Dear friends, Monday night

End of the month update from the island of Hispanola! Tomorrow is Mardi Gras, the ending of the Carnival here in Haiti. Last Friday I took most of my boys to church camp at another mission. Was funny how dropping them off made me a little sad. As they walked from the truck with their luggage and blankets, I thought of that recent country song "there goes MY life". It has been quiet around here, but I have got much done.

Today I spent several hours with Fondi and Jony talking, planning and plotting our ministry and discussing our staff. Was well spent time. One thing I will not ever allow our ministry to do is become stagnant. We must continue to move forward, sharing the Gospel and making disciples.

Tomorrow we have 4 guests coming for a week. These are dear friends and we look forward to an exciting week sharing our life and ministry with this family. The older girl is a professional nanny by trade so guess what, I get a break from Jony and Peter for a week. I hope she is ready.

Church was really down this past week. With over 40 from our church at camp and all the carnival stuff, we were down about 100 people. Still had a great service. Thursday night before taking all the boys to camp on Friday, we were eating supper and when I finished I just sat and looked around. I looked into the faces of 21 smiling, happy, full people. Each story flashed before my face. It hit me as always what an honor it is to be doing what I do. I also realized that each one of them was here because they had no family to call their own. What a joy to be a dad, a mentor, a friend and a teacher. It is never easy but always worth it.

Some of you know that I am a big Western Frontier lover. I love to read about a good gun battle between Smoke Jensen and Harry the outlaw. Reading about Matt Bodine and Sam, two wolves fighting their way to Whiskey Flats, wow, how thrilling. One common phrase I read is "we ride for the brand" As some of you know, the brand was the ranch they worked for, with each ranch having their own brand. One thing that was first and foremost was, you supported, protected and even died for others who rode for the same brand.

I got to thinking today, how much do you and I value the "brand" we ride for? That brand permanently in the hands of Jesus. That is our brand and anyone who is a born again Christian, rides for that brand. Never do the ranch hands talk bad or attack anyone who rides for their brand. Can the same be said abot you and I? Do we support, protect and even die for if need be our fellow ranch hands, believers of Christ? Too often we spend so much time fighting with those in our brand, the mangy bushwhackers led by the evil one picks us off one by one. The old ranch hands had to always be on the lookout for the bad guys. The bad guys wanted to steal, burn and destroy! Guess what, the poachers, rustlers and outlaws who work for black jack satan want to do the same. I challenge you tonight, as I challenge myself, RIDE FOR THE BRAND, RIDE HARD, AND PROTECT THOSE WHO RIDE WITH YOU. The boss who owns our ranch, and the cattle on a thousand hills is riding with us, with a big shotgun, and lots of ammo. Just my thoughts. 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