Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Home Sweet Home
Jesus in Haiti Ministries
September 28, 2008
Tuesday night
Dear friends,
Wow, what an eventful day. After arriving in Miami yesterday, I was ready to come home today. I was up early and to the airport about 5 hours early, anxious to come home.
Things went well until I got stopped at security for having a human arm in my luggage. I knew a lady from Haiti got stopped in Miami for having an actual human head in her luggage but I didn't think an arm would have the same affect. When they found out it was a good fake, they got a good laugh. Now, for all you youth workers and fathers of teens, I know you appreciate the value of a single human arm, that actually crawls. I found it in a clearance bin and boy the possibilities.
Then I was walking with my packed to the guild carry on, my computer bag stuff full and a bag full of 8 t-shirts, 3 hats and 2 watches and 12 pair of underwear. Someone told me you can have as many carry on's as you want. Well they stopped me, and everybody, ONLY 2 PIECES OF ANYTHING IN YOUR HAND. I could either throw them away or try to get them in my packed bags. I chose neither, I went into the men's room and put the 8 shirts on, the 12 pair of underwear on, put the 3 hats on my head, the 3 watches on my arm and walked through security. What a sight I was. Okay, I am fibbing, I squeezed it all into my full bags and off I went.
Then the flight to Haiti. As we were decending into Haiti, God began to speak to me, and boy did He speak. I began to weep right there in my seat. I was overcome with emotion of seeing my boys and overcome with a passion for the people of Haiti. I thought what was ahead, I thought of the people, I thought of the awesome responsibility that God has placed on me. This will sound weird but it felt like I was on a stage and the curtain was shut. On the other side of the curtain were lots of people, just waiting for the curtain to open.
After getting through the craziness of the airport, Bebe our children's pastor and my son Claudy were waiting. We loaded up, stopped at the grocery store and headed home. As we pulled into the lot, I didn't see anyone but Roger. I said "this is odd, where are the boys". He winked and said, "just go in". I could hear whispers and giggles as I opened the front door and there stood all 13 of them, ready to pounce. Plus they had a bottle of ice cold Coke they handed to me as they hugged me. It was a special moment.
Then greeting each one, checking things out and unpacking followed by my favorite meal, chicken and rice. I have then spent the past few hours with about 10 boys hanging out in my room, just happy their poppy is back. Believe me, their poppy feels the same way.
The good news is nothing was broke or missing and everything looked so clean. I am really proud of the job they have done. Of course the fridge and freezer and all the shelves are bare. At least they didn't eat my turtles, the last time they ran out of food the last day and cooked our 7 pet pigeons for supper.
Tomorrow I will began to fill the supplies, fuel, eggs, rice, propane, water jugs, pop bottles and much more. Plus I have to cash a check as tomorrow is pay day for our staff.
Will have to wait until Thursday to do a complete run through of our points of light. Thank you for praying, I am tired but very happy to be home. The curtain is slowly opening. tomINHAITI
Thank you for your support,
Tom Osbeck
Jesus in Haiti Ministries Suite 155 10214 Chestnut Plaza Drive Fort Wayne IN 46814
September 28, 2008
Tuesday night
Dear friends,
Wow, what an eventful day. After arriving in Miami yesterday, I was ready to come home today. I was up early and to the airport about 5 hours early, anxious to come home.
Things went well until I got stopped at security for having a human arm in my luggage. I knew a lady from Haiti got stopped in Miami for having an actual human head in her luggage but I didn't think an arm would have the same affect. When they found out it was a good fake, they got a good laugh. Now, for all you youth workers and fathers of teens, I know you appreciate the value of a single human arm, that actually crawls. I found it in a clearance bin and boy the possibilities.
Then I was walking with my packed to the guild carry on, my computer bag stuff full and a bag full of 8 t-shirts, 3 hats and 2 watches and 12 pair of underwear. Someone told me you can have as many carry on's as you want. Well they stopped me, and everybody, ONLY 2 PIECES OF ANYTHING IN YOUR HAND. I could either throw them away or try to get them in my packed bags. I chose neither, I went into the men's room and put the 8 shirts on, the 12 pair of underwear on, put the 3 hats on my head, the 3 watches on my arm and walked through security. What a sight I was. Okay, I am fibbing, I squeezed it all into my full bags and off I went.
