A Friends International Medical Teams Love Story

Many who volunteer for our medical teams say their lives were impacted by their service. Perhaps they found a new path, a new trajectory for their lives, their career, their service. Two volunteers found love while serving on a medical team.

Galen Cohen, a behavioral health provider from Portland, Oregon, had volunteered on many Friends International Medical Teams when he joined the Bolivia medical team in 2018. With other dedicated volunteers, he traveled more than 5,000 miles to set up a clinic. There he met Rocio Terrazas, a local medical student who was serving as one of the medical team's Spanish interpreters.

Galen and Rocio developed a friendship, which grew into love. Eventually, they decided to marry. But they had to wait. Due to the political instability in Bolivia and the difficult immigration policies in the U.S., it took many months for Rocio to finally enter the U.S. and join Galen in Portland. They were married in January 2020, with Galen’s father performing the ceremony. Rocio completed college in the U.S. and will complete nursing school next year to continue to pursue her dreams of a career in the medical field.

Galen and Rosio on a mission trip

Galen and Rosio cutting their cake