Photos
Here are some of the latest photos from our ministry. Click on a picture to see a larger image and read the description.
Missionary Camp Meeting – Bro. Dave Whitmore came up to Rondônia to preach and we were invited to a missionary gathering where he preached to us in English. It was a blessing to spend time in fellowship with American missionaries from all around the state of Rondônia.
VBS Suruí Tribe – Being the first VBS ever in the Suruí tribe, we were not quite sure what to expect, but God did a wonderful thing in the lives of children, teens and adults.
VBS Suruí Tribe – The dinner line. After a day of many activities, most everyone was anxious to get some food.
VBS Suruí Tribe – It is hard to describe the joy that is seen in the eyes of children who get to participate in some very simple activities. They are very expectant and enjoy even the wait for their turn.
VBS Suruí Tribe – Though age limits are set, who can resist a little face like this wanting to participate?
VBS Suruí Tribe – Notice as the children are having fun that the adults are in the hammocks in the background taking care of the young children or just relaxing in the heat of the day. This covering was my sleeping quarters while I was in the tribe. Though only two of us slept there at night, several people set up their hammocks under the covering during the day.
VBS Suruí Tribe – Though very inexperienced, these ladies volunteered to help with the songs for the children.
VBS Suruí Tribe – Children of all ages attended even if they could not participate.
VBS Suruí Tribe – Rubens is the man who headed up the VBS. He is the most trained person in the Suruí tribe because he has had two years of basic Bible teaching. The pastors have very little to no training at all.
VBS Suruí Tribe – Beautiful faces!
VBS Suruí Tribe – Our meeting place.
VBS Suruí Tribe – Soabá is Rubens’ grandmother. Notice how she carries this basket.
VBS Suruí Tribe – In order to get to the meeting location we had to park by the river and cross on this bridge supported by two long logs.
VBS Suruí Tribe – Notice the smoke that can be seen in the trees further in the background. Visibility has been low all over the country due to recent fires.
VBS Suruí Tribe – Along with the one weak light bulb that was illuminating the speaker, we set up a few flashlights to brighten up the area up front. The children never complained about it being difficult to see. They were enjoying the activity too much.
Piano Repairs – Along with many other hats, sometimes a missionary has to repair his own refrigerator, washing machine or in this case, an electric piano. I began tuning pianos until I realized that after a week in Rondônia’s climate, any piano gets out of tune. A digital piano has been a huge blessing.
Culture – This picture is full of cultural information. It was taken right out in front of our church. Notice the dozens of wires running everywhere and the man leaning his ladder against the wires to work on them. Just notice the other things in the picture and you might find some other cultural tidbits.
Father’s Day – These were the men that were at church in August when Brazil celebrates Father’s Day.
Adventures – Memories are made when things go wrong! This just happens to be one of those memories. We were taking our children for a hike. The Kokenzie’s car had one flat right after the other forcing us to put 9 people in a 7 person vehicle for an hour.
Zoró Tribe VBS – I had the privilege to help baptize Sofia. She is the daughter of the missionary we went to help.
Zoró Tribe VBS – Gabriel and Eliane (left) are Zoró missionaries to the children. In front of me is Shogi, a Brazilian missionary of Japanese descent, and to our right is Rúbens a missionary from the Suruí tribe. It was a blessing to spend time with these great people.
Zoró Tribe VBS – There were 86 attendees and 24 workers involved in this event. Many other adults and teenagers were present also.
Zoró Tribe VBS – Though he did not participate in the VBS, this man was very talented and was showing the children how to make calls for many different animals.
Zoró Tribe VBS – Children everywhere love to have fun. Vacation Bible School is just one way to reach their hearts with the Gospel.
Zoró Tribe VBS – Water balloons are always fun!
Zoró Tribe VBS – Children love to play
Zoró Tribe VBS – Game time!
Zoró Tribe VBS – These children enjoyed playing very simple games.
Zoró Tribe VBS – Children
Zoró Tribe VBS – Children
Zoró Tribe VBS – Shogi has worked with the Zoró tribe for over 30 years. I am learning quite a bit from him and his many years of experience with these people.
Zoró Tribe VBS – It was a blessing to be able to help a bit with the music.
