am to noon Monday through Thursday, where they will do Bible, English, science and history.  During this time Noah will also have MK school but it will go from 8:30 to 10:30am and only cover English and history.  Bible and science will be covered at home by Mom and Dad.  This will be followed with on-line private French lessons for Noah, Nathanael, and Noemi on Monday afternoons, physical education for all the kids Wednesday afternoons and Friday mornings, and music for the three older kids with on-line private lessons Thursday afternoons.  Math will be done a bit every weekday afternoon.  Our only uncertainty in this schedule is Noll. For Noll to attend the MK school, he has to be reading at a predetermined level. We are not sure if he is there yet, but we are hoping he is. Once Noll starts MK school, we will start to consider music lessons and French lessons for him also.

Family Update

Fred and Lydia: It has been a busy couple of months for us.  Our time has been divided between French studies (ended Dec 19^th), planning for our transition from Sherbrooke, Quebec (leaving Dec 26^th) to Grandville MI to Togo, West Africa (flight Jan 16^th, 2026) and helping the kids in their transition from Quebec. It has been a bit much at times, to tell you the truth. We are hoping as we transition to Togo our lives will “slow down” a bit.

Noah / Nathanael / Noémi / Noll: The kids got their report cards on Nov 20^th and we were able to meet with some of their teachers.  In general, they received “good” feedback regarding behavior and participation in class. We are proud of them!  On Dec 19^th they finished school and were able to say some “good” goodbyes.  Noah ran a personal best in cross-country (3 km, 10:46), started and stopped swimming, finished 2^nd in a school chess tournament, and was recognized for maintaining an average above 85%. All 3 younger kids finished gymnastics.  In addition, Nathanael had fun playing soccer at school and was noted to be exceeding the expectations for his grade. Noémi was also noted to be exceeding the expectations for her grade, which is amazing given the fact that she was moved up a grade. Noll had one of his “works of art” chosen to be displayed in the school calendar and was noted to be a quiet kid in class (which is amazing because at home he is anything but quiet)! Noll did have a follow up cardio echo which shows a normal functioning heart (routine follow-up after his open-heart surgery at 3½ years old).

Prayers and Praises for:

Kids

• Prayers: 
  • Last couple weeks in the US -special time with extended family and meaningful time on family ski trip
  • Transition to Togo (friends & MK school and home schooling) in the new year; for Noll’s reading
• Praise: for a good end to time in Sherbrooke & all have been healthy

Fred and Lydia

• Prayers:
  • Lydia’s visa to come through
  • wisdom in relationships (spousal & parenting)
  • wisdom in preparing to move to Togo & all the tasks with this
  • wisdom to do medicine/OB again in the new year in Togo (we have been out of medicine for > 1year)

Togo, Hôpital Baptiste Biblique

• Prayers:
  • for the team, the vision/expansion project (wisdom & construction),
  • the growth of the OB service
  • managing unexpected and expected increasing costs (increased electricity costs, unexpected tax bill)
  • some national concerns …(You can search African news.)
• Praises: for the response to the Gospel through the multiple ministries

People of Sherbrooke (& Quebec) 

• Prayers:
  • ministry of Parole de Vie (our language & the Bible school) and the local churches in sharing the message of Christ
  • new legislation being considered that could greatly negatively impact churches & Christians here in Quebec (re: public prayer, tax exemption, etc.)

Other

• Prayers:  Friends and colleagues going through some challenging situations (cancer, family complications) 
• Praise: Overall, our financial needs are being met

Your Story is Important

I like stories.  I like to hear personal stories. I like to ask questions about the thoughts and the mindset of the people as they tell their stories. From this I learn a lot.

This is what the Bible is for me.  It is God’s and our story as told by God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. It is not a promise of an easy, uncomplicated life without challenges in this broken world. It shows us, instead, the effects of our decision to live separate from God and the joys and struggles of those who follow after Him while connecting us to something beyond ourselves. Through it I learn how to live in a more meaningful way.

I wish we could-would share our personal stories mores. I think we could learn a lot from each other’s stories. I know I do. But I think it is hard for us to tell our story for a couple of reasons. First, often we do not feel we have a story to tell and/or we feel it will make us “less” than what we should be. Second, we do not know how to take time to learn other people’s stories. Our culture has taught us how to work, network, and keep occupied, but it does not teach us how to truly spend time with each other. In this something is lost; there is no connection made beyond ourselves.

