Volunteer Testimonies

December 1st 2005

Hello ,my name is Larry Redd.

I would like to share with you about Jack and Penny Oyler and Hope for the Children of the Street-- H. C. S. I first met Jack on a mission trip to Honduras in 1995. Little did I know what God had in store for us.

During the trip, Jack gave his testimony . He told how God had saved him, and later called him into fulltime Christian service in Brazil . He also told the group that he had supported his trips to Brazil from his own work building houses . My wife and I were moved by and enjoyed his testimony . A couple years later we called him and asked him if he would be interested in building a new home for us. He accepted the job and told us it would be his last job before leaving to serve fulltime in Brazil .

As Jack and his wife Penny labored building our new home, my wife and I got to hear many exciting stories and testimonies about their mission work in Brazil. During this time God started convicting me that I needed to help support Jack and Penny in this work. As they neared completion of our new home, I talked with Jack and told him that I want to support his work in Brazil, even though they had never asked me for support.

At the end of the first year in Brazil, Jack told me that God had changed the focus of their work from building churches to working full time with the children on the street. He shared with my wife and I that these children needed physical and spiritual help. Jack asked if we would continue to support them as they moved in this new direction . I let Jack know that God wanted me to help no matter what type of work He had for them to do. Jack then asked me to pray about coming to Brazil to see for myself what they were doing. He felt it was important for me to see for myself, even if it meant I had to use the money I was giving to the mission to pay my way.

I made my first trip to Brazil in May/June, 2000. The trip lasted about twelve days. While I was there I got to see the work that Jack and Penny were doing with the street children . But the most wonderful thing that happened to me was that I too fell in love with these needy children. I remember telling Jack, "I was supporting you because of what I know about you and what I knew God wanted me to do, But now that I see these children, I want to do more to support them and your ministry with them. "

After my return home it seemed that all I did was talk about this wonderful trip to my family and my friends. I suppose I must have been convincing, my wife and my daughter went with me the next year and they also fell in love with the children in this ministry.

It was not long after our second trip in 2001 that Jack and Penny asked my wife and I to pray about joining the board of trustees of Hope for the Children of the Street -- HCS. We accepted this important responsibility.

I made my third trip to Brazil to help continue to build a new home for the street boys in 2003. As on all the other trips, God revealed new people and new aspects of the work. On each visit one thing was crystal clear ; God has used Jack and Penny to accomplish his purposes in a mighty way and has blessed them over and over .

The HCS Baptist boys home has saved many of the street boys from a life of destruction. This is the main ministry, and a tough one, but is far from the only ministry . In 2001 Jack and Penny planted a new church across from the Baptist boys home. It is now influencing the surrounding area for Christ. Wonderfully now, not only are street boys getting saved, many members of the community have also made decisions for Christ . All are baptized and are now being discipled at New Hope Baptist Church of Amazonas.

My wife and I feel privileged that God has chosen us to be a part of this ministry. It has changed our lives and the lives of our children. I know it has changed the lives of many of the street children that have had the opportunity to be part of the HCS family. Each time I go to Brazil to help Jack and Penny, I always come away receiving a bigger blessing than I am surely able to give.

I know that god wants me to continue my part in the work he's doing with H. C. S. in Brazil . I plan to do all I can . I am presently serving as Vice President and chairman of the board of trustees .

My wife and I pray that you would join with us in this vital ministry of love to the street children of Brazil. You can do this by joining a trip, and/or by contributing regularly to the H. C. S. ministry .

Please feel free to call me if you would like to know more about Hope for the Children of the Street .

In Christ

Larry Redd

telephone no. 601 -- 922 -- 74 20

October 16, 2005

Hello, my name is Regina Marsh

In January of 2003, is when I first heard of a need for a group to go help Jack & Penny with the development of the boy’s camp in Brazil. It was strange to me that I felt so pulled to find out more. I had not ever been out of the country, much less a 3^rd world country and I had been praying for God to use me in missions, but I never dreamed He would send me to Brazil. The Holy Spirit kept me interested in the trip and I did a lot of spiritual growing from January until we left for our trip in July 2003. God kept leading me to verses in the Bible that would encourage me along the way like “Here am I. Send me!” “Go and tell the people:” ..... (Isaiah 6:8-10) This is the one that inspired me the most. Everywhere I turned there would be a Bible verse or person or action that would encourage me! God is so awesome this way!

