New Website

Just to let everyone know we have a new Website up and running. We will still keep the blog updated as well, for those that like to follow the blog too. Please visit our site at: www.forgottenchildrenofhonduras.org . You can also sign-up for our newsletter from the site.

God Bless,
Richie and Lori Womack

Starting the year off right!!

We returned home on December 28, 2009 and faced many trials, but God has been so faithful during this time. He worked everything out perfectly and we give Him all the glory in carrying us through these difficult moments. God truly is good!!


People waiting to receive beans and rice

We just finished our first three teams of the year and just when you thought it couldn't get any better God shows us just how awesome He truly is and how wonderful his plan is. We have had three teams from Birmingham and they have done everything from spending time with the boys, food ministry, street kid ministry, discipleship classes, and medical clinics. I can't begin to tell you how many lives have been touched over the last three weeks, but it was absolutely amazing to see what God has done.


Sharing the Gospel with people at the medical clinic

During the medical clinic we had three doctors, three nurses, a dentist and several team members carring out building projects as well as VBS. They treated almost 1200 people in three days. The greatest thing is all 1200 people heard the Gospel and many came to know Jesus as their personal Savior.


People waiting for medicines

Please continue to pray for us, the ministry, the teams, Honduran staff, missionaries and boys of the ministry. It is through your prayes we gain strength and rest to continue God's work here in Honduras. We can't thank each of you enough for all the support you have given to us over the years. We have been here for a full two years here in Honduras and everyday is a challenge, so please keep the prayers coming and for more opportunities to continue to spead the love of Jesus to whoever He puts in our path.

Need

We have started a new vehicle fund as we have found ourselves in desperate need for another vehicle. As some of you know Lori and I are needing to go in different directions as our ministries have grown and trying to do it all out of one vehicle. Lori is teaching English and keeping up with all the child sponsorship information which is a huge task in itself. I have been appointed the U.S. Director and have taken on more responsiblities as well as continuing discipleship classes. Please pray that God will provide us with another way of transportation and if God puts it on your heart to help out financially you can send a check to the office with "Womack Vehicle Fund" in the memo section on your check. Please use the following address to send your donation:



Forgotten Children Ministries

P.O. Box 24085

Chattanooga, TN 37422



Phone Number: 423-892-4979



Once again thanks so much for your prayers and support!!


May God Bless Each of You,
Richie and Lori Womack
Forgotten Children Ministries

Year End's Review

We just sent our last team of the year home and what a year it has been. It has been a year of such term oil in Honduras, but in the midst of everything God showed up and showed us once again how big He really is.

The year started out as a normal year and then on June 28th President Manuel Zelaya was removed from power and the whole country was turned upside down and fear struck. Curfews began, riots broke out, a new president came into power, and it seemed like we were headed for some very difficult days. Teams began to cancel due to the unrest and the U.S. put out warnings for all travel to Honduras to stop unless it was necessary. Prayers from around the world were being lifted up and you could see God begin to move in such a mighty way. It was amazing how in just a few short weeks things went back to pretty much business as normal. The protests were still taking place in certain areas of the country, but much more toward the push for peace than violence.

Teams began to show up shortly after the Presidents removal and God did such a work through the teams and in the people of Honduras. We saw tons and tons of beans and rice given to the poor families living on the sides of the road, a new church plant as a direct contact of the food ministry, street kids being fed downtown, and the boys of the ministry being discipled and challenged in ways they had never thought. Through all of this we witnessed hundreds of people coming to know the Lord and getting excited about what God had in store for them next. In a time that we felt was unrest was actually a time for people to find rest in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. One of the last nights we spent in Monte Redondo was one of the most powerful things I've seen as I watched 495 people show up to the church in this little community. It was not so much of the number of people that were there, but it was the hunger for the things of God that really touched my heart. I looked in the church and realized we had ran out of seats, but I noticed the faces in the windows. I walked around the church to see people gathered at every window just to hear what God had to say to them. It showed me once again how people truly are seeking the things of God. To God be the glory!

We are now back in the U.S. for a short time to refuel and going to churches to share what God is doing in Honduras. We are so looking forward to seeing what God is going to do in the upcoming new year, so please pray for us as God continues to carry us through such an awesome calling and allowing us to be a part of what He is doing.

We hope that each of you have a Blessed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year.

Thanks for all your prayers and support. We could never be able to express how we appreciate each and everyone of you.

God Bless,

Richie and Lori Womack

E-mail us: teguc07@yahoo.com

Political Unrest

We want to try and keep eveyone updated on the political unrest here in Honduras. As of Monday morning ex-president Mel Zelaya worked his way back into the country of Honduras. He is now holed up in the Brazilian Embassy surrounded by Honduran police and military. The Intrim government here has asked for the Brazilian Embassy to hand over Zelaya. All power, phones, and electricity have been cut off in that area and the country has been under curfew as of 4pm Monday. The curfew has been extended to 6am Wednesday morning and all air travel has been suspended both in and out of the country. There have been demonstrations taking place, but have been quickly dissolved by the national police and military. All major roads leading into and out of the city have been blocked to hold down on any protests here in the capital. So far everything has been relatively calm.


