Luckner has finished the drainage pipes on the opposite side of the compound as well. Hopefully now the rain water will run out of the yard instead of pooling inside.
The digging for the new septic tank is held up due to finding water, and the rented pump to take it out, refusing to work. Our little Judel did a good job of supervising the first day’s digging and JJ took a pick and tried to help.
The house for support missionary staff is looking good. Quite nice in fact. This week Mariah and Beate spent most of two days sweeping and cleaning the inside of the house. Luckner hopes to get a chance soon to finish the electrical work and the plumbing. Then it will be ready for furniture and God’s choice of a couple to occupy it. We have had six enquiries into the position. We are not rushing into a decision but are praying about each one. Please join us in prayer to find the right couple to work with the HATS-Haiti Mission.
Luckner and I continue to go from project to project, directing, supervising, and also doing lots of hands on work. This week we’ve been working on plumbing problems due to little kids throwing things in the toilets. Never ever a dull moment here. Always one step forward and two back.
The house that was supposed to be a boy’s home, and was damaged in the earthquake, is looking different these days. One room was in bad shape and the cracks throughout kept opening up further. That room is no longer a part of the house. Our plan for the rest of that house is to fix it and keep it for storage for construction supplies, large tools, propane tanks, etc. Luckner had to do electrical work there to move the electrical box for that house from the room that came down, into the main room. Too, the door that opened into that room was closed off with blocks and cement today.
The heat is atrocious. Yes, atrocious. The humidity is very high too and drains one’s energy quite quickly. But life goes on and the work continues. The children like to cool down with a frozen juice made by Papa’s Luckner’s business.
They are all well and continuing to enjoy time with Mariah and Beate. They will miss them when they leave on Monday. Cutie Pitutie Tayanna is going to greatly miss her Ti Mama Mariah. But then I don’t think the missing is going to be all one sided.
This week we have teachers working onsite here with our HATS children for two hours a day – one working with JJ, Mirlande and Moise, and one with Ti Luc, Leica, Josie, Ismyis, and Dieunel. The kids seem to enjoy it and we will continue four days a week for awhile.
Antoinette, Magalie, and the children, are pleased and thankful because they have a sink, tap and running water in their house. O happy day when that was completed. Dancing and singing with thankfulness was heard.
Magalie, in case you don’t know, is our second house mother. Two women are needed onsite with the children and we are thankful for Magalie. She and Antoinette have been friends for years. I actually helped educate Magalie for a few years when I lived in Borel. Now she is a part of HATS. We are looking around now for another lady – part time, four days a week – for when Antoinette and Magalie have their days off. There is just too much work for one lady to do. The HATS children are almost all little and one child quickly leads another child into trouble. We no longer have any grown up girls to help with the younger ones. They are all adorable but they ‘are children’.
Work is continuing on the signs outside both HATS compounds – the main office/ orphanage compound and the school compound. Don, please take note.
I have not forgotten my promise to do a blog about my girls. Beate is doing a blog of lovely photos today so I will hold off on that for awhile.
Sunday morning with both trucks, Luckner’s and HATS, we are taking our children, and the Sunday school children who have kept coming during the summer, to Riviere Montrouis which is a 30-35 minute drive. Our kids are so very excited about playing in the water, on shore, and having a meal there that includes ‘chicken’. Such a treat. Leica has told me numerous times that she plans to put her head in the river water. We could drive a lot further in the heat, and pay to use a beach, but this outing is going to make our kids very happy.
Thank you again for all you continue to do to enable the HATS mission help needy children in this area of Haiti. The needs are great, the work days are hot and long, but lives continue to be touched. We will not give up on Haiti and we ask that you do not either.
God bless you all.
~Karen
