Fencing, Vehicle, Tarantulas and Yogurt

September 26, 2009 Posted by Karen Huxter

NOTE: This post is from June 2009 and was added to bridge the gap between the previous blogs.

We were happy to have Karen, from BC, with us for four days this month. It was lovely having her here. Ti Luckner asked for her for days afterwards. Tammy, from NS, will join us on Tuesday, June 30th. Tammy’s plans changed and so she will stay with us just one week. We look forward to having her.

This month a needy project was completed – that of repair and thorough servicing of our generator. Luckner was able to talk a repair man, associated with the store in PaP where we purchased the generator, to come out from PaP and take care of it for us here on site.

Karen was very happily surprised one day when returning from a quick trip to the bank in St. Marc to find that Luckner and his apprentice, Coubano, had undertaken another project of putting new screens in the gallery where needed. What an improvement in mosquitoes and other bugs in the house.

A project very important to Karen, what she calls a privacy fence, is well underway. Funds for this have been raised by ladies at Yarmouth Wesleyan by the making and selling of cards. Thank you to all involved in this project. Karen has lived on the mission compound for five years with what she considers no privacy. Every move she has made, and every phone conversation she has had, could be seen, and/or heard, by other people in the yard, and especially at night by security. It reached the stage where she could no longer handle it and a plan was made to put a wire fence around her house. Luckner undertook the leadership of this project and is doing a great job. He has five helpers – Coubano, Ricardo, Jacques, Merise, and Ti Mili. All 30 metal fence posts are cemented in the ground as of yesterday afternoon. When finished Karen will happily remove all the bedding that has been covering her windows for almost three months.

We have a Praise report in regards to the fundraising that has been going on for a vehicle for the mission. The total has risen beautifully and another $5000 would see us reach the goal set. Hopefully in the near future HATS will once again have a vehicle. It is important to Karen that the vehicle have automatic transmission. The three men from Texas who were here in December, spearheaded by Nolan, have been fundraising for a vehicle since they returned home from Haiti. The United Church in Springdale, NL held a fundraising concert recently to assist with the vehicle purchase.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO ALL WHO HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY TOWARDS THIS END AND TO EVERYONE WHO HAS DONATED FUNDS FOR THIS VERY NEEDY PROJECT.

HATS has had only a one wheel vehicle for some time.

We have mentioned in the past the need of a storage building so we could renovate the house presently being used for storage into suitable housing for additional missionary staff. There has been a change of plans in that regard. We now plan to build on the second level of the Children’s Home. That house was engineered for housing on the second level and space was allowed for stairs to it. This will work out better in many ways, especially in regards to giving the additional missionary staff more privacy and more air flow. The plan is for additional staff, when they join HATS, to be overseeing the orphanage end of things, and living there would be very suitable.

We have a group coming from Texas, most likely in early February, who are willing to work on this housing project. Is there a group from Yarmouth area, under the direction of fearless leader Gerry, willing to come again in January to also work on it? If we have two groups splitting the work, and the fundraising, we think decent missionary housing could be put there by end of February.

Tarantulas anyone?? Karen has been seeing too many of them recently – inside and outside her house. She has since started checking out things around her a little more carefully than she did in the past.<

Ti Luckner continues to slowly develop and he continues to be a joy and delight to everyone – our other children as well as our employees.

Trying to feed himself yogurt

It looks like we might have something to look forward to in December. There are plans underfoot for a group from Yarmouth – Bob, Linda, and some family members to come for a week early in December before school exams; and Karen’s daughter and three precious grandchildren to come from Kelowna, BC for two weeks Dec. 21st. We will keep you informed.

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 – as we do our best to show the love of Jesus to those we serve with actions and with truth.

A huge ” Thank You ” again for your support. Your support of prayer, encouragement, and financial help, is needed and greatly appreciated. The work we endeavour to do here cannot be done without you. Again, on behalf of all the people in Haiti whose lives are touched by the HATS-Haiti Mission, we say a huge thank you.

Luke 6:38: “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

To many people who live around you, and to many who work with you, you might be ‘one person’. But to one person, i.e. a needy child in Haiti, you might be ‘the world’.

~Karen

About Karen Huxter

Karen Huxter, the founder and Director of Hands Across the Sea, was born in Springdale, Newfoundland and is proud of her Newfie roots and heritage. She lived in various places across Canada such as Quebec, the Yukon, Ontario, Alberta and BC before moving to Haiti in 1995. In her professional career, Karen worked in teaching, banking and administration and did extensive volunteer work with community groups and charities. A mother of two grown daughters, one young adopted son and seven grandchildren, Karen is energetic and passionate about the work in Haiti. She loves each of the children and has a heart of compassion for children, women and families in the country of Haiti.