Then the flight to Haiti. As we were decending into Haiti, God began to speak to me, and boy did He speak. I began to weep right there in my seat. I was overcome with emotion of seeing my boys and overcome with a passion for the people of Haiti. I thought what was ahead, I thought of the people, I thought of the awesome responsibility that God has placed on me. This will sound weird but it felt like I was on a stage and the curtain was shut. On the other side of the curtain were lots of people, just waiting for the curtain to open.
After getting through the craziness of the airport, Bebe our children's pastor and my son Claudy were waiting. We loaded up, stopped at the grocery store and headed home. As we pulled into the lot, I didn't see anyone but Roger. I said "this is odd, where are the boys". He winked and said, "just go in". I could hear whispers and giggles as I opened the front door and there stood all 13 of them, ready to pounce. Plus they had a bottle of ice cold Coke they handed to me as they hugged me. It was a special moment.
Then greeting each one, checking things out and unpacking followed by my favorite meal, chicken and rice. I have then spent the past few hours with about 10 boys hanging out in my room, just happy their poppy is back. Believe me, their poppy feels the same way.
The good news is nothing was broke or missing and everything looked so clean. I am really proud of the job they have done. Of course the fridge and freezer and all the shelves are bare. At least they didn't eat my turtles, the last time they ran out of food the last day and cooked our 7 pet pigeons for supper.
Tomorrow I will began to fill the supplies, fuel, eggs, rice, propane, water jugs, pop bottles and much more. Plus I have to cash a check as tomorrow is pay day for our staff.
Will have to wait until Thursday to do a complete run through of our points of light. Thank you for praying, I am tired but very happy to be home. The curtain is slowly opening. tomINHAITI
Thank you for your support,
Tom Osbeck
Jesus in Haiti Ministries Suite 155 10214 Chestnut Plaza Drive Fort Wayne IN 46814
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
What Lies Ahead
What Lies Ahead...
Tom Osbeck
September 23, 2008
Dear friends,
As always, I thank you for what you have helped us do, Here is what lies ahead for the rest of 2008. Please pray for the following!
1) There is a possibility that the Haitian government will cancel all school for the whole year due to the 4 storms/hurricanes. Many schools are being used to house homeless people, over a million are homeless and the rest don't have money for school. If this happens, we will of course still hold something everyday at our school for our 89 kids. It may not count and we may not be able to call it school but a "club will happen everyday so they can eat and continue to learn.
2) If there is not school, that would affect 11 of my boys who go to school so I would set up a "school" in my yard for them and about 25 of their friends. I would use Marco, myself and some of our staff to have a daily dose of reading, writing and arithmetic along with the Bible and leadership training.
3) Speaking of our school, we still need sponsorships for our 15 new students because we will be feeding and caring for them no matter what the government decrees. If you can sponsor a child for $30 per month, please contact Linda Neal at heart4haiti@gmail.com
4) In two weeks we have a dentist and a small group of people from Sonrise Church in Fort Wayne. We are excited to have our first dentist come and minister to our 200 kids, plus the men from the garbage dump who suffer so much from bad teeth.
5) Church project: Phase one is complete and we are very confident that within the next 30 days the first blocks of our new Victory Bible Church will be going up. Please pray for this and the funding that we still need. The hurricanes and all the flooding did not affect our property or buildings one bit. Praise God.
6) Good Samaritan orphanage: The younger kids have been moved to a nearby mission as the orphanage flooded a 2nd time before they even moved back in. We are feeding the older ones and staff who are at the orphanage cleaning up and getting ready for moving back in.
7) New point of light: For 5 years we have supported and assisted several Haitian run orphanages care for their kids. God has laid it on our heart to have our own orphanage. We have been planning all along to build one on our property but that is still 2-3 years away. In the meantime, we are planning on renting a big house, very near my house and starting our own JESUS in HAITI run orphanage. We will not start until God provides the funding ($10,000 start up) and we will start very slow. With 2-4 children and only add as conditions are ready for them and funding is in place. Haiti has so many orphans and we must do our part to help with this. We have staff that we could put in place to run it and I would be very hands on. Pray for this as God leads in this direction. I am praying we are up and running before Christmas, this year.
