December update

November at the Clinics

Los Pinos: 462 patient visits

Los Laureles: 605 patient visits

Total: 1067 patient visits

 

3 Ways to Give

Four Friends International has been granted tax-exempt, non-profit status by the IRS. This means there are now three ways to give to this ministry:

1. The Baptist Foundation of Alabama
   -- tbfa.org 
   -- (334) 394-2000
   -- P.O. Box 241227 – Montgomery, AL  36125-1227
   -- designate gift to Four Friends International
2. Arab First Baptist Church
   -- arabfbc.org
   -- (256) 586-3153
   -- 502 North Main Street – Arab, AL 35016
   -- designate gift to Four Friends International
3. Four Friends International
   -- fourfriendsinternational.blogspot.com
   -- (256) 302-4296
   -- 1310 Lane Parke Court – Mountain Brook, AL 35223

All donations are tax-deductible. Charitable contribution records will be forwarded to each donor.

A sincere “thank you” to everyone whose generosity has made this ministry possible!

 

A Look Behind and Ahead

Here are the highlights of the past:

2012 – formation of Four Friends International

2013 – Los Laureles clinic construction

2015 – Los Laureles clinic dedication

2016 – Los Pinos clinic construction

2018 – Los Pinos clinic dedication

As you see, there has been a three-year process in establishing each clinic (Los Laureles 2013-2015; Los Pinos 2016-2018).

 

Here is the vision of the future:

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Four Friends International could continue this pattern, establishing a clinic adjacent to a church every three years in a poverty stricken area? In fact, preliminary plans are being discussed for starting a new clinic in Haiti. There are, of course, many obstacles to overcome and no guarantee that this will become reality, but the vision is alive. Please pray that God will give direction and open doors as we move forward. Stay tuned for updates in the coming months.

 

Meet Alejandra (the new nurse at Los Pinos)

Q: How old are you?

A: 23 years old.

 

Q: Are you from Jalapa?

A: No, I live about eight hours from here.

 

Q: How did you find out about this ministry opportunity?

A: Gustavo came to our church and told us about the need for a nurse at Los Pinos. I felt led by God to look into this.

 

Q: Has it been hard to move away from your family?

A: Yes, very hard. I come from a large family. We are very close. I am homesick at times, but the church in Jalapa has welcomed me and has helped in the transition.

 

Q: What have you done to prepare for your work at Los Pinos?

A: I have spent a month with Nurse Lilian at Los Laureles to learn how the clinic operates. I am also spending time this week training with Dr. Stewart. I will continue to rely on both of them as I begin to treat patients.

 

Q: What would you like for us to pray with you about?

A: Pray that I will not be too homesick and that I will treat patients in the Lord’s name.

 

A Christmas Message

In one of his Christmas sermons, German pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer compared the anticipation of Christ’s coming to the emotions of trapped miners hearing the sounds of approaching rescuers. There, in complete darkness, despair turns to hope, hope to expectation, expectation to sight, sight to deliverance, and deliverance to joy. In the same way, Jesus came “to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death” (Luke 1:78). Indeed, “God has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of the Son He loves” (Colossians 1:13). Our mission at Four Friends International is to continue to share His light to a dark world. As we do, we must never forget that we too have been delivered from darkness to light because of Jesus Christ. He truly is the Savior of the whole world. May we all sing with the angels: “Glory to God in the highest!”