God's angels must be doing overtime ~

Driving in a third world country where there seem to be no rules, makes for an interesting drive each time we step into our vehicles. Today, as I was driving, I thought to myself that God's angels must be working overtime, as I quickly, yet slyly weave in and around neighboring automobiles, motorcycles, and people. What I had hoped would be a short trip to purchase school supplies, immediately turned into a half day extravaganza! One thing we left behind in the States was the modern day conveniences of accessible stores and one stop shopping. Anytime errands or appointments are on our agenda, we must always plan for extra time because we never know what surprises lie ahead as we navigate our way around this city. Yet in the midst of it all, God teaches us patience... a difficult but necessary lesson!

We had a very busy Summer, along with our fellow missionaries, leading U.S. teams to minister to the physical & spiritual needs of hundreds of people living in and around the impoverished communities of the city. Still to this day, we are humbled and even dumbfounded, by the extremely poor living conditions of most people here in this country. For some, a honest day's work is spent digging through piles upon piles of trash at the dump, hoping to find a scrap of food. Many times, even children are seen amongst those searching for food. The views of this city and the surrounding communities can be overwhelming at times, especially those of the dirty, half-dressed children. The make-shift homes (or what are referred to as shanties) are often constructed from wood, scrap metal, or any material they can construct a home with.

As difficult as it is to see the poor conditions many of the families live in day after day, many times we are encouraged as we recognize the hope of Christ on their faces. To the believer, we can encourage them through food and clothing, the gift of a Bible, or a monetary gift to help with any specific needs they have. The ministry has about 60 or more families they minister to on a regular basis, which doesn't include the large crowds that gather often when U.S. teams come offering food & the opportunity to hear the Gospel. Right now, the ministry is attempting to connect with the pastors in these communities so the pastor is able to get the new believers established in a church. That way, the new believers can find a place to be discipled and become a part of a local church. Please pray about this effort to get the people connected to churches in their communities.

As many of you know, our sons are in school. They have already made some new friends and they are getting settled. Our boys spend their down time playing sports.  Please pray as they adjust; pray that God will put godly influences in their path, they will make solid friendships, and they will grow spiritually throughout this year. Please also pray as they attempt to learn and use the language. 

THANK YOU for your continued support & prayers!! Our family would not have been able to heed God's call on our lives without people like yourselves standing with us. Please continue to pray for us as we will need to fundraise while home on furlough to increase our base of support, so we can continue discipling the kids of FCM and spread the love of Christ to the people of Honduras. We will be meeting with supporters while home on furlough to share how God has been at work here in the ministry. We also are available to meet with any individual (or church) that would like to hear more about the ministry or to partner with us. Please feel free to contact us by email. We appreciate every one of you!

Because He first loved us,

The Diegelmans

(Psalm 91:8)

Ongoing prayer requests:

*Safety & health of our family, FCM kids, & Staff

*Weekly discipleship classes & English classes

*Family's adjustment to living in Honduras

*Learning & using the language

*More photos from this Summer, enjoy!

Serving food & drinks at a govt orphanage

Found out holding a baby isn't so easy :)

With his little buddy

 Our boys enjoy seeing the little ones at the govt run orphanage.

Traveling with the team

Sharing the Gospel with some kids

Group of fellow believers we got to minister to.

Praying with a new young believer, Cynthia. Pray she grows in Christ.

One of Gordon's many buddies from the govt run orphanage.

A 3 year old girl, Mariela, who recently came into the ministry ~ PTL!

Biggest team we had this Summer!

Helping to teach weekly English classes with the FCM kids

Weekly discipleship classes

Playing basketball any chance he can get ~ made the school team!

                                       
                         

Sharing the Gospel, but like so many here, she knows the Truth but says she isn't ready to commit.

