How fast can God's word travel?

The other day while Lori and I were out making rounds we came to an intersection where several street kids hang out. They are usually selling stuff for other people or trying to wash your windshield for a Lempira ($.05 U.S.). We really didn't need our windshield washed that day, but decided to give the boy some money to help him out. As I handed him the money Lori handed a Gospel tract to him as well. We watched the boy as he walked off and began to read the tract. He stopped working and immediately went and sat down on a nearby sidewalk and continued to read the tract. Before we knew it three more boys gathered around him and began to read along with him. I was blown away at how God could take a small tract and impact four lives in the matter of 30 seconds. It reminded me of Matthew 28:19. All we need to do is "go" and God will take care of the rest. We don't need to fear anything as we sometimes allow ourselves to do. People often say that it's different and easier in another country to share the Gospel, but I have found it much harder. First of all the language is much more difficult for me than English. All we have to remember is to see things through God's eye's and it makes things so much easier than looking through our own. God created each and every one of us and we function in the same way. Our hearts are designed the same way, we breath the same air, we all need food and water to survive and we need to know Jesus to have a relationship with the Father and to experience eternal life. The only thing that changes when we go to another country is the color of skin, language and the scenery. God is not after any of those things. He is after the hearts and souls of man. It's that simple and yet we make so much more complicated than that. Please pray for the boys out on the streets and we get another opportunity to share more about the love of Jesus and the price He paid for us.


Boys reading the tract on the side of the road




God Bless,
Richie and Lori

Cold in Honduras and Need Your Help!

Well like in the states Honduras has turned cold and windy. I know that most people think it's always warm and sunny, but in certain times of the year here it turns off cold and for the people of Honduras they aren't used to the cold. While we sit in the comforts of our homes with the central heat and air the people of Honduras don't have that option. When we got home today we had three street kids at our doorstep waiting on food and the youngest boy (Enrique) did not even have a jacket, but an old short sleeve shirt thrown over his shoulders and shivering from the cold. God always knows what we need and today he provided that need for little Enrique. Lori and I made a mad dash through the things we had here to try and provide some kind of warmth for this 8 year old boy. We opened up one of the trucks and found a childs medium wind breaker. It fit him perfectly and a huge warm smile came over his face.

Enrique, Pedro, and Christian

During our conversation we talked about the ministry and the opportunity they could have being off the streets. Then Enriques brother (Pedro) told us a horrible story of the last time he went home. These boys are sent out in the streets to beg for money and help support the family. Pedro had been out begging and didn't have a good day out on the streets. When he arrived home his step dad told him he was going to kill him because he didn't come home with enough money. Pedro is only 10 years old and this is one of the situations that put them in the streets all alone. They simply get too scared to go back home in fear for their life. This is where the ministry comes in to play as we fight to save the lives of these young boys before the enemy swallows them up while in the streets.

We are asking for people to come along beside us and help provide some wind breaker type jackets to provide to these kids during this cold climate. The sizes we are looking for are 10-12 mediums and a few 14's as well. If God leads you to help out with this you can send them to the office in Chattanooga at:

Forgotten Children Ministries
5959 Shallowford Business Park West
Ste. 4274
Chattanooga, TN 37421

Once we have received them we can send them down with the teams that are coming. Thanks so much for all that you do for these forgotten children and God Bless each one of you. Please keep these boys in your prayers.

Until next time, God Bless!

The Year Has Begun!

Our first three teams have come and gone and what an awesome three weeks we have had. It's always funny how we plan a week and in an instant God has a different plan. Our teams have listened and followed God's direction as He led them.

The boys receiving Christmas cards from other kids in the states.

Team #1
Our first team came from Dawson Memorial in Birmingham, Al. They spent quality time with our boys in the ministry through many activities as well as food ministry. It's always a joy to see the boys with smiles on their faces as they play like a normal child should. Before coming to the ministry these boys never knew a life with very much fun and love. They were in the streets begging for money, digging through a dumpster for their next meal, or huffing glue. Thank you guys so much for being the hands and feet of Jesus and loving on the boys.

Team #2
Our second team was a group of men from Montgomery, Al and Canada. They came down to help us with some projects at the farm and two families in our food ministry, but God gave them an opportunity to be a blessing to a lady (Elisa) that is 106 years old. This lady had lived in the same house for 30 years when she was moved out with no place to really call home anymore. She had two other sisters, one brother (Antonio), and a sister in-law (Maria) that were living with her as well. The ages of all five range from 74 years old to 106 years old. The team heard about the need this woman had and came together to build her a new house. There was also a man in the village that donated the land that her new house stands on. The team was able to finish the roof, walls, and concrete floor before they left and this week we will be installing doors, windows, and painting. God is good and faithful. To Him be the glory! The team also built two outside cooking facilities for two of our families in the food ministry as well as supplying food to several families in our area. You guys are awesome!

Elisa's New House

Team #3
Our third team also came from Birmingham, Al and what a group they were. They did food ministry, evangelism in two communities, built a new cooking facility at Noah's Ark Baptist Church, and discipleship classes. The kitchen they built will provide food to the kids of Monte Redondo. What a blessing you guys were to these communities and the people that will be receiving a meal each week out of the new kitchen.

Street Kids

Street Kids

These teams also went to the streets to share pizza with the kids, but most importantly shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is so heart breaking to see these young kids in the streets. The youngest kid being three years old and being taken care of by other street kids.

Praises

We have been here for almost one year now and from the time we arrived God started putting street kids at our doorstep. We have had so many opportunities to share the Gospel as well as the ministry with these kids. We have received the first two in the ministry last week from these divine appointments. I met Noel one day begging for money at the Dippsa and the next day he showed up to help me wash the ministry vehicle. From that day on Noel has been my little buddy. Please be praying for Noel and Jose (Noel's brother) as they are adjusting to their new life.

Noel loving life in the ministry

Prayer Requests
1. Children still in the streets
2. Missionaries raising support
3. New kids in the ministry
4. Norma's family
5. Ministry
6. Teams that will be coming
7. Elisa's house and family

Until next time, God Bless!