The
same dollar donated today, only buys 25% of what the dollar
contributed 5 years ago bought.
Things are tough, we need your help. I
hope I need to say no more.
OTHER
NEWS / NEEDS
Penny and I are praying that all is well with you.
We thank
you all, for all you have done for us and our boys in the past
and are now praying that you will continue to support and
pray for these new projects.
Below you will find a few of our most urgent needs and goals for
the end of year 2007.
-
The most important is the need to re-open the CRISIS
CENTER in Manaus. This is the first step
off the street, it is where we can meet, and evaluate
each child and learn as to how we can best help
them. After closing of the center in Manaus in 2000, our
contact with the children on the street became less and
less. Now a whole new generation of children are on the
streets and they do not know us well enough to trust us
to help them.
Penny and I are sure that we need to return to Manaus
and start this important work anew. God has taught us
much, and we are unafraid of starting over again and
working back on the streets.. While the crisis center
was open in Manaus, we never had a shortage of children
who wanted to leave the street, only a shortage of
funds, a camp that was not ready, and people to help. We
Now have the people, a HCS finished camp, and a God who
can work through our Board of Trustees, and our
supporters and friends to supply the funds. This will be
hardest on Penny and I. We will have to move back to
Manaus, and travel back and forth on Sat. and Wed. for
Church services.
Penny and I have a heart to serve not only the street
children, but to reach out and minister to all street
people. This group includes, street children, child and
adult prostitutes, child & adult street laborers, and
gays. Our hope and vision is to buy an old building
with your help, in the same area of town where our old
crisis center was and start a church/street
ministry that reaches across the barriers by showing the
love of Christ to a group of children and adults who
seldom have many options. This will not be an easy task,
nor one that can survive without the proper amount of
prayer, hard work, and good financial support. We are
counting on you to continue to make the sacrifice along
with us so our time here will be used to the glory and
honor of our Lord and Savior. The time is
now, and we need many more of you to step up and do your
part.
-
Second
:
Develop and fund a plan to help the our
kids stay off the street with job
skills. After we receive our
NGO (non-governmental organization) status,
We hope to start to build a new job training/Vo-Tec.
facility. We will need teachers, vo-tec & others.
-
THIRD, but by far not least, to plant and
disciple new churches on our Manacapuru river. Open for
volunteer team participation.
Good news:
Our Truck has been repaired!!! Praise God. Penny and i
can once again drive back and forth to Manaus safely.
This has been a real problem for us for almost 1 1/2 years.
We Thank Jim Smelcher, Jack Oyler Sr. and Jack and Peggy
Rice for their contributions that allowed us to rebuild our
truck motor, repaint and redo the interior. God Bless
you all.
TRUCK
UPDATE: as of
Friday, April 11, 2008
While the motor, brakes, suspension, are all in a good state
of repair, our transmission has started making a high
pitched whine while we travel on the highway. We
suppose we will have to put our truck back in the shop and
get this fixed.
Please pray
with us about how you can help us to continue to serve these
desperate children.
thank you
In Christ
Jack & Penny Oyler
BELOW you will find some older news and new updates
and also just some general information.
-
Our HCS Boys Program
UPDATE: as of
Wednesday October 17th 2007
We are applying for our NGO
(non-governmental organization) status for the HCS Boys program.
This will allow us to accept contributions here in Brazil from
Brazilian companies and also apply for assistance from
government sources. It takes two years to be approved. We
started the process in June 2005, so some time in 2007 we should
receive our NGO certificate.
-
Work continues at HCS Boys Home
UPDATE: as of
Wednesday October 17th 2007
We have been steadily working to finish the boys’ home. The
Recreation building has just received a good coat of paint
inside and out. The ceramic has been installed on the
floor and looks great. Edilson and Ivan have completed all
New concrete sidewalks to and from all buildings at the camp.
Penny and I purchased a new Ping-Pong table, and a new Foosball
table. We still plan to buy 2 Domino tables, and a pool table.
We have two couches and a love seat to place in the TV area.
The Rec. Center is a great place for our boys to have fun at
the end of each day, especially in the rainy season. We hope to
be able to put ceramic in all buildings eventually. This will
help us to keep everything clean.
When weather permits, we have been planting many
different kinds of fruit trees. Oranges, lemons, Cupucu, Acai,
and Mangos.
