Hello from our Red Headed Helicopter!

August 30, 2011 Posted by Karen Huxter

I last blogged from the fabulous island of Newfoundland. In the two weeks that I have been back home in Haiti there has been no possibility of my finding a few minutes to blog or even to respond to emails. I told people awhile back that I was going to blog more often and they would be shorter. Good intentions. I am still planning on that, but life gets in the way here of following any plan. I will try to explain a little about how crazy it has been since my return but without being here and seeing first hand the insane busyness of my life you may not understand. I ask, however, that you have patience when you write me or when I am behind in communication with you. I am literally on the run all the time until I fall unto my bed late at night.

My time with family and friends in NS and NL was wonderful and needed. As friend Aimee predicted, the moment my feet hit the tarmac in Port au Prince, I was once more back in the saddle big time. I have since then been the red headed helicopter again flying high and low trying to handle things.

It was fantastic to be back with my children and to be so warmly welcomed. They truly did seem to be happy to have me back. Luckner, Jessie, and Seth did a good job of keeping things going nicely while I was away, for which I thank them again. Ti Luc enjoyed staying with Jessie and Seth but was one happy boy to have his mama back again.

The day I returned Seth and Jessie had family visitors arrive, four very nice Christian young people, who stayed with Jessie and Seth. We met up at the airport in PAP and travelled to the mission site together. I will let Seth and Jessie blog about that.

The day after my return home, Tuesday, the generator broke down once again. The batteries that provide back up electricity for my place had run out of charge while I was away. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday we were without electricity. No electricity, no lights, no fan, no fridge or freezer running, and no computer. Total blackout everywhere on the compound. Florence Nightingale I am not, but I thought of the stories about her as I wandered around my house in the evenings and nights from 7:00 p.m. on with a small flashlight.

Generator repairs again

To top it all off Ti Luc was quite ill during this time. He had to sleep quite close to me for several nights.

Jordan with Ti Luc as he takes treatment

Papa with his sick boy and other kids trying to pay workers

There were many things awaiting my return and I was busy running from one to another. These things coupled with the huge problems caused by the broken down generator, made saying I was busy all the time an understatement. At the same time I was trying to spend valuable time with my children who had missed their mama.

Karena loves her gift of a mirror from Mama

Mirlande, Leica, Karma, Djeumima

A surprised Anne

During this busy time we managed to have a birthday party for Vladimy who turned 16 and Judel 4.

August birthday boys – Judel 4, Vladimy 16

The family of Jessie and Seth left on Wednesday of last week. That meant a day off the compound for Luckner and I to go to Port au Prince. We did manage to take care of a few necessary things on our list that day. Jessie started to feel ill before going to the airport with her family and she continued to get worse over the next few days. She was a very sick girl and I must admit I was more than concerned. I wanted to try to take care of her on-site to shield her from having to go to the hospital. Luckner and I were able to find a nurse and medical supplies, i.e. IV fluid, etc and have her taken care of here at their house. We thank God that now Jessie is much better – not yet back to complete health – but she is up and around and smiling again.

Jessie getting nursing care

Early Saturday morning saw us back in Port au Prince once more. This time to pick up my precious granddaughter, Mariah, who has come to help me for three months, along with her other grandmother, Liz, who is with us for a short visit. It is good to have them both with us. During the next three months Mariah is going to be very useful in many areas and already today that is very apparent. On the ride to the compound after picking them up we had a flat tire. Change it quickly in the heat right? Not! No spare under the truck where it should have been. Oops. I had dropped the spare tire off for repairs a couple of days before heading to Canada. Obviously in the excitement of packing to leave I forgot to get it picked back up and also forgot to let Luckner know it was not back on the truck.

Sleeping Mariah, Liz and Daniel in packed full truck

Enroute to home with Mariah and Liz – flat tire no spare

The latest word on schools in Haiti is that we will be opening on October 3rd. This will actually give Luckner and I a chance to do a little more work on the construction project underway at the school. The cement roof on the office/library building was poured a couple of days after my return. There will still be more work to be done on the school compound, which will be undertaken later when funds arrive for same. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks I will be able to get in touch with you, the sponsors, who have a change in your sponsored students.

Just finished pouring cement roof

Over the past few months a very important project – a Trade School – has been constructed, by Luckner, on land that he was able to purchase next door to his house. He had it built as a community project and I might add a necessary project for this area. People here, visitors from Canada and the US, as well as myself, saw this need and are thankful for it. I, however, also saw the need of it being separate from the HATS mission. I, however, am, and always will be, a part of it. Involvement and support for this project is needed and there is a possibility of this coming from a group of people in NS. Hopefully help for courses to be taught and for people in our area to be able to attend the Trade School will come.

Radio Station on top. Trade school below

Luckner has built not only a community trade school but also a Radio Station which sits on top of the school building. Radio Creole FM has quickly become well known and has become a very important part of this community. Radio Creole plays a lot of Christian music, has prayer time three times a day, and very important Christian messages are going out to the people. Lives are being changed, people are seeing the need to leave a life of darkness to walk in the light. Of all the projects and work Luckner has been, and is, involved in I see this as the most important of all. This is something else I am happily involved in and plan to always be a part of. Today Mariah and I spent 1 1/2 hours down at the Radio Station when Luckner had a person in the station explaining Voodooism. Luckner, knowing the word of God as he does, asked the right questions and gave the right responses. It is fantastic to see people coming to the Lord through the word and music of the radio station.

Radio station at Luckner’s. Announcer with Ti Luc

Luckner and I are working together to help meet needs of the people in this area physically, emotionally and spiritually. We do this through education – elementary and high school, daily meals at the school, mercy ministry into the community, further education through the Trade School, and Christian teaching and prayer support through the radio station.

Thank you. Thank you. THANK YOU for all the support. We will continue to do what we can at this end but without you at the other end nothing will be accomplished.

May God richly bless each and every one of you – our extended HATS family.

Mariah and Ti Luc happy to be together again after 9 months

Nana Liz with Karena Mariah

~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

It is our last day and there is always a certain amount of sadness and joy when we come to the end of a trip . We look forward to our homes and loved ones but there is a part of us that wants to stay and be near these dear dear children. They open their hearts and arms to you when you enter the front gate. They give you laughter and tears all week long and then they cry and hug you when they know you are going away. Being near that kind of unconditional love effects us all very deeply. So we leave part of our hearts here and promise to return.

Gerry Rhyno
HATS Visitor
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 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
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
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 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
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
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