2023 Fall Newsletter

Dear Family and Friends

We hope and pray that you are doing well! Thank you for your prayers and support!  Here is an update of where we are.

Walking by Faith

What does it mean to walk by faith?  For me, faith is an act of belief in God (something we do not see). It seems simple enough (concrete, positive, fulfilling) and yet it is so much more.  In its simplicity we ignore the fact that God has not promised just good times, but that through all the times –good or bad –He would be with us. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7. As we go through life and in the process of planning and fund raising for the mission field, I am challenged by this daily (with doubt, fear, anxiety).  Will we succeed in Togo?  Are we doing right by the kids? What about retirement?  It would be easier to stay than go –the challenges of cutting back from work, living on a tighter budget, trading a certain predictable future for an uncertain one.  And yet as we walk by faith, step by step, we are encouraged in the process: a conversation, a new pledge of support, improved family time, etc. and it is for these that we thank the Lord and are grateful!  

Mission Conferences

We had a blessed time in July when we travelled to Baltimore MD and Harrisburg PA for two missionary conferences!  The first was Missionary Enrichment –in which we met old friends and new ones who are currently either serving at ABWE head office or are in the mission field overseas. The second conference was Departure Readiness –in which we spent time talking about preparing for missionary life overseas and tasks we need to get done prior to departure.  We (and the kids) were encouraged by this time spent in fellowship!  During this time, we also got to spend some time visiting friends, camping, swimming, go-karting, exploring the battle field of Gettysburg and a World War II submarine.

Fred

Fred has been working part time in the ER this year in order to accommodate more time for support raising and field preparation. In August he learned that as of the new year, no part time position in the ER (through his work organization, PEP) will be available for him, as more full-time personnel have been hired.  Fred had been with PEP for 5½ years and is a better doctor for it –Thank you PEP so much for this experience!  Thus, as of January 2024 Fred and Lydia will be unemployed.  Our focus going forward until the summer of 2024 will be preparing for the mission field, completing pre-field tasks and fund raising.  In the summer we will need to re-evaluate our status.

Togo (A review of the ministry)

As of the fall of 2021, we made the decision to return to HBB (Hôpital Baptiste Biblique) as full-time missionaries with ABWE.  We are excited about what the Lord has for us there!  We are going back to form relationships and be a part of the lives of the Togolese, both those who work at and those who come to the hospital for help as patients. HBB is a medical-surgical hospital that provides outpatient and inpatient care for roughly 16,000 patients a year that includes 2,200 inpatient and 1,000 surgeries.  Up until the summer of 2021, HBB also provided OB care that included 600 delivers a year.  However, secondary to a lack of OB providers, HBB had to close the OB program.  In returning to HBB, we have been asked to reopen the OB service.  Our goal is not simply to re-open OB, but to create an in-house midwife training program that will be part of a long-term solution of not only training OB providers but also providing God-centered OB care and brining glory to God’s name

You can see more on the hospital and the Togo South Team by visiting:   https://abwetogosouth.org . TST has multiple ministries: aviation, HBB, bible translation and literacy, nurse training, a blind school, Christian schools, and pastoral training.

Fund Raising (promised and actual)

We are thankful for 100% of our one-time costs!  Our big “hurdle” currently is our monthly costs at 61.5%. Thus, we are looking for monthly supporters.  Our goal is to be ready to depart for the mission field in the summer of 2024!

Would you consider becoming a monthly financial supporter?   

You can contact us (see below) or go online: https://abwe.org.pfenniger

If our fund-raising hits a higher level by the end of the year we would consider starting to draw a salary in January 2024 which would help us offset costs.  As such for those of you that have made promises of support, but have not yet started to give, would you consider starting your giving in January 2024?

Pre-field Tasks

We are continuing to meet with two couples from ABWE in preparation for departure (goal summer of 2024).  We continue to work through our pre-field tasks that includes: reading 6 books, 3 online courses, 3 seminars and completing a journal.

Family Update

Lydia and Fred: We are so thankful for our time in Fort Wayne and the opportunities the Lord has given us!  Lydia has restarted her Bible Study Fellowship, and Fred continues to meet with four Christian brothers focusing on strengthening his faith.  As of January, Lydia and Fred will be not be employed in their medical jobs as previously (outside of Lydia’s volunteer work at Matthew 25 clinic), but will be focusing on preparing for the mission field, completing the required pre-field tasks, preparing the house, and fund raising.

Noah, age 11, has started grade 6 at Blackhawk Christian school.  He is having fun learning how to play the trombone and being in choir for the first time.  He is almost finished with his cross-country season and has reduced his 3km time down to 12:16 (from 13:18).  He has worked hard at the running as well as school work this year!

Nathanael, age 8, has started grade 2.  He is really enjoying “rocket math” and is now reading some bigger books! He is currently in the midst of his soccer season –he’s on the “Pink Panthers” team with 2 other classmates and they are going “all out!” He is continuing with gymnastics and will be trying some competitions. Nathanael also made the decision to be baptized this summer and for this we are very grateful!

Noémi, age 6, has started kindergarten and is reading!  She is also in soccer and on the “green alligator robots” team of which she is enjoying (though wishing she was pink instead of Nathanael) and trying hard to “keep up with the boys!”  She loves helping at home, which is a blessing, and her and Noll are best friends!

Noll, age 4, has fully recovered from his heart surgery and is on no meds and no restrictions (PTL)!  He started pre-school (two ½ days and 1 full day) and is enjoying this as well as being on a soccer “team” once a week.  He and Noémi enjoyed a combined birthday party in September and had lots of fun!

Prayers: Are vital to us! We are so grateful for them! Please ask the Lord to:

• give us the ability to trust Him -to keep our eyes focused on Christ and not the circumstances around us
• open the “flood gates of Heaven” (current obstacles: fund raising, and pre-field tasks) for us to return to Togo –per His will and way (see presentation/church visits below)
• be with us -our children (Noah, Nathanael, Noémi, & Noll) and in our marriage -to give us wisdom, grace, peace -as we look at making small and major life changes over the next few weeks, months, and years

Would you be interested in hearing about our ministry or know of others who might be? We would love to share! Please feel free to contact us. We would be happy to make a presentation (individual or group).

Ways to contact us are email or phone:

mail@fredandlydia.com or mobile: 260-402-8907.

Thank you again so much for your support and prayers! Please feel free to reach out to us at any time for any thoughts/questions, including how we can be praying for you!

Fred, Lydia, Noah, Nathanael, Noémi and Noll

www.fredandlydia.com