Gordon doing eye exams during a medical clinic

A few of the FCM boys

New Kids On The Block

We have been living in Honduras now for the past three months. One of the most amusing things about living here is the attention we get any time our family is out in public. With our porcelain skin, we stand out rather well amongst a darker skinned Hondreno. I feel so much at home here, that I often forget our family is in the minority. Besides getting used to the stares, we are also learning how to navigate the roads. We are getting more comfortable driving here in a country where there are no rules--it is quite the adventure ;)

We have been leading weekly discipleship classes with the children of FCM. We both really enjoy this time as we are able to dig in the Word with them, and get better acquainted at the same time. It is a privilege to be able to minister to these kids and we are thankful for the work God has placed before us. We ask that you please pray for these amazing children as God works on their hearts, so they will grow spiritually and be more aware of God's presence in their lives. Many of these kids have been either abandoned or sometimes even abused, so pray they will have a better understanding of their worth in the eyes of the Lord. Pray that as they learn of God's love for them, it will soften their hearts and give them a desire to live for Christ. Pray daily not only for their spiritual growth, but for their protection also, both spiritually & physically.

 

FCM's Summer schedule has begun and the second N. American team just returned to the States yesterday.
The first Summer team to come arrived on Saturday, May 26th. It was a Spirit-filled week of sharing the Gospel and giving out food/clothes to the people in the impoverished communities. It was also about relationship building with the boys & girls of FCM through soccer games, daily devotionals, art, and many other activities.
U.S. teams will continue traveling here every week this Summer to minister to the FCM children and within the communities in and around Tegucigalpa.  Each team comes with different objectives, but every one desiring to be the hands and feet of God. Please pray for God's anointing on these teams, traveling mercies, safety, and for the lives that will be impacted during their time in Honduras. Pray also for Richie and Lori Womack, fellow missionaries, and for us as we work with the teams this Summer.

Martha with her sweet family.  Some of our favorite people!

Her name is Anna, young single mom. Please pray she accepts Christ in her heart soon.

Our friends/fellow missionaries, the Womacks

Our family continues to adjust well, which is due in part, to the wonderful people here that God has placed in our lives. We sense your prayers as we recognize God's intervention and provision! It is evident that we are in the center of His will. Please continue to pray for us as we adjust, especially for our boys. Pray daily for our own spiritual growth as we serve the people here, our safety, and health.

We thank you for your continued prayers and financial support. We would not be here doing the work God has placed before us without each one of you standing with us!

Because He first loved us,

The Diegelmans

Prayer requests:
Family's adjustment- our safety, health,language usuage,& new friends
Weekly discipleship classes with the FCM children
Spiritual growth for us & the children in the ministry
U.S. & Honduran staff of FCM
U.S. teams traveling to Honduras


**If you would like to receive our latest Summer newsletter, please email us at: gordonwithfcm@gmail.com

Home in Honduras

At last, we are finally here living in Honduras!  After what seemed to us a long process of fundraising,  followed by language school, was actually just all a part of God's own perfect timing. We recognize that we are here because He alone made a way as part of His sovereign plan for our family.

The first few weeks were occupied by purchasing items for our home, unpacking, and getting our home in order. Another big part of our settling in has been learning to drive in a city where there are no rules, and anything goes! You have to drive offensively to keep from having an accident & your horn is a very important tool as you navigate the roads.  We have also gotten back into the swing of homeschooling, which we decided to continue in order to finish out this school year. However, we are already looking at private schools here in Tegucigalpa for the boys to attend this Fall. Please pray for wisdom & discernment as we look at several schools over the next few months.

Gordon & Christy with two of our favorite young ladies, Doris and Mirna.

Our first team experience took place this past week. We were privileged to serve alongside fellow believers from NC, Alabama, and Virginia. Each day was a new experience as we hopped on the FCM bus to minister to the people in the impoverished communities. The bus was always supplied with plenty of beans & rice, as well as, clothes for the people in these communities. Alongside the busy highway we stopped at several shanties. A shanty, is a tiny home. It is often made of scrap wood with dirt floors and no electricity. These homes (or impoverished communities) is the location where a team will stop in order to share the Gospel and to give out provisions for their physical needs. Hearts were ready and many people became new believers!

Zac giving out beans & rice

                                       
                                                     

                                                  A shanty in an impoverished community

Jared helping with the food ministry

Wil enjoying time with friends between stops during food ministry

Hanging out with Isabel, Ingrid, and Leiby

Each afternoon the team ministered to the FCM girls and boys through Bible stories, crafts, and devotions. Everyone also got to play several rounds of bingo, which is always a hit with the kids! The children really enjoyed this time as did the team, because it gave us the opportunity to get better acquainted with the children. It is still mind boggling to me as I witness the sweet nature of these children, especially since so many of them have been abandoned by their families, & in some situations, even abused. It just goes to show the amazing healing power of our Almighty God! It is such a privilege to work with such an amazing group of children. Please pray for us as God uses us and fellow missionaries, Richie & Lori, as well as, the Honduran staff to make a difference in the lives of these children and young men. For we all recognize that without God's hand on each one of us, our efforts would be in vain.

