Sunday, August 10, 2008
An Island(e) in the midst..............
An Island(e) in the midst..............
Tom Osbeck
August 10, 2008
Dear friends,
Today was another defining moment for me. We went to town, Dee and kids, myself and Islande. Here is Islande's story.
Eight years ago, 15 year old Islande started coming to my youth group. She accepted Christ, was baptized and became part of our ministry. 3 years ago she graduated from a Culinary school which we helped her with. Two years ago Islande became our head cook at Grace Emmanuel School. She has been a faithful, smiling part of Victory Bible Church since service one. Her outer beauty pales in comparison to her inner beauty.
Today as we were taking the 2 1/2 hour round trip, I decided to interview Islande. I like to stay up on life in the village, what.... I don't see.
It began simple enough but within 20 minutes, I was fighting tears big time. Islande works at our school and makes about $100 US dollars per month which is more then the average Haitian makes per month, $60. I asked her how many people lived in her yard. (a yard is made up of several one room bedrooms) She said there is her, her cousin, her 3 children and two widow women. Islande takes her entire pay, to support these 6 people, plus herself, totally. I was asking her what she had for supper Sunday and the cost of everything.
To buy 3 pieces of chicken, rice, beans, oil and charcoal, it cost her 9 dollars. I then asked, what if other people show up hungry, like two extra, would you feed them. She said of course. I asked what if 10 showed up hungry, she said she would divide the food 17 ways. (3 pieces of chicken)
After thinking of 9 dollars per day, one meal, I realized that would only take her $100, 11 days. I then asked the question I was afraid to ask. I said "Islande, in the past 20 days, how many of those days did you and your folks eat nothing"? She answered after some thought "probably 9 or 10".
The tears were flowing as I thought of this. This young warrior makes enough money to support herself, but has taken on 6 other human beings to care for. I then thought about soap and hair care and dish soap and toilet paper and tap tap money and all the other needs. I was overwhelmed.
I can't properly put in words what I was feeling. This is one person, one dedicated person, doing her part to do what Jesus said "love your neighbor". Islande is loving her neighbor.
I asked this young lady what about getting married someday and having a family and doing other things. She said she could never do that as long as these people need her.
Islande is just an example of all of these people we have working with us. Pastor Jackie has several "others" in his home. Assistant Pastor Roger has taken in two, Our children's pastor Bebe has two extra, and on and on. People with not much of anything, sharing with those around them all they have.
Thank you for placing me smack dab in the middle here. Thank you for helping me to be Jesus in Haiti, and to teach others to be Jesus in Haiti.
On a final note, I received a letter from a young man who is in prison for 30 years. He told me his aunt is sending him my emails. He said he was discouraged, and just existing. Then he began to read my emails, God began to speak to him and he now realizes that his mission field is in that prison, that he is Jesus in Ionia State Pen.
Folks, you have been placed where you are, to love God, and those around you. I hope you are doing that and if not, it is easy. Just start next door to where you live, the office next to where you work, the co-worker you eat lunch with or that person living in your own home.
Be Jesus where you are, that is your mission field, I will pray for you in your mission field, and I ask you continue to pray for me. May God bless! tominhaiti
Ecclesiastes 3:11,12 God makes everything happen at the right time. Yet none of us can ever fully understand all he has done, and he puts questions in our minds about the past and the future. I know the best thing we can do is to always enjoy life because God's gift to us is the happiness we get from our food and drink and from the work we do. For financial contributions JiHM Suite #155 10214 Chestnut Plaza Dr. Ft. Wayne, IN 46814 Att: Pat Hinen
Tom Osbeck
August 10, 2008
Dear friends,
Today was another defining moment for me. We went to town, Dee and kids, myself and Islande. Here is Islande's story.
Eight years ago, 15 year old Islande started coming to my youth group. She accepted Christ, was baptized and became part of our ministry. 3 years ago she graduated from a Culinary school which we helped her with. Two years ago Islande became our head cook at Grace Emmanuel School. She has been a faithful, smiling part of Victory Bible Church since service one. Her outer beauty pales in comparison to her inner beauty.
Today as we were taking the 2 1/2 hour round trip, I decided to interview Islande. I like to stay up on life in the village, what.... I don't see.
It began simple enough but within 20 minutes, I was fighting tears big time. Islande works at our school and makes about $100 US dollars per month which is more then the average Haitian makes per month, $60. I asked her how many people lived in her yard. (a yard is made up of several one room bedrooms) She said there is her, her cousin, her 3 children and two widow women. Islande takes her entire pay, to support these 6 people, plus herself, totally. I was asking her what she had for supper Sunday and the cost of everything.
To buy 3 pieces of chicken, rice, beans, oil and charcoal, it cost her 9 dollars. I then asked, what if other people show up hungry, like two extra, would you feed them. She said of course. I asked what if 10 showed up hungry, she said she would divide the food 17 ways. (3 pieces of chicken)
After thinking of 9 dollars per day, one meal, I realized that would only take her $100, 11 days. I then asked the question I was afraid to ask. I said "Islande, in the past 20 days, how many of those days did you and your folks eat nothing"? She answered after some thought "probably 9 or 10".
The tears were flowing as I thought of this. This young warrior makes enough money to support herself, but has taken on 6 other human beings to care for. I then thought about soap and hair care and dish soap and toilet paper and tap tap money and all the other needs. I was overwhelmed.
I can't properly put in words what I was feeling. This is one person, one dedicated person, doing her part to do what Jesus said "love your neighbor". Islande is loving her neighbor.
I asked this young lady what about getting married someday and having a family and doing other things. She said she could never do that as long as these people need her.
Islande is just an example of all of these people we have working with us. Pastor Jackie has several "others" in his home. Assistant Pastor Roger has taken in two, Our children's pastor Bebe has two extra, and on and on. People with not much of anything, sharing with those around them all they have.
Thank you for placing me smack dab in the middle here. Thank you for helping me to be Jesus in Haiti, and to teach others to be Jesus in Haiti.
On a final note, I received a letter from a young man who is in prison for 30 years. He told me his aunt is sending him my emails. He said he was discouraged, and just existing. Then he began to read my emails, God began to speak to him and he now realizes that his mission field is in that prison, that he is Jesus in Ionia State Pen.
Folks, you have been placed where you are, to love God, and those around you. I hope you are doing that and if not, it is easy. Just start next door to where you live, the office next to where you work, the co-worker you eat lunch with or that person living in your own home.
Be Jesus where you are, that is your mission field, I will pray for you in your mission field, and I ask you continue to pray for me. May God bless! tominhaiti
Ecclesiastes 3:11,12 God makes everything happen at the right time. Yet none of us can ever fully understand all he has done, and he puts questions in our minds about the past and the future. I know the best thing we can do is to always enjoy life because God's gift to us is the happiness we get from our food and drink and from the work we do. For financial contributions JiHM Suite #155 10214 Chestnut Plaza Dr. Ft. Wayne, IN 46814 Att: Pat Hinen
# posted by Tom Osbeck @ 10:15 PM 
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