Another busy Summer for the ministry ~

Every year as May approaches, so does the start of a very busy Summer for Forgotten Children Ministries. North American teams start arriving the last week of May, and they continue coming every week until the month of August. This Summer was no exception. FCM missionaries & staff prepared for the much anticipated Summer months; knowing that with each team, came a new agenda, filled with the many ways that we could be the hands & feet of Jesus. What a blessing to work on a weekly basis alongside such an amazing group of believers. Each group arrives with different gifts and talents.  As missionaries, and team members, it is a privilege to show the love of Christ, as we help meet their physical needs through food and clothing, and their spiritual needs through the Gospel. We still stand in awe of how a holy God can use such wretched souls as ours, yet we are thankful!

Bagging beans & rice

Team Canada teaches sewing

Playing games with Grace girls

Gordon spending time w/the younger FCM boys

Gordon sharing the Gospel at IHNFA (govt-run orphanage)

This Summer many people came to know Christ for the first time, while fellow brothers & sisters in Christ were strengthened in their faith. Many were encouraged through the food, clothes, and/or medicine that was provided through the teams. With every situation we encountered, we always prayed that God would be glorified. Please pray for all the new believers, God knows each one by name. Pray for God's Word to spread rapidly in this city. Pray that God would reveal Himself mightily to the people working in the government of Honduras and to the hundreds of gang members that are still lost. We want revival to take place in the hearts of these people, for change to occur, so it's people and this country can thrive. Pray that God will send more workers, "For the harvest is great but the workers are few." Many times it takes people like you and I to get involved, so if God is telling you to go, then what are you waiting for?? Go! But if He is saying to SEND, then please help send people here... & in other parts of the world to do His work. You can also get involved through short-term mission trips. In whatever way God is leading you, heed His call. He wants to work through all of His children.

A family that FCM ministers to regularly.

 

Precious in His sight

Josephe is about 90 years old

Some of our favorite people! Get to visit w/them regularly.

Just one of many sweet faces we encountered in the communities.

Food ministry

Grace girls

Weekly discipleship classes with the girls ~ LOVE this time!

Girls with their quiet time journals. Spending time alone with the Lord is a discipline we have emphasized even more this year.

One of their favorite games...object is to get the cookie in their mouth without using your hands!

Always time for fun & games!

Gordon is enjoying teaching God's Word with the FCM boys each week. Pray for him as he teaches them Biblical truths.

Ministering at IHNFA, a government-run orphanage. IHNFA is a safe place where children's physical needs are provided for who would otherwise be on the streets. This is a favorite place to visit for many teams. Teams come equipped with materials to share from God's Word, for craft making, and to give the children food. Generally there are about 75 or more children, ages from infancy to 17 years of age. Once they turn 18 they are on their own. Please pray for them as God does a work in their hearts. Pray they will have a strong relationship with Christ. Always a joy to be able to show the love of Christ to these precious souls.

Giving out pizza & soda

The girls love to have their picture made :)

Sharleen enjoying the sweet children

Steve & his son sharing the Gospel with the girls

Teams always enjoy going out to the farm to spend quality time with the older FCM boys.

Teams also enjoy attending the church with the older FCM boys. Many of these young men have leadership roles within the church.  It is evident that God is doing a work in their lives! Love being able to worship with these boys & the people in this community.

Stan sharing about future building plans to move the entire ministry to one location. It will also allow FCM to rescue more street children. Please pray as God brings these plans to fruition!

Older guys taking part in the church service

Some of FCM's older boys

Playing games with the team.

THANK YOU for your continued support & prayers. Our family appreciates your partnership so we can continue doing the work God has put before us. We are extremely thankful to be a part of each one of these kid's lives, what an honor. It is evident that God is at work within this ministry. Please continue to pray for us, and the other missionaries, as we serve alongside Forgotten Children Ministries. Pray that God will use us to help make a difference in the lives of these children and in the lives of the people living in the communities of Tegucigalpa. Pray for the FCM kids as God works in their hearts and draws them closer to Him. And finally, please continue to pray for our family. 

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."

Because He first loved us,

The Diegelmans

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.