I was able to make another trip to Honduras November 28th thru December 2nd. This trip is special as we celebrate Christmas with the boys of Forgotten Children Ministries and with the people of Monte Redondo. Tommy Butts and I were able to go from Hickory Grove Baptist Church in North Carolina. We met with teams from Alabama, Tennessee, and Florida. In total there was over 34 men and women from North America that went down to share the love of Jesus Christ and to celebrate His birth. It was a wonderful time! Some highlights of the trip were that we were able to see a home built by the young men of Forgotten Children Ministries. It was such an incredible testimony to God's healing grace to see these young men building a home for someone in need. This home was built for a mother named Gloria with two small daughters. Her story is one that starts tragically but by God's grace we see miracles happen. Gloria was first visited by Stan Nowell of Forgotten Children Ministries with a missions team from North America. Gloria was on the side of the rode living on a rock with a few tree branches as a shelter. She told Stan that her husband had left for another woman and had taken her 10 year old son with him. She was left with her two daughters and no home. She was desperate as she did not have any income nor a place to live. We see God's timing in having Stan and a team show up providing some basic needs (clothing, food, and money). In addition, this team was able to provide funds to buy a small parcel of land for her to live on. After this team left, a team from Hickory Grove Baptist came. This team came back to the states and was able to provide the funds needed to build a small house for Gloria. Tommy and I were able to pray with Gloria last week. Her prayer of praise to our God was AWESOME! We serve a mighty God who hears the needs of His people. Many thanks to those from Hickory Grove Baptist that gave to meet the needs of a sister they have never met.
The trip went very fast and it is hard to leave. Our hearts are there in Honduras and we are anxious to get to language school and then to Honduras to serve and love on those kids. As I end this blog, my prayer is that each of us will take time to thank God for His sacrificial gift, His Son Jesus Christ. He is the reason we have the opportunity to do any good. I thank God for allowing us to go and to have an opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
Merry Christmas
The Fosters
Ephesians 2:8-10
We have been going through the Bible looking for the scripture verse that we wanted to put on our prayer cards. Of course there are so many that we felt we could claim. However, we finally found a verse that both of us agreed on.
Colossians 4:2 - 3
"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ."
I love what the notes in my Bible had to say about this verse: "Have you ever grown tired of praying for something or someone? Paul says we should "devote" ourselves to prayer and be "watchful" in prayer. Our persistence is an expression of our faith that God answers our prayers. Faith shouldn't die if the answers come slowly, for the delay may be God's way of working his will in our lives. When you feel tired of praying, know that God is present, always listening, always answering - maybe not in ways you had hoped, but in ways that he knows are best."
Two Little Boys
One little boy will sleep tonight in a bed that is clean and warm
while another will find a box for comfort and hide under a bridge to shield the storm
One little boy will wake up to arms full of love and hugs
while another will be lucky to wake up at all after a night of glue and drugs
One little boy will go off to school to learn to read and write
while another little boy will search the trash and the dumps to find just a bite
One little boy will grow to become a strong and healthy man
while another little boy will just age and survive and do the best that he can
Oh Lord I know that you love both of these little boys equally the same
I ask though for a special angel for the unprotected boy with no name
God rain down your mighty love upon both little boys today
and let them know their in your arms no matter what comes their way
-S.F.
"For the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted perish forever" Psalm 9:18
Below is an excellent description of what FCM is all about. This paragraph was taken from the FCM brochure. Please visit the FCM website which can be found under our links.
"In November 1998, hurricane Mitch struck Honduras, ravaging this poor country in Central America. Especially affected was the capital city of Tegucigalpa, where the plight of children who were truly homeless gave birth to a vision from God that led to the founding of Forgotten Children Ministries in March of 2003. FCM exists to rescue these abandoned and forgotten children who subsist on the streets of the city. FCM seeks to rescue as many of these street children as possible. Often, first contact with the children takes place on the streets and under the bridges where they live. An initial step in the rescue process is the ministry's "Noah's Ark Shelter" which is located in downtown Tegucigalpa. Here the children's immediate needs of food, clothing, shelter, and medical attention are met and they are introduced to the love and hope offered to them in Christ."
Welcome to our blog site! We are excited about the journey that God has in store for us!
On October 26th we traveled to Chattanooga, TN to meet with the Forgotten Children Ministries board of directors. We traveled with our good friends Gordon and Christy Diegelman who were also in the interview process. Our interview was scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on the morning of the 27th with the Diegelman's to follow. We drove home after the interviews on Saturday and around 5:00 p.m. we received a phone call from FCM Director Stan Nowell. He informed us that after much prayer the board had confirmed both couples as missionaries to Honduras. We are very excited but know that we have a long road ahead of us. We have to raise 100% of our financial support and spend one year in Costa Rica in language school. We welcome any fund raising suggestions and we covet your prayers!
