I hope everyone is having a fun and safe July 4th weekend. Here's a fourth-of-the-month update for you to enjoy as you eat watermelon, ride in boats, and gaze at fireworks. After you read this, you will be up-to-date with the ministry of Four Friends International.
1. Golf Tournament this month
After a three-year hiatus due to COVID, the Four Friends North Alabama Golf Classic returns on Saturday July 30 at Twin Lakes Golf Course in Arab. Details are in the brochure below. Recruit a foursome and join us for a great time of fun, food, and fellowship.
2. August Trip to Jalapa
The May trip was postponed due to some protests that were taking place in Guatemala City. That trip has been rescheduled for August 15-19. Jeff Fowler from Arab First Baptist and two ministers from Dawson Memorial Baptist in Homewood will accompany me. We will minister at every clinic and will provide church support as well.
3. Los Laureles Clinic
August will mark the seven-year anniversary of the opening of the clinic in Los Laureles. Nurse Lilian has served there all that time, during which she and her staff have treated over 45,000 patients.
4. Los Pinos Clinic
October will be the fourth anniversary at Los Pinos. Imalda is the new nurse there, living in the apartment at the rear of the clinic. The Los Pinos staff has treated 25,000 patients since 2018.
5. Four Wheels Clinic
The mobile unit’s first year of operation ends in November. At that time, a decision will be made whether or not funds are sufficient to continue for another year. Vanessa, the Four Wheels nurse, travels each week to three mountain communities to provide free medical care. On average, 500 patients are treated each month by this mobile unit.
6. Our Guatemalan partners in ministry
Remember our wonderful Guatelmalan team members who help provide care every week: Los Laureles —> Lilian and Cleydi (nurses); Karina J., Karina L., and Kelly (office workers); Pablo (security). Los Pinos —> Imalda and Cleydi (nurses); Patti, Brenda, and Mynor (office workers); Luis (security); Sonia (cleaning). Four Wheels Clinic —> Vanessa (nurse); Pablo (driver).
7. Operation Amalia
The photos below show the mothers and infants who received diapers and supplies last month through our Operation Amalia project. Most of these mothers live and/or work in the city dump near Los Laureles.
The Life in Jesus Baptist Church in downtown Jalapa and its three mission churches (Los Laureles, Los Pinos, and El Terero) are visionary Christians. I am amazed at their thirst to extend the gospel to others in the community. Four Friends International’s purpose is to support the clinics adjacent to these congregations, but here is a list of non-medical dreams that they have shared with me over the years. Pray that God, in His perfect timing, will supply these needs according to His will. (1) a full-time pastor and a pastor’s residence for the Los Laureles church; (2) purchase of land and construction of a church building in El Terero (the congregation now meets in a rental house); (3) a full-time pastor who will plant churches and minister in the three mountain communities served by the Four Wheels Clinic; (4) a safe water supply for the mission areas; (5) a basketball/soccer court at the downtown Jalapa church that will attract the youth of the area; (6) a Life in Jesus Elementary School built within the downtown church compound (they have had drawings for this for almost a decade).
9. Travel Restrictions Ended
The mandatory COVID testing to leave and return to the U.S has been removed. This will pave the way for medical and church support teams in 2023 to once again minister in Jalapa.
10. Next Group Trip
Because of the August rescheduling, we will move the next trip to January or February of 2023. Exact dates will be forwarded in the next update. This will be a group trip, so begin praying that God will make a way for you to serve with us then.
11. Advisory Board — The FFI Advisory Board will meet on July 31. Among the agenda items will be whether or not to continue the Four Wheels Clinic for another year. Pray for these members—Mark Brock, Keith Collins, Kaye Dean, Jack Hamilton, Shannon McGee, Millie Sebek, and Randy Stewart—as they seek God’s will for this ministry.
12. Finances — Because of your faithful generosity, sufficient funds are available to continue all our ministries (including the mobile clinic) through November 30, 2022. Thank you so much!!
The Los Pinos Clinic
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