May Nattier News

We have reached the first of several milestones during our time here in language school, the end of a level.  At our school, a student without prior French experience starts at the A1 level, followed by A2, B1.1, B1.2 and then B2.  We started in January in A1, and in April we had our first level exams.  As with any exam, we had a good bit of stress preparing for this first experience with French testing.  By God's grace, we have clearly been learning, and we both passed!  At this point, we are into the next level, A2.

The last 2 months have also been eventful with the departure of Courtney, and the arrival of Bryce's mom.  It was very hard to say goodbye to Courtney, as her time here was a great blessing to our family.  Natasha and I were able to spend significantly more time studying as a result of her presence.  Our kids had an absolute blast with "Coco."

Janet has been a huge help with the kids as well.  She had a tough job coming the week before exams, but she jumped right into caring for Ahni despite the inevitable jet lag.  After exams, we were able to take a little break, rest, and travel briefly to an amazing castle in Carcassonne, France.  This gave many chances to practice French!

This month we have also had the arrival of a 3rd helper, Rilie Mangen.  She volunteered to fill a small gap in the middle of May.   She came within a week of graduating college.  

It continues to amaze us, how God has answered our prayers and yours for a childcare helper for our family.  He answered differently than we expected by providing 4 women for our first 7 months here rather than just 1.  They have each been a blessing to us a little differently through their own unique gifts and abilities.  If your doing the math, you may have only counted 3 ladies so far.  Well the 4th is set to arrive this weekend.  Her name is Madisen, and we are looking forward to her arrival! 

Last month we mentioned about how trusting in God and His sovereignty allows us to have peace in challenging times.  This knowledge also leads us to praise Him, when we see the evidence of His working in various ways and situations in our lives.  

When God answers prayer in His own sovereign ways, it's sometimes easy overlook it, chalk it up to chance, or give credit to someone or something else.  This month we have reflected on God's provision of childcare.  We want to praise Him for answering this prayer.  We also want to thank all of you who have been praying for our family.  

Prayer requests:

Our family:  Please pray for us as we continue the daunting task of learning French.  It is a marathon that certainly has it's ups and downs.  Please also pray with us for childcare for our family starting when classes resume this fall.  We have a couple of women who are interested, and we are seeking God's wisdom for us and them.

Our team:  Please continue to pray for the DeKryger family and our team in Togo.  Also, pray with us for the   shortage of nurses and surgeons for the next year.  If you know of any medical professionals that may be interested in helping meet the needs in Togo for any length of time, please have them contact us.  

March (mars) Nattier News

This past month we finished our first 6 week session of class.  It was followed by a two week break that coincides with the public schools two week break.  During that time we were able to spend some time resting and studying.  We have evaluations every weekend, which are a great chance to review and refine what we have been learning.  After studying and completing our evaluations the first half of break we headed east to Italy for a little rest and relaxation.  We had a chance to learn about some historic sites and got a lot of exercise.  We also took a short break from French and learned a few Italian phrases.

This is the Roman Colloseum where many Christians were killed for their faith. 

During our time there we learned that our senior missionary and future surgical partner in Togo, Todd DeKryger, had become ill.  Some of you may have seen our posts on Facebook asking for prayer for him.  His condition did not improve, and it became necessary for him to be evacuated to Germany.  After arriving in Germany, they were unable to determine what was causing Todd's illness.  His ministry and work here on earth ended, as our Father in Heaven called him home.

Todd's death is a great loss.  He was a great husband and father of 4 boys.  He was an amazing leader, teammate and surgeon.  Todd played a huge part in getting the Hospital of Hope in Mango started.  He labored in fundraising for the hospital and even worked for over a year helping with the construction.  Since its opening, March 1, 2015, Todd functioned as the only full time surgeon, the medical director, and managed the schedule for the many short term medical providers.  If you would like to see additional information about Todd's ministry, including an incredible letter of faith written by his wife Jennifer, you can read more here.  His death leaves us with questions, but it has also been a reminder of the hope and stability that we have in God who never changes.

During our time here on earth, most everyone encounters bad or challenging circumstances, events that make us wonder or ask "WHY is this happening". There are several passages in the Bible that give comfort in these situation.  First, I want to share what Jesus teaches just before he died on the cross.  In John 19:10 - 11 "Pilate said. 'Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?'  Jesus answered, 'You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.'"  At this point in Jesus's ministry he knew that he was going to die on the cross for the sins of the world.  He also knew this was God's great plan to save mankind.  In this situation, Pilate had authority on earth to crucify Jesus, but Pilate's authority was given to him by God!  Jesus knew that his life wasn't in the hands of Pilate, but it was in the hands of His Father.

