Ever since he could walk, our son, Jacob, has been by my side, and I his. When he was two years old, we spent hours organizing our garage. It was a cool fall day, and he never complained or got in the way. About one-third of my size, he walked next to me all day long trying to help where he could. 

Whenever Jacob fell or got hurt in those early years, I would scoop him up and hold him close. He would rest his head on my shoulder, give a big sigh and then stop crying. My wife, and even his older sisters (who were only 3- and 5-years old) warned me that I was spoiling him. But what could I do? The boy was just so cute I honestly couldn’t help myself. I picked him up and held him close every time until he went off to school at the age of five.

Jacob is 22 now. He has grown into a gentle but strong man who has always been a source of joy for his mom, sisters, and me. This past Monday, Jacob stood before the American flag and took the military oath of enlistment, becoming an officer in the United States Navy. 

Our nation is blessed to have young men and women like Jake willing to defend the Constitution from all enemies, just as we are blessed to live in a nation committed to these ideals and filled with people willing to give of themselves to share them across the world.

It hurts my spirit to see entire communities bereft of an opportunity to enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It brings me joy when I see walls of indifference come down and bridges of hope get built in these communities. That’s why I love being here with you at International Samaritan!

As we celebrate our nation’s birth this weekend, as well as the bold and beautiful vision we strive to live up to, I am thanking God not just for the nation in which we get to live, but also for the amazing tapestry of people who give of themselves to make this vision come to life for others. 

International Samaritan is a Christ-centered organization built on Catholic Social Teaching. Our mission is to walk hand-in-hand with people who live and work in the garbage dumps of developing nations to help them break out of poverty.

We provide holistic scholarships for students from kindergarten through college, and we’re currently supporting nearly 1,000 scholars in Central America, the Caribbean, and East Africa.

Would your church or school group like to partner and travel with us? Learn about our Learn, Serve, Grow program.

Empower our scholars to change their lives. Become a monthly supporter.

Mike Tenbusch, President

Mike joined International Samaritan in 2018 after two decades of leading social change in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan. He’s a University of Michigan Law grad and author of The Jonathan Effect: Helping Kids and Schools Win the Battle Against Poverty. He and his wife, Maritza, have three children who keep them young.