I believe that God gave us each other and as such I think we should take time to not only tell our personal story more but learn the stories of others.

Sherbrooke

French Studies: We passed our conversational course!  Thus, we started level B2 French on August 27^th.  (Interesting fact: for Canadian residency status in Quebec, you have to pass the B2 level in French.)

Mazda: Our Mazda 6 has been revived! (From previous newsletter, you may recall that we were told that it was non-salvageable.) While looking into towing the Mazda across the border to a salvage yard, we were told to try a “mom and pop” shop three minutes from where we lived. We did, and five hours later they called to say the car was fixed! Not only that, but they changed out the “new Mazda part” with the “old Mazda part” because it did not work. Thus, I was able to return the “new Mazda part” for a refund.  Now I am working on getting the rear end of the Mazda repaired that was “rear ended” in Indiana in November 2024. Oh what fun!

4,200 Miles: We had to leave Canada on June 30^th because of Lydia’s visa expiring. We returned to Sherbrooke on August 4^th. During this time, we traveled by van, covered about 4,200 miles and visited the following states/provinces: New York, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, and Ontario. Highlights: friends and supporters; a day at Seabreeze amusement-waterslide park; 4 days in a cabin on Lake Michigan with Family N; 4 days with Grandma who changed out our old van with a newer van (thank you Grandma); Headwaters VBS; presentation of ABWE’s Togo mission field to the sewing ladies at Headwaters who have put together multiple totes of infant hats, blankets, etc.; ABWE missions conference in TN; Noah’s Ark in KY; Niagara Falls (Canadian side); visited with family in Windsor ON and Christian Lake ON; and go-cart racing. Challenges: Noemi developed a rash and Bell’s palsy as a result of Lyme’s disease.  As such we had to visit an ER in Ontario. She has since recovered. (Thank you, Lord!)

Kids going back to school: The kids still really miss their school in Fort Wayne, but they are okay to be starting school again here.  Their first day of school was August 28^th and it went all right.  The kids are hoping to be involved in some school sports here in the fall (cross-country and soccer). (Interesting fact: the government of Quebec has banned all cell phones in school starting this year.)

HBB – “more than just a Hospital”

Updates: From the newsletters of multiple missionaries: OB (Obstetrics) –> The OB volume is picking up; they did suffer a maternal death and a baby death (which is tough!); and there have been some manpower issues which has place a bit more strain on the staff at HBB.  On the upside: they were able to participate in the care of a set of twins, who were born outside the hospital, and all went well; and the monthly Bible study with the OB nurses is progressing. Building relationships –> a state side church which is considering a long-term relationship with HBB and has some medical ties, is planning a vision trip to HBB in the near future; during the month of July HBB’s Evangelistic Mobile Medical Clinic spent time in a Togolese prison and a Togolese village building relationships through medicine.  Baptisms –> an ABWE Togolese church plant has recently baptized 7 new members! Lansing MI –> HBB & HOH (the 2 Togolese mission hospitals) have lost the use of a shipping warehouse to pack and send containers secondary to the business being sold.

Ultrasound –> Ultrasound machines are game changers in resource limited settings where CT scans and MRIs do not exist and/or are out of reach financially or because of travel for the average person. As such the ultrasound plays a huge role as an imagine diagnosing tool. At HBB, along with an x-ray machine, the two ultrasound machines play an important role in OB and newborn care and in the diagnosing of heart, lung, abdominal and extremity pathology. One of HBB’s two ultrasound machines (both of which date back to 2015) has become unrepairable. A new one has been sourced, and its price has been reduced from $45,000 to $9,150 through a global grant program. If you feel lead to contribute to this new Ultrasound Machine you can donate through: https://give.abwe.org/projects/karolyn-kempton-memorial-hospital-hbb (PLEASE note “Ultrasound” in the comments).