Just as Pilate had authority over Jesus here on earth, other men are given authority over us, satan has authority here on earth, and we might even say disease, natural disasters or other forces can seem to have authority over us.  "None of these are independent.  All their authority is derivative.  All of it is subordinate to God's will.  Fear not.  you are precious to your sovereign Father.  Far more precious than the unforgotten birds" - (quoted from John Pipers daily devotional Solid Joys)

In Luke 12:6-7 Jesus teaches "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?  Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.  Indeed the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Don't be afraid: your are worth more than many sparrows."

Paul demonstrated and explained his faith in God's sovereign rule well during his life.  It allowed him to write things like he did in Romans 8:25-40.  Paul ends with a couple of very profound statements.  "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall trouble, or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness, or danger, or sword?.......No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

It's with this kind of faith in God that Joseph was able to say these words to his brothers who sold him into slavery, Genesis 50:20  "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."  It's our prayer that through Todd's death, many in Togo and beyond would come to know the heavenly father that he served so faithfully while here on earth.  In challenging circumstances, we don't always get the answer to our question of "Why," but we remain confident that God is love, He is good, and He is working out his plan for humanity even in the midst of trials here on earth.

It is with this comfort, that we continue our preparation for our family to go to Togo.  Todd's death leaves a great void at the Hospital of Hope, and there are many details about the future that seem uncertain.  Jesus tells us in Mathew 6:34, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Prayer Requests:

Our team: Please pray for Jennifer and their 4 sons: William, Grant, Luke and Drew during this time.  Please pray for the staff at the Hospital of Hope.  The medical needs and work continue in spite of the loss of our colleague, friend, and so much more.  Please pray that they would continue to show the Hope found in Jesus through this situation.  Pray for the city of Mango, and country of Togo, that even in Todd's death the gospel will be proclaimed and God will be glorified.

Our family: Please pray for our family as we continue our studies.  We want to learn French quickly, so we can join our team at the Hospital of Hope. Please also pray for Courtney as she makes decisions about her future and whether or not the Lord would have her return to our family in the fall. We have been so blessed by her and her ministry to our family.

February (février) Nattier News

We have arrived in Albertville France.  Actually we have officially been here for 1 month, but the time has flown by quickly.  Our time here has already been filled with a lot of adjustments and many adventures.  Let's start with our first week.  Within the first week, all of us except Ahni started school, while we were still adjusting to this time zone, waking up in the middle of the night with kids, and not sleeping much.  Drew's first day of school, started with ice skating at the Olympic park here with his class, and it ended in the ER after an ambulance ride to the hospital.  Fortunately his fall on the ice only resulted in a small laceration on his chin and 2 stitches.  His newly healed jaw and 2 week old front teeth were OK!  Thank you Lord!

We have now completed 3 1/2 weeks of school including 3 weekly tests.  It's already been challenging, but we are seeing some steady progress.

We have been in awe of the scenery here in Albertville.  It's such a wonderful encouragement when we are tired and stressed after trying to fill our brain with French.  Our fellow language learners have come up with several analogies for the various levels here in language school.  Here is the analogy we found most descriptive of our current level:  We are like babies being spoon fed.  We quickly become full.   However, the food just keeps getting shoveled in, despite our desire for it to stop.

We have already been very encouraged by two families who are also both here in France preparing to work in Togo, the Afolabis and Kendalls.  They have helped us navigate many of the necessary tasks like grocery shopping, getting phone and internet setup, and doctor's appointments since we can't speak much French yet.  We can't tell you what a blessing and stress reliever they have been.  We were also able to celebrate Ahni and Celeste Kendall's 2nd birthday's together, since they were born only a week apart.  What a treat to celebrate these two precious girls together!

This past weekend, we ventured out for a hiking break from studying.  We visited a medievil city very close to Albertville named Conflans.  It was great exercise, and we were able to have some great views of Albertville from above.

Prayer Requests:

Our family:  We want to praise God for providing Courtney to help us during this time in France.   She has been a huge help not only with Ahni, but also with the big kids especially when we need to study.  Please pray for her as she makes many decisions about her future here in Albertville and future training/schooling.

Please pray for our family as we all continue to adjust to life here.  We desire to find a healthy balance between the work of studying/learning French and meeting the needs of our kids/family.  We also desire to begin building relationships with those in our community here in Albertville.  Please pray for our wisdom as we make all of these decisions.

