Surprise Birthday for Karen!

May 19, 2010 Posted by Karen Huxter

Too long again between blog postings. I agree. Thank you for contacting me and reminding me you are missing the blogs.

The construction and repair work continues onsite. We have had a core group of Haitian construction workers with us since December when they did the stairs so the Canadian team could start the support missionary house. Luckner felt the workers were starting to take some things for granted and were starting to slack off in their work efforts. Thus he called a meeting – workers and the both of us. They stopped their work and we just stood together behind the Kid’s Home. In a cool, calm, and collected voice and manner Luckner made it clear that he was ready to lay them all off and start with other workers the following day. Wow, that did it. We saw more accomplished that day than we had for some time. Too, things have remained moving in a much better manner ever since.

Luckner meeting with construction workers

Lots of ongoing plumbing problems onsite and they cannot always get seen to immediately. Luckner, like me, wears too many hats and some things have to wait. He took a day recently and did several plumbing repairs at the main house and at Kid’ Home. There is certainly a need for a support missionary couple so work necessary to keep things running properly are not all on our shoulders.

Luckner repairing plumbing problems

The Kid’s Home work has continued. In order for the cement work to be done, to make the house much stronger, the paint had to be removed. Cement will not adhere properly to cement if it is painted. Thus the workers had the painstaking job of removing the paint with hammers. The cement work is now completed there and at present screen windows are being done. This will be followed by rebar outside all windows for protection. After that we have only to do some work in the kitchen area. The kids will soon move back into their home. Painting of the house will be done later when a workteam arrives.

Work continues on Kid’s Home

Paint removal by hand

Kids all doing okay. Ti Fi continues to do better every day. She is blossoming these days and trying to do what the other kids do. She likes to hug and kiss me a lot. Last week we had a hair cutting day. Someone came to the compound to cut the hair of my six boys. I told this man that if he shaved the heads of the boys he would never get back on the compound. He must have believed me because each head that he did he left the hair a little longer than the previous. JJ was last and not happy because he did not take off enough. Perhaps next time it will go better.

Ti Fi loving Mama

On the last blog you saw Drexey who had been the first one to come to HATS and do therapy with Ti Luc. This time you get to see Lauren doing some therapy with Ti Luc. Lauren, also from the US, worked with Ti Luc a year ago when she was in Haiti for awhile working with patients at the hospital. Ti Luc remembered her and enjoyed working with the ball.

Lauren giving Ti Luc therapy

High on the list of construction repair work is the compound enclosure fence. Some sections will have to be removed and new support posts added. The most dangerous area is directly behind my house as it still moves if you just stand and lean against it. We decided Ti Luc and the other kids can not play behind the kitchen area until that work is done.

At present a rebar walkway for our water pipes is being made so pipe can run from the top of my house to the top of the water tower building. When the cement roof is completely dry and this rebar work is completed the work will commence on moving the tanks from one building to another. We will move and set up two at a time so the two compounds will always have a water supply.

To make the main house really safe and give it the support it needs, when the tanks are off, we will be putting the walls up on the second level. Work will start soon too on the foundation for the Boy’s Home. Lots done. Lots to do. One day at a time.

This blog is being written in Calgary.

Due to all the repair construction work onsite I knew I could not take three weeks away in June as I had hoped to do to see my daughters and grandchildren in Calgary and in Kelowna. I, however, felt I really needed a short break so decided to return to Canada for one week while the roof of the water tower building was drying.

When I walked off the plane in Calgary I breathed a huge sigh of relief. I thanked God that I was on Canadian soil and that no one would be looking for me…at least they would not find me for a few days. How good it felt!. It is the first time in fifteen years that I have felt that amount of stress leave my body just because I was back in Canada. When you are in the midst of the busyness and the stressfulness, are constatnly on call, and everyone needs your help, you just keep on going, going, going…I did not realize how badly I really did need to get away for a week. But I needed it!!! Being here with family is therapeutic. Liette had a surprise birthday party for me Saturday evening. How lovely it was to see people that were important to me turn up at Liette’s to celebrate with me. It is good to be in the temperatures that Calgary is having. I am not sweating 24 hours a day. How sweet it is!!

Surprise Birthday Party

I saw my doctor the same day I arrived. Had x-rays the next day and am getting therapy on my hip. I will be heading home to my kids again real soon. According to Luckner and Antoinette they are missing their mama a lot. I spoke with each one of them Sunday and they all asked me to come home real soon. Hopefully their mama will be in better shape for having come out for a week.

I will blog again when I am back home with my Haitian family – perhaps on the weekend.

~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

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
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
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
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
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
Amazing organization! Had the pleasure of visiting twice, and can’t wait to go back again someday. God is doing some wonderful things at HATS!

Jess MacDonald
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
One thing that has impacted me on this trip is seeing the children and all the dedication in this orphanage. There is so much going on behind the scenes to keep the HATS orphanage and school running.

Donna Wheeler
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