Zoró Tribe VBS – It is exciting to see young men serving the Lord and helping teach songs and verses to these kids.
Zoró Culture – These baskets were full of fish. I was not able to get a good picture of the fish before it had been devoured. Once they are opened, it is a free for all and people just reach down and grab what they want. I did get a piece though, and it was good!
Zoró Culture – Twice we were served soup in the afternoon. The men gathered around this table to eat a fish and corn soup. It was served just as you see and eaten with leaves. The leaves were folded to make a spoon. The following day we were served stingray with stingray soup.
Zoró Tribe VBS – Gabriel teaching about the life and ministry of Paul.
Zoró Tribe VBS – This man dressed up as Paul and came to speak to the children.
Zoró Tribe VBS – Packed Pews!
Zoró Tribe VBS – These were our sleeping quarters for the VBS. Nights were cold. Small fires were started under this covering to keep people warm.
5 Year Anniversary Conference – Fellowship usually centers around a good cake or some food.
5 Year Anniversary Conference – The church logo was printed on the cake. The ladies did a fabulous job making this special cake!
5 Year Anniversary Conference – Pastor Wanderley was our guest speaker.
5 Year Anniversary Conference – God blessed us with heart stirring Bible preaching.
5 Year Anniversary Conference – In this picture the people are watching a video of memories from the past five years.
4th of July – Most years, we try to get together for a time of fellowship on the 4th of July. There are normally a few missionaries on furlough, but we were grateful to spend some time with those that were able to participate this year. Tylers, Kokenzies, Rogers, Lawsons, Divinos and Schmidts.
As we travel we receive a few reminders of our home country. Some people still envy the freedoms we are so quickly losing.
Friends – One of the highlights of our trip was getting to see friends once again. We had the privilege of staying with Dan and Gerri Johnson (Uncle Dan and Aunt Gerri). A good portion of my teenage years were spent in their home.
My parents are off on a furlough. We will miss their help over the next few months, but we are happy they are able to get away.
Pizza Hut – The airport in São Paulo has several American restaurants. The Pizza Hut buffet was the choice for the day, complete with a Brazilian version of cinnamon rolls, breadsticks and more.
While in Limeira, we stayed with a family that has three young children. Laura, the youngest, was always entertaining. We had a precious time in the home of these friends.
Cacoal – In our absence from Cacoal, a young preacher fresh out of seminary filled in for our services. Lucas and his wife Beatriz were a blessing to our church.
My parents – Garry and Pam Tyler
Sunday School – The Lord has sent us some precious people through the years. These twin sisters came to Sunday School for two weeks before their grandmother moved to another state and took them with her.
Outreach – One of the men in our church witnessing to this lady.
Outreach – In May we were able to set up a table down at the local market and give out cold water, Bibles, tracts, and Bible story books for children. We spent several hours telling people about Jesus and sharing the love of Christ with others. The Bibles went like hot cakes!
Outreach – In May we were able to set up a table down at the local market and give out cold water, Bibles, tracts, and Bible story books for children. We spent several hours telling people about Jesus and sharing the love of Christ with others. The Bibles went like hot cakes!
Outreach – In May we were able to set up a table down at the local market and give out cold water, Bibles, tracts, and Bible story books for children. We spent several hours telling people about Jesus and sharing the love of Christ with others. The Bibles went like hot cakes!
Judson is now 17!!! Happy Birthday, Judson! It is hard to believe how quickly the time has passed.
Cookies – Some of the ladies and girls in the church got together to make cookies.
Visitors – This is not the kind of visitors we hope to have, but in our new house, this is one of three snakes we have run across. This one was a boa constrictor about 4 ft. long. Though mostly harmless, we were not hospitable when we found him at our kitchen door.
Easter Morning – Just before Sunrise, we began our Easter service out at the farm of some of our church members.
Easter Morning – Celebrating the Lord’s Supper with a sunrise service.
Easter Morning – The family at whose farm we held our Easter Sunrise Service decorated a special table for the event.
Couples’ Activity – The statue of liberty is the iconic symbol for one of the large department stores here in Brazil. At our activity, each couple was required to complete several tasks around town. One of the tasks was to take a selfie with the statue of liberty in the background.
Couples’ Activity – Another one of our church couples taking their selfie.