8) New Kids: We are preparing places at our home now for me to bring 3-5 children into our home the Lord willing in the next couple weeks. So many people have been displaced and we will do our part. And yes Ricardo will be one of them I hope.
9) There is talk in and around Haiti about a major famine in the next few months, like those we have seen in Africa in recent years. They say most of the crops are ruined and a struggling country to begin with now has less food and many, many more homeless and hungry people. Pray for this national problem as this will affect everyone in Haiti, especially the missionaries who are such a glue in Haiti.
These are a few things that lie ahead. You can help us with your prayers first. Financially here are ways for you to get involved.
A- support the general fund of the mission monthly
B- sponsor one of our school children for $30 per month
C- join the 365club for a one time $200 gift supporting one day of our ministry per year
D- Flood relief- so far about 10,000 has come in. This is being used daily for the care of the people in our points of light who have been affected so greatly. More is needed as we have walls to build, bathrooms to build, families to place and continued care.
E- Church Project, funds will be needed by the first of the year to finish our church
F-New truck is still needed
G- New start up orphanage funds
FOR GOD SO LOVED HAITI, HE SENT US, thanks for answering that call.
God bless you for all you do for this ministry, for me, my family but most of all..........for God, tominhaiti
Tom Osbeck
September 23, 2008
Dear friends,
As always, I thank you for what you have helped us do, Here is what lies ahead for the rest of 2008. Please pray for the following!
1) There is a possibility that the Haitian government will cancel all school for the whole year due to the 4 storms/hurricanes. Many schools are being used to house homeless people, over a million are homeless and the rest don't have money for school. If this happens, we will of course still hold something everyday at our school for our 89 kids. It may not count and we may not be able to call it school but a "club will happen everyday so they can eat and continue to learn.
2) If there is not school, that would affect 11 of my boys who go to school so I would set up a "school" in my yard for them and about 25 of their friends. I would use Marco, myself and some of our staff to have a daily dose of reading, writing and arithmetic along with the Bible and leadership training.
3) Speaking of our school, we still need sponsorships for our 15 new students because we will be feeding and caring for them no matter what the government decrees. If you can sponsor a child for $30 per month, please contact Linda Neal at heart4haiti@gmail.com
4) In two weeks we have a dentist and a small group of people from Sonrise Church in Fort Wayne. We are excited to have our first dentist come and minister to our 200 kids, plus the men from the garbage dump who suffer so much from bad teeth.
5) Church project: Phase one is complete and we are very confident that within the next 30 days the first blocks of our new Victory Bible Church will be going up. Please pray for this and the funding that we still need. The hurricanes and all the flooding did not affect our property or buildings one bit. Praise God.
6) Good Samaritan orphanage: The younger kids have been moved to a nearby mission as the orphanage flooded a 2nd time before they even moved back in. We are feeding the older ones and staff who are at the orphanage cleaning up and getting ready for moving back in.
7) New point of light: For 5 years we have supported and assisted several Haitian run orphanages care for their kids. God has laid it on our heart to have our own orphanage. We have been planning all along to build one on our property but that is still 2-3 years away. In the meantime, we are planning on renting a big house, very near my house and starting our own JESUS in HAITI run orphanage. We will not start until God provides the funding ($10,000 start up) and we will start very slow. With 2-4 children and only add as conditions are ready for them and funding is in place. Haiti has so many orphans and we must do our part to help with this. We have staff that we could put in place to run it and I would be very hands on. Pray for this as God leads in this direction. I am praying we are up and running before Christmas, this year.
8) New Kids: We are preparing places at our home now for me to bring 3-5 children into our home the Lord willing in the next couple weeks. So many people have been displaced and we will do our part. And yes Ricardo will be one of them I hope.
9) There is talk in and around Haiti about a major famine in the next few months, like those we have seen in Africa in recent years. They say most of the crops are ruined and a struggling country to begin with now has less food and many, many more homeless and hungry people. Pray for this national problem as this will affect everyone in Haiti, especially the missionaries who are such a glue in Haiti.
