NOTE: This post is from July 2009 and was added to bridge the gap between the previous blogs.
Greetings to all friends/supporters of the HATS-Haiti Mission. This update is in a different format as it is coming to you from Canada instead of Haiti. Most of you knew that there was a plan for Karen and her assistant, Luckner, to be in Western Canada in September to do some fundraising for the mission. Those plans are now on hold. Things have changed due to Karen becoming ill and needing to return to Canada for medical help. Liette, Karen’s daughter, recently travelled to Haiti to return to Canada the following day with her mom. Karen gives Luckner and Martha the credit for bringing her through a very ill and scary time before Liette arrived for her. Karen is recovering, in Calgary with Liette and family and in Kelowna with Dana and family, from acute pneumonia and severe inflammation in her chest. Her doctor has scheduled follow-up x-rays for Aug 11th after which they will discuss how much longer Karen needs to be in Canada to fully recover. Karen will return home to Haiti when she is healthy and strong. Karen is presently missing all her children and especially her special little guy – Ti Luckner. She knows, however, he is in the very capable hands of Luckner, and Luckner has the support of Martha. (Martha is sleeping at the house with Ti Luckner while Karen is away.)
Due to Karen’s being away from the mission at this time, Luckner has the start-up of school to prepare for on his own. This is a very big job, along with running the mission by himself at this time, but Karen knows he will handle it all. We continue to thank and praise God for the funds that we have in the bank in Haiti towards a vehicle for HATS. We still need approx $5,000 to meet our goal and be able to make a purchase, but we do know the funds will arrive. Again, thank you so very much to all who have donated to this. The ‘Privacy Fence’ for Karen mentioned in June has been completed. It has made a big difference to Karen’s comfort. She is now able to completely relax in her home during the evening and night time hours.
MESSAGE TO OUR FRIENDS
Dear friends of Karen and HANDS ACROSS THE SEA-HAITI (HATS), It has been felt for a number of years that Karen needed help in carrying on the work that the Lord has given her to do in Haiti. Many of us have watched on the sidelines while she has forged ahead with plans to develop an orphanage and school, helping where we could but for the most part it has been sporadic. It was decided that a board should be developed that could assist Karen in whatever areas she felt needed attention at that time. Also to help her with regular fundraising to meet the ongoing and ever present need of funds to run these two establishments.
HANDS ACROSS THE SEA ASSOCIATION was incorporated on July 9, 2009 in the Province of Nova Scotia, with nine board members. The board has requested charitable status from the Government of Canada, and we expect to have that status by the first of January 2010. Starting January 1, 2010 there will be a change in donations to HATS. Cheques will no longer be payable to Yarmouth Wesleyan Church, designated for HATS. All cheques will then need to be sent to the same address “Hands Across The Sea in Yarmouth” but must be payable to Hands Across The Sea. Your income tax receipts for 2010 will come to you from the Hands Across The Sea Association.
Because of the downturn in the economy in the last year we have experienced a huge drop in donations to HATS-HAITI. Our prayer is that this will change soon. It is getting extremely difficult to run the orphanage and school with the present amount of funding. We also pray that God will speak to the hearts of His people and the monies needed will come in. Too, we would like to encourage our faithful ‘Friends of HATS’ to consider giving some of their Aeroplan Miles to Karen to enable her to travel North America in support of the Mission.
The last time we were in Deschapelles, doing construction of the second building for the school, Karen shared her vision and her need for a missionary minded couple to come and live at the compound. In order for a couple to come, a place is needed for them to live. The HATS Board has decided to send a team to Haiti in January to start building proper accommodations to meet this need. The project is expected to be between $20,000 and $25000 US Dollars. If you are interested in being part of this project or helping with the funding please contact us, through Karen, or via email gkrhyno@ns.aliantzinc.ca. There is a team from Texas which has expressed interest in going down in February to help complete this project. The new Board wishes to express thanks for all that each of you has done in the past.
We know that it was God’s leading that accomplished all that has been done to date. We pray that His will shall be accomplished in Deschapelles in the future with your generous help. May God Bless Each of You Greatly Gerry Rhyno Board Chair
THANK YOU TO THE HATS-HAITI BOARD FOR THE SUPPORT IN THE PAST AND FOR WHAT THEY WILL BE DOING IN THE FUTURE.
PLEASE MAKE A NOTE OF THIS: Starting January 1, 2010 there will be a change in donations to HATS. All cheques, starting at the beginning of the new year, will need to be sent to the same address “Hands Across The Sea in Yarmouth” but must be payable to Hands Across The Sea. Your income tax receipts for 2010 will come to you from the Hands Across The Sea Association.
1 John 3:17 “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with ‘actions and in truth’ .”
We continue to give God thanks for his provision – past and future. We will always do our best to show the love of Jesus to those we serve with ‘actions and in truth’. ” Thank You ” once again, on behalf of all the people in Haiti whose lives are touched by the HATS mission, for your support.
Your prayer support, along with that of encouragement, and your financial help, is needed and greatly appreciated. The work we do cannot continue without you.
~Karen