Beautiful Feet: While in TN we were able to reconnect with Beautiful Feet, an ABWE ministry whose focus is to empower national churches to lead pregnancy care ministries.  Currently they exist in 26 countries, including Togo.  More specifically, in Togo they have 14 locations. We had a great discussion centered on how we as a hospital-centered OB service could support them in providing safe home-based pre-natal services and deliveries.

Preparing to go to Togo: In preparing to go to Togo, we have four more necessary steps: vaccinations, 8 weeks of B2 language, airline tickets, and Togo visas.  Currently we are proceeding through the vaccinations stage that includes rabies, typhoid, cholera, malaria, yellow fever and meningitis. We can honestly say the vaccination stage is not our most favorite, but we are progressing through it with the help of ice cream!

School Kits for Togo: As some of you may remember, we had the opportunity to participate in a VBS (Vacation Bible School) fund-raising program for school kits for Togo in July. The result: $2,275. And thanks to the project leaders in Togo (K & C) and some saving as a result of bulk buying, the final tally was not 91 school kits, BUT 140 school kits (for K through middle school).  Thank you to everyone who gave!

A quick revision from our last newsletter: We have just received a second bill for Noll’s pediatric cardiology visit on April 1^st.  The total cost for the visit is now 1,000 USD compared to 3,500 USD in the USA. Oh, the hassle of delayed billing (lol).

Prayers and Praise for:

Kids

• Prayers: good start to school, for making & reconnecting with friends 
• Praise: for the friendships that they have formed locally and the reconnections they made in Fort Wayne in July; for Noemi’s healing from Lyme’s disease

Fred and Lydia

• Prayers: to be able to continue to learn French well; wisdom needed in relationships (spousal & parenting); wisdom needed to prepare to do medicine/OB in the new year in Togo
• Praise: passing conversational language course, safe travel during July, no border issues in entering & leaving Canada

Togo, Hôpital Baptiste Biblique

• Prayers:
• for the team, the vision project (expansion from 50 to 75+ beds)
• the growth of the OB service, managing increasing costs (increased electricity costs, unexpected tax bill)
• needing a new site (in the US) for packing and shipping containers with supplies for the missionaries & hospital
• some national concerns (search African news)
• Praises: for the response to the Gospel through the multiple ministries

People of Sherbrooke (& Quebec) 

• Prayers: for the ministry of Parole de Vie (our language & the Bible school)and the local churches in sharing the message of Christ.
• Praises: successful summer Chrisitan youth/family camps – in July

Other

• Prayers: Our friends and colleagues who are going through very challenging situations (cancer, family complications) 
• for wisdom and responses as we look for opportunities to present our ministry.
• Praise: that our financial needs are being met

Dear Friends and Family,

Understanding how to be in the world but not of the world can be very challenging. We are grateful for the challenge and yet at the same time wish it were easier! Thank you for your prayers! To read our latest news with regards to language school and future plans, click HERE to read our summer 2025 newsletter.

God bless,

Fred, Lydia, Noah, Nathanael, Noémi and Noll

We cannot fix it!

As a young person I saw my dad, a cheesemaker by trade, do everything from book-keeping to electrical work to carpentry work and more.  If he didn’t know exactly how to do it, he would prepare the project to such a point that the professional would have minimal work to do.  My dad was involved in the fixing of everything. This left an impression on me to such a point that I never thought I could not do something and that the world could be made a better place. This has been a driving force of who I am. On the other hand, when I struggle and cannot do something and/or I have trouble understanding something, which is fairly often, I feel inherently “not good enough”, I feel inadequate.  And if I am told by someone that “it cannot be done,” I struggle with understanding this response and usually respond with a thousand questions.  This has affected me deeply as it has caused me to reflect, maybe too much at times, on my experiences in life with the goal of becoming better. It is in this state that I heard the message of justification and sanctification at Grace Fellowship in Florence KY that started my walk with Christ.  Justification is the concept that we, as Christians, are accepted, freed from condemnation, guilt and the penalty of sin, through belief alone in Christ and through his death.  Sanctification is the process of becoming more like Christ through study and prayer.  As Easter comes and goes, I am reminded again of God’s story in the Old Testament, Christ’s life and death through the New Testament; His commands to love the One who sent Him and to love one another as He loved us; how He invested in people (the twelve disciples, people’s lives through healing, conversations, action); how he prayed for future Christians; how He died; and the power of sin. The Pharaoh chose not God but sin despite the evidence and signs to the contrary.  And according to my impression of Revelations, we too, or at least a good majority of us, will choose not God but sin despite the evidence and signs to the contrary.  I am coming to the conclusion, in all this, that “we cannot fix it.”  It is only through Jesus Christ that this world and we can be “fixed.”