These are a few things that lie ahead. You can help us with your prayers first. Financially here are ways for you to get involved.
A- support the general fund of the mission monthly
B- sponsor one of our school children for $30 per month
C- join the 365club for a one time $200 gift supporting one day of our ministry per year
D- Flood relief- so far about 10,000 has come in. This is being used daily for the care of the people in our points of light who have been affected so greatly. More is needed as we have walls to build, bathrooms to build, families to place and continued care.
E- Church Project, funds will be needed by the first of the year to finish our church
F-New truck is still needed
G- New start up orphanage funds
FOR GOD SO LOVED HAITI, HE SENT US, thanks for answering that call.
God bless you for all you do for this ministry, for me, my family but most of all..........for God, tominhaiti
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
An incredible day, you gotta read this
An incrediable day, you gotta read this...
Tom Osbeck
September 9, 2008
Today was one of those days that is so rewarding. We left early this morning loaded with rice and 20 cases of bottled water. The national highway was not flooded so we made it all the way to Cabaret. What we saw was incredible. I have attached a picture of a lot right next to our school and you can see what the flood did to that building.
We lost our entire front wall but other then that, just lots of mud and rocks to clean out of the yard. The president of Haiti has move the start of all schools in Haiti from today to October 6th, to give people time to recover prepare for school. Thanks to about a dozen of you, we were able to give each family of our students $100 Haitian dollars. That can take them nearly a week. You should have seen the faces of the 45 families that received this today. They had nothing and now can eat and have fresh water.
We then headed to the Good Samaritan Orphanage. We could only get to the main road and had to park the truck and walk. For those of you who have driven that, you know it is about 2 miles. The river next to the road was flooding the road so we had to walk loaded with rice and bottled water. A local woman took us to the 4 foot high cement canal wall that runs through the woods. We climbed up and walked that 10 inch wide wall the whole two miles. We arrived at the Good Sam orphanage and wow, it was under mud. 2-3 foot of mud in the church and each room. All of their clothes, shoes and personals were destroyed by the mud. We knew the kids and staff were at the top of the small mountain next to the orphanage. We then grabbed the water and food and began to climb. I was so out of breath by the time I got tot he top but, what a sight to see. The 90+ kids were under a little shelter, (pic included) and sitting on cardboard boxes, which doubled as their beds. WE gave them all bottle of water and they were so happy. We then spent the next two hours playing games, telling Bible stories, making them laugh and singing. I was then able to leave Madam Lucien the director, $5000 Haitian dollars. This is probably more money then she has ever held in her life. She was so happy. Quickly she began to disperse her staff to get different items...charcoal, oil, diapers, soap and much more.
It was so neat, I only had Marco, Claudy, Pierre and Matthew with me when we went but one by one several others on our staff showed up to help, getting there by foot also. While there, Madam told me the story of Saturday night and wow, what an incredible story. The kids were in their beds when the river overflowed, completely knocked out the wall separating the orphanage from the river. Madam Lucien said at one point the water was over her chest. Immediately when the water rushed in, the staff and older kids began to actually throw the kids over the wall towards the road. After tossing them all over, they then took them up the hill, where they have been since Saturday night. What a story, and to think, every one of them, or many could have drowned had the staff not acted so quickly. I felt so bad for those kids today knowing what they had went through. What an experience that must have been. The thing is, when I saw them sitting on those flat cardboard boxes smiling so big, I didn't feel one bit sad. They were safe, they were happy, they had food and water and were surrounded by a staff who loved them. Compared to the carnage all over Haiti, this was not a bad sight.
We then trekked back to the truck and headed home to make 60 tuna fish sandwich's for my gang. What an absolute thrill to know that tonight, over 200 people will be eating and have fresh water because of the love so many of you have for God and these wonderful people. To those of you who so quickly responded, thank you so much. Words can never express my gratitude.
