More Repairs and a Trip to Fort at Ti Rivye

February 9, 2010 Posted by Karen Huxter

Saturday

Saturday was a busy day from many directions, whether being part of the weekend or not. Dicikie and Ken had a demanding time levelling off an old stump that partly blocked off the pathway that led to the new site for the big water tanks that must be relocated – enough drill holes around the sides were very helpful along with enough hacks with a sturdy Haitian hoe. What hard wood ! A chain saw could have been a big help, too. Jim and Don wheelbarrowed the garbage from the week past, that included more than the normal week, due to the larger numbers visiting the Compound due to the two public gatherings here in relation to Serlande’s death ( there was the third gathering, too, at Serlande’s birth town as we’ve mentioned).

A children’s home, that had been used for storage, was damaged due to the Earthquake. It has been decided now that the damage is more severe than first thought, and it is necessary to take down this concrete building and build a new one. A new one will go up in that spot and will be a boy’s dorm. A few hours work saw the stored materials from that building transported temporarily to another site in the compound.

Dickie drove Karen, Carol, Ken, Jim, Ti Luc, and Don out for a break, but a working break in that we were searching for plumbing supplies, and after a few attempts were quite successful. Upon returning, Jim and Ken linked up the new and relocated water pipes, and Dickie fixed up a main outside faucet.

After a few more odd jobs we decided to stop at 4:30 and go for a walk along the canal with Cecile and the children ( ages 2 to 16 ). There is no better way to end off an afternoon.

It was a very tiring day worthy of a nap.

Carol Cole, aka Gramma Carol, is a tremendous asset at HATS right now. She is worth her weight in gold. She is appreciated and loved by all the children, and especially by Ti Fi and Ti Luc. Carol has taken a load off me, Karen, by giving Ti Luc a tremendous amount of tender, love, and care.

I can rush from place to place and from one job to another knowing that my little guy is well looked after. Carol has been, not only playing with the children, but spending valuable time teaching Ti Fi and Ti Luc.

Ti Fi is glowing and blossoming with this kind of attention and care that she needs and deserves.

Sunday

This morning started slowly as the staff has Sunday off and we fended for ourselves for breakfast, which means cold cereal and warm milk as the generator didn’t get started this morning. After church we spent the morning relaxing and enjoyed a “leftover” lunch.

After lunch we picked up Luckner and went to an old fort at Ti Rivye. It was a fort built by the British in the early 1800’s, I think, and is in a state of poor repair. We also saw a “house” built by King Henri Christoph around 1820 which had 365 exits, one for every day of the year.

It also has not been kept in good repair and is in dire need of maintenance. The tour through the Haitian countryside was beautiful and we saw many crops in different stages of life. There was rice, millet, patat (sweet potatoes), beans, corn and bananas throughout this beautiful valley.

We also stopped at a dam on Haiti’s river where the water is split into two canals as well as the river. Both canals and river are full of life with people doing laundry, bathing or playing and swimming. We definitely saw a slice of Haitian life today.

The Market in Ti Rivye

~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 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
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
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
After years of thinking about it and months of planning for it, it seems strange that our time in Haiti is over. We have been asked by a few if it was like we expected. Well, no. I’m not sure what we expected, but our minds could not have fathomed what we have experienced, and we can hardly believe that our 3 month stay has come to an end. HATS really became home away from home for us. We knew we would enjoy getting to know and spending time with the kids but we had no idea how difficult it would be to leave them. They sneak in and steal your heart without you even knowing it. We have left a piece of our hearts in Haiti and can’t wait for the day when we can return.

Mike & Nicki White
HATS Visitors
Such important work done with LOVE and commitment!

Dana Wight Kayal
HATS Supporter
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
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
Culture shock for this Canadian team at first, but a ride through busy, vibrant streets proved terrifically interesting; busy markets, vendors selling exotic fruits, clothing and shoes, used tires and rusty metal… and then the gorgeous countryside: banana plants, mangoes, cows and goats and pigs and dogs, the Golfe de La Gonave by our side. Rice patties indicated we were close to our home for the next week. We were greeted by Magalie, a house mother, with hugs for all and, of course, the children themselves, so gorgeous and endearing. A beautiful meal was followed by a sharing of impressions: there is a lot of poverty but so much potential and hope. We are already in love with Haiti.

Team Canada
HATS Visitors
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
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