NOTE: This post is from December 2006 and was added to bridge the gap between the previous blogs.

Once again it is time to take a few minutes to catch up with all of us at HATS-Haiti. Oh my, oh my, oh my. Can it really be December 18th? Christmas is upon us and one would never know it around here. We have been much too busy with construction and keeping everything else going which made it easy to forget. Will have to get busy in a hurry as we have children looking forward to it.

I pray you all have a very Merry Christmas as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour. I pray, too, for a Blessed 2007 for all of you.

We have lots going on here at the mission as usual. Never a dull moment is a daily understatement here. The main activity once again has been school construction. What joy it is to see the foundation being built for the other four rooms. There is a feeling of excitement in the air because people can see that the plan to have the school finished is very real. An 11 person workteam will arrive from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia on January 9th for two weeks to try to finish the work. Despite the increased danger in our area, that we felt obligated to tell them about, they are still keen to come. They have been planning, meeting and praying for several months and reported they are coming in confidence that they will be protected.

Children carrying rocks for construction

Working hard to pour the concrete

Speaking of the school, we had our hopes up about receiving some school desks that could be donated to our school from one in Michigan. We surely do need the desks, but are unable, at this time, to cover the shipping cost. There is a gentleman in the Grand Rapids area who has a ministry, Rays of Hope for Haiti, to help missionaries in this country get things they need shipped in. He stores belongings in his warehouse free of charge, but has to have the shipping costs paid. He has found the school desks for HATS and we must find funds to pay for them. They are the old fashioned ones that has the seat attached to the desks which is what we would like. Because, however, they come attached they take up more space and so cost more to transport – $40 per desk.

When the workteam arrives it will be a busy time but hopefully also a good experience for the group. Some of them are first timers to Haiti but some have been in Haiti several times. Only one of the 11 have been to our mission prior. For me a very sad thing about the group coming is that my beloved sister and brother-in-law, Sandra and Dickie, will not be with them. Due to a medical problem they cannot come at this time. I had been so looking forward to having them here.

I normally try not to talk too much about the kidnapping and other dangers here but it is real and we have people coming. I feel I should be honest about what is happening all around us.

here is definitely an increased danger in our area and so we are being even more cautious than ever. Many kidnappings have happened in our area in the past 3-4 weeks. It is no longer just in P-a-P area but we are in the midst of it now. Kidnappings have taken place all around us, in Ti Riviere, Pont Sonde, route between St. Marc and Pont Sonde, Liancourt and the road to Verrettes. A lady was kidnapped on Friday about five minute drive from the mission. Some people have been held in houses in Deschapelles and Liancourt (five minutes and ten minutes from us. Much prayer is needed for this very serious problem.

This week a St. Marc vehicle with 25 people was kidnapped. Everything possible was taken from them all. Eventually the bus driver and 17 passengers were released but 8 were taken as hostages for ransom. Then, even more upsetting news is – this morning a vehicle that left Verrettes (10 minutes from us), shortly after passing our mission, was stopped and people kidnapped. This is hitting extremely close to home. Needless to say I am not leaving the compound unnecessarily. The country is definitely in need of prayer support and changes need to come.

I gave you the good news about us receiving approval for our school due to Luckner’s timely work. We have, however, been informed that we must choose another name for our school. They, apparently, have too many schools with the same name. Thus we are no longer l’Institution Mixte L’Espoir de Deschapelles. As of today (another trip to government offices in Gonaives) we are Centre d’études Classiques Emmanuel de Deschapelles. (CECED)

More, not so good, news. Jessica will be leaving us again on January 4th and returning to her home in Indiana. Her pastor, church family, mother, and also Jessica feels that the Lord has another plan for her sooner than she expected. She thought she would be here for seven months but God’s ways are not our ways and neither are His plans our plans. Jessica will be missed by all. A big thank you to Jessica for the help she has given while here. Too, thank you to her mother and church family for sharing her with us for the 2 1/2 months.

We want to say a very big thank you for the help that we have received due to our being honest about the financial situation at HATS. There is nothing more difficult for me than to let people know that the mission needs funds. A donation was made to cover a month salaries for all staff. (The employees will receive these funds tomorrow as their December yearly bonus, which must be given at this time of the month.) We are trusting that by the end of the month we will have received enough funds to pay them their regular salaries .) We’ve also received funds for food for the orphanage and for Christmas gifts for the children. Too, a girl in Canada asked people, in lieu of gifts for her 16th birthday, to donate to HATS-Haiti mission. This brought us more than $700. Thank you, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to one and all. May you all be blessed in return.

Too, a big Thank you to all our regular supporters – in finances, prayer and encouragement. The HATS-Haiti mission would not be here without you.

2006 has seen pain and frustration, laughter and fun, staff changes, and construction. It has been a difficult but also important year for HATS. Things are continuing to move along nicely due to all of you who stand with us and behind us. Without your encouragement things would have been much more difficult for me this past year. Thank you!

1 Thes 5:11 – “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

Again, from all of us at the HATS mission to all of you – A very Happy and Blessed Christmas and New Year. May you all be greatly blessed as we continue on this journey – working together for Him

Serving Him In Haiti

~Karen