We will be posting updates through Facebook and with the office in the U.S.


We have recieved many e-mails and phone calls checking to see how we are. We so appreciate everyone that have sent encouraging words and the prayers that have been lifted up. We are doing fine and have been very safe through all the unrest that has taken place. Hopefully the curfew will be lifted very soon and we can go back to business as normal, but until then we will stay in our house until things improve.


Thanks for all your prayers and support during this time. I always remember what my pastor told me "there is no safer place than where God has you" and we know that God has us here and that He is in control of everything.

God Bless,

Richie and Lori Womack

Tegucigalpa, Honduras

What's been going on?

We have finished up with summer teams, started english classes once again, starting our next discipleship class in a few weeks and moved to a new shelter. It has been challenging to say the least with everything that's been going on over the last few months. Ex-President Zelaya was ousted from his position which created uncertainty in the country and curfews making it difficult to move around in the city. It has now calmed down and things are back to normal as teams are making their way back into Tegucigalpa. There are still protests here and there, but nothing to worry about as they have been non-violent and organized. We want to thank everyone who called to check on us and all the prayers that were lifted up during this difficult time. Please continue to pray for the unrest of Honduras as they move into the new elections in November.

Florida Team sharing during a food misitry visit.

Lori has once again started up the English classes at Noah's Ark School and the boys are really enjoying trying the new words they have learned. It reminds me of when we were in language school in Costa Rica. They may not use it correctly, but they are trying their little hearts out to use what they know and that's exactly how you learn. Please pray for Lori and the boys as they move forward in teaching and learning. Lori has also been working hard on the child sponsorships in order to keep things up to date.

Lori and Juan Asael singing at Noah's Ark Baptist Church

I will be starting a new discipleship class in the next few weeks and this will be our 5th study in the past year, so please be in prayer as we start to deepen our understanding of God's Word over the next 6 weeks. I have also had an opportunity of watching a new church being planted in the community of El Guascolile and what a work God is doing in this little community. I was asked to preach two weeks in a row and saw 23 people come to know the Lord. This church already has over 50 regular members each week. Pastor Roldofo has been leading this church until such a time as God sends them a new pastor, so please lift him up as he continues to help this church out as well as pastoring the church in Monte Redondo.

Chruch in El Guascolile

Pastor Roldolfo, Mario, Richie, Avi and Edwin

Last night Lori and I went to a little church in Cerro Grande Zona 3. I gave an evangelistic message to a group of around 60 people. We had one decision for Christ, but the hand that went up was a man in his late 50s. He and another man played in a group that only played Christian Ranchero music. Last night was the first night he had truly realized that grace was sufficient and that we can't work our way into heaven. Most of the time we run into people that think they can either work their way into heaven or their religion will get them there. Please pray for our new brother in Christ as he moves forward in his new life. After the service last night God had opened up another opportunity to speak at another church near Ojojona in the near future. Please pray as God continues to open up these doors to share His love and grace.

We now have a new shelter in Cerro Grande Zona 2 and what a blessing it will be to the ministry. With this new shelter we will be able to house more boys, more team members, have our school there, and start a new transition home for the older boys 18 years or older. We have moved the little guys into their new home and all they could say is "masizo" (very cool). They will have their own play area big enough to play soccer and just hang out. Thanks for all the prayers during the search for this new facility. God has provided in a big way.

Need
Lori and I have been in Honduras for over a year and half now and have gotten established in our ministries and with the people of Honduras. We are constantly being challeged by transportation needs. With each of us having to go in different directions we are finding it more difficult to get where we need to be in one vehicle. We are now having to drop one off as the other goes to do something else, which leaves one of us waiting for several hours for the other person to return. We ask that you pray with us as we pray for God's provision for another vehicle. If you feel led to help with this need you can send your donation marked "Womack Vehicle Fund" to:

Forgotten Children Ministries
P.O. Box 24085
Chattanooga, Tn 37422





God Bless,
Richie and Lori

Trip to Campamento Viejo and our first team of the summer from Birmingham.

Juan Carlos' Story

This past Sunday Stan, Juan Carlos, and myself began a journey to Campamento Viejo to meet and spend time with Juan's family. Juan Carlos shared with us how God was moving in his life and how he wanted to further his knowledge of the Bible and start to learn more English. he truly spoke with a passion of what God is calling him to do and how excited he was about this new chapter of his life.

We arrived in Catacamas around 5:30 Sunday evening and were able to meet up with Juan Carlos' mother and two sisters. Catacamas and Campamento Viejo are like living in the Old Wild West where you see pistols on their sides and cattle drives down through the middle of town.

Sunday night we took the family to the nearby super market and bought a good month's worth of provisions. It was amazing to watch them for the first time to be able to shop and to actually get what they needed without the worry of "do I have enough money to purchase all this". Later that night we took the family to a nice little restaurant (As de Oro) for a typical Honduran meal and a time of fellowship. It was an awesome sight to see Juan Carlos cutting up with his sisters and just enjoying the moment.

