Dear friends,

This past couple weeks have been very tough for me. Seems like every possible thing that could go wrong, went wrong. Lots of frustrations and things to deal with. Add the heat and you have a not so fun situation.

Last Wednesday I needed some time alone so took our friends from Minnesota to the airport and then headed to town. I normally don't go alone but did this day. As I was taking my usual route, I found myself right in front of ex-President Aristide's residence, in the middle of thousands of screaming, shouting people.

You see, it was his birthday and his followers were celebrating. Traffic was backed up and I was right in the middle, all by myself. The worst part was my truck was being rocked back and forth and people were pounding on my truck.

I finally made it through this and was headed up the hill. Coming down a hill right at me were several hundred, running, screaming people, all chanting and banging drums. I quickly pulled into a grocery store parking lot and parked the truck. A ring of about a dozen guards circled the store with their machine guns ready. I stood behind them feeling pretty safe watching the birthday celebration race past. I was happy to get home and will never forget July 15th, and the birthday of President Aristide.

The next couple of days I was really down and discouraged. I even thought about not going to church. At the last minute I thought "hey stupid, that is what charges your batteries and gets you ready for another week." I went to church.

We pulled up to church in the middle of a huge monsoon. I was sitting in the truck with the little ones, as the older ones had ridden with Manel and were in the church. I ran the kids one by one through the blinding rain.

There were about 35 of us in the church with this monsoon hitting full force. The rain was coming in the south window, so we were seated on the north side. The rain also began to come in the north window so we all ran to the middle of the church. Then unexpectedly, the rain came through the front door, right down the middle of the church. We all ran for the stage and huddled, trying to keep the sound equipment dry and the little ones warm.

We ended up having about a 40 minute church service with some singing. I gave a challenge and then we headed home before the roads began to flood. On the way home we came across an attempted ambush of a local judge. The road had been blocked by rocks waiting for the judge but his body guards with machine guns cleared the area, moved the rocks and we got through. Never a dull moment here.

Part of the frustration of the past week was with some of the boys. Their report cards were poor and they didn't want to accept their discipline. One went to the village to stay without permission. He is 18 and he was safe, so it was not a dangerous situation. I had heard he was going to stay 2 weeks.

He was there 2 days and last night he walked in the house. I was so happy to see him. I just jumped up and gave him a hug. I asked him if he was hungry, he said "yes." I went to the freezer and took out my personal stock of beef. Haitian beef is only about 40% beef so I get some 100% beef for my own personal use at a lunch here and there.

I grabbed two of these burgers, ran to the grill and began to cook them. As I was standing there cooking the beef, an unbeleivable feeling came over me. I thought, son upset....son leaves home.....father sad......son comes home....father happy......father cooks beef for son.....son happy. I thought, wow, I just lived out a real time Bible story, even down to the beef part.

What happened next stunned me. Another one of the older boys came up to me and said "why did you do that for him? He left mad and you are treating him like he did nothing wrong, you even gave him the burgers that were for you." What a way to finish that Bible story.

I didn't remember if this was part of the story but I went in and got two more burgers and made him two, which he was happy to eat.

Probably nothing world changing, what I just wrote, but a glimpse of my life and what I deal with.

As most of you know, we get 100 boxes of rice from an organization in Minnesota called Feed the Starving Children. This Thursday the executives of that large organization are coming to Haiti and I have been asked to take 10-14 of them with us for the day. We will visit our points of light and they will get to see their rice in action. I quickly accepted their invitation and I am so excited about Thursday. These folks do missions work all over the world and will get to see what God is doing, in our little corner of the world.

We currently have some friends from Fort Wayne here, 6 college students, who will be doing ministry for the next week. Lots going on, God is still changing lives, and His kingdom is advancing, here in Haiti. Thank you so much for your help with your prayers and finances, to make this happen. 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