Please picture a family of 5 or 6 including one of our students, sitting around tonight eating a bowl of rice, drinking clean water, knowing that not only did God provide..........somebody loves them. Imagine those 90 kids lying down on those cardboard boxes sleeping soundly, with a full stomach, safe, dry and.................knowing they are so loved, so special. Folks, when I accepted the call to come to Haiti, I did it on faith. I had no idea the team that God would assemble with me, the staff here, and you folks on that side of the ocean. Today as I was walking that 10 inch wall, I actually thought of you, all of you. I did an old trick my dad taught me when praying for people. He would start in Northern Michigan and work his way around the entire country, and world, praying for people in the places he thought about. I did that today. I ran your name over in my head, and thanked God for each of you.
Also, notice in the pictures the jeans I am wearing. Those are an old pair my dad used to wear to work around the house. They still have paint and oil and other stains from his piddling around. Today, I felt my dad was walking with me, very happy what God has allowed his son to do. I am very tired.
Tomorrow is another big day. We have staff meeting in the morning to continue to put together a plan for these dear folks. You folks gave enough for me to respond again in a few days for these folks with food and water. We will also help with the cost of the cleanup at the orphanage and the building of the wall at our school and between the river and the orphanage. We decided the kids would stay one more night on the hill, while the place is cleaned tomorrow. With no rain today and none in the forecast, we feel they can go back down and be safe tomorrow night.
In the morning our kids director is taking our staff in to do a two hour kids club for the kids complete with candy, balloons and lots of fun, singing and bible teaching. I have never asked you for money before for an emergency like this, how you responded just blew me away. If you plan on helping, please do, I don't think we can get to much. Every cent will go to help these folks survive until they get back on their feet and help us rebuild some things at our points of light.
The orphans alone will need clothes, toiletries and much more. The Haitian people have a wonderful spirit and today we saw that as people in Cabaret were scrapping mud from their houses, the market was going and they were trying to get things back to normal.
Please continue to pray for the many who lost loved ones and so many more who are homeless. We continue on, thanks to God and thanks to his hands, YOU, who have encouraged me so much today, and have given me a real jump in my step. Marco even told DeAnna tonight that she would have been proud of her father for all the walking and work he did today. She should also be proud of her husband. Thank you again, I hope the pictures tell some of the story and if you want to help, any amount, please go to our website jesusinhaiti.org and or send it to our treasurer and mark Cabaret help. Thanks so much, today we did for the least of HIS, so we did for HIM, thank you. tominhaiti
For financial contributions JiHM Suite #155 10214 Chestnut Plaza Dr. Ft. Wayne, IN 46814 Att: Pat Hinen
Next To Our School
The Orphanage Dorm
Temporary Orphanage Home
Marco and Madam Lucien
A stuck UN Truck
Tom Osbeck
September 9, 2008
Today was one of those days that is so rewarding. We left early this morning loaded with rice and 20 cases of bottled water. The national highway was not flooded so we made it all the way to Cabaret. What we saw was incredible. I have attached a picture of a lot right next to our school and you can see what the flood did to that building.
We lost our entire front wall but other then that, just lots of mud and rocks to clean out of the yard. The president of Haiti has move the start of all schools in Haiti from today to October 6th, to give people time to recover prepare for school. Thanks to about a dozen of you, we were able to give each family of our students $100 Haitian dollars. That can take them nearly a week. You should have seen the faces of the 45 families that received this today. They had nothing and now can eat and have fresh water.
We then headed to the Good Samaritan Orphanage. We could only get to the main road and had to park the truck and walk. For those of you who have driven that, you know it is about 2 miles. The river next to the road was flooding the road so we had to walk loaded with rice and bottled water. A local woman took us to the 4 foot high cement canal wall that runs through the woods. We climbed up and walked that 10 inch wide wall the whole two miles. We arrived at the Good Sam orphanage and wow, it was under mud. 2-3 foot of mud in the church and each room. All of their clothes, shoes and personals were destroyed by the mud. We knew the kids and staff were at the top of the small mountain next to the orphanage. We then grabbed the water and food and began to climb. I was so out of breath by the time I got tot he top but, what a sight to see. The 90+ kids were under a little shelter, (pic included) and sitting on cardboard boxes, which doubled as their beds. WE gave them all bottle of water and they were so happy. We then spent the next two hours playing games, telling Bible stories, making them laugh and singing. I was then able to leave Madam Lucien the director, $5000 Haitian dollars. This is probably more money then she has ever held in her life. She was so happy. Quickly she began to disperse her staff to get different items...charcoal, oil, diapers, soap and much more.