Couples’ Activity – Another one of our church couples taking their selfie. Please pray for this man. He has yet to trust the Lord as his Savior. His wife has been saved for many years, but we believe God is working in his life now.
Couples’ Activity – Another one of our church couples taking their selfie.
Couples’ Activity – Another one of our church couples taking their selfie.
Couples’ Activity – Though my parents did not take a selfie in front of the statue of liberty, they were hanging out at the mall waiting to give each couple their next set of instructions.
Couples’ Activity – God has blessed me with a beautiful wife! The ministry is more delightful with her by my side.
March Teen Activity – Each of these activities also is an opportunity to study the Bible. The teens are quizzed over a story or a number of chapters.
March Teen Activity – The term “teen” or better “young people” is given to anyone who is not married. Occasionally we have someone near 40 years old participate, but young adults in their 20s usually participate.
March Teen Activity – There were 10 different churches represented at this activity.
Teen Activity – We participated in a teen activity at a church about 90 minutes away. The young man (Jhonata) next to me had just come to church for the first time the week before.
Camp – I was invited to preach at a camp about five hours north of us. It was a blessing to see many people I had not seen for more than 10 years.
Camp – Each evening several adults drove out to the camp to participate in the church services. There were about 100 people there throughout the 4 days.
Camp – The teen boys were enjoying their moment in the spotlight after winning their competitions. They were typical teenagers.
Wow! There is not anything quite like a bus ministry here in Brazil, but this church van is about as close as it gets. It is used weekly to pick people up for Sunday School and church.
Camp – Some children’s workers really get into it! Each day someone took the younger children out to teach them during the services.
Thinking back on the 15 years since we were sent out as missionaries of the Temple Baptist Church under Pastor Clarence Sexton. This was the day I was ordained into the ministry in March 2009.
My father had cataract surgery this month. The surgery was in another town about three hours from Cacoal. Thankfully, everything has gone as well as expected and he is seeing much better.
Our teens sang together in our Christmas Eve service. It was a blessing to hear them sing about the Savior’s birth.
Pr. Emídio (left) and his wife were a great blessing to me. I was invited to preach a three day conference for them in Rio Branco. It took about 18 hours by bus to get to there and the same coming back. What a blessing it was to preach on the second coming of Christ and enjoy fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ.
Ladies’ Christmas Tea – This event has brought in many ladies who do not attend our church.
Ladies’ Christmas Tea – Sabrini and her daughter Gabriela
Ladies’ Christmas Tea – All but one of these ladies attend our church regularly. This is just a small number of the ladies that were present.
Ladies’ Christmas Tea – Bruna, and my mother Pam with Amanda. Bruna lost her mother last year and we have tried to encourage her through these difficult days. She lives about 45 minutes away from our church.
Ladies’ Christmas Tea – Luciene (sitting down) is our neighbor. She works every evening we have church, but this gathering gave an opportunity for her to participate in a church event. Her daughter who is twelve years old has been coming to church most every service.
Ladies’ Christmas Tea – Though it is quite a bit of work running after everything, Amanda always does a great job at preparing and getting things set up for this event.
Missions Month – Rúbens is an evangelist to children in the Suruí tribe.
Missions Month – Try out reading this Portuguese in black and Suruí in red.
Missions Month – We had an exciting Sunday School with a native Indian missionary teaching the children.
Missions Month – Rúbens taught all the children to sing God is so good in Suruí.
Missions Month – This is s slide of the song God Is So Good in the Suruí language.
Missions Month – Jefferson and Epi are Brazilians who are serving in São Felipe. They are working in a small church which is around and hour from Cacoal. Previously they have served in several different countries and still carry on weekly training after their visas were denied in the country where they served.
Teen Gathering and Bible Quizzing – We had teens from seven different churches participating in this event. It was a great blessing to see these young people study the Bible and enjoy a day of fellowship together.
Teen Gathering and Bible Quizzing – Unscrambling a Bible verse
Teen Gathering and Bible Quizzing – Unscrambling a Bible verse
Teens Activity – Though our system is a bit primitive compared to some, having a bell on a table actually worked pretty well.
Teen Activity – Renan is one of the men in our church and he did a fabulous job of coming up with about 150 questions out of the book of James. He also had the opportunity to ask the questions on the day of the event.