Boys eager for lunch

Our family has been adjusting well here in Honduras. We recognize God's provision; through friends that were already living in the city, a home in a safe neighborhood, a thriving church and even a sports center, both of which are very close to our home. And even though we do miss our family, friends, & home church; we are grateful to be living right here in the center of God's will. We are anxious to start discipleship with the younger children in the ministry, and we are excited about all God has in store for our family here. Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we serve alongside this wonderful ministry!
 
  We want to thank you for your continued support, encouragement, and prayers as our family adjusts to living in Honduras. While raising support will always be a part of our lives as we serve on the mission field, it's the support we have been receiving that makes all the difference in the world. Your monthly partnership is the very thing that will keep us in Honduras serving alongside FCM. 
 Please pray that God will continue to bless us in that way.
 We pray that God will bless each of you and your families for your continued commitment!

Prayer requests:

Our family's adjustment to living in Honduras
Our health and safety
Our family's spiritual growth & the kids in the ministry
Protection against spiritual warfare
Guidance as we start discipleship classes with the FCM boys & girls 
Wisdom/discernment as we look for a school for our boys to start this Fall
Honduran staff & U.S. staff


Because He first loved us,
Gordon, Christy, Jared, Zac, and Wil

Random photos of the FCM children/young men...

The team!

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall make your paths straight."

Anticipating the upcoming move ~

A few weeks ago Gordon & I returned from a prosperous trip to Honduras. Our goal for this trip was to find a rental home, vehicle, and furniture in just a week & 1/2 time! God blessed and we were able to do just that. Once all the preparations were made, we started to anticipate our arrival as a family and start the work God has placed before us.

However, since our return from Honduras a few weeks ago, our time back in Charlotte has been rather eventful to say the least! What started out as a quick, but much anticipated ski trip to the mountains, landed one of us in the orthopedic clinic with a torn meniscus, wearing a boot for the next six weeks.
Days later, one of our mother's fell and broke the bones in both of her heels. She is now wearing boots and she is refined to a wheelchair for the next six weeks. There has also been some sickness within our family as well, all coming at an unwelcome time. Yet, even in that, we recognize God's hand of care. And what satan means for evil, God can use for good. His hand is on each one of us so we will rest in Him!

Please be praying for each one of us (including our families here) as the time to depart approaches in less than a week. We are scheduled to fly out this coming Thursday, March 1st on a early flight! We wait in anticipation to begin this new chapter in our lives as we serve alongside Forgotten Children Ministries in Honduras. Pray also as we adjust to the culture and all that living in a new city entails.

Thanks for your continued prayers & support!!
love,
Gordon, Christy, Jared, Zac, & Wil

*Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths."

Upcoming needs & prayer requests...

Soon Gordon & I will be flying to Honduras to look for a home.  Please pray specifically for a house (with a yard--ha, any type of yard!) close to other families with children our boys' ages. One of our biggest concerns is for our boys to make a new circle of friends and to have a place for recreation.  Making new friends made all the difference for our family during our adjustment to Costa Rica, so finding the right neighborhood is important.
We will be staying for about a week and 1/2 stint. During this time, we need to find a home to rent (hopefully under $1,000 a month ~ it's expensive even in a 3rd world country!), purchase all the major appliances (refrigerator, oven, and washer/dryer), purchase vehicles, and possibly home furnishings as well. If time allows, we also hope to meet with an attorney to start the process for our residency.  It will prove to be a fast & furious week, but we are excited to take this next step!  Please pray for wisdom & the Lord's guidance with all the decisions that need to be made during this time.

Please also pray for traveling mercies & safety.  We fly out on January 31st and we will return on February 9th.  Pray also for our boys while we are in Honduras and for their caregivers.

THANK YOU so much for your prayers & for all the encouragement we have received over the past few weeks! We appreciate you all more than you know.

In His grip,
Gordon, Christy, Jared, Zac, & Wil

*People ask how they can help. Perhaps financially you cannot support us on a monthly basis, but if you would like to, you can donate a monetary gift through purchasing an item from our registry both at Walmart & Target on-line.

