Thank You to Sooo Many!

June 2, 2011 Posted by Karen Huxter

There is a time to come and a time to go. They came. They worked, they drank, they laughed, they drank, they slept, they drank, they walked, they drank, they spent time with my kids, they drank, they played pranks, they drank. They consumed more liquid than I thought possible. It was needed. The temperature and the humidity were both high and they drank a lot of cold beverages to keep going.

I want to say thank you to each and every one of them – for coming, and for everything thing and everyone they touched while here.

Bob, thank you. Thanks for trying to pull off a huge surprise and almost managing it. Thanks for returning once again and for all your hard work as usual.

Bob

Fabian. Thanks for coming for the first time and for the worship music and singing. It was good for me.

Fabian

Gerry, thanks for everything. For all you did before you came, while here, and for all you will continue to do when you back home. A special thank you for holding my ladder in the dark!!

Gerry

Sue, Thank you, Sue, for coming and seeing for yourself what HATS is all about, and for doing so as part of a workteam. Thank you for working in the heat when it was obvious doing so was difficult for your health. Thanks for your support in many ways. Thanks for being you.

Sue

Linda, Thanks for the awesome surprise. I am glad you came. Am I totally forgiven for the night time shenanigans on Saturday? Still good friends, right? Thanks for working hard and especially for all the help with Ti Luc.

Linda

Jennifer, Thank you for deciding to come and see what it was I was doing in Haiti all these years. Now you and Jocelyn can share with my Deer Lake family. It was great to have you here. Thanks for being willing to do anything asked of you.

Jennifer

Jason, You worked hard, enjoyed time with the kids, and helped with another important thing. You have a great sense of humour. Thanks for accepting the shenanigans Saturday night and being so wonderful about it all.

Jason

Dora, I am glad you came. Thanks for your help with Ti Luc and the other children. I appreciate it greatly. Always nice to have Newfies come.

Dora

Judy, Thank you for coming, too, and for your work painting in that heat along with the others. Thanks for the time spent with the children and time spent sewing for me. Really appreciate having the pants on my body instead of the chair.

Judy

Cory En, Thanks for returning. It was nice to have you back. Again this time you worked hard, and in the sun when necessary, at whatever was needed at any given time. Thanks for trying, along with Cory De, to ‘get me’ but I am still ahead.

Cory En

Cory De, Thank you for returning, too. Like Cory En you came and worked at anything and everything when needed and like the others enjoyed time with my kids. You and Cory fell short in ‘getting me back’. Good try, but despite the food in my bed, no ants or cockroaches were there.

Cory De

Amanda, I am glad you came back, too. You, like the rest of the group, are a lot of fun. I appreciated your late night e-mail after the Saturday night shenanigans. Really glad your mother did not get the frantic message. Thanks for all your work too.

Amanda

Jocelyn, I am glad you came too. Two of my Deer Lake family have now been here and that means a lot to me. Thanks for the work you did and the time spent with my kids.

Jocelyn

Again a huge thank you to the whole team. The administration building/my house went from ‘ugly’ to ‘beautiful’. The comments from people are now very different than they were before when looking at this building. The men had hoped to remove the cement at top of the pillars but without some heavy duty equipment, not available here, it was impossible. They, however, worked diligently at other things and, removed or not, the building is now beautiful.

Now beautiful

I ask all of you to please remember to pray for the mission – orphanage and school – children and workers. Lots has been done but lots more needed. Hurricane season is officially started today and it is being predicted as possibly a bad one.

Cholera is on the rampage again since the rainy season started. The numbers of people ill with it, and dying from it, are rising rapidly. Haiti needs your prayers.

What we do here at HATS in every way, on every day – I S A L L A B O U T T H E C H I L D R E N

~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

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
Culture shock for this Canadian team at first, but a ride through busy, vibrant streets proved terrifically interesting; busy markets, vendors selling exotic fruits, clothing and shoes, used tires and rusty metal… and then the gorgeous countryside: banana plants, mangoes, cows and goats and pigs and dogs, the Golfe de La Gonave by our side. Rice patties indicated we were close to our home for the next week. We were greeted by Magalie, a house mother, with hugs for all and, of course, the children themselves, so gorgeous and endearing. A beautiful meal was followed by a sharing of impressions: there is a lot of poverty but so much potential and hope. We are already in love with Haiti.

Team Canada
HATS Visitors
Personally, this is my first time here. I’ve never done a mission trip of any sort before and I’ve certainly never been anywhere this hot before. I keep seeing things that are different from what I’m used to, and hearing about things even more unfamiliar to me. One of the most surprising things to meis how quickly I’ve grown to love all the people here. Everyone here is great, and the team is wonderful too. Watching everyone support each other warms my heart almost as much as the sun warms my skin. I’ve learned a lot from this experience, and I know that this trip has already had a profound impact on my life.

Matthew Sketchley
HATS Visitor
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
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
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 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 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
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
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