In short…
Drew and Jonas had the great opportunity to travel to Togo, Africa in January, 2023 with five other close friends from our church small group. We visited our friends, the Nattier Family. Bryce and Natasha Nattier have been medical missionaries there since 2014. You can read a bit about them here.
Why Go?
We headed to Togo for a few reasons. First of all, we just like the Nattiers. They are partnered with our church, University Baptist, and they are supported specifically by our small group. They have visited our small group family in our home. We’ve gotten to know them, their children, and their heart for the Togolese people. We were excited to see them, encourage them, meet their Togolese friends, and visit their home.
Second, we hoped to be used by the Lord to help in their ministry. Bryce had plans for us to help with a retreat he had planned for his surgeons in training (through the PAACS program). We also intended to spend some time learning and serving alongside the ministry that was already happening within their hospital and in their neighboring village. In the end, we got to do all of these things and more.
Lastly, we went for our own growth. It was Drew’s first international mission trip and Jonas’s first mission trip of any kind. We gained much needed perspective, we were stretched from our comfort zones, and we got the joy of spending time within the Togolese culture. More than anything, we learned how we could be better support and friends to the Nattiers as they live and serve in Togo full time.
Below is a daily summary of our trip, from the perspective of Drew and Jonas…
Day 1:
Extra Brussels
After months of prayer, preparations, and the Lord’s provision for travel details, we left Dayton on Friday 1/20. We had a short stop in Chicago and then left the country for our overnight flight to Brussels, Belgium. When we landed, we were quickly informed that our next flight to Togo was cancelled, and we’d have to stay the night in Belgium. This was tough at first considering the European winter while we were dressed for African temps, but it ended up being a blessing as Jonas ended up sick from the first flight and needed the night to recoup.
Day 2: Lovely Lomé
The next day, we woke up feeling rested and well (including Jonas). We were off to the airport where we had some time to do some training with Jim and Sandy before our flight. Our flight to Africa was great. We had a short stop in Ghana before we jumped over to nearby Lomé, Togo (the capital). We arrived in the evening… along with all of our luggage! We were met at the airport by a hospital van and Togolese driver who drove us to a hotel by the ocean for the night. After a fish dinner, we crashed til morning.
Day 3: Hello, Mango
We were up early the following morning, loading up the van, meeting our additional travel companions (married doctors from Georgia, the Carlsons), and embarking on the eight-hour trip north to Mango where the Nattiers live. The trip north was a great opportunity to observe a variety of life in Togo as the landscape changed from urban to mostly rural. We were greeted by the Nattiers, got a brief tour of the hospital compound, and had dinner in the dining room of the compound’s “guest house” where Jonas and I had our room.
Day 4:
Compound Life
Tuesday was our first full day to experience life and ministry among the missionaries and staff of the hospital compound. Phil and Gibson did rounds in the hospital with Bryce while Jim, Jonas, and Drew met with the hospital chaplains and did rounds with them. We had the opportunity to see all of the hospital, the clinic, and meet and pray with patients. The chaplains—as well as the medical staff—regularly have opportunities to share the Gospel. We were thankful for our new Togolese friends’ translation skills given we spoke no French (let alone the tribal languages). We ended the night at the Nattier house for a meal and some belated Christmas gifts—family games to add to their collection.
Day 5:
More Ministry
Wednesday was an opportunity to see more of Mango and the ministry that the hospital (and ABWE) is doing in the area. In the morning, we visited the Mango market. We met some of Natasha’s Togolese friends doing business in the market and did a little shopping. In the afternoon we were able to visit the nearby ABWE-affiliated radio station doing ministry in the area. They are translating the Word into local languages, producing programming which presents the Gospel, and broadcasting 24/7 to a fairly large and engaged audience. This really helped paint a picture of the bigger work that God is doing in the area and how these ministries interconnect to serve the greater area around Mango.
Day 6: Life Together
While Alyssa and Sandy had the opportunity to be in the clinic with Natasha, the Wings and Jim were able to go into town for a sweet time of meeting with a small, local house church of believers. Jonas and Drew had a quiet morning at the guest house preparing devotions to share with others later in the week. Late morning gave us the opportunity to visit the MK (Missionary Kid) School on compound. Jim shared his testimony and experience doing mission trips across the globe and the kids had lots of fun questions for him. Phil, Jim, and Drew helped Bryce do a small project in the hospital offices before the whole group met up for an outing to see hippos at a nearby large pond. The Nattiers are such fun, proactive hosts!
Day 7: A Little Help
Friday gave Jonas, Gibson, and Drew the opportunity to visit the Togolese Christian School which sits just outside of the hospital compound. We did our best to help clean and organize the school library, a big job started by the Nattier’s oldest daughter weeks before. We really enjoyed the opportunity to help, though we had our work cut out for us when tiny, cute book thieves showed up at our door and tried to overrun us! That afternoon, Phil, Sandy, and Drew left for the city of Kara (2 hours away) for Bryce’s planned retreat for his surgeons in training. Our first evening in Kara with them included a meal together, short devo, and a sweet time of singing led by Phil.
Day 8: Kara Retreat
Our Saturday with Dr. Josh, Bryce, and their two new resident surgeons was a mix of fun and teaching. We were joined by two additional experienced surgeons from a sister hospital. These missionary doctors will also be part of the training, discipling team working with the two residents over the next five years. They encouraged and exhorted the young surgeons (as well as all of us) to serve humbly, as Christ came to serve. In addition to teaching, singing, and eating, we visited a nearby elephant preserve and had the joy of petting, feeding, and taking selfies with a pair of African elephants. What a treat!
Day 9:
Sunday in Mango
The team on retreat got up early in Kara for one last time of singing and teaching before heading back to the hospital compound in Mango. After lunch and a time of packing, we had the pleasure of heading into Mango for an afternoon church service. The service (all in French) included a mixture of Togolese believers as well as missionary families connected to the hospital and radio station. Worship was led by one of the hospital Togolese staff, and a sermon was shared by the director of the radio station. We closed the night at the Nattiers for a very special family time of singing together. It was a beautiful ending.
Days 10-11:
Headed Home
We were up early on Monday morning to head home. We said our goodbyes, and the group piled back into the van for the trip from Mango down to Lomé. After a brief stop in a local artists’ market, we were dropped off at the Lomé airport. Jim had one small hiccup getting through ticketing, but after a few discussions, our group was on our way from Togo to Brussels again. We had no issues connecting to our flight from Brussels to Chicago, so there were no unplanned stays in Europe on the way home. Once in Chicago, we had a long layover which gave us the opportunity to discuss, decompress, and prepare for reentering life at home. We reflected on the Lord’s work in Mango, in our hearts, and what He may call us to in the future.
Overall, Jonas and I (Drew) were supremely blessed by our time in Togo, and we look forward to seeing how we can support the Nattiers and their work moving forward. God is at work everywhere.