-
The HCS Small Boat
STOLEN
UPDATE: as of
Wednesday October 17th 2007
About
the time our Church was putting on the MAYBERRY fundraiser
for HCS, our aluminum canoe and 40hp outboard was stolen
from in front of our house/church The next day we found the
canoe, but the outboard had been taken. Penny and i
were left with out any river transportation, and had to
depend on our friends to bring us supplies foe several
weeks. Of course we informed the authorities, but they
don't even look for things like this. We knew it had
to be replaced but had no funds to do so. After a few weeks
of searching we found a good used 40hp and canoe
combination. The canoe was about 6in. deeper on the
sides which made it much safer on the river. With a special
donation from one of our best contributors, we were able to
purchase the boat and motor and now have better,
newer, and safer transportation. This theft was
the first thing we have lost in almost 10 years of living in
Brasil. It is sad, and has changed us a little. I suppose we
are not quite as trusting, and I'm sure we are now trying
hard not to tempt people beyond which they are able to
stand, by keeping all our supplies closer and locked
tighter.
Our Boat had been increasingly leaking more and more.
We have used it heavily for over four years without hardly any
maintenance. It was a real pain to have to pump the water out of
it every day. So while the river was down last year we pulled our big boat
out of the water. We replaced about 600 L.ft. of planks on the
hull. Removed all the old caulk & packing, and then re-packed
and re-caulked all the seams on the entire hull. After this I
sanded the complete hull with a large disk sander. Then we
applied 6 coats of oil base paint. The whole process took almost
two months, and we re-launched our boat just as the river level
reached the stern. Because the boat had been out of the water so
long, at first it leaked just as bad as when we had pulled it.
It took about a week for all the new planks to swell and seal.
Now it is in good shape below the water line.
We have
installed new flooring inside the lower hull, so we can keep the
exterior hull from being hit when loading supplies. We also have
built benches all around the aft upper
deck, and have installed a canvas surrey top. This give us a
good shady area to sit while ministering and traveling on
the river. We have repainted
all the areas above water line, and changed the color slightly.
Because of the heat, humidity, and constant rains here, the boat
needs repainting about every three months.
BOAT UPDATE: as of
Wednesday October 17th 2007
At the end of the rainy season last year, and just before we
pulled it out of the water and rebuilt the hull, our boat took
on enough water during a storm that it all but sunk. The
motor filled with water. We drained it,
as best we could and changed the oil and filters, but now it
needs to be completely rebuilt. The first of August 2007
we made the hard decision to go ahead and use general fund
moneys to buy the parts necessary to rebuild the motor.
($4,000.00US) Wonderfully
at
the end of august, we received a donation that fully covered
this expense with moneys left over to pay the mechanic.
God is good!!! At present, we are waiting for the low
water season to pass, and then we will recall the mechanic to
finish his work. As money
permits hopefully we will be able to keep our HCS boat in better
condition. It is a great asset to our program, and our church.
-
Hope Island
Hope Island is a beautiful
natural habitat and a part of the flooded forest area of
Amazonas. As you who have been to Brazil know, this is
where Penny and I live and also where our church is located.
Since it was purchased in 2000, we have been slowly clearing the
thick underbrush. This year we have almost finished the clearing
process and only lack about 10 acres. This clearing is necessary
to control snakes, insects and also helps security. Here in the
Amazon, there are many thieves, and thick brush gives them
hiding places.
-
The New HCS Boys
Home Program
Penny and I have really been working hard to improve
the Recovery program and life at the HCS Boys home for our
youth. The New program will be a based on a semi-military style
combined with a merit/demerit system. The military part will
help to build unity in the group of boys living together at the
HCS home. The point merit/demerit system will give each child
the opportunity to advance and receive privileges.
The new program will focus on helping the boys to
discipline their lives and use their time in productive ways.
Penny has worked up a daily routine, which uses the
merit/demerit point system. This is similar to ones she used at
the Baptist Hospital/ Baptist Children Village with good
success. Each boy will have group and individual tasks to
perform each day. They will receive merits or demerits
accordingly. Basic points will allow them use the new recreation
center each evening. Over and above performance will be rewarded
by higher rank, military style along with additional privileges.
Each new boy will visit the HCS Boys home/camp for the
first week. They each will then have to make a decision if they
want to stay or not.
The next 30 days is a trial time in which each boy will
have to make many changes from street life. This is the most
critical part, and the time when they will need the most
attention. We have designed a good exercise program each morning
to help them get in shape. I am now designing a ropes/obstacle
course to help them build confidence in them selves and learn to
work together. We are also searching for a certified school
teacher, so our boys can be credited for work done. We hope in
the future to be able to start a Vo-Tec. Center where each boy
can be taught a trade of his choosing.