Sherbrooke

The weather is changing here.  The snow on the ground is all gone but we are still experiencing a weekly snow fall. 

At the beginning of April, we were blessed with a visit from Lydia’s mom, brother, and his family for a weekend.  We spent time playing soccer, talking (in English), and visiting Quebec City.

French studies are continuing.  We have written 8 sets of French exams and our grades are improving.  At the end of April, we will be taking a final level B1 exam which consist of oral and written assessments and a grammar test. For the months of May and June we are planning to participate in a French language conversational course here at Parole de Vie while our kids finish the school year. (The last day of school for the 3 younger kids is June 23^rd.)  For the month of July, we will be making a trip to Michigan, Indiana and possibly Tennessee. Planning and timing for a future departure from Sherbrooke to Togo will depend on a few things such as our language proficiency, language clearance from HBB, immunizations (may take ≥ 3months), passports, VISAs, housing availability in Togo and the arrival of our stuff to Togo. Currently we are projecting a departure date of Dec 2025 or Jan 2026.

HBB – “More than just a hospital”

A meeting: we had a zoom meeting with one of our supporting churches. We were encouraged by the conversation and the desire to be more involved in our ministry and the ministry at HBB.  We are not sure of what the future holds, but are excited for the possibilities.

Newborn supplies: we had communication with a women’s group at a supporting church that is knitting blankets, hats and other supplies for the OB/newborn unit at HBB.

Ventilators. We understand a missionary couple has secured 5 additions ventilators for HBB. Thus, when they arrive, HBB will go from 1 to 6 ventilators. We are excited for this addition to HBB and what it could means for the treatment of acute respiratory emergencies (from snake bites for example) but we are also nervous at the challenges it may bring (when do you take someone off the ventilator).

A newsletter: we read a newsletter from Dr L (FP/OB doctor at HBB). The once-a-month OB meeting with the nurses to discuss treatment protocols has started and is being well received.

Praises – Thanking the Lord for:

• Noll -we were able to establish care with a local pediatric cardiologist.  His repeat echo shows that his heart is doing well.  We have a follow up visit in Dec prior to our departure.
• Noémi -she is adjusting to grade 2.
• Nathanael -he was able to give a Bible to a friend at school.
• Noah -he has been able to access some French tutoring through the school.
• Fred and Lydia’s language study -their test results continue to improve.
• A good visit with Lydia’s mom and brother and his family and for their safe travels.  Also, for our neighbor who allowed us to use his apartment during their stay which simplified the logistics of their stay, allowing us to spend some good time together.
• A women’s group who is working on making hats, blankets, etc. for the newborns at HBB.

Prayers for

• Opportunities for Nathanael to read and talk about the Bible with his friend at school.
• Fred and Lydia -able to continue to learn French well (B1 exam May 2^nd).
• The kids –continued adjustments to their schools, their learning, and being able to make friends (this continues to be a weekly challenge).
• Our friends and colleagues who are going through very challenging situations.
• Togo, Hôpital Baptiste Biblique –the team, the vision project (expansion from 50 to 75+ beds), the new FP/OB, and the growing of the OB service.
• The people of Sherbrooke (& Quebec) -the ministry of PDV and the local churches in sharing the message of Christ and any role that God might open up for us here.
• The safety and wisdom of our colleagues at ABWE’s northern hospital in Togo with safety concerns which is/will be straining manpower.
• Prayer & Praise that our financial needs are being met.  Prayer for wisdom and responses as we hope to reach out to some churches in Northern Vermont once the snow disappears.

Dear Friends and Family,

We are challenged not only by our new surroundings, but by the suffering of friends, families, and colleagues. How do we live (or suffer if you will) well? Thank you for your prayers and support. To read our latest newsletter, click HERE.

God bless,

Fred, Lydia, Noah, Nathanael, Noémi and Noll