It was so neat, I only had Marco, Claudy, Pierre and Matthew with me when we went but one by one several others on our staff showed up to help, getting there by foot also. While there, Madam told me the story of Saturday night and wow, what an incredible story. The kids were in their beds when the river overflowed, completely knocked out the wall separating the orphanage from the river. Madam Lucien said at one point the water was over her chest. Immediately when the water rushed in, the staff and older kids began to actually throw the kids over the wall towards the road. After tossing them all over, they then took them up the hill, where they have been since Saturday night. What a story, and to think, every one of them, or many could have drowned had the staff not acted so quickly. I felt so bad for those kids today knowing what they had went through. What an experience that must have been. The thing is, when I saw them sitting on those flat cardboard boxes smiling so big, I didn't feel one bit sad. They were safe, they were happy, they had food and water and were surrounded by a staff who loved them. Compared to the carnage all over Haiti, this was not a bad sight.
We then trekked back to the truck and headed home to make 60 tuna fish sandwich's for my gang. What an absolute thrill to know that tonight, over 200 people will be eating and have fresh water because of the love so many of you have for God and these wonderful people. To those of you who so quickly responded, thank you so much. Words can never express my gratitude.
Please picture a family of 5 or 6 including one of our students, sitting around tonight eating a bowl of rice, drinking clean water, knowing that not only did God provide..........somebody loves them. Imagine those 90 kids lying down on those cardboard boxes sleeping soundly, with a full stomach, safe, dry and.................knowing they are so loved, so special. Folks, when I accepted the call to come to Haiti, I did it on faith. I had no idea the team that God would assemble with me, the staff here, and you folks on that side of the ocean. Today as I was walking that 10 inch wall, I actually thought of you, all of you. I did an old trick my dad taught me when praying for people. He would start in Northern Michigan and work his way around the entire country, and world, praying for people in the places he thought about. I did that today. I ran your name over in my head, and thanked God for each of you.
Also, notice in the pictures the jeans I am wearing. Those are an old pair my dad used to wear to work around the house. They still have paint and oil and other stains from his piddling around. Today, I felt my dad was walking with me, very happy what God has allowed his son to do. I am very tired.
Tomorrow is another big day. We have staff meeting in the morning to continue to put together a plan for these dear folks. You folks gave enough for me to respond again in a few days for these folks with food and water. We will also help with the cost of the cleanup at the orphanage and the building of the wall at our school and between the river and the orphanage. We decided the kids would stay one more night on the hill, while the place is cleaned tomorrow. With no rain today and none in the forecast, we feel they can go back down and be safe tomorrow night.
In the morning our kids director is taking our staff in to do a two hour kids club for the kids complete with candy, balloons and lots of fun, singing and bible teaching. I have never asked you for money before for an emergency like this, how you responded just blew me away. If you plan on helping, please do, I don't think we can get to much. Every cent will go to help these folks survive until they get back on their feet and help us rebuild some things at our points of light.
The orphans alone will need clothes, toiletries and much more. The Haitian people have a wonderful spirit and today we saw that as people in Cabaret were scrapping mud from their houses, the market was going and they were trying to get things back to normal.
Please continue to pray for the many who lost loved ones and so many more who are homeless. We continue on, thanks to God and thanks to his hands, YOU, who have encouraged me so much today, and have given me a real jump in my step. Marco even told DeAnna tonight that she would have been proud of her father for all the walking and work he did today. She should also be proud of her husband. Thank you again, I hope the pictures tell some of the story and if you want to help, any amount, please go to our website jesusinhaiti.org and or send it to our treasurer and mark Cabaret help. Thanks so much, today we did for the least of HIS, so we did for HIM, thank you. tominhaiti
For financial contributions JiHM Suite #155 10214 Chestnut Plaza Dr. Ft. Wayne, IN 46814 Att: Pat Hinen
Next To Our School
The Orphanage Dorm
Temporary Orphanage Home
Marco and Madam Lucien
A stuck UN Truck
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