Still in Canada, Schooling Results!!

September 26, 2009 Posted by Karen Huxter

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

Greetings to all our ‘friends of HATS’. Again this month the HATS Update is coming to you from Canada. Karen is extremely thankful for the availability of good medical help in Canada, and for how well her doctor has taken care of her during this illness. X-rays were redone this week and some blood work as well. The results are in and Karen’s doctor is okay with her heading back home Tuesday, Aug 25th. O happy day! Karen is very thankful, too, for all the help and support of her family and friends during this time. She has been able to get lots of necessary rest and has been greatly blessed with tasty and nutritional food. She has gained a necessary 12 pounds (was 93 lbs when arrived in Canada) while really enjoying the delicious food. She will miss it when she leaves. Having time with her two daughters and grandchildren has meant a great deal to her.

Luckner, like Karen, has many hats to wear. He is the assistant director of HATS and he takes his work obligations seriously. During this period of illness and recuperation, while Karen is away from Haiti, he is keeping things going beautifully. He continues to cover for Karen and at the same time is handling all the work necessary for the HATS school to reopen. Too, he is doing necessary repairs to our plumbing and electrical system at the mission. He is always willing to work hard undertaking anything that needs doing.

We have good news to report about our school. In the Haitian school system all students in grade 6, grade 9, and in Rheto and Philo (the last two years of school) are required to pass a government exam. The results of the exams, written in June, were released two weeks ago. Many students every year do not pass and need to do these grades at least twice. This year the percentage of students throughout Haiti who passed the grade six exams was extremely low. The HATS school, however, had 100 percent of our grade six students pass. Karen, and the HATS board, is extremely thankful to Luckner for the good job he has been doing with the school. Karen is missing time this summer with the HATS children and with her special little guy Ti Luckner. She, however, has been assured by Luckner that the children are doing well. No doubt they are ready to return to school next month.

HATS is happy to report that we now have someone, Karen’s cousin Jim from Lytton, BC, on board to take care of the website and other internet services. Thank you, Jim, for taking on this important job. We continue to thank God for the funds towards a vehicle for HATS. Since being in Canada Karen has received more funds towards this very necessary project. At this point we think we will need another $1000 – $2000 more to be able to make a purchase. We will not, of course, know definitely until we can go to a couple of dealerships in PaP. Again, thank you so very much to all who have donated to this. May you be blessed as you are being a blessing to everyone connected with HATS-Haiti and to many others in our community.

Fundraising is underway for the construction project of housing for support missionary staff to assist Karen and Luckner with the heavy workload. This work is planned to go ahead in January 2010 by a group from Canada and in February by a group from Texas. Anyone interested in donating to this very important construction project, or in joining a workteam coming to Haiti, can contact the chairman of the HATS board – Gerry Rhyno, or Karen and Luckner.

~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

Personally, this is my first time here. I’ve never done a mission trip of any sort before and I’ve certainly never been anywhere this hot before. I keep seeing things that are different from what I’m used to, and hearing about things even more unfamiliar to me. One of the most surprising things to meis how quickly I’ve grown to love all the people here. Everyone here is great, and the team is wonderful too. Watching everyone support each other warms my heart almost as much as the sun warms my skin. I’ve learned a lot from this experience, and I know that this trip has already had a profound impact on my life.

Matthew Sketchley
HATS Visitor
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
We have so enjoyed our time here. The work we have done has been fulfilling, the fellowship has been memorable and our hearts are forever impacted by the sweet, sweet children. A piece of HATS will always stay with each of us and who knows, maybe a few will return!

Ashley Withrow, Nicki White & Deborah Gilbert
HATS Visitors
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
I have absolutely loved the Haitian people and Haiti the three times I have been there. I go to bless them, only to be blessed myself!

Yvette Calderwood
HATS Visitor
Thank you Karen for everything you do, all the hard work and dedication that you put into this place, all of the work behind the scenes. Thank you for putting up with all the craziness that we bring when we come to your house for the week, just thank you times a million and one for everything Karen. I can write about my week until I am blue in the face (maybe not write that long but if you know me I can definitely talk for that long), and can sing about kit kat bars until my voice gives out, but I cannot even begin to try and articulate in song, dance, or other random art forms how thankful and blessed I am to have been given this experience not only once but twice! Thank you – thank you – thank you – thank you!!!!!!!

Kathleen
HATS Visitor
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’m not sure what we’re doing here, just showing up for a week – it’s not like it’s sustainable. And I don’t want to become depressed by some of the harsh realities that Karen has to deal with every day. You know it’s ONE thing to start an orphanage and school (Yes, Karen has done things that are beeeeyond me), but it’s ANOTHER thing to raise the 20 babies that become YOUR kids!!! Not only are they a big family, but they are a big family containing individual stories that got them all to where they are in the orphanage. I don’t even know how to describe it…I have never seen a woman her age with this much energy…fun loving energy that is. She so inspired me today and really is a wonderful mother to all these children.

Barbara
HATS Visitor
They call Karen “the helicopter ” and after spending three days by her side I know why. She propels through life!!! If you want to get on the ride you better start running. It is an amazing work that the Lord is doing here through so many many dedicated workers…literally hundreds of children impacted every day with the love of Christ…but the task to do so is enormous. The dedication of staff is invaluable…they NEED US ALL!!

Barbara & Louis
HATS Visitors
I am so thankful to Jesus for the opportunity to serve at HATS and to finally experience the great work that God is doing there. I look forward to seeing them all again when I visit next time.

Nancy Goodwin
HATS Visitor