What’s this? Karen Blogging Two Days in a Row!

November 10, 2010 Posted by Karen Huxter

Must be bad news, good news, or both.

It is both! First the bad news. Cholera is spreading rapidly. Yesterday I wrote about the increased danger of Cholera since the hurricane hit Haiti and that we are trying to educate our students. Today we know that several of our school students have it along with members of their families. It is all over the country now. Reports are coming in of lots of illness and deaths in Cap Haitian, Gonaives, and all over. More deaths today in St. Marc again. People are talking about nothing else now as it is not a good situation at all. It is no longer all around us, it is in the mission too now. Close to HATS, in Borel where Luckner lives, there are many people very ill with Cholera. Authorities from many countries predicted that if Hurricane Thomas hit Haiti the cholera epidemic would worsen quite quickly. Those were accurate predictions.

Today we decided to send all of our prescolaire students home until Monday at least. We will take another look tomorrow and we might send more of the younger students home, or even all of the elementary students. This morning Luckner and I gave our elementary teachers the good news that Liette and team will be arriving on Sunday with donations of Cholera vaccinations from caring people outside , and they will be on the receiving end. Wow. The relief and thankfulness was very evident.

Thank you to all who have donated towards the 60 vaccines that are coming down. Thank you for your continued prayer support for the people of Haiti.

Now the good news. Today another precious little one was added to our family. My family keeps increasing and we still don’t have the second Children’s Home up. This little guy is called Jofky, at least for now. He does not yet have a birth certificate so that might change. He is 1 1/2 and already a buddy for our little Karena.

This morning security came to tell me that someone was at the gate asking for me. He said the person was blind and had a small child with him, and wanted me to take him. Luckner and I met with the man and got necessary information. He is the papa but he cannot take care of his child. During our meeting the father said he lived in Verrettes and he has been blind since 1995. His name is Joseph. Something was triggering a memory and I kept looking at him. Then I remembered during my first year here in 1995 I had gone to Verrettes with someone to visit a Christian family who was building a school. While there I heard about a young man who had recently gone blind. I went to see the young man, who was called Joseph, and prayed with him, in English of course at that time. I know this is the same Joseph who came to HATS today to ask us to take care of his precious boy because he cannot. It is interesting to see God at work.

We agreed to accept the little boy into this family and to do so today while he was here. The little guy was confused and crying in his papa’s arms. Before the papa left him with me he knelt on the floor of our office, put his hand on his son’s head and prayed, and prayed and prayed. I had called Antoinette to come up and meet the little guy. When she arrived she found me standing in the office doorway crying as I was listening to the father praying. Soon Antoinette too was crying. It was obvious the man knew Jesus and loved his son very much, but knew he could not take care of him. When the father finished praying the boy was very calm and relaxed.

Jofky with his papa praying for him

Jofky then came willingly into my arms (no fear of the blan lady at all) and cuddled into me and wanted to stay in my arms. He has accepted me and his new family readily and is already settling in nicely.

Mama Karen, Jofky, Karena and Ti Luc

He and Karena are friends already.

Jofky and Karena

All the children are happy to have another little brother and wanted a new photo which included him. All of these children are unique and special.

Each one unique and special

Please pray that I can find another lady to join HATS and work with Antoinette and Magalie and the children. There absolutely must be two people with them all the time. It is now becoming urgent.

Thanks again for all the support, all the love and acceptance.

IT TRULY IS ALL ABOUT THE CHILDREN.

~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

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 week has been amazing – one of the best weeks of my life thus far, hands down. I can’t really think of any other experience in my life that can even come close to comparing to this. Though my visit here was short (too short), it has been incredibly eye-opening, and life changing. I will never forget the people I have met here, or the things I’ve gotten to experience! Most of all, I would like to say how remarkable it is to see first-hand the amazing work God is doing here. I am behind this ministry 100%, and will continue to support it. I am so, so blessed to have been given the opportunity to come here, and I am REALLY not looking forward to saying goodbye to the children tonight. My heart sinks just thinking about it. There’s no doubt that they’ve had a bigger impact on my life than I’ve had on theirs. I will be leaving a big piece of my heart with these people and this country. God bless.

Jess Buckle
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
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
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
They call Karen “the helicopter ” and after spending three days by her side I know why. She propels through life!!! If you want to get on the ride you better start running. It is an amazing work that the Lord is doing here through so many many dedicated workers…literally hundreds of children impacted every day with the love of Christ…but the task to do so is enormous. The dedication of staff is invaluable…they NEED US ALL!!

Barbara & Louis
HATS Visitors
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 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
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 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