School year coming to a close...boys are ready for Summer break! FCM's Summer schedule has begun.

Psalm 9:18 "For the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted perish forever."

Our boys have finally completed their first year of school here in Tegucigalpa. We are thankful for the wonderful teachers God placed in each one of their paths and for new study habits. Our boys each had a very good academic year in spite of still being in transition. Jared has graduated from the 8th grade and will be starting high school next year. It's amazing how quickly time passes, yet it's exciting to see the young man he is becoming. Thank you for your faithful prayers for our family! We recognize our success this year is all because of God's intervention in our lives and the faithful support of our monthly partners.

Jared received an Outstanding Achievement Award for this year in Math. His hard work really paid off!

The last 3 months have been a busy time in spite of having only a few U.S. teams in March. The other FCM ladies & I have painted the inside of the school where the younger FCM children attend, and the FCM girls now have freshly painted beds as well.  This work was completed because both places were in desperate need for a fresh coat of paint, and we also wanted to improve our facilities in preparation for Summer teams. I continue to work with Lori in teaching English to FCM's elementary school-aged children twice a week, and I am also leading discipleship classes with the FCM's girls. When teams aren't here, we try to spend quality time with the kids during the week to either help with homework, play games, or just hang out. We thoroughly enjoy being a part of each one of these kid's lives and doing the work God has placed before us. What a tremendous blessing to take part in the work God is doing in Honduras!

The ministry has just completed it's first three weeks of our Summer schedule assisting U.S. teams as they ministered to the FCM kids through Bible study and ministry work in the impoverished communities. Each team comes equipped with beans and rice, money to help with any immediate needs within a family, and the Word of God; in hopes of introducing others to Christ or to encourage fellow believers. We are excited to witness the hand of God as He works through each team member & each missionary. What a privilege to be involved in the Great Commission and to be used by our Lord to spread His truth in this desolate country. The work we have been called to is not because of anything we have to offer, but all about what an almighty God can do through two willing hearts.

Gordon leads weekly discipleship with the FCM boys at two different locations.  Pray God will bless this Bible study time with each one of them.

Having lunch with the girls ~ one of my favorite things to do during the week!

Girls playing a game during our discipleship time. They have to work the cookie into their mouths only using their face muscles. Was fun to watch!

We continue to covet your prayers for our effectiveness in discipling the FCM children & young men, and for the ministry work within the impoverished communities. Without Christ we are nothing. It's by His grace alone that we can even do this work. Pray that God will daily equip us for the ministry opportunities He has placed before us. Pray also for the Summer U.S. teams; for traveling mercies & God's anointing on the work He has placed before them. There will be a team every week through the middle of August. Pray for the FCM staff here and in the States; for sustained health, safety, and guidance as we serve Christ within this country.

Thank you for your faithful support & prayers! Without the commitment of our partners we could not have answered this call God has placed on our family's lives, nor could we effectively do the work that He has placed before us. Each one of you are the reason we are able to go with God and serve His people.

~ May God richly bless you and your families for your commitment to us and as you also heed His call.

Because Christ first loved us,
The Diegelmans

*(Psalm 82: 3-4) "Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked." 



They say pictures speak a thousand words...enjoy the photos from the past three months.

Teaching the girls to make ice cream out of zip-loc bags after Bible study one Saturday.

Wil's 3rd grade class. Picture taken after their play.

Girls after doing a fashion show one Saturday.

A family in the impoverished community that has become very special to us!

A view of the city.

One of the many shanties that we frequent with mission teams bringing food & sharing the Gospel.

Dying eggs at Easter.

At IHNFA (government-run orpanage) with the Sciolino family.

Alex & Jennifer giving the girls a mini make-over after Bible Study time.

Wil with our new pet, Cooper.

Our ministry visits IHNFA (government-run orphanage) on a weekly basis to serve them food, sing songs & learn about Christ.

The start of a New Year

It has been good to be back in the swing of doing life on the field after being on furlough for the holidays in the States. We were thankful for the time to rest, visit with family & friends, and update our supporters about our work with the ministry. And as much as we enjoyed the time in the States, we sure did miss spending time with the kids here in the ministry. What a blessing for us to get to serve in a way that we are so passionate about, we recognize it's a job that only God could have orchestrated! We are thankful for the work God has put before us and for the new relationships we are making with the FCM kids. They are such an amazing group of children & young adults. It's evident that God is doing a work in their lives and we are thankful to have a small part in that work.


                                                  Vacation Bible School

This past January the FCM kids had a great time during VBS. The cowboy theme was embraced by all.
They enjoyed songs with silly hand motions, Bible stories & memorization of verses, games, and of course snack time. We all had a fun week! Thankful to be able to share in it with all the kids & FCM staff.

Girls teaching everyone the steps to a song during VBS :)

The guys turn ~ they loved the music!

Fearless leaders ~ VBS with the FCM kids before school started back.

                                                     Back to School in February ~

School is back in session for the FCM kids, which means English classes have started back as well. I love getting in the classroom with these precious souls, even on the days they are rowdy. The children in the ministry who are not on grade level are taught on the FCM grounds. Teachers are brought in to teach the children much like a home school situation. In doing this, the teachers can help a child complete two years worth of work in one year, in order to help the child get caught up. For the children on grade level, they wear uniforms and attend a local public school. The school system in the country finishes at the 11th grade level. FCM currently has about 8 young men attending the local Universities or trade school. It is exciting to see these children who once had no hope because they were living on the streets, now receiving the care, love, discipline, and education they so desperately need in order to thrive in their own country.

Looking forward this week to the arrival of the first team in the New Year! Please be praying for this team and another that immediately follows in March. Pray also for the teams scheduled to come each week this Summer as well. We always look forward to working with the teams and showing them how to be the hands and feet of Jesus. With the arrival of each team means another opportunity to show the FCM kids and the people in the impoverished communities the love of Christ, a time to disciple, and to challenge them in their walk with Christ. We ask that you continue to pray for the many opportunities each team member will have to show the love of Christ and do His work in this country. Please pray for the spiritual, emotional, & physical growth of each one of the FCM kids, there are currently about 75 children in the ministry now. The missionaries and staff here with FCM all covet your prayers as well, as we seek to disciple the FCM kids and as we lead U.S. teams each year. 



Again, we are blessed to be able to serve in the many capacities here that God has called us to in Honduras. Yet to be effective, we need your continued prayers and support. Please pray daily for us as our family continues to adjust to the culture and doing life in a third world country. Pray that God will call people to come alongside us as monthly partners so we can remain on the field. 
Thanks so much to our faithful partners who have come along beside our family as prayer & financial partners. We appreciate all your support! 

Ongoing prayer requests:

Family's adjustment to living in Honduras
Discipleship classes with the FCM kids
Spiritual growth of our boys and the FCM kids
Safety/health of our family, fellow missionaries, FCM kids/staff
Upcoming U.S. teams for 2013


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

Pj party w/the FCM girls 

One of several skits, where the girls teach the lesson

Pop corn & soda, always a favorite 

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