Jesus in Haiti Ministries

November 27th, 2008

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM HAITI,

Hi, I trust you had or are having a great Thanksgiving day. For you Michiganders, I am predicting a Lions win over Tennessee, the Lions first win of the year.

I was up early today, getting set. This is my 11th Thanksgiving meal here in Haiti and we will have about 50 people here today. The menu includes: turkey, barbeque chicken, grilled chicken, rice and beans, deviled eggs, apple salad, green beans, corn, peas, beets, baked beans, yams, asparagus and rolls. I have Betsy, Roger and Claismay helping me. The boys are at school but will hurry home for the 3 p.m. feast. I do thank you for making this meal possible. I am old school so I always tell a short version of the thanksgiving story, how the Osbeck family discovered America and built it to what it is today. We go around the table and everyone says one thing they are thankful for, then we eat.

One of my oldest sons, Claudy, is in Fort Wayne, Indiana celebrating with the JiH board chairman and his family. We got Claudy a visa and the Emericks flew Claudy up for a couple weeks. He is having fun getting used to the snow and cold I guess.

All else is well here, lots going on, lots to be thankful for, lots to do but for today, it is just time to say thank you Lord, thank you for all you have blessed us with, for this meal, for our family and friends, for this ministry, for all you have given and done for us. We are blessed and these 50 people that will be partaking in this meal with me are living proof that we can be thankful for a life changing ministry that we are a part of.

May God bless you, Go Lions, tominhaiti

Thank you for your support


Tom Osbeck
Executive Director, Jesus in Haiti Ministries

For Contributions: Jesus in Haiti Ministries, Inc. Suite 155 10214 Chestnut Plaza Drive Fort Wayne, IN 46814

Jesus in Haiti Ministries

November 17th, 2008


For God so loved Haiti:

Betsy: Those who have been with me know the story of Mommy Tia. This wonderful Christian lady was homeless when we took her in at age 67. At first she helped with the two younger boys and worked around the house. Then she came down with cancer, had surgery 18 months ago and has had a tough time of it since. A little over a month ago, I hired a young lady named Betsy from our church to take care of Mommy Tia full time. Betsy is a sweet Christian girl who has had a tough life and even had to give up her daughter because she could not take care of her. Before Betsy came to work/live with us, she was homeless. Betsy is in her 30's. Since moving in with Mommy Tia she has done a great job caring for Mommy Tia's daily needs. In the past couple weeks she has begun to cook here and there for us and the boys just love it. We are working on her getting her daughter to come live here, with her, with us. For God so loved Betsy-

Dearson: Dearson is my 17 year old son. He is the brother of Jony and Jay. 5 years ago Dearson and Jay were basically homeless, living with different relatives since their folks died 12 years ago. Dearson was a tall gangly 12 year old, not real educated, spoke no English and very shy. He has been a perfect son, so perfect I have nicknamed him "Mr. Perfect". In 5 years he has not got in trouble ONE TIME, unless you count coming to supper 5 minutes late or forgetting to clean the counter ONCE after a meal. In the past year he has taught himself how to play a key board and even played a special number in church. He has also become one of the best with English in the house. Might I mention, you will never see Dearson without a smile. He is also an usher at church. Here is a young man who 5 years ago had no home, no education, no hope, no future, all that has changed. The potential this young man has for the Lord is unbelievable. For God so loved Dearson-

Widmark: 9 years ago at my youth group, a 15 year old gang banger showed up. He was tough and let everyone know it. The first time he came, we were sitting outside waiting for youth group to start. This tough guy tossed a rock at me to see my reaction. I picked it up and threw it back at him a little harder. He returned it a little harder and back and forth we went. I had a couple red marks on my legs that night but I had earned his respect. 3 years ago Widmark accepted Christ as his personal Savior but has never really started his spiritual walk. A few weeks ago at church he asked when I was coming to the village. I told him the following Monday I would be there. He asked if he could tag along. For the past couple months, Widmark has been by my side every time I have done ministry. He thinks of himself as my body guard. Widmark is seeing ministry first hand and slowly but surely becoming a disciple, not of Tom, but of Jesus. For God so loved Widmark-

Bebe: 8 years ago I picked up a group of kids and gave them a ride in my van. One young man began to speak to me in pretty good English. I invited him to youth group and he became a Christian, a ministry team leader and is now our Children's pastor. Bebe also opened a small restaurant near his home last month in the village of Source Matles. He had the help of one of our supporters who graciously helped him start this restaurant. Our ministry made it possible for Bebe to graduate high school and learn business in college. I and several of the boys were at Bebe's restaurant October 26th for opening night. The place was packed. Bebe has kept busy with his restaurant and working full time with with our junior church and kids clubs. Bebe is a happy, vibrant, shining example of Jesus in Haiti. For God so loved Bebe-

For God so loved Mommy Tia, Betsy, Dearson, Widmark, Bebe and all of Haiti that he sent me, and you to bring them the life changing message of Jesus Christ, to make disciples and to teach them, to reach others.