Preparing for our next step...

We hope you & your families all had a wonderful Christmas! It's hard to believe that 2012 is just around the corner and that at this time last year, our family was in the middle of learning a new language. We pray God will bless each of you in the upcoming new year!
Since the end of August, our boys have been attending Grace Academy twice a week, as well as, being homeschooled in our home. Gordon was able to return to his job at Visionworks. We continue with our language learning through a tutor via skype, and our boys have a tutor that comes to our home twice a week for conversational Spanish. We also have been doing some fundraising as God has opened doors. This time back in the States has been wonderful visiting with family, friends, & supporters but we are anxious now to move forward to do the work that God has placed on our hearts.  To be able to participate in such a wonderful ministry is a blessing. God is doing an amazing work with the children of FCM & the people in the surrounding communities.

In just about 6-8 weeks, we will finally be on our way to Tegucigalpa, Honduras to live and serve alongside Forgotten Children Ministries. As most of you know, this path hasn't been without it's trials & spiritual warfare, especially during our time in Costa Rica. Times that brought us to our knees in prayer, many tears, and even made us question our call, especially as we watched the difficult adjustment of our own boys. We continued to seek the Lord and He was faithful to strengthen our resolve.
However, we recognize that another adjustment phase is coming. We ask that you pray for us daily as God prepares our hearts. This move will be even more challenging knowing the permanence of this home and because we are expected to use our new language skills for everyday life. Pray for a new circle of friends for our family in Honduras.  Pray for us as a new missionary family, that we will be received well by the Honduran staff & children of FCM. Please also pray for the Womacks, the missionary couple that we will be working with, as they help our family get acclimated to Tegu and to the ministry as well.

Next month we will be traveling back to Honduras to find a rental home and start the process of setting up house keeping.  Pray for God's guidance as we look for a home in a safe neighborhood & make preparations for the upcoming move. Our plans are to move in mid February (Lord willing!).  As independent missionaries there will always be the need to raise support. We will continue to work on raising funds here in N.C. until we leave. Please pray that God will continue to raise up more people to come alongside us as monthly partners. No contribution is too small, God will bless any commitment that He places on your heart!  He has already graciously brought more supporters to join our team since we have been home. We praise Him for His provision and we trust that He will still send more!

Thank you for your continued prayers & support!! We are finally ready for the final step to the mission field, which is due in part, to the many ways each of you have stood with us.  We appreciate you all more than you know!  Your commitment to our family will be making an eternal difference in the lives of many children and people in Honduras. God bless you!

Because He first loved us,
Gordon, Christy, Jared, Zac, & Wil

Psalm 9:18 ~ "But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish."

*For those of you who have asked about giving a monetary gift or contribution, we are registered at both Target & Walmart for items needed in our home.

Need of MONTHLY partners!!

"For the harvest is great, but the workers are few."


We just wanted to take a few minutes to explain what being a monthly partner means, because it's monthly partners that enable our family to work alongside FCM to minister to the 75 children that are housed by FCM and to the people in the impoverished communities in & around Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

A partner is someone who faithfully contributes to our support on a monthly basis, regardless of the amount of the contribution.
Each month the partner mails in a check (or you can contribute on-line) to Forgotten Children Ministries and they keep all of the contributions in an account for our family. From this account FCM allots us a budget to enable our family to live.
But remember...as independent missionaries on staff with Forgotten Children Ministries, we are required to raise 100% of our funds in order to serve. And even though we are members of a Southern Baptist Church, we are not with the International Mission Board nor any other mission board, therefore, we are not given a salary.  ALL of our support must come from individuals, like yourselves, or churches in order for us to do the work God is calling us to do.

With that in mind, please prayerfully consider becoming a MONTHLY partner!  It doesn't have to be a large amount; it can be $5, $10, $25 month or as much as you believe the Lord is leading you to do, but if every one gave just a little, then we would have the support needed for our family to do God's work in Honduras.

THANKS so much for considering to partner with us! Just think, your contributions to our family will enable you to have an active role in changing the life of many street children, & people who otherwise would have no hope apart from Christ. We pray God will bless our efforts and the efforts of this ministry so these children & the people of Honduras in turn can make a difference in their own country for Christ.