Dear Family and Friends,
It has been a long time since our “Spring 2020” newsletter and a lot has happened since then.
We are Going Back to Togo
In October 2021, after prayer, thoughtful consideration and conversation with our “missionary mentors” and HBB, we have decided to return to Hôpital Baptist Biblique (HBB) in Togo, West Africa as full-time missionaries. When we left in June of 2018, we were unsure if this door would open or close. During this time ABWE accepted us as full-time missionaries, Nathanael completed speech therapy, and Fred completed his ER fellowship. Also, HBB’s business model changed from one focused on “doing” to one that is focused on “mentoring, disciplining and training” nationals with the goal of creating a “self-sustaining” medical facility and a thriving church that disciples its people, allowing God’s light to shine even more so. In making the decision to go back with the goal to serve, we have been asked to focus on HBB’s OB (Obstetrics) service, which is presently closed secondary to a lack of providers. With this decision comes many hurdles that need to be overcome prior to leaving for Togo. They include:
- Fund raising: As a family of 6, we are required to raise approximately $9,500 in recurrent monthly support and approximately $76,000 in one-time costs. As such, we are looking for promises of support, that either start now, and/or upon our departure. Per ABWE guidelines, we are unable to leave the US until we are 100% funded. Please know that if something were to keep us from going, any funds that we collect, will be gifted to HBB’s OB service.
- Retirement: Though “far away” this is something on our minds, and we are praying how to better understand and prepare for in 20 years. Our plan is to meet with a financial advisor to better understand and plan for our family.
- Noll (2 years old): Noll has a malformed mitral heart valve. Presently it is stable, and he is growing and developing well. However, he will need surgery. The timing of the surgery is dependent on both the condition of the valve and his heart. He is being followed with yearly heart echocardiograms. And prior to departure, we would like to work through with the health insurance company if they would allow us to return to his current medical “heart team” for surveillance and surgery when it is needed.
Our Journey so Far
As we considered going back to Togo over these last 3-5 years, we have reflected often on our journey so far. We can say honestly that we have been blessed. There have been difficult times and decisions, but on reflection we see God’s clear hand of guidance through it all. It is this reflection that gives us the greatest peace in our decision. Examples of this include:
- Our move as a newly married couple to Tacoma Washington, we were blessed with a sending church –Temple Baptist Church –who was already acquainted with HBB in Togo, West Africa, supporting multiple missionaries in that field.
- Our move to Europe & Togo the first time (Jan 2013 – summer 2015) was a blessing, despite the work load. We experienced a mission hospital trying, unsuccessfully, to meet demand with limited resources. We were broken when we left, wondering if things could be done differently.
- Our return to Europe & Togo the second time (summer 2016 -summer 2018) was a blessing we did not see initially as we participated in conversations that allowed us to not only heal from our first experience, but to participate in “frank” conversations about the future of HBB. It is these conversations that have opened the door for us to return full-time to Togo.
- Our return to the US (summer of 2018) to complete an ER fellowship and work as an ER doctor and a family medicine OB doctor –has been a blessing as we have been able to job share, prioritizing family while gaining valuable medical experience and to have a place now, that we feel we can return to during furlough, successfully as a family and as professionals.
- It was also a blessing, as Lydia was able to spend time with her dad, David Childress, in his last 2 years of life and also was able to be present and minister to him (and mom) in the last 2 days of his life. His passing on January 22, 2021 was a sad, but a memorable sweet rejoicing as well.
The Help We Need Going Forward
Prayers. This is our biggest request. We ask for:
- Prayers of peace and of patience for God’s timing and direction as we go down this path.
- Pray that we are open to His will, no matter what direction that may take us –that, as we reflect on the past, we may clearly see His guiding hand in the present.
- Pray that God would “open his store houses” in finances, prayers, and people as we take this step of faith to return to Togo.
- Pray that our kids – Noah, Nathanael, Noémi and Noll – will thrive during our adventure, and if they are not, that we will see it and respond accordingly. And that we would know how to be there as husband/wife, father/mother and how to balance it all.
Finances. We are in need of financial supporters, both those who can give one-time gifts and those who are able to give monthly. If you would feel led to become a financial support, we are looking for promises of support that start at a future date prior to our departure either as a one-time gift and/or a recurrent gift. Donations can be made on line through our support tab on our webpage www.fredandlydia.com.
OB. We have been asked to oversee the OB department at HBB. The medicine/ministry of OB allows such an open door of spiritual ministry into the lives of families there in Togo -as we and/or the chaplains are able to rejoice with them over a new life or grieve with them in a period of extreme loss; and then in that time, share with them the love and life of Christ. As such, we are in the process of starting conversation of how to create a sustainable OB department that will not only focus on recruiting short-term OB providers but training in-house. We are blessed to have a midwife curriculum and are starting to look for OB providers who could assist as an attending with 1-month commitments over a 30-month period while the OB service starts up again at HBB. If you are an OB provider who is interested and would feel led to possibly partner with us in this, please contact us. (See info below.)
Presentations. Are you interested in hearing more? We would love to share! Please feel free to contact us and we can discuss this more in-person or via phone or email, and would be more than happy to make a presentation. The best way to contact us: mail@fredandlydia.com, or mail: 5802 Bell Tower Lane, Fort Wayne, IN, 46815.
Family Update
Fred and Lydia. We continue to enjoy our time in Fort Wayne. Lydia works a 24-hour shift in Columbia City doing family medicine clinic and OB call. Fred has passed his written and oral emergency medicine exams and continues to work in the ER, doing 12-hour shifts. We are blessed by our work environments as one of us is always home with the kids. We are enjoying our church; though, illness and work have limited our involvement, we continue to look for ways to improve this.
Noah (9 years). Noah continues to be our “gentle” soul. He is enjoying 4th grade and loves to read –he holds the lead for the number of reading points in his class. He continues to participate in sports and is presently doing karate and basketball. We are working on “bringing out” a competitive spirit when playing sports.
Nathanael (6 years). Nathanael continues to be our “competitive child”. If he is not competing with one sibling, he is competing with the other. Nathanael is enjoying and doing very well in kindergarten. When not at school, he continues to participate in sports and is presently doing gymnastics and basketball. He is learning to be happy whether he wins or loses.
Noémi (4 years). Noémi is our “time does not matter” child. We are working hard with her to develop a routine and schedule. On the other hand, Noémi has a special bond with Noll, and loves to play with him. She also really enjoys pre-school and is currently doing gymnastics.
Noll (2 years). Noll is our “WOW” child. Everything seems to be a surprise to him. He is full of life; he is a picky eater (we are not sure how he’s growing), and loves to interact with his siblings. He has struggled this season with recurrent upper respiratory infections and as we mentioned earlier, he is being monitored for the concern with his heart (mitral) valve.
For Noah, Nathanael and Noémi, we have been very grateful for the Bible memorization that they have at school and the foundation that is being built in their lives both at home and at school
Please feel free to write/contact us as we would love to hear from you!
God bless,
Fred and Lydia, Noah, Nathanael, Noémi and Noll
Pfenniger
www.fredandlydia.com, email: mail@fredandlydia.com;
postal mail: 5802 Bell Tower Ln, Ft. Wayne, IN, 46815