Archive by Month

Testimonials

This week has been amazing – one of the best weeks of my life thus far, hands down. I can’t really think of any other experience in my life that can even come close to comparing to this. Though my visit here was short (too short), it has been incredibly eye-opening, and life changing. I will never forget the people I have met here, or the things I’ve gotten to experience! Most of all, I would like to say how remarkable it is to see first-hand the amazing work God is doing here. I am behind this ministry 100%, and will continue to support it. I am so, so blessed to have been given the opportunity to come here, and I am REALLY not looking forward to saying goodbye to the children tonight. My heart sinks just thinking about it. There’s no doubt that they’ve had a bigger impact on my life than I’ve had on theirs. I will be leaving a big piece of my heart with these people and this country. God bless.

Jess Buckle
HATS Visitor
It’s going to be impossible to put my thoughts into words about this experience, so I’d say this – if you can get here – do. I think most people probably think they’re coming to help others. To some extent, that’s true (at least this temporary blogger thought so). To a larger extent, you’ll leave Haiti a better person than when you arrived. Nelson Mandela once said something like “Everywhere I go, I wear you”. It means that none of us is our own person entirely. Rather, we’re the culmination of the people and experiences we have had. I leave Haiti wearing 16 HATS children, 10(ish) Haitian staff members, a Calgarian, 2 Winnipegian’s, and a Newfie. And I couldn’t be happier about it. Until we meet again my friends.

Rick
HATS Visitor
Such important work done with LOVE and commitment!

Dana Wight Kayal
HATS Supporter
I have learned much about Haiti in my short stay here, much about generational, entrenched poverty, and much about hope. We can only be part of the bringing of hope if we become one small actor on the huge stage that is poverty. Thank you, Lynn Clark, for inviting me to share this life changing experience with you, and thank-you, Karen Huxter, for investing so much of your life in a work designed to bring hope to those who need it more than any Canadian could ever imagine.

Linda
HATS Visitor
This morning, we woke up as the sun came up and as we all began to trickle downstairs; we were met with warm welcomes from the precious children. As the children arrived, we were deeply touched and came to the realization of how important the HATS organization is to this country. Many children who would not have had any opportunities are now well nourished, educated and have a loving home and a mother who loves them more than we could ever comprehend, Karen Huxter.

Nicole Boudreau & Marcia Muise
HATS Visitors
I had anticipated that I would enjoy spending time getting to know the children and being a part of Karen’s daily life in Haiti but I had not anticipated that it would capture my heart like it did. I will miss spending time with the children and Karen but I am hopeful that I’ll be able to see them all again in the not too distant future.

Sara-May Cardy
HATS Visitor
I spent a week in Haiti at HATS in November 2017 and it was a wonderful experience. Karen is an amazing woman and is doing amazing work. She is dedicated to the children in her care and is changing lives. I would love the opportunity to visit again and help out where I can.

Sandy Eastly
HATS Visitor
A huge thank you to aunt Karen, who always seems to be doing something with her children and the HATS mission. The only time she takes for herself is long enough to spread some almond butter on a banana that she eats on the run. Thank you so much for all your hard work and unwavering dedication. Thank you for being an inspiration to me and so many others. We love you and our Haitian family very much. The longer I spend at HATS, the bigger piece of my heart remains. Take care of yourself and our kiddies until we see each other again.

Jocelyn Barnes
HATS Visitor
This is my first time traveling outside of Canada and I am proud to say it was for a mission trip. I have always wanted to go on one and see what it like in other parts of the world and do what I can to help out. Haiti is a terminus life change for me and how I look at things. Seeing these kids and how they have such a passion for each other and for us is truly inspiring. I look back to what I was like at that age and I don’t think I was half as kind or generous as they are. This morning we did devotions and as I was speaking about what an impact they had on me only in one day I started to tear up…it was very emotional to talk about.

Isaiah Henderson
HATS Visitor
We’ve made a difference, I believe. Big stuff, little stuff; it all contributed to the greater good and that big picture: keeping HATS a surviving and thriving, safe haven for the children of Deschapelles, Haiti. And oh my, what children they are. As expected, it was tough to leave. There were tears, whispers, hugs and I’ll miss you’s. I learned that it gets easier (only a bit) for those who’ve done this a few times. As Bob says “I’m part of the furniture now. I don’t say ‘goodbye’, I say ‘see you later’.” Maybe that’s how you cope with leaving…you return. Once, five times, 10 times. However many. Guaranteed you’ll leave a different person than when you came in.

Aimee Feaver
HATS Visitor