September 8, 2006

To our Alpha & Omega Children's Home Partners:

My name is Roger McKellar and my family and I have been visiting Alpha and Omega Children's Home for the past two weeks. We arrived July 24th with our church group and have stayed behind to finish some business. We will be leaving August 9th. For those of you who are partners with us in helping Alpha and Omega but are unable to be here to see the fruit of our prayers and financial support first hand, we thought it would be beneficial to bring you an update.

Construction Project Update - August, 2006: Great news - the fourth dormitory bathroom renovation is on its way to completion!! Thanks to your generous donations, we have raised the funds necessary to complete this long needed project. So far we have completed three bathroom renovations and the fourth is underway - only one more to go!! Each of our dormitory bathrooms had become nearly unusable, with damage to the structure, failing pipes, eroding hardware, and no warm water. Now, with the completion of each bathroom, our 120+ children are able to use functioning facilities. Each bathroom renovation has cost approximately $5,000. We need to again raise that amount for the funding of the final girls' bathroom.

Another project goal is to resurface the indoor soccer field. A better description is an outdoor court used to play "indoor" soccer. It also serves as the basketball court. The existing court's concrete surface is old, worn, and broken. Eventually, we would like to enclose this area, so that the children will have a place to play when the weather is bad. It could also be used for other functions such as an indoor meeting hall, theater, and school auditorium. We will keep you updated on the time frame and cost of that phase of the project.

Please pray that you would be able to support this deserving ministry. The Alpha and Omega Children's Home supports over 120 street kids in central Brazil. Included in our ministry is a Christian school (through the 8th grade) and vocational training. More importantly, through the love of Jesus Christ we offer a chance in life they may never have received. With a 95% success rate, we have taken at-risk kids and given them something not available on the streets - love, Bible training, education, discipline, and hope. The children have required chores, go to church three times a week, pray at each meal, and are taught the good news of Jesus Christ.

Daily, Pastor Odali and Kathy battle to raise the $15,000 per month in operating costs (food, electricity, clothing, toiletries, supplies, etc.). The monthly fees must be met first. What good is a new bathroom if there is no electricity or water to run it? The children must eat and be clothed before other luxuries - things that we in America often take for granted such as a flushing toilet and toilet paper. We would not dare live in these conditions much less allow our children to face this. Yet, because of the love and example of Pastor Odali and Kathy, these children are smiling, happy, grateful, and sharing generously what little they do have.

The home is running at capacity, not because of a lack of children in need, but because of limited resources. My wife and I have witnessed first hand the heartbreak that Pastor Odali suffers when he has to say no to a request to house another child. It is so wonderful to see the progress on these projects and to hear and see the excitement on the faces and in the voices of Pastor Odali and Kathy when they are able to allow themselves to dream and share the hopes of luxuries they long to supply for their children. They are so very grateful and appreciative of what projects are being done and are being completed. However, they desperately need help just to keep the home functioning at minimal. Please continue to support these dreams, but also remember to support the daily needs.

Checks may be sent to: Alpha and Omega Children's Home, c/o Emanuel Baptist Church, 7525 North Green River Rd., Evansville, Indiana 47725. Don't forget to designate those donations as either "capital projects" i.e., bathroom or courtyard or "daily ministry." Please give generously and regularly.

For those of you who have seen this home first hand, please help others to understand what we are facing. For those of you who have yet to witness with your own eyes the miracles of Alpha and Omega, please continue to support by faith and witness of those of us who have. Our children need your help. Please, let us help Pastor Odali and Kathy continue to say yes and never say no again.

If you have any questions regarding this ministry, please call Odali Barros at 812-962-3485 or me at 239-571-4602 (e-mail roger.m@earthlink.net). Also, check out the Alpha and Omega website at www.aohome.org. God bless.

Your brother in Christ and partner in Alpha and Omega,

Roger McKellar

The soccer court as it stands presently. The court floor is covered in cracks and holes.