News of our Good Work is Spreading

October 26, 2011 Posted by Karen Huxter

Goodness another week has passed since I last blogged. So much for good intentions. The intentions are good but the time to follow through is not good.

We are all doing well here. Other than colds the children are good. Our new baby boy, Jonathan, is eating well and growing. Sandra looks big in comparison to Jonathan. She is chubby and healthy now, loves to try to stand and has two teeth coming though. She lights up like a little Christmas tree when she sees us. I have her in the office with me whenever possible, which is good for both her and me. Karena is still Mariah’s little girl and gets jealous of anyone else with Mariah.

One month old Jonathan

Cutie Pitutie Sandra

My kids love books but destroy them. Thus I now have library hour at my house. It is a great way to get them interested and teach them to care for and respect all books.

Library hour at Mama’s place

Karena & Moise at library hour

Jessie and Seth are busier again now since school reopened. Seth has been building storage cupboards for our school office, and a big tool cupboard for our depot. Jessie has been helping in the office and wherever needed at any given time. Sorry photos next time.

School is going well. We have not yet been able to start our feeding program for this year but hopefully we will be able to start feeding the students soon. They are, however, glad to be receiving their Reliv Kid’s Now nutritious drink every day. They call it their ‘chokola’ and they love it.

Mariah is teaching and assisting with all prescolaire classes. She is doing a good job for our school which is being noted by all teachers and the school direction. In fact the school director asked if she could stay a little longer and leave in Dec instead of Nov 24th as planned. She agreed. I will attach a couple of photos of her in her two different teacher uniforms. Her being fluent in French and Creole as well as English is a tremendous blessing for us.

Mariah in her teacher’s uniform

Mariah teaching at IMKH

As the office for Luckner and I is not yet finished we are both having problems trying to get necessary paperwork done. Getting textbooks into the hands of the sponsored students is proving a major problem as always but we are almost finished that. Now I need to get going on the sponsored students list and get accurate information out to the sponsors. Jessie will come in handy there soon. Speaking of sponsors – to those of you who have already been sponsoring and to those of you who are new, thank you very much for helping your student(s).

Office-Library building starting to look good

Liette and her good friend, Yvette, will be arriving November 15th and Liette will undertake her huge task once again of getting all student’s thank you letters and photos done for this year.

Speaking of students. Is there anyone interested in sponsoring students to attend the Trade School at Luckner’s place. He has people wanting to sign up for English and Computer classes – 6 and 8 month courses – but they are unable to pay. He needs to pay the teachers but without help for the students there is a problem. Later other courses will be offered there. The students attending, and wanting to attend, range in age from 14 to adult. Some are presently attending our school – IMKH, and some are former students of ours.

Computer class at Trade School

Our church/Sunday school continues to function. Our numbers are rising again now that school is in. Last Sunday was a special one at our service. Mariah’s biological father, his wife, and Mariah’s four half siblings left their area and came to our service. It was special for them and Mariah but also for all of us who were there. I explained to the congregation who they were and a little about Mariah’s adoption. Everyone was extremely interested, and the school students were totally fascinated. After church the family joined us here and Mariah served them a meal she cooked herself. It was indeed a special day. In the photo, and video clip (if it can be attached) you will see her biological father and family at the back of our little church group.

Ti service at church Sunday morning

On Wednesday we had a lovely group of ten from Montreal with us for the day. Allan Heron, who I first met here last March, was the leader. This was a very interesting group and their time here was too short. I am sorry I do not have photos as my camera battery decided to quit that day. I expect photos will come to me from the team and I will add some on another blog.

Those of you who have been following my experiences here for some time might remember a young lady, Janine Roth, from BC who was here with me some years back for approx 2 months. Janine is presently in Haiti again and we look forward to having her join us for three days tomorrow. She will see some major changes and improvements and meet lots of new children and employees. My kids are excited. Moise was very little and does not remember her. JJ, one year older, says he does, but I am not sure. Mirlande and Vladimy certainly do remember Janine. No doubt the three days will pass too quickly.

I have been blessed several times recently by hearing people say they had been told that this mission has a really good orphanage, and children are extremely well cared for. The word is out that if someone needs a ‘good’ place for a child they should come here. Government workers and UN workers have passed this along too. Nice to know people see us as doing a good job with children. We now have 2 babies and several small children. I think we need to wait now before adding another one.

IT IS ALL ABOUT THE CHILDREN

I cannot blog without saying thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU to all of you.

God bless each and every one of you.

~Karen and gang

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

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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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