January

Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
I Peter 4:9-10

Dear Friends in Christ,

What a wonderful way to begin a new year, with love for one another and a desire to share with others what God has given us. We have the privilege of serving a wonderful God who has blessed some with special talents, some with a love to pray, others financially and in many other ways. This is such a great way for the Body of Christ to operate to show the world God’s love and His many blessings over us.

At the end of December our Port-au-Prince (PAP) team were able to safely get to the school for the Christmas party. Kaloulou, Edgard, Ernest and Marie Marcell went by bus to attend the school’s celebration. The children all dressed up for the day, did a skit of the birth of Jesus, sang songs, and had an “open house” for their parents and families to come and share a meal together. It was a beautiful day for the children as they were able to have a birthday party for Jesus! Thank you for making this possible for these precious children.

Unfortunately, we do not have pictures of the children receiving their Christmas gift bags this month. Though the gift bags are in Haiti, they are with our PAP team who meets the mission plane, then they take the supplies that we send to the school. Sadly, the gangs have been having shootouts with the police in Mirebalais. None of our people in the PAP area have been able to go to the school to deliver the gift bags. Thankfully, our teachers who live in Mirebalais are still able to get to the school each day. Nady was able to purchase food there and have it delivered to the school. This is a more expensive way to feed the children, but it is a huge blessing that they are still getting fed each day. Many ministries can no longer get food to outlying areas because of the gangs.

We have been working on finding a set of leg braces for Woodsaiedmie to use after her final leg surgery. We had found the braces in an adult size but could not find them in a small size. When we were at MFI in December, I asked their warehouse manager, our good friend Gayle, if she had any ideas for getting the leg braces made. She has contact with hundreds of ministries who are affiliated with MFI. Gayle took the picture I had received from the doctor and asked Hope Mobility, a ministry in North Carolina, if they could make them for a child. Praise the Lord, the braces are made and on their way to Haiti now. Dr. Lamy in Haiti will let us know when the surgery will happen. Having a set of leg braces made just for her and the cost for all of her needs being fully covered was another amazing answer to prayer. We’ve included some progressive pictures of sweet Woodsaiedmie below so you can see her progress and how far she’s come!

This past month Pastor Santos has been writing about the many things that he is experiencing in Nava. The Ranch of Faith continues to be a big part of his life, especially as a ministry tool. He uses the ranch to teach young boys life skills through agriculture projects, he shares the gospel throughout their time together. The gardening projects help supplement food for his family and to share with many others. When OSM was ministering by building homes and working with the children in the colonia, we met many young boys and girls in Nava. Pastor Santos had 2 of the boys, who are now grown men come back to see him at the Ranch of Faith and his church this past month. We had built homes for these boys’ families when they were young. Many of the building teams met these boys as they were always hanging out with the teams when they came to Nava to work. One is Pedro and the other is Ramiro.

Pastor sent this testimony to Ken and it was an encouragement to us:
“We met Pedro in his childhood, and he left footprints in our hearts. We taught him the spirit of work. I recently found him delivering milk, doing one of the many jobs that my parents taught me and we taught Pedro. I found him selling milk and he came to help me with selling mine. He remembered the Ranch, the work, tending livestock and working at the church, meeting needs for other people. Just like Pedro, there are many children and young people who we still get excited about teaching to excel in life: serve just to serve, my friend Ken Kennedy. I love serving!”
He shared that Ramiro came back to him for help a few months ago, when his life was spiraling out of control. He is now grounded and walking with the Lord caring for his wife and 5 children. Praise the Lord for His faithfulness!

We thank the Lord for allowing us to know these men when they were boys. Now, to see how planting seeds of God’s love in their hearts as boys has ministered to them, so that they know where to turn in times of trouble or need. All these years we have had people support us in prayer, coming along side and ministering in Haiti and Mexico with us when that was possible and supporting financially for this ministry to happen. What a blessing to get to hear how some of them are doing in their lives today, almost 25 years later. Hallelujah, what a Savior we have!

We are grateful for your love, prayers and support. Without each of you, and the part you play in the ministry of OSM, this would not be happening. May the Lord Jesus pour out His blessing over you and your families.

Serving our Savior with you,
Ken & Debbi