OVERVIEW OF THE MINISTRY

Take a Delta flight from Atlanta to Guatemala City.

Then drive three hours eastward to the mountain city of Jalapa.

In the center of this busy city (population over 100,000) is the Life in Jesus Baptist Church, membership about seventy-five.

This visionary congregation started mission churches in two of the poorest areas of the city: Los Laureles and Los Pinos. 

above, Los Laureles church; below, Los Pinos church

Four Friends International partnered with this church to establish clinics in both areas. 

above, the Los Laureles clinic (opened in 2015); below, the Los Pinos clinic (opened in 2018)

Each clinic has a lobby, a central hallway, three exam rooms, a pharmacy, and an apartment at the rear of the building. All treatment, including medications, is free of charge.

Within walking distance of the Los Laureles clinic is the city dump, inhabited by residents who earn their living scavenging for garbage and recyclables.

Four Friends International, through a project called Operation Amalia, provides diapers and infant hygiene supplies each month to babies from the dump.

In 2021 Four Friends International added a mobile unit that provides care to three communities higher in the mountains (El Divisidero, Laguna del Pito, and El Chorro) and to El Terrero (another Jalapa suburb).

above: view of Jalapa while ascending to the mountain communities

above, the medication "shoe bags" of the mobile clinic; below, the community center at El Divisidero

The Barnabas Project, a sister organization, pays the salaries of four pastors and provides funds for non-medical church needs.

pastors, from right to left: Mynor, Filiberto, Dany and his wife Adela, Luis

In both stationary clinics and in the mountain communities, dental extractions have been performed by mission team volunteers over the past 3 years.

From young to old, Four Friends International offers free, compassionate, ongoing medical care every week in the name of Jesus.

MAY 2026 MISSION TRIP

Randy Stewart, Garland Cooper, David Skidmore

Garland at the downtown church with Patti, a clinic office worker

David gives a food bag and the gospel of John to a resident at El Divisidero.

from left: Karina, Imelda, Mynor, and Kelly distribute food bags in the mountain community of El Chorro.

ladies awaiting medical care at El Chorro

Nurse Vanessa with a patient at the Los Pinos clinic

Pastor Joel and his family from San Luis, about an hour's drive from Jalapa. A worship service was held in his church during the week.

The music during the service was provided by two guitarists.

July 2026 mission trip

4 team members ministered in Jalapa and its surrounds from July 25-29

from left: Randy Stewart, Jeff Fowler, Christopher Hughes, Hayden Eldridge

Over 250 foods bags were assembled, each providing a week of nourishment for a family. 

The bags were distributed to families in each community and at the city dump.

Hayden and Chris presented a food bag to this mother at the dump.

Children received a gospel-themed coloring book and crayons.

A medical screening examination was offered to everyone who received a food bag.

Through the screening exams, twenty-five people were identified with diabetes and hypertension who did not know they had the disease. They will be able to receive free medications each month at one of the clinics.

Other activities included a Sunday morning worship service. Jeff gave his testimony, and Randy preached the message. A fellowship dinner at a local restaurant with the clinic staff and pastors was a fitting end to the mission trip.

Next Mission Trip: January 2-7, 2027

medical and non-medical ministries

Cost: $1750

call or text: 256-302-4296