Jesus in Haiti Ministries


Dear long lost friends, Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

Wow how time flies! Has it really been 3 weeks since I wrote you? Once I started getting the "are you alive?" emails, I figured I better write.

Please never take the lack of emails as a lack of ministry, quite the opposite, if I don't have time to write you, there is a great reason. I know in the past when I have not sent emails, our support for that month has went way down. I pray this did not happen this month. The last two months in 2008 we were about $2000 short on our income and we can't afford that again.

I have been so busy I just have not been able to sit and chat with you and for this I apologize. For this entire year, since Jan. 1, Haiti has not had gasoline. They have had it but it was only sold via the black market and what a mess this created. Just today I was able to fill the little Suzuki up and get our cans filled.

Also as I sit here tonight writing this, our 3 houses are dark with the exception of my little portable generator running outside my door to power my lap top. Our generator has been down a couple days as we await a part (seal) to stop an oil leak. Without this big generator we can't pump water so we sit here with no water and no power. You may say what's the big deal, it's only in the 80's there, but the big deal is, with no fans we get lots of mosquitoes attack during the night, millions. I got a late start on supper but quickly boiled some hotdogs and we ate outside as the inside was to dark.

Despite no water, no power, no showers, no nothing, there is no place in the world I would rather be than right here, right now. The past three weeks have been just awesome. God is blessing in ways I can't begin to share. Each point of light is shining so brightly, that I am blessed.

Our board of directors and a few others just left today. They spent the last week visiting and doing ministry in our points of light, including a wonderful cookout at the garbage dump yesterday. What a joy it was to stand shoulder to shoulder with some of the world's greatest people. So much was accomplished in the past week including our yearly board meeting, finalizing details of the foundation of the New Victory Bible church, ministering to people, meeting with a Haitian attorney who is going to help us do some neat things and so much more.

Last night I stayed the night at the hotel with our visitors. As we sat around in a group reflecting on the week, someone mentioned the tough economic times ahead. I reminded them of my favorite saying "God has more loose change in his couch that we will ever need, don't worry about it".

It was a few minutes later my son Claudy called me from home frantically telling me to check my e-mail. I quickly did only to find an email from the USA saying "$95,000 has been given to our ministry, including $25,000 to buy a new truck".

If you will remember it was just a few short months ago I shared the need for a truck. I waited, I prayed and I knew that in God's time, we would get our truck. Today I began the process of the purchase of another truck identical to the one we have, a Kia 4 door, white instead of blue. Our God is so amazing and what a sense of humor He must have. I can just see him sitting near the pool at our hotel, listening to us talk. When He heard me mention the "loose change", I can just imagine this conversation: "Gabe, when you finish your time in the pool, I want you to go back up to Heaven, fish out about $95,000 dollars in loose change from my couch, this Osbeck guy knows it's there". Gabriel did it.

To the party responsible for this gift, words can never express my gratitude for what you have done for this ministry, for these people, for God! Thank you so much!

I wish I could share 20 more days of loving people, helping people, of being Jesus to people but I will stop. Just know that God is moving in big ways and if you can help us keep this going, please do. Our website is full of needs and our general fund is always on the bubble. To those of you who continue to give so sacrificially, from the bottom of my heart I thank you.

Being in the center of God's will is usually never the safest, or the most comfortable place to be, as I am finding out, BUT IT IS THE BEST PLACE TO BE. Thanks for giving me the priveledge of representing you, and Christ in this wonderful place.

May God bless you, 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