Penny has also been working hard on the drug recovery
program. Her language skills are quite a bit better because of
her involvement in teaching SS to our youth. The youth who have
been at the HCS Boys home in the past have had problems with the
group dynamic part of the program. We believe that this new
approach will help them all to grow quicker and work together
better.
-
Igreja Batista Novo
Esperança do Amazonas
UPDATE: as of
Friday, April 11, 2008
Our church is doing fine, but attendance is still down. We
are studying The disciples cross in SS. We have bought new
bibles, Christian videos, and hymn books. I'm still struggling
with the language in my preaching. I usually need to study
about 4 hours (just on language, not including scripture
subject) to be able to speak for 35 to 40 min. Keep us in your prayers.
A new 6"
layer of sand was added to the play area in front of the church,
and a concrete boat ramp/sidewalk was placed alongside the
existing wood walkway to the water. We are all awaiting
the return of the water in front of the church, along with the
repair of the boat motor so we can re-start our river trips.
_________________________________
OLDER NEWS Jan. Feb.2007
More Sad News
We found out last night while on the street, that two streetboys
have died. The first, Boxador- (an older street boy who we have
know for several years) died Sunday, from an infection in his
neck growing from an old wound from a street fight. We do not
know for certain, but we helped this same boy after he beat on
our door early one morning holding his neck as blood was
covering his body. Penny and I cleaned the deep wound, applied
a pressure compress to help stop the bleeding and rushed him to
the hospital. I remember this well, as we were praying all the
way there. He recovered and from that time, always gave us a
big hug when we saw him on the street. Unfortunately and
sadly, he never asked for help in leaving the street. I suppose,
this cost him his life.
The other youth was one of the younger, newer street boys.
Sebastian, the older boy who told us of his death, did not know
his name, so we will have to wait to talk to the younger boys
who knew him. As we understood it, he was killed while on the
street. This may sound shocking to some of you, but happens
often here. Just last night on of the 16 year old boys was
beaten just before we arrived and was still crying as we handed
him a sandwich.
As
Sebastian and I were talking, he asked me if he could come to
the HCS Boys home. Sadly I reminded him that we only accepted
youth, 8 to 15. He then told me he wished he had met us when he
was 5 and had just arrived on the street. I asked how old he
was, he told me 32, then he asked me to please tell him how many
years he had been on the street. When I told him 27 years, he
slowly repeated it, 27 seven years,.... he turned away, but not
before I saw a tear in his eyes. I grabbed him from behind and
gave him a big hug. He thanked me for his sandwich and coke, and
told me he would try to help us talk to the new boys on the
street. As he walked away, he was smiling and acting "normal"
the tough, seasoned, street man had returned. But for a moment,
I believe he was that scared, frightened little five year
old....... My heart was breaking, as it is now.
My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, as
I write this I have a lump in my own throat, and tears in my
eyes. It is really hard for me to speak to you about the
terrible things that these kids go through, and then many are
killed. Penny and I feel we have failed miserably to help these
poor children. There is so much that could be done, and should
be done. We are just two, and it is an impossible task by our
human standards that He has laid before us.
Penny and I believe with all our Hearts, that His Grace will
supply all of our needs. He has never failed us, we will remain
obedient and wait, even when the "wait" is really hard to bear
at times. He is our strength, without His words of truth, we
could not stay here. Our Purpose is still clear, we follow Him,
because we love Him so,....because He loves us so!
Hebrews 10:9
As
we know and trust and put all our faith in HIM, we ask you all
to pray that our Lord and Savior will call out others to help us
here, and still many more will open their hearts and mind to
consider becoming a part of the foundational support that allow
us to minister here in Brasil.
Good News:
Sebastian, the man in the story above,
has left the street! After we talked, and I'm sure after
many of you went to the Lord in prayer on his behalf,
decided to try and make amends with his father. His father
accepted him and he is now living downriver helping his
family to restore their farm. He is planting crops and
making repairs. God is good all the time!! and all the time
God is Good! Thank you for your prayers for this man.
GOD is
good all the time...All the time GOD is good!
Thank You all for
all that you do for Us and our Kids
We love
you all and miss your fellowship
Jack
and Penny Oyler.
Wednesday October 17th 2007 NO. 1 PRAYER NEEDS: Julison a 14 yr. old street youth at our HCS Boys home is making his second visit in six months back home. He is doing very well, but is always a little nervous about going home. Home is a 12' x 12' wooden house, on the edge of Manaus, with 11 members of his family. Please keep him in your prayers.