Optical
Dental
Jul 21 - 29, 2023
$1,950
Cojutepeque, El Salvador
Adam and Esther Fridenstine
Emanuel Baptist Church
You’ll enjoy serving all week at a church built right on the side of a mountain with this sweet couple and their three boys who have been serving here for 11 years. You’ll get a workout climbing the levels of this multi-ministry church, constructed with the beautiful goal of reaching its city through many different ministries. Each level of the property sees people receiving, growing, training and learning on a daily basis. Emmanuel Baptist Ministries includes the church, school, seminary, and missions board. They also have ministries to local police, youth, and very soon a publications ministry.
The Fridenstines host MMO teams because “We have wonderful doctors in our country - however, with our socialized system, there is no way that they can properly minister and help our populated community. The folks of our area do not have the financial ability to pay for private care and the "free" services take months and months with lines and lines, many times just passing from one place to another.” They share that their goals for our week of service are the following: “We want to continue to see more of our community receive Christ as their Savior. We want to then incorporate them into our local church and other churches closer to which they may travel from. We also want to spread the news that there is a local church that loves and cares for the people in our area.”
Adam and Esther are sure you’ll find this to be true of their corner of the world: “The people here are amazing!! They are friendly, open, fun and love to spend time with others. The culture is open to the Gospel and to people who want to love and teach them.”
We think you’ll be challenged and inspired by following the Fridenstines!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adam.fridenstine
Facebook: Iglesia Bautista Emanuel de Cojutepeque
This mountainous country is bordered by the Pacific Ocean, Guatemala, and Honduras. El Salvador, meaning “The Savior,” is the smallest country in Central America at about the size of the state of Massachusetts. It is known as the Land of Volcanoes, and as a result has frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. When driving across the countryside you’ll find flat areas with just volcanoes on the landscape, smoke billowing from their tops. Coffee, sugar, corn, rice, shrimp, and beef are the main agricultural products in El Salvador.
The Olmecs came to the region in 2000 B.C., followed by the Maya in 1500 B.C., and Mayan ruins are still in the area. When the Mayan civilization ended in 900 A.D., the Toltec Empire took hold in El Salvador. In the 11th century, the Pipil people (originators of pupusas, which you have to try) became the dominant group in El Salvador until the Spanish conquerors took over in 1528. El Salvador achieved full independence in 1841. Persistent civil unrest culminated in the Salvadoran Civil War from 1979 to 1992, which resulted in mass emigration to the United States.
Cojutepeque (pronounced koh hoo tuh PEH kay) is in the geographic middle of the country. It is 2,800 feet above sea level and called the City of the Mists. The sausages of Cojutepeque (“los chorizos de Cojutepeque”) are known throughout El Salvador and should be tried when you are there. The clinic will be held in the church and school of Emmanuel Baptist, which is built on a hillside in the city. From the top of the school you get a beautiful view and can truly appreciate the nickname City of Mists.
For more country information, visit the World Factbook.
Our plan is to offer medical, optical, and dental care to this community. Physical therapy professionals may fill out an INTEREST FORM to inquire about offering this service. Every patient who receives care will hear the gospel from a member of this local church.
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See photos from our last trip to Cojutepeque!