The 2010/2011 School Year has Started

October 6, 2010 Posted by Karen Huxter

Yesterday, Monday, saw the school yard filled with students once again. The government set the date of October 4th for school to open. It is later this year due to the loss of many schools in the earthquake. The plan at this time is for school to open in September again next year.Saturday and Sunday saw the HATS mission extremely busy doing a lot of last minute work in preparation for Monday morning. Sunday was not a day of rest. There were construction workers, our kids, Luckner, and me, all busily involved in getting things done. Sunday night I asked for help from Antoinette and Magalie in sorting the textbooks into grades throughout various areas of my house. Not a lot of space left in which to walk.The school desks for our two prescolaire classes were completed and carried over to the school late Sunday afternoon.

Desks for prescolaire

Carrying new desks to school late Sunday

On Saturday Luckner, with the help of others, finished the work on the urinals for the students.

Work on urinals

The school kitchen needs one more thing done for this year and that will take place on Saturday. The sink and water tap was completed in September. The lady in charge of preparing a meal daily for our students, and in the cleanup after, was thrilled to see the improvements. We will be cooking with charcoal this year instead of wood, which is cleaner. What is needed, however, are gas burners. Hopefully by next September we will be able to go that route.

School kitchen sink and tap for dishes

Vladimy, JJ, and Moise worked all day Saturday painting the teacher’s desks with wood preservative. Due to so many other things needing to be completed for yesterday the actual painting had to wait. They are still sitting outside my house waiting to be painted before they go to the school – hopefully today.

Preparation for school with JJ, Moise & Vladimy helping

Yesterday morning, the first day of school for this year, devotions at the school started again. It was good to see many students happily singing during devotions. They all seem to be happy to be back.

Devotions first day of school

Those of you who have so kindly forwarded funds to sponsor a student (or students) please give me a little time to match you up. In Haiti all students do not turn up the first day of school. Besides we have added more new ones due to the availability of sponsors. The students slowly and steadily drift in over a week or so. We need to be sure who exactly is attending our school this year. Hopefully by the end of this week or beginning of next week I will be able to contact you.Too, I ask that you try to understand that I am the only ‘blan’ here onsite. I have no office help whatsoever. I am overworked, overwhelmed, overtired, and sometimes ‘overcome’. Drawing on the strength of the Lord is what keeps me going. I am not only without office help, I am without an employee, Martha, who I depend on for ‘many things’, including food. Martha is ill. She is off for two weeks and it remains to be seen whether or not she can return next week. Please pray for me !! I am needed by many people, at the same time, in all aspects of running the mission and I cannot do it all!! Thanks for your prayers.Without Martha’s help with preparing a meal and help with Ti Luc, I have had Ti Luc eating a meal a day with the other children at the Kid’s Home. This is good for him and for my other children. I love to be there when they are all sitting around the table laughing and filling their tummys.

Fill up the tummys

Saturday mornings is usually ‘wash the undies’ day for our kids. It is good for them to learn to wash out their own and besides they love to sit outside and do it. Saturday I saw eight of my kids all sitting around one large plastic tub washing underwear. Ti Luc had his hands in there washing as well – this is an advancement over washing clothes with his feet, and even Karena (1 1/2) was involved.

Kids washing undies. Ti Luc using hands and Karena joining in

I have been regularly encouraging hand usage by Ti Luc. Not an easy thing for him at all, but I am seeing slow and steady improvement. He truly wants to do everything the other children do. Recently he actually lifted a full can of paint that was in our living room. See for yourselves. Now that was very good use of his hands.

Good use of Ti Luc’s hands

I can’t finish without this story for those huge spider lovers out there. Blair and Beatte that includes you two. Early yesterday morning around 5:40 I heard Ti Luc screaming in terror. I dropped what I had in my hands and went running into his room. He was shaking in fear so I held him. I asked if he had a bad dream. He kept looking at his bedroom window and crying and shaking. I could see nothing. I calmed him and then he started screaming again and I saw a HUGE tarantula walking up the screen of his window. It was on the outside but my darling boy did not know that. I ran for my camera but before I returned it had moved on elsewhere. It was the biggest one I’ve seen here thus far and had lots of colours. Last night he kept looking at the window when I put him to bed. I closed the curtains just in case it decided to walk his window again.

Again, thank you, thank you, thank you for all your support in every way. HATS-Haiti is not, and never will be, HATS-Haiti without all of you.

“Remember one person’s life being changed is more important than all the material things the world has to offer.”

God bless each and every one of you.

~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 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 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
This is my first trip to Haiti and I’m hoping that it will not be my last! I could start by telling you all about my experiences however I’ll start by saying that Haiti DOES hit you in your heart! Not a day goes by when I’m not fighting back tears. Hands Across the Sea is an amazing place! Our team has been assembled of different men that all who all felt God calling them to do his bidding. Since I have been here I was quick to realize that we are just helpers here. Karen and her team of workers are, what I believe to be, the real workers of God! Each child presents their own challenges and Karen and her staff make sure that all of the children, not one child, are seen to!

Bernie Melanson
HATS Visitor
The time has passed so quickly. We know what we’ve done this week is important and makes a difference here at Hands Across the Sea. But it’s easy in Haiti to feel that anything we do here is simply a drop in the ocean. So much need on so many different levels: political, organizational, educational, social, spiritual…But we remind ourselves that each individual life is of infinite value so changing the life of one child and one family is worth the effort.

Liette Wilson
HATS Visitor, Supporter & Board Member
This morning, we woke up as the sun came up and as we all began to trickle downstairs; we were met with warm welcomes from the precious children. As the children arrived, we were deeply touched and came to the realization of how important the HATS organization is to this country. Many children who would not have had any opportunities are now well nourished, educated and have a loving home and a mother who loves them more than we could ever comprehend, Karen Huxter.

Nicole Boudreau & Marcia Muise
HATS Visitors
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
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
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 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
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