Monday morning we headed out around 8 in the morning for our journey to Campamento Viejo and as most of you know there are no street signs in Honduras to help you along the way. We made our first wrong turn about 30 minutes into our trip and had to back track for an hour until we finally got onto the right road. Even though we were lost for a bit it was worth every minute of it to see the smile on Juan Carlos' face to be spending time with his mother and two sisters. We traveled for 2 more hours on a road filled with holes, cliff edges and the occasional car trying to pass on a road made for one car. After 3 hours of traveling we arrived in Campamento Viejo which is not too far from the Miskitia Jungle.

The good part of the road to Campamento Viejo

Slow Dangerous Curves

These are the mountains we had to drive through.

We were able to meet Juan Carlos' grandparents, sisters, brothers, uncles, aunts, nieces and nephews. It was like a thanksgiving with all the family there. We went to a place nearby that fixed us some typical Honduran food and had a time of fellowship. After lunch Juan Carlos shared his testimony of what happened to him while on the streets of Honduras and where God has brought him to today. It was such a touching moment as we watched him share the Gospel with his entire family. Stan then began to share more in depth of how important our decision to have a relationship with Christ is and that decision determines where we will spend eternity. A few minutes later Juan Carlos' mother accepted the Lord as her personal Lord and Savior. What an awesome day in the Lord and to see this precious lady become a new creature in Christ.

Juan Carlos' mothers house

Juan Carlos with his mother, two sisters, and niece

Juan Carlos with his grandparents

Richie with Juan Carlos' two nieces

Around 2:30 we began to say our good byes and started the journey back to Catacamas to stay the night before heading back to Tegucigalpa on Tuesday morning. Before we left one of Juan Carlos' grandmothers wanted to give him a gift and she brought him a live chicken to take back with him. To most people this would be a little unusual, but this is all she had to offer and what a humbling experience to know she gave all she had. Juan Carlos kept saying what a blessing it had been to visit with his family once again and to see his mother come to know the Lord.

We arrived back in Tegucigalpa around 1:30 pm on Tuesday and we were all ready for a little rest after watching God accomplish so many things in less than 48 hours. God truly deserves all the praise and glory for what He did!

Birmingham Team

The team from Birmingham came last week and really demonstrated what the Body of Christ looks like. They each had their own unique gift and it showed as they ministered to each person God put in their path.

We started the week out with such a powerful testimony to the Lord. The Lord had led us to three new houses to do food ministry and at one of the houses they met a man named Ismael Romero that had just lost his wife and two year old daughter in a car accident just three weeks prior. He showed the team their clothes and the car that had been involved in the wreck. It was amazing that anyone walked away from this wreck. Stan shared the Gospel with him and the man accepted Christ. he later told Stan why his life had been saved from that horrible car wreck. He said " I know that God knew you were coming today and that's why he spared my life, so that I may have a relationship with Him today". What a powerful statement from a man in his most tragic time and yet he found all the hope and peace that day that only God can give. Please rejoice with us and pray for our new brother in Christ.

Ismael Romero's house.

As the team continued to hand food out from the bus they began to share the Gospel with everyone they came into contact with. This resulted in many new brothers and sisters in Christ.

There was one young man by the name of Gregory that was such a blessing to the ministry this week. He had conducted a fundraiser to buy a new basketball goal for the boys and to also help out with furnishings for the new casita we have built. This 13 year old young man was able to raise over $4,000 for the ministry. Thanks for all your hard work Gregory in furthering God's Kingdom work!

The team also held soccer tournaments with all the boys in the ministry and then provided a day at the water park on their last day with us. God truly is good!!

Until next time,

God Bless

Time to Update

We have just returned from the U.S. and things have been a little hectic the last few months. As most of you know we have had to leave the country every 90 days in order for our passports to be valid. We have faced many trials trying to get our residency here and we are now happy to say that we meet tomorrow to finalize our paper work. Glory to God!

As of three weeks ago I had to have surgery on my knee and praise God all has gone well with the surgery and the recovery as well. Lori had to come back three weeks before me, so it was an awesome day this past Saturday to see her again.

We will start with our first team next Friday, so we are excited to get busy and see what God is going to do this summer. Please be praying for them as they get ready to minister to the people of Honduras.

Over the past several years we have had two missionary couples (The Diegelmans and The Fosters) that have been raising support to get to the field and we heard they have been given the green light to start language school this August. Please be praying for them as they start their new journey and start to face many different changes in their lives. It is not an easy thing to give up your family, friends, church, the comforts of home, community and the steadiness of income. They have stepped out on faith for God to provide all their provisions, so we give all the glory to God in what He has done and is going to do through them as they come on board with the ministry full time. We are so excited about these couples coming along beside us and sharing in ministry together. Please check out there blogs in our "missionay friends" links.

Thanks for everyones prayers and support over the last several years. We can not say or show how much we appreciate and love each one of you. Without God and your willingness to partner with us, we could not continue to do what God has called us to do. Once again thank you soooo much!!

God Bless,
Richie and Lori Womack