Thank you for allowing me to have the best "job" in the whole world. Sunday night during church, in the middle of a 90 minute praise and worship time, I looked around into the faces of hundreds of Haitian people, people Christ died for, people who one day will be in Heaven because of you and I faithfully giving ourselves to this mission field. I was overcome by emotion seeing Jesus in the faces of these people, seeing Jesus in Haiti. For all of these wonderful folks, thank you for giving, for loving, for praying and for being a part of what God is doing here.

Some of you have let me know that due to poor economy we all face, that you would not be able to support us anymore. I thank you for faithfully being a part of this ministry and I fully understand. I also am not worried a bit. You have heard me say many times that God has more loose change in the cushions of His couch then we will ever need. God will supply our needs like He has done for the 121 months I have been here. May God bless you as you be Jesus where you live, tominhaiti

Thank you for your support


Tom Osbeck
Executive Director
Jesus in Haiti Ministries

For Contributions
Jesus in Haiti Ministries, Inc. Suite 155 10214 Chestnut Plaza Drive Fort Wayne, IN 46814

Dear friends of Haiti, Thursday, November 13th

I trust this letter finds you well and that your fight to serve the Lord is going well. Each one of us as Christians has been given a calling. We are ALL missionaries. I just happened to be in a different place and just happen to have a voice to share what I do.

The truth is, what I do is no more valid then what you do. What we do is share our faith to those God has put in our life. This starts with our family, neighbors, those we work with and those we play with. Please take your call seriously and don't miss a chance to be Jesus to those people who surround you. This takes an effort, look around, see who God has placed in your life and go get em, God is with you.

As you know, a school collapsed in Haiti this past Friday with close to 100 dead and more feared dead as they clear the school grounds of the fallen school. Yesterday a 2nd school collapsed but no one died, just several injuries. There are lots of speculation why two schools fell in on week. There is speculation all the storms and water has weakened structures. It could be a voodoo thing. Could be just a coincidence. Whatever it is, the government is taking it seriously. They schools are supposed to be closed until Monday when we will get further word on what to do. In case you were wondering, our school is a one story school so the chance of it collapsing is almost nil. We have checked the structure to make sure it is solid and it is very solid.

All of our points of light are doing really well. Our school, our church and my home are all going well. The garbage dump work is always a challenge but we push forward and things are fine at the Good Samaritan orphanage as they get settled in their new surroundings.

Thank you for your prayers and finances. These people are worth everything God allows us to do for them. I will make you a deal, I will continue to love, cherish and be Jesus to the folks in Haiti and you love cherish and be Jesus to the folks in your life. Remember, it doesn't matter your age or situation, if you are breathing, your race is not over. Paul says we are to keep running so, keep going. It will all be worth it in the end. Take care, drop me a line, tominhaiti

Thank you for your support


Tom Osbeck
Executive Director
Jesus in Haiti Ministries

For Contributions
Jesus in Haiti Ministries, Inc. Suite 155 10214 Chestnut Plaza Drive Fort Wayne, IN 46814

Jesus in Haiti Ministries

November 7th, 2008

Friday night

Greetings,

Today while getting supplies in town, we overheard some people talking about a school that had collapsed. We were not far so we checked it out. We could not get close but could see the destruction caused. Apparently this was a 4 story cement building used for the school.

They say it was only supposed to be 2 stories high but they had so many students they went up two more floors. At the scene we were told over 100 students were dead. One mother who was wailing said she lost all 5 of her children. The UN had big bulldozers trying to move chunks of cement to find survivors. We don't know the death count but it already is horrible. Please pray for the families of the lost students and for the hundreds of students taken for medical care, some very serious.

This evening I was sitting outside watching the scene at my house unfold. There were 6 boys playing basketball, 8 watching. My grandson CJ, Jay, Steven and Ricardo were playing some kind of tag game with 5 neighborhood boys. I saw 4 of the boys practicing keyboard and guitars. Others were sitting around, my family, their friends, staff and neighbor kids, about 40 in all.

I thought about the death of the students earlier in the day, and the life I was seeing play out before me. It was sobering to know how fast and how tragic things can happen. As I sat there I thought about our ministry and the fact that we provide either food, schooling, water, medical help and hope and life for over 500 people, per day. Maybe in a world of billions of people that doesn't seem like much. To these 500, it is huge. It is life, it is hope, it is a future.