Our Team:  Please continue to pray for the Togolese and American team at the Hospital of Hope.  We continue to get reports that make it clear that God is at work in changing lives.    Please also pray for our teammates who are in the U.S preparing to come to Togo long term, and those that may be considering it.  In order to continue this work, there is an ongoing need for short and long term workers.

    

December Nattier News

Our departure date is approaching rapidly.  It's now less than 1 month away.   Our next update will most likely be made from France.  In the interim we still have more goodbyes and final preparations before we leave for 4 years out of the country divided between France and Togo.  During Thanksgiving we had a very special time with our parents, all of our siblings and their children.  It was the first time both groups had all been together since our wedding, and it's grown in size substantially since then.  We are so thankful for each and everyone of them.

This time of year between Thanksgiving and Christmas is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the many things we have to be thankful for.  We would like to share ours with you.

1.  A loving God who has saved us: This has changed our lives!  We should never take this for granted.  John 3:16 tells us "For God so loved that world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."  This verse so succinctly sums up the Good News of what Jesus has done for us.  It's in this that we can have true 'hope' for now and the future.  It's because of this hope that the Hospital of Hope in Mango Togo exists to bring true healing and at the same time meet very great medical needs.

2.  Our family:  Our families have been incredibly supportive of our choice to devote our lives to God's work in Togo.  It's a sacrifice for us to go, but it's also a sacrifice for them to see their children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews go.  We are so thankful for the great support they have given over the past several years.

3.  The churches and individuals who support us financially and in prayer.  We would not be cleared to leave in 3 weeks without the financial support of so many.  We could not do this without the great team who give so sacrificially of their time and monetary resources towards this work.  We are truly thankful for you.

4.  Our sending church, University Baptist Church in Beavercreek, OH:  While we only had 3 short years with them, the staff and congregation have impacted us and been such a huge blessing in so many ways.  We are excited to celebrate this partnership this Sunday, December 6 during our commissioning service.  We are so excited to see how God will use this partnership for His glory in the future.

5.  Our team: The Lord has already accomplished great things through the team currently at work in Mango, Togo.  While we have only met some of the team in person, we know this is a very gifted group of God's people.  We are so excited for the privilege to work alongside them.

Prayer requests:

Our family and ministry: While the final preparations are coming together our deadline is looming.  Please pray for us as we balance this with our desire to say goodbye well to our friends and family.  Please also pray for each of us as we adjust to the many changes of living in France.  Our kids are aware that they will now be learning in a foreign language.   School can be hard enough with out the addition of a language barrier.

Also pray for Natasha and I to use our time in France well.  We want to get a good understanding of French, so that we can communicate effectively with our teammates and patients.

Courtney will be joining our family to help with our youngest during the day for the first 3 months in France.  Her short stay visa appointment is Monday December 7th.  Please pray that it would be approved and be returned quickly. 

Our team:  There has been unrest in the city of Mango recently.   I can't go into details on this forum, but you can search the city on BBC or Reuters for articles about it.  Our team has been safe, but those who were injured were brought to the Hospital of Hope to receive medical care.  Please pray for our team as this instability, limited staff, water shortages and other challenges add to the stress and strain of working in this already difficult climate.  Please pray that the Lord would renew them daily. 

October Nattier News

This past month has been packed with many significant events.  Natasha has been hard at work to complete the last two of four required trainings.  When we started preparing for Togo, these classes were one of the hurdles that seemed the most challenging.  It's not that the material was hard, but it required a lot of time; The time needed to be away from kids and other distractions, which just hadn't been feasible until now.  Natasha finished these classes just a little over a week ago!

After the classes were finished, we were able to receive FINAL CLEARANCE.  This means from ABWE's standpoint, our missions organization, we are cleared to go to Togo via an 18 month stop in France!

This past week we traveled to the French consulate in Chicago to appear in person for our French visas.  There were many things that we had to prepare and present in order to be in France for more than 3 months.  There was only one thing that required a minor modification, and we emailed it to them the same day.  We don't have our visas in our hands yet, but we were given the impression that they would be issued!

Did you catch our 3 exclamation points ;) It has indeed been a big month.  

Mixed in the middle of these events, we said goodbye to my grandfather, Emil Nattier.  This was a bittersweet time for all of us.  My grandfather has made a huge impact on my life.  He set a great example of living life for the Lord.  The way he treated others in each aspect of life is a pattern I strive to emulate. He really lived out Mathew 22:36-40, the great commandment, to love God first and to love others as yourself. 

