OCTOBER MISSION TRIP
A team of five volunteers from Arab FBC returns on Friday from Jalapa after treating 750 patients at the clinics in Los Laureles and Los Pinos. One of the goals on this trip was to minister to the clinic staff and to offer additional medical education to the nurses who are providing care. In order to express our gratitude and promote fellowship, the mission team enjoyed a meal last night with the clinic staff at a local restaurant.
During the trip this week, time was spent interviewing several of the clinic workers. Our goal was to get to know them better so we could pray for their specific needs and offer encouragement and support. Each of the next three monthly updates will summarize one interview. Karina, who works in the office at Los Laureles, is featured below.
LOS LAURELES CLINIC
In August, the clinic treated 487 patients. In September, 433 received care. The number of patients receiving monthly medications for diabetes, hypertension, and seizures continues to grow. Please pray for Nurse Lilian and her staff: Rosaura (nurse), Karina (office), Kelly (office), Patty (office), Pablo (security), and Patricia (cleaning).
LOS PINOS CLINIC
The new clinic will start seeing patients this month. Nurse Alejandra will oversee the clinic and live in its attached apartment. Please pray for her and her staff: Eunice (office), Milvia (office), Kelly (office), Yulisa (office), Luis (security), and Sonia (cleaning).
THE CHURCHES
The downtown church in Jalapa continues to recover from the terrible shootings that took place earlier this year. Pray for Pastor Filiberto as he leads this congregation. The church at Los Pinos is now meeting in its new sanctuary adjacent to the clinic instead of a rental house. The Los Laureles mission church once again served as the sight for evangelism this week. It is led in worship each week by pastors from the other churches.
THE DUMP
Conditions continue to deteriorate. Garbage now extends outside the concrete retaining walls. The population of pigs, vultures, dogs, and cows seems to be growing. In the midst of this filth, families live, adults work, and children play. Thank God that the Matthew 9:36 Project continues to provide a way for children to move out of the dump and into the schools!
MEET KARINA
Q: When did you start working in the clinic office at Los Laureles?
A: August 2015, when it opened.
Q: How often do you work?
A: Two or three days each week.
Q: How old are you?
A: 18
Q: So you were just 15 when you began working with us?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you have any brothers or sisters?
A: I have six sisters.
Q: Where do you live?
A: El Terero.
Q: That's where the shooting of the youth took place. How has that affected you and the youth group?
A: There is still some fear among the youth, but it is less now. As for me, I now realize how short life can be and have decided not to take it for granted.
Q: Are you in school?
A: Yes. I have just started working on a three-year degree in music, focusing on the keyboard.
Q: What led you to choose this?
A: Juan, who died in the shooting, was my age. He played the keyboard in our church. After his death, I made a commitment to learn to play the keyboard in his memory. I have always wanted to master it, and now I have the opportunity to do so.
Q: Why are you involved in church when so many girls your age are not?
A: I know what God's Word says about those who do not follow Him. Their lives are headed for despair and destruction. I have chosen to follow God's way, to walk in faith.
Q: Are you aware that many in Alabama and other states are praying for you?
A: Yes, and thank you for your prayers.
(Note: Patricia, Juan's mother, cleans the clinic at Los Laureles. She relates that Juan had a dream a few days before his death. It made him sad, so he told her about it. In the dream he was handing his keyboard to someone else, but he could not see who it was. It appears that his dream has become reality.)
AMEN!
While in Guatemala this week, I received this message from Hallie Gipson. She captures so well the essence of being involved with Four Friends International:
"To know the history of the ministry and to see how God has worked is further proof (as if we need proof) that God is always bigger than our dreams when we step out in obedient faith to His call!
1 Thess. 2:8 will always be my verse for Guatemala — 'Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.'" -- Hallie
Next month's update will include some pictures from the mission trip.
A team of five volunteers from Arab FBC returns on Friday from Jalapa after treating 750 patients at the clinics in Los Laureles and Los Pinos. One of the goals on this trip was to minister to the clinic staff and to offer additional medical education to the nurses who are providing care. In order to express our gratitude and promote fellowship, the mission team enjoyed a meal last night with the clinic staff at a local restaurant.
During the trip this week, time was spent interviewing several of the clinic workers. Our goal was to get to know them better so we could pray for their specific needs and offer encouragement and support. Each of the next three monthly updates will summarize one interview. Karina, who works in the office at Los Laureles, is featured below.
LOS LAURELES CLINIC
In August, the clinic treated 487 patients. In September, 433 received care. The number of patients receiving monthly medications for diabetes, hypertension, and seizures continues to grow. Please pray for Nurse Lilian and her staff: Rosaura (nurse), Karina (office), Kelly (office), Patty (office), Pablo (security), and Patricia (cleaning).
LOS PINOS CLINIC
The new clinic will start seeing patients this month. Nurse Alejandra will oversee the clinic and live in its attached apartment. Please pray for her and her staff: Eunice (office), Milvia (office), Kelly (office), Yulisa (office), Luis (security), and Sonia (cleaning).
THE CHURCHES
The downtown church in Jalapa continues to recover from the terrible shootings that took place earlier this year. Pray for Pastor Filiberto as he leads this congregation. The church at Los Pinos is now meeting in its new sanctuary adjacent to the clinic instead of a rental house. The Los Laureles mission church once again served as the sight for evangelism this week. It is led in worship each week by pastors from the other churches.
THE DUMP
Conditions continue to deteriorate. Garbage now extends outside the concrete retaining walls. The population of pigs, vultures, dogs, and cows seems to be growing. In the midst of this filth, families live, adults work, and children play. Thank God that the Matthew 9:36 Project continues to provide a way for children to move out of the dump and into the schools!
MEET KARINA
Q: When did you start working in the clinic office at Los Laureles?
A: August 2015, when it opened.
Q: How often do you work?
A: Two or three days each week.
Q: How old are you?
A: 18
Q: So you were just 15 when you began working with us?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you have any brothers or sisters?
A: I have six sisters.
Q: Where do you live?
A: El Terero.
Q: That's where the shooting of the youth took place. How has that affected you and the youth group?
A: There is still some fear among the youth, but it is less now. As for me, I now realize how short life can be and have decided not to take it for granted.
Q: Are you in school?
A: Yes. I have just started working on a three-year degree in music, focusing on the keyboard.
Q: What led you to choose this?
A: Juan, who died in the shooting, was my age. He played the keyboard in our church. After his death, I made a commitment to learn to play the keyboard in his memory. I have always wanted to master it, and now I have the opportunity to do so.
Q: Why are you involved in church when so many girls your age are not?
A: I know what God's Word says about those who do not follow Him. Their lives are headed for despair and destruction. I have chosen to follow God's way, to walk in faith.
Q: Are you aware that many in Alabama and other states are praying for you?
A: Yes, and thank you for your prayers.
(Note: Patricia, Juan's mother, cleans the clinic at Los Laureles. She relates that Juan had a dream a few days before his death. It made him sad, so he told her about it. In the dream he was handing his keyboard to someone else, but he could not see who it was. It appears that his dream has become reality.)
AMEN!
While in Guatemala this week, I received this message from Hallie Gipson. She captures so well the essence of being involved with Four Friends International:
"To know the history of the ministry and to see how God has worked is further proof (as if we need proof) that God is always bigger than our dreams when we step out in obedient faith to His call!
1 Thess. 2:8 will always be my verse for Guatemala — 'Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.'" -- Hallie
Next month's update will include some pictures from the mission trip.
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