Changes

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,

24 October 2025

Greetings Friends,

It has been a long time since I sent out a regular Togo Talk. In missionary life, sometimes our activities seem so routine that there isn’t much to update. Other times, life is changing so rapidly that it is hard to know when to send out a letter since it may be out of date as it is being read. This is one of those later situations.

A big change in our family involved the home-going of Bethany’s mother, Carol Cole. Mom has been a great source of encouragement throughout our lives and through our ministry here. Earlier in her life, she had imagined serving on the mission field herself. Instead, the Lord led her to minister to hundreds of Christian school students as their English teacher and Bible Quiz leader. She also influenced countless women in each church she belonged to. And of course, she raised four children - one of whom is currently serving on the mission field of Togo. She has been a source of encouragement to her “additions” as she called her children-in-law. I personally have been honored to be one of those additions, knowing her first from church and later as part of her family. She was a great prayer warrior, bringing us before the throne daily. Her words of wisdom still are recited around our dinner table, as I know they are echoing in many other places.

As her condition changed, Bethany was able to spend time with her mom early in the year. Not so long ago, such a privilege would have been unavailable. Our family pulled together to keep life and ministry going here, while Bethany was able to help care for her mother and spend precious days together. A couple months after her return to Mango, our whole family travelled together to Illinois. By God’s good providence, we were able to make it back during Mom’s last days. We were able to sit together and try to encourage this woman we all loved so well. Her departing to be with the Lord was a time of hopeful sorrow for the family. But we live in the confidence that those who are absent from the body are present with the Lord.

Between the two trips to the States, came another big event in our family: our first high school graduation! It is hard to believe but after schooling on three continents, our dear Karissa has finished her coursework. Usually here in Mango,

we may have one, maybe two graduates. This year, seven students earned their diplomas. Most of them were the first one in their families to graduate. It was sad saying goodbye to these young men and women, but they left with the prayers and support of the whole team. On our end, we are privileged to have Karissa

with us one more year. She is currently in her final year at the Author Conservatory. This three-year program has taught her both the craft of storytelling and the realities of doing business in that world. As she finishes up next June, we look forward to another graduation. Until then, she also has a ministry to the MKs as their librarian, helps teach English in the Togolese Christian school, works a bit in the hospital’s cashier's office, and has a Fulani friend with whom she studies the Bible. She is also prayerfully considering what the Lord would have her do next year.

Another one of those big changes involves my work here in northern Togo. After years of working in the Hospital of Hope, I have left the regular practice of surgery and am now focused on a local church plant and teaching. It hasn’t been easy leaving surgery. There is a lot of good that can be done - particularly in a place where the needs are so great and the resources are so few. On one of my village visits, I unexpectedly got to meet one of my of surgical patients who lived there. It was good to see an example of the long-term effects of our work here at the hospital.

On the other hand, it has been a great blessing to focus my efforts on the village of Kadjitieri. We have been a regular part of this work for the last four years.

Recently, the church has faced challenging circumstances, but they have seen the Lord’s faithfulness and have emerged more unified and with a better understanding of what it means to be the Body of Christ. In exciting church news, once the rains gave us enough water we held a baptismal service. Twenty-one people confessed their faith in the risen Christ and were baptized. Among them was our Hudson. There have been a few others who have come to Christ and so, Lord-willing, a smaller group will be baptized next week.

The church has also celebrated the Lord’s Supper or the “Saint Cène” for the first time. It was a great blessing to teach the significance of this ordinance, to explain what we proclaim as we take the bread and the cup, and to observe communion with these dear brothers and sisters. A final exciting note about the church is that we have identified the local man who will become the church’s first pastor. Eric has grown in his faith, weathered trials, and has a strong desire to serve the people of God. He has been part of our Bible Institute these last two years and hopes to graduate next year. He and I have been studying what the Scripture teaches about shepherding. I am filled with thankfulness and confidence in what the Lord is doing.

There is much more that we could share, but as this letter has gotten long I will give just a few brief updates. Bethany continues to have a varied ministry. She practices hospitality here in our home and visits female prisoners both here in Mango and in their villages after their release. She has also been helping our maternity chaplains as they study what the Bible teaches about tough topics and then visits women either in their times of great joy or deep sorrow. Our children continue to do their schooling here in Mango. The youngest three are part of the MK school, while Hudson is now homeschooling as a sophomore. The compound we live on gives them a chance to explore with other MKs. We are thankful for the years we have with the precious children the Lord has given us. This missionary term ends at the end of the school year next May.

As the Lord allows, please praise God with us for:

A thriving church ministry.

A man desirous of pastoring this congregation.

And please pray with us for:

Wisdom for us as we plan out our next furlough.

Strength to serve well here.

Peace in the region.

In Christ,

Steven and Bethany Chmil

BP 10 Mango Togo - steven.chmil@outlook.com - medicalevangelist.org