Our budget is under $10,000 per month. If my Manton High school math is correct, that is an average of less than $20 per person, PER MONTH. Isn't that awesome? To think that we can positively affect someone's life for so little, is so awesome. In very difficult economic times, these folks are still worth your help. If you can make a better investment in any stock market in the world, let me know, I'm in the wrong business if so.

May God bless you as you continue to be Jesus to those in your life. Drop me a line, let me know how God is using you to those who surround you. tominhaiti


Thank you for your support


Tom Osbeck Executive DirectorJesus in Haiti Ministries

For ContributionsJesus in Haiti Ministries, Inc. Suite 155 10214 Chestnut Plaza Drive Fort Wayne, IN 46814

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Jesus in Haiti Ministries

November 3rd, 2008

Dear friends,

I know this is last minute and all but I have decided to throw my name in the hat to become the next president of the United States. No I am not on any of the ballots but if you will just write my name in, who knows what will happen. I know I have only two platforms I am running on but these are very important ones: 1) Haiti becoming the 51st state 2) Doritoes must be served with every meal. On a serious note, make sure you vote. I have a gut feeling that the left wing media has been selling us a bill of goods and when joe and nancy American walk into the voting both, the millions who have never been polled, they will pull the switch for Big bad John. He is not a perfect man but he is a moral, patriotic man. Either way, it will not be doom and gloom, God will still be in control in an Obamanation. Make a commitment to pray daily for whomever God allows to lead our country. Remember the people wanted Saul as king, wasn't God's first choice but He allowed them to chose and it got them in trouble but then God placed His man when it was His time. All will be good.

Update from the IslandChurch: Church was really good, I so love to praise and worship and hear the strong words of truth from God's word. My battery is always low going in, charged to the tilt leaving.

Claude: I told you months ago about a blind boy named Claude at the Good Sam orphanage. Claude has had his surgery for cataracts and can see perfect and is so happy.

Fence: Our fence is going up around our new church property. The men are working hard at getting the 200 and some cement poles all around our property. Pictures are coming for you.

Roman Noodles: Or as some of you like to say, Ramen noodles. Well, you have never lived in the hood so I will excuse you. We had never had these noodles for the boys but one day I noticed that I can get 3 packs for 1 dollar. I bought some chicken flavored ones and they just loved them. We then began to have them for them for lunch when they got home for school. They love them so much, we have them about 5 days per week. I even found a store that sells like 15 different kinds. Lime flavored shrimp, beef, goat, you name it, I can get it. This has lowered our grocery bill considerably. Yeah for "Roman Noodles".

Pastor Jackie and wife: Our pastor and wife are expecting their 4th child. Please pray as this has been a very tough pregnancy for her. I asked pastor if it was a boy or girl and he said girl. God promised him when he got married two boys and two girls and since he only has one girl, this will be a girl.

Website: Please check out our website at jesusinhaiti.org for news on our church project, the need for sponsors for our school kids and much more.

October: Thanks so much for your support during these difficult economic times. I could get overwhelmed when I think of the funds still needed to build our church, funds needed for new truck, funds needed just to keep going but then I have to always remind myself "my God has more loose change in his couch then I or you will ever need". I heard a preacher once say "we have more than enough money to finish our building project, I just have to figure out a way to get it our of your pockets".Upcoming: We have a busy week coming up. Things we are working on
1) Starting Sunday morning praise and worship service at our new church site
2) Leadership training
3) More intentional training of my boys at home (One of our staff, our praise and worship leader Altimae is moving in with us to assist Roger in this area, he is a very spiritual young man)
4) Continued evangelism in our area
5) Chapel service at our school.

There you have it, a semi full report. Please pray daily for me and my staff. In the last couple weeks satan has been attacking non stop. The attacks are so frequent and so furious that they are becoming a normal part of our life. Pray for the ability to duck when need be, attack when need be, and to always stand strong. We as a staff know the closer we get to getting our church going, the more the attacks will come. As you pray for me, I will pray for you. Your ministry to your family, friends, co-workers and neighbors is just as valid and important as any work any missionary does. Never think it is not. The only difference is missionaries send newsletters, you don't. Go get 'em, God is crazy about you and is right there with you.

much love from tominhaiti

Thank you for your support


Tom Osbeck Executive DirectorJesus in Haiti Ministries

For ContributionsJesus in Haiti Ministries, Inc. Suite 155 10214 Chestnut Plaza Drive Fort Wayne, IN 46814