2022 update - 22 things to know

1. 2021 Contribution Records will be forwarded this month by mail. If you do not receive a contribution statement by February 1, text or call Randy Stewart (256-302-4296). Thank you so much for your faithful support of the ministry.
2. The November Mission Trip to Jalapa was a huge success. I was able to worship with the Guatemalan believers on Sunday, to spend time at the clinics at Los Laureles and Los Pinos on Monday, and to minister to three mountain communities via our new Four Wheels Clinic on Tuesday through Thursday. Photos from the mission trip are included below.    
3. The Four Wheels Clinic is now treating patients each week in three mountain communities near Jalapa. From November 15 through December 4, a total of 128 patients were treated in El Divisidero, 132 patients in Laguna del Pito, and 63 patients in Caserio el Chorro. These 323 patients included 35 adults who were diagnosed with diabetes and 31 who were diagnosed with hypertension.
4. The clinics at Los Laureles and Los Pinos during the same three weeks treated 427 patients and 372 patients, respectively. All together, 1112 patients received care at the various clinics during these 20 days. 
5. $19,000 in Food Relief was recently donated by you and distributed to needy families who were experiencing food deprivation because of the pandemic. At $20 per bag, 950 families received a week’s worth of food due to your generosity. I am absolutely amazed at the response to this food drive. Thanks so much to all who contributed. 
6. Dawson Memorial Baptist Church in Homewood, Alabama has chosen Jalapa as a focus area for international mission work in the years ahead. In conjunction with Four Friends International, the church will promote and oversee at least one medical mission trip to our clinics in Jalapa each year. We are excited about Dawson’s partnership with our ministry! 
7. The next group medical mission trip to Japala is scheduled for October 8-15, 2022. This will be conducted through Dawson Memorial, but members from other churches are welcome to come. A VBS will also be provided for the kids during the week, so both medical and non-medical volunteers are needed. Cost for the trip is $1200 per person. I will be accompanying the group. Further details will be provided soon. NOTE: I will travel to Jalapa April 23-29. Due to travel restrictions related to the resurgent pandemic, there will be no team during these days. 
8. Kimberly continues to recover from the hip surgery that you funded in July, which will enable her to walk for the first time in her life. When I visited her in November, she was out of her cast and is now having weekly physical therapy (see photo below). Her family expresses their sincerest thanks for making this possible.
9. Alberto (photo below) continues to take medication to help his enlarged left ear. He says the medicine is helping to reduce some of the swelling. As a result, his hearing has improved. We will continued to provide funds for this medication while we pursue other options (i.e. surgery).
10. The Operation Amalia Project continues to provide diapers and supplies each month to infants whose mothers live and/or work in the city dump near Los Laureles. 
11. Contribution options to Four Friends International are as follows: (1) donate online through this website (click on “View web version” at the bottom of this page, then click the “One Time Donation” button and follow the directions); (2) donate via mail to Four Friends International - Randy Stewart, President - 309 Edgewood Blvd - Homewood, AL 35209; (3) donate through The Baptist Foundation of Alabama (tbfa.org); (4) donate through your local church (only if your church allows gifts to FFI in its budget).

12. Sunday, November 7 

        worship at Los Laureles

the church at Los Laureles

pastor Filiberto (right) and a church member

Kimberly recovering at her home

Alberto with his mother

13. Monday morning, November 8

the clinic at Los Pinos

the Los Pinos clinic

patients awaiting treatment

the church at Los Pinos

14. Monday at noon, November 8 

    ministering at the city dump

sizing girls for handmade dresses

modeling the dresses

15. Monday afternoon, November 8 

the clinic at Los Laureles

the Guatemalan team at the clinic

a mother diagnosed with diabetes

and her two children

16. Tuesday, November 9 

the community of El Divisidero

the Four Wheels Clinic van

17. Wednesday, November 10 

the community of Laguna del Pito

this is a malnourished infant

who was given formula; he is

now gaining weight each week

one month later

18. Thursday, November 11

the community of Caserio el Chorro

the village leader registering patients

a mother and her seven children

19. Thursday evening, November 11

fellowship at the downtown church

These volunteers helped divide food into bags and distributed them to families in the mountain communities. Below is just a portion of what you donated for food relief, ready to be placed in bags.

 

 20. Financial Summary: As of today, your faithful contributions to Four Friends International have provided funds sufficient to provide all of the above ministries through May 15, 2022. Thank you so much for your generosity and support.

21. Happy New Year! On behalf of the Advisory Board of Four Friends International, I want to wish each of you a wonderful year ahead in service to God, family, church, and community. In the midst of uncertain times, may we all heed the advice of Paul in Second Thessalonians 3:13: “Brothers and sisters, let us not grow weary in doing good.”

22. Next update: March 4, 2022