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!

Norma's Fight

Tonight has been a sad night here in Honduras. A lady, by the name of Norma, passed away at 32 years old after fighting an illness for the last week and a half. Norma has been working in the ministry for several years and was always full of life and enjoyed it to the fullest. We will truly miss her and her always smiling face. Please pray for the family during this difficult time as they will have the funeral tomorrow in Choleteca.

Norma at Christmas

Time to say "good-bye" once again

We have been in the United States since November 7th and what a great time we've had, but at the same time we are ready to get back down to Honduras and continue the work God has called us to do.

While in the states we have been on the road ever since we hit U.S. soil either visiting with family, friends or churches. God did allow us to have some down time while we were out and about as well.

Lori taking it easy after a long day of travels

Richie sharing the ministry



Even though we have returned to the states God's work never ceases no matter where God takes us. We have been in IL, AL, TN, NC, MS, FL, and Germany. We have met so many people along the way and able to share the ministry with all we have come into contact with over the past 6 weeks. We also had some time to spend with team members that came down over the summer.

Enjoying the outdoors..... AWESOME!



We will be heading back to Honduras this weekend and it will be another time of mixed emotions as we leave family and friends once again, but say hello to our Honduran family.

We want to say "Thank You" for all the prayers and support since we've been on the field. We can't express our appreciation enough to each of you. We thank God each and every day for the people he has put in our lives and the encouragement that we get from each and every one.

Prayer Requests
1. Street Kids and The People of Honduras
2. Health and Safety
3. Residency Process
4. The Ministry
5. Truck (We have purchased the truck, but still have to pay the other half)
6. Our Son in Iraq
7. Financial Support


Until next time may God Bless you and have a Merry Christmas.

Mixed Emotions and The Mississippi Team

Well we are back in the states as of Friday and what an emotional roller coaster it has been. It was very difficult saying good bye to the boys and seeing the expressions on their faces as we said our last good byes, but it was good to see family and friends once again here in the states. While we are here our hearts are still in Honduras with the boys and staff of F.C.M. We are missing our little Saprissa as well.

Richie and Saprissa

We spent some time with our Honduras family and friends just before leaving. What a great time to fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. God truly has put such great people in our lives in our short time there.

Our family and friends in Honduras

A night at our house with Luis, Moises, and Lester (Notice the Georgia Bulldogs Shirts....Way Cool!)

Please be praying for all our little street kids that come to our house each day to receive food. We have left food for them while we are in the states, so they will still be able to receive a meal on a daily basis.

Lori and Ingrid

Lori, Jocelin, and Nelson

Nelson, Jose, Noel, Richie, and Gabriel

Enrique and Eduardo


We will be heading out to Germany this week to see our son Tim before he leaves for Iraq on his second tour. We can't wait to see him! Please keep him in your prayers as he goes and serves our country and freedom. We are so proud of him and his service as well as all the others serving along beside him.

Tim standing in front of his tank (Iraq)

With the help of Nap Barranco we were able to finish the roof of the new bodega and almost all the walls before we left. Thanks Nap!

Bodega


While we are in the states we will be heading to Florida, North Carolina, Alabama, Illinois, Mississippi, and other areas of Tennessee to visit with churches and supporters. Please pray that God will keep His hand of protection on us as we travel.

We will be heading back to Honduras at the end of December or the first of January and start working with teams once again. We have 19 teams lined up so far for next year. God is good!


Mississippi Team

We had a team come in from Kosciusko, Mississippi and had a wonderful time ministering with them. Their work consisted of four nights of evanglism in Monte Rodondo, Discipleship classes with the staff of F.C.M. and the women of Monte Redondo, Classes with the boys, and food ministry as well. They brought five youth with them that were AWESOME. They served with such passion while they were there. We will truly miss you guys and look forward to seeing you in the future.

Our youth buddies (miss you guys)

Discipleship Classes with the Ladies

Classes with the Kids

Food Ministry

Ronnie, Nestor, and Nixon

Linda and Wilmer

Good job guys! We will see y'all next year.

Until next time take care and God Bless.

So Now What?

Well the teams have gone for the summer with only two teams left to come during November and December. Even though we don't have teams here there is still a ton of ministry to be done on a daily basis. We have started English and Discipleship classes once again. We still have construction projects going as well as taking care of 54 boys and visiting the street kids. We are in the community of Monte Redondo hoping to meet some of the needs they may have as well.

Over the past few months we have been ministering to a family that has a little girl (Nelly Ileana) that has been very sick for months now. It seems that she has had infection after infection, but the doctors think they have finally found the problem as to why she has so many infections. Unfortunately the problem requires surgery. This little girl is such a trooper and always seems to be able to smile amongst the pain she is in. Yesterday the mother (Carol) called us at 6 a.m. and was at the hospital with her daughter, but didn't have enough money to get the exams done. We went to the hospital and F.C.M. was able to help her with the exams this little girl desperately needed and now they have more information concerning her condition. Today the mother asked Lori and I if we could be the God Parents of her little girl. What an honor it was to be asked to be a part of this little girls life. It's truly amazing how Jesus shows Himself to others in all situations. Only through Him is any of this possible. Please be praying for this little girl and her surgery.

Here are some photos of the little girl and her family:

Richie and Nelly Ileana

Nelly Ileana and her family

Please be in prayer for the ministry, staff, and missionaries both here and in the states.

Que Dios Les Bendiga! (That God Bless You All)