His health had been declining for the past several years- he was ready to go home to be with his Lord and Savior.  This is one aspect that was unique from anyone I can remember being around in their last days.  He had such a great anticipation and joy about going to be with Jesus.  This difference was noticeable to all and he took every opportunity to share with others how they too could have joy and peace found in Jesus, even when facing poor health and death. 

What's up next?  We still have to finish packing our container for Togo.  We are making steady progress on this front as well.  After last weekend we have the first 16 feet of the 40 ft container packed floor to ceiling.

Natasha is speaking at a women's event at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Lafayette, IN this Saturday, October 24, 2015 and would appreciate your prayers.  We have two missions conferences coming up in November.  Our commissioning service is December 6, 2015 at University Baptist Church, Beavercreek, OH.  We hope to see many of you there! And finally, the much awaited date is now final...  We leave for France December 29, 2015.  In between these events and packing, we hope to spend some quality time with our family and friends on this side of the pond.

Prayer requests:

Our family and ministry: We are all getting excited about leaving for France.  Please pray for us as we balance that with saying goodbyes to family and friends.

*The next month will be important for our hopeful au pair.  Her name is Courtney and she has committed to join us in France.  We are so excited and thankful for her willingness to come and serve alongside our family.  She still needs many things to get a long stay French Visa.  Most of the limitations are related to her having adequate funds to live in France for 1 year.  If you feel led to help her and our family in this way, please contact us so we can share more.

Our team:

The Hospital of Hope has been open now for 7 1/2 months.  In that time they have seen 11,500 patients and performed 700 surgeries.  There are now around 13 Christian gatherings in the area.  Please continue to pray for them as they minister to the great needs of this region with a shortage of medical staff.  The staffing for the 2016 calendar year has gaps in nursing and medical providers.  Please contact us if you feel God leading you to serve Him in this way. 








 

September Nattier News

The last several weeks have been filled with several major events.  With all the current and upcoming changes and long days, it has been stressful.  We've felt both physically and emotionally drained.  However, even amongst the chaos, the days have been very productive.  In August we were able to share about the ministry in Togo with Cornerstone Baptist Church, the church we were attending in Lafayette, IN.  We were also able to share with the surgery practice and at Franciscan Saint Elizabeth's East hospital in Lafayette where Natasha and I have been working.  This was bittersweet.  We were excited to share, but we were sad to be leaving all these amazing people the Lord has brought into our lives. 

In the midst of moving, we had been waiting for our container to arrive from China, but the date it would arrive was uncertain.   Praise the Lord it was delivered just in time; the week before we needed it to pack things from our house! 

Next we finished our packing and loaded up our belongings in Lafayette.  We were so blessed by a huge turnout from our church and several surgical colleagues/friends who took time on a Friday to load a Uhaul truck, trailer, and another van and trailer.  We were especially blessed by Pastor Mike who bailed us out with the church van and trailer when we came up short on moving space.  He made the trip to our parents in Heyworth, IL to deliver our goods. 

The following day a group of guys from Nine Mile Baptist Church drove up to the site where we are packing a container that will be shipped to Togo.  We built wood crates, that now contain our belongings inside the container.  This will help protect things on the trip, and the wood can be used to build a variety of items in our house when we arrive in Togo.  We were able to build about half of the needed crates, so we still have some work ahead.

 

 

 

We are very thankful for the time and encouragement so many have given during this move.  John 13:34 - 35 talks about the love we are to have for each other, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another.  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."  We certainly felt this kind of love from our brothers and sisters in Christ, and we are so grateful the Lord has brought each of you into our lives.

We are currently in Harrisburg, PA as Natasha finishes the 3rd of 4 required Bible classes.   Over the past few weeks we have completed several of the requirements necessary for us to get clearance.  These Bible classes are the only things we have remaining!  The light is at the end of the tunnel for this first portion of our journey.  Next up is language school in France.  In fact, this past week we purchased tickets to fly to France on Dec 29 and were officially accepted to language school.  Please continue to pray for us as we work out the details of the language school and French Visas. 

Prayer requests:

Our family and ministry: With just a little over 3 months before we leave, we are beginning to say our good byes to our family and friends. Also we have been gone from our big kids a lot over the past several months, and they have started in a new school.  They also realize we will soon be moving far from family and friends and will be experiencing a lot more changes like new schools, new language and new culture.  Please pray for us and our children as these changes and emotions are challenging for all. 