When we arrived in Brazil, my heart was immediately opened to the different culture and the need for Jesus in the peoples’ lives. We had 3 days of Bible school for the children and some invited Jesus to live in their heart. There were many other eye opening experiences that only reassured what God had been trying to show me. We take so much for granted in the United States and it is sad that God had to take me to another country to open my heart, but the experience was not like any other. My husband and I returned to Brazil with another group in July 2004. Now our hearts are connected with the ministry that Jack and Penny have been led to do.

Each time I had the opportunity to grow in my walk with God and return that same love to those boys and other children and adults at the camp. I will always be grateful to God for sending me and showing me the love that He so desperately wants us as Christians to show others.

Jesus said, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” Luke 18:27, 29 & 30

Regina Marsh

FBC Raymond

Katie’s Testimony

Hi Penny. Sorry I did not get back with you the first time you emailed about testimonies. Oh and I wanted to let you and Jack know that the first Sunday after seeing you two I went to First Baptist Church of Portland and loved it. It is such a great church! I am trying to go every Sunday. God is still working on me with that. I will try to put my personal testimony in words for you.

I did not grow up in the church. I was not even introduced to the idea of church until I was in middle school and I was staying the night with a friend on a Saturday night and I would then go to church with them the next morning. I basically went through the motions. Then in high school (back in 1996) I started attending the youth group at church and going to work missions, Christian music festivals, and other church related events. It was not until I went to an event called "Hell Stop" which is a Halloween Christian event. At the end of the trail you make a decision as to which door to go through. The doors are labeled "Hell", "Heaven", and "Undecided". I went through the "Undecided" door and that is where I talked to someone regarding my walk and that is where I truly accepted God into my life. I was then going to church on my own and my spiritual growth was blooming. My mom started going to church around 2000 and my little sister also. I continue to learn new things everyday. The most important thing to me is knowing that our God is indeed an awesome God and that he sacrificed His one and only son to die on the cross for our sins and so that we may have everlasting eternal life. I am proud to be a Christian and I hope that everyone may see Jesus through me.

I was sure glad to see you and Jack before you went back to Brasil. I am getting good vibes about next summer. I really feel that I am being led to come down again. I am pretty sure David will let me know what is going on.

Miss you both bunches! Take care and God bless.

Katie Frost

Michael’s Testimony

My life was changed very dramatically after the trip to Brazil. Before I went, I knew God and was an average Christian. When I first got there, everything was as I expected it to be from the stories I had heard. It was a third world country. Then I started interacting with the boys at the camp and heard their stories. Everything suddenly changed. Its like I knew they had it bad, but then I didn’t really grasp the concept until I heard their backgrounds. I started to really see what their lives were like. This led to a huge change in my heart. I realized how I had taken my entire existence for granite. I also realized how blessed I was and that I should thank God for everything I have. Brazil changed me.

People can see commercials on TV of kids in other countries and think they know what it’s like there. They can see all of the videos and pictures in the world, but they will never fully understand and be changed in their heart, unless they see it first hand.

-That is what I learned from my trip to Brazil.

Michael Marsh, 15yrs old

July 2004 trip

I thank God for letting me come and be apart of the vision that God has
given you and Jack. I praise Him for what He has done and excited about what
is to happen. Who knows but God where we will end up and that is where I
place my comfort. God has used you and Jack to encourage me to total trust
Him and follow His lead. I thank God for you both and do pray for you and
look forward to the next time God brings us together.

How are you doing? We are doing good. I think about you two often. I pray for you, you are special people to Mike and I. Our lives will never be the same after our extended visit in Brazil. It's hard to come back here and resume our old lifestyles. The book Mike read while there has truly changed his life. Comfort zones and lifestyles make us do some really odd things. When we were sitting in church Sunday, I was thinking, Jack and Penny are already finished with Sunday morning worship. At least on Sunday we know we are all worshiping the same God at close to the same time! And no matter where we are, or what language we use, God hears us all the same!!! God is awesome!

How are things this week with the boys? Is Jaco still trying to see Marina? It's such a shame Jaco has such an attitude problem, he had a lot of potential. Is Da and Brenner still hanging in there? I have a soft spot in my heart for Da, I hope he is okay. Brenner is such a trip, when I think of him it cracks me up! How is Albertino, has he returned home for more visits? Is Albertino and Jorge working out well for S.S? I hope you are able to see more children after the V.B.S. How is Silvanil doing, is he married yet? Tell all the boys we said hello. Have you got anymore kids from the streets?

YES I'll be there if you need me to help you move again! Anytime, Anywhere, just call out my name, and I'll come running.