What Are you Most Afraid Of?

March 20, 2011 Posted by HATS Visitors

Hey everyone, it’s Seth, which is also the reason the blog hasn’t been written in almost a week because I’ve been working on it that long! Karen, Jess, and Dave have done a great job of sharing what’s been going on here, but I’ve seen a few comments about why I haven’t written the blog yet, so here I am. This is my first attempt at writing the blog! Things have been great so far in Haiti! Jess and I have already learned so much and grown so much since being here.

They’ve done a fair job of explaining me in the previous blogs, but they missed a few important things, like…I’ve won an Olympic gold medal in weightlifting,

Seth the weightlifting champion

I invented the i-phone, and I flew fighter jets in world war II for Switzerland. After hearing that, it would be simple to conclude that I’m not afraid of anything, but that’s just not true. Jess and I were constantly asked as we were preparing to leave for Haiti, “what are you most afraid of?” There are a lot of rational answers to that question, like- lack of electricity or clean water, language barrier, food, safety, tarantulas, tap-taps (Haitian taxis), etc. My answer is slightly less rational and, to some, may be irrational; my fear was having to use the internet! Those back home will laugh when they read this because they know how long it takes to get a response when they send me a facebook comment. I probably make fun of social media more than anyone I know, but I knew that in moving to Haiti, it would have to be my lifeline for communication. And I was slightly convicted by Ecclesiastes 9c which says, “there is a time for facebook, and there is a time not for facebook.” I can’t remember what translation that’s from. Anyway, I’ve given in to the internet and here I am, a better man for it, today at least.

Seth facing his fear of internet so he can overcome like he did all those other things

We’re in the process of finishing up our home. All we have left is mopping and moving in! One thing I’ve realized during this process is that I’ve been spoiled by options in the USA. We’ve been on two shopping trips so far for our new home. Do our plates, bowls or cups match? No, because we only had one option. We went to St. Marc for the second time today and we came back still not having a spatula or skillet. Dave, thank you so much for the polka dotted comforter and shower curtain! You know what my options would have been here? Lace! Do I like lace? I do now! Now, paint is slightly different. We have every option….in pastel! As we were deciding what color to finish inside upstairs, I was completely content and excited with continuing with purple, because like I always say, “Let’s paint the world purple for Jesus!” But before we could start with purple, I got an email from Justin Bieber (I hear he’s an avid follower of our blog) asking that we don’t wear out the color purple. I was getting ready to respond with, “Never say Never,” but Karen asked me to grant his request since He is Canadian. So we went with the next best color- Pink!

Seth helping paint the world purple for Jesus

Our house does look great! We’ve spent a lot of time the past few days getting it ready. Wednesday, Jess and Antoinette cleaned while I finished up the plumbing(which could include another rant on options!). We finished the day by playing an intense game of concrete soccer with the kids.

Concrete soccer

Thursday, We were getting ready to start on the house again when Karen asked if we wanted to go to St. Marc. We wouldn’t miss an opportunity to travel a bit so we went! We stopped at the bank first, but the lines were so long we would have spent the whole day there! One of the ‘higher ups’ told Karen to come back a bit later and she would get things done for her so we went from shop to shop picking up supplies and groceries for a couple of hours. Then we went back to the bank. Now, how do I explain a Haitian bank experience?! I guess my best explanation is that it’s like trying to leave a professional sports event in the U.S. There was only room to stand! So that’s what Jess and I did while we waited for Karen to get done with her business at the bank. She got right in, but it still took over an hour. Jess and I enjoyed our experience, though. Maybe we won’t say the same in a few months.

Thursday was also the start of March Madness college basketball tourney! I really enjoy college basketball, but neither Jess nor I have watched any games this year at all. But we decided to have a little fun and fill out brackets with the winning person after each round receiving a back rub. Well, after the first round Jess had somehow only picked 6 games wrong! (I won’t say how many I had lost). I told her that evening that I was proud of her for being so lucky. She claimed it was all skill, but proceeded to tell me that she’s maybe watched one full game in her entire life (and lets be sure to emphasize the maybe!). But what can I say, she’s the one that got the back rub!

Friday and Saturday were extensions of Wednesday in that we continued working on our home. We’re still not done yet! It seems like something else always comes up, whether it be finding out about something new that needs done, or having to take a break to fix a plumbing problem in the new girls home or having to “unlock” the depo- with a saw!

Canadians use a key. Americans use a saw

We’re all excited about tomorrow! It’s election day in Haiti! I’ve heard so much campaigning the past week that I’m almost convinced to try and vote tomorrow! The way they campaign here is a guy fills the back of his truck with at least 10 large speakers and another guy stands on top of the skyscraper of speakers and tells you to vote for his person while blasting music. I don’t know how many laws he would be breaking in the states. Anyway, tomorrow will be an interesting day, who knows, this may be an interesting week! Needless to say, we won’t be leaving the compound tomorrow.

Now, I’ve been joking a lot in this blog about options. In the process of writing this blog I read from A.W. Tozer’s “The Pursuit of God”. In the section I read, he was talking about Genesis 22 where God tests Abraham. He questions what would have happened if Abraham wouldn’t have chosen God and he responds with this, ” God would have found His man, no doubt, but the loss to Abraham would have been tragic beyond the telling. So we will be brought one by one to the testing place, and we may never know when we are there. At that testing place there will be no dozen possible choices for us; just one and the alternative, but our whole future will be conditioned by the choice we make.” Jess and I know that we are here for a reason and we’re excited for all He is going to do in and through us here, and we’re excited to see how he shapes us for the future. We encourage you to choose God as well, whatever and wherever that may be. It may not be here, but it is somewhere!

That’s all for now. Thank you all for your continued support and prayers! We need them everyday. We’re so glad we can share all of this with you! Thanks again…

In Christ,

~Seth

About HATS Visitors

HATS – Haiti encourages individuals and work teams to travel to Haiti to be a part of the work we are doing. Those who come to Haiti are given the opportunity to join in construction projects, visit in the local community, spend time with the children, and minister in church. You can help us in our work for the most needy and most vulnerable members of Haiti’s population. Come be transformed by seeing the need and being a part of meeting that need. Be part of the story

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Testimonials

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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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 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
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