We continue to seek someone to help our family in France.  Several of our teammates have told us how important this is, in order for us to maximize our time in France learning language.  We have one individual seriously considering this ministry.  We have to figure out several details to include funding and Visa requirements for it to work.  Please pray for her and our family as we wait on the Lord to give guidance and work through these roadblocks/details.

Our Team: The physical and spiritual needs are very great.  The Lord is clearly at work and moving in great ways through the ministry in Mango.  Please pray for more medical staff long term and short term.  There are needs especially for nurses as those who have committed for 1 year are over 1/2 way done.  There are also needs for physicians and mid level providers of all specialties.  Please contact us, if you are interested in helping short or long term. 

Upcoming events:

October 4-7 - American College of Surgeons meeting - Opportunity to meet several surgeons from the WACS (West African College of Surgeons)

October 24 - Natasha speaking at women's event at Cornerstone Baptist church

November - 5-8 Global Missions Health Conference in Louisville, KY

November 23-29 - Family gathering with Nattier's and Murry's

Dec 6 - Commissioning service at University Baptist Church

Dec 7-? - Travel to South Carolina and Georgia

Dec 29 - Leave from Chicago to France

Jan 4 - Language school begins

July Nattier News

       We have reached our monthly support need that is required for us to serve in Togo!!!  Thank you to all of you who are partnering with us and have helped to make it possible for us to serve the people of Togo. When we initially learned the dollar amount that we were required to raise, we were very shocked.  I will have to admit that I had doubts whether we could raise this amount.  We were encouraged by this thought, "God had called us to go to Togo, so He would provide everything that was needed for us to go."  This is exactly what He has done through the generosity of many of you! This will allow us to focus more on making the final preparations needed in order for us to leave. With this said, if you are still interested in and feel led to partner with us, we would still love to talk with you.

       We are still in need of about $10,000 for our one time expenses.  This money will provide for our plane tickets, language school tuition, shipping for our household goods, a vehicle, and a portion of our home that will be built near the hospital.  Natasha has now completed 2 of the 4 seminary classes.  She will be working on the remaining two courses in the coming months, and then we will both be finished with all required training. We are currently working on the arduous task of packing our belongings for various portions of the next 4 years.  This includes about 4-5 more months here stateside in various locations, 12-18 months in France, and then 2 1/2 to 3 years in Togo.  We are still trying to determine the make-up of the months following our move from Lafayette, but we have tentatively planned to leave for France between Christmas and New Years.  The language school we have applied to starts the second week in January.  There is also a strong possibility that we will start an intensive language course in Tennessee in October.

      These next 5 months hold many tasks and challenges as we make these transitions and say our good-byes.  We would greatly appreciate your continued prayers.  Over the past 3 weekends, we have greatly enjoyed spending some time with our family.  We were able to see many of Natasha's relatives at the Murry family reunion.  Then my brother Derek's family visited, and we attended his son's 1st birthday.  This past week my sister Aimee's family visited us in Lafayette.  Then we headed to our 4th annual father and kids camping trip with the addition of the women and smaller children this year.  We camped near Mammoth cave and enjoyed some hiking and cave exploring.

Prayer Requests:

Our Family and Ministry: As we pack our house, the reality of the upcoming major changes to our environment, activities, and proximity to family and friends is affecting us all.  Please pray for wisdom on several decisions we are making about many of the details of the next few years.

We are currently looking for a person that could assist us in France with our children during language school.  This would allow both Natasha and I to have a little more flexibility and margin to study and excel during our French studies.  It may also shorten our time in France which would decrease our costs and get us to Togo sooner.  We want to find someone that would mesh well with our family and whom God is leading to serve in this way.    

Our Team: God is at work in the ministry of our teammates at the Hospital of Hope.  They are bringing new hope to the many physical and spiritual needs of the patients they encounter in northern Togo.  One of the surgeons from the practice here in Lafayette, Dr Francis, is there currently.  Here is a link to his recent blog about Mango describing the facility and the work there: www.surjohn.blogspot.com.  There are still gaps in the medical staff that are being filled by short term doctors.   A significant one is OB coverage starting in August.  When there are gaps it increases the stress and strain on our teammates in Mango and requires them to turn away even more patients.  Please pray for more doctors and medical providers to come short term and long term to Mango.  Please pray with us for God to be at work in and through our team in Mango.

Upcoming events: 

August 16 - Speaking at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Lafayette, IN

August 21 - Presentation to medical staff in Lafayette, IN

August 28-29 - Pack moving truck and depart from Lafayette, IN