Mme Kouri Kouri – Mme Run Run!

January 24, 2010 Posted by Karen Huxter

My plans for today were to be at the hospital with Serlande for 4-5 hours, spend time with my kids, and do some computer work that I am very behind on – a large part of which was to have been e-mail correspondence. For some reason I’ve been unable to send or receive e-mails today. I sent out an SOS to Tim (the master computer geek) who was here with the team recently. It was Tim and Jim who set up the new computers and the new software and got me up to date and up and running. I knew he would know what was wrong and what to do about it. One small problem – Tim is in Halifax and I am in Haiti. Due to a multitude of things the guys did not have the chance to teach me what I needed to know. Anyway, Tim got busy working on it today and it is doing better if not yet completely as it should be. Hopefully I will be able to get this out tonight.

I couldn’t face going back to St. Marc today even to see if the bank was open. It is normally open on a Saturday morning. My daughter, Dana-Lynn, had a good suggestion. That I send an employee to sleep outside the bank for some hours and then I go in and change places in the morning. Might have to do that next week.

Early this morning I put Ti Luc in Sabine’s hands, went to the hospital and spent the morning with Serlande. I see another tiny bit of improvement today which encourages me a great deal. Obviously the antibiotic they are giving her is starting to work. She still does not respond when spoken to but she does now mouth the word “water”. Too, we can now sit her up to pee which is a far cry from having to change her bedding and clothing constantly. A ‘blan’ doctor who worked at HAS and who knows Serlande and her diabetes health problems arrived back at the hospital late yesterday afternoon. I don’t remember when I was more happy to see someone than I was to see her in the hospital last night. She is now in charge of Serlande’s care and she is someone I can talk with easily and readily. Thank you, God.

I knew I would be needed here on the compound today as well as at HAS. Having to be in several places at once is very tiring due to the constant running back and forth. Take care of one and run off to the next. Take care of that and then run to the next. I think my nick name should be “Run Run’ or in Haiti it would be “Mme. Kouri Kouri (Run Run)”.

A temporary storage depot room was being constructed with plywood today in the meeting/devotion room close to my house. I still have space left for our morning devotions and staff meetings.

Storage space in the meeting room.

Too, behind my house the land was being measured and marked for a foundation for a structure that would hold the four water tanks and give me storage space underneath. I do not like wasted space and storage is a high priority here. More planning is needed but hopefully construction can get underway soon.

Measuring the land

The hospital continues daily to have lots of new injured patients arrive from Port au Prince. Some have been released but immediately someone else takes their place. The wards are packed solid – far too many beds, but they have no choice. While I was with Serlande today a dressing was changed on a man’s arm next to her. I have watched him suffer a lot for a couple of days. Yikes, no wonder. Today I saw the arm uncovered and I almost passed out. Such suffering by so many.

A man who looked very sad talked to me about his brother. He had gone to PaP and found his body. He placed him in a morgue and notified the family. He went back to the morgue on day 3 but could not find his brother. He was told that since there was no electricity in the city the bodies had to be taken away and put into the mass grave outside of Port. He was having a hard time dealing with it. A lady came to talk to me, and ask for help. Her brother had been standing on a road in PaP and an antenna fell on him splitting his head open. She got him back here to the hospital hoping they could save him, but his head injury was too bad. She wanted a little help to bury him.

You know that Ti Luc and I sleep outside in the yard every night in one of the small mosquito tents. I was able to make my escape from the tent early this morning while my little guy was still asleep. At one point when going to check on Ti Luc I could hear the zipper opening. I stayed out of sight but watched what was happening. He was chatting away, the way he does, saying he was coming in the house. He was opening the zipper himself with his feet. When he got it open he had the biggest smile. I could not resist a photo.

One proud litle boy

Despite all the running around I did trying to take care of everything I made some time for my precious kids. I am adding a photo of my newest one – Judel who is two years old. When he joined this family he was terrified. Not for long though. He is the cute, mischievous and very lovable. Ben, one of our team members, who came back for the second time, is grandpa to Judel. Ben’s son and daughter-in-law are sponsoring Judel for the orphanage.

Spending time with the kids

Our newest addition: Judel

Thank you for all the support that is coming. Thank you. Continue to pray for me please, for health and strength so I can continue to do what is required here.

~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.

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Testimonials

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
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
Such important work done with LOVE and commitment!

Dana Wight Kayal
HATS Supporter
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
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
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
I am so thankful to God for allowing me the opportunity to be here and experience his splendor. This day will forever be in my heart and mind. The scripture that resonates with me today is “…whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matt 25:40. I am so happy I decided to come to HATS, this experience will stay with me for my life time.

Crystal Young
HATS Visitor
It’s my hope that I manage to touch their hearts in some small way, the way that they have touched mine – in a major way.

Cherie MacDonald
HATS Visitor
I am going to try to explain why a trip to Haiti is life-changing. No-one can be thrown into a group of people who have the common purpose of doing something for someone less fortunate and not be changed in many ways. As with those I joined in each of the first four trips I made to HATS, my respect and affection for each of the team members grows daily. To those who wonder if your donations and prayers are actually making a difference, I will answer you in this way…there are about 300 children in front of me right now and some or many of them God will use in a great way to change the future face of Haiti and its people. YOU have helped make that possible — AND THAT, FOLKS — is a fact!

Brian En
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