Sugar Cane, My mother the Diva, Straw Hair

December 19, 2011 Posted by Dana Kayal

Last night Mom, Lex and I spent hours sorting through the donated items to figure out what was going to the kids and staff here and what was going to bless others off site. At 9:30pm we were mentally and physically done so we poked the rest into the storage room so we could have the room ready for 7:30am devotions.

I missed a great photo op last evening! I heard TARANTULA and before I can get there with the camera it’s been killed. They’ve been informed that photo ops must happen before killing! I sure hope they find one for me before I go. This one was running across the lawn during the soccer match. Now I’m super freaked out that the kids often don’t have shoes on. The orphanage kids were not fazed in the least!

White Powder… At church today a few gals showed up with thick white circles of baby powder on their necks. It’s a status thing, it’s their way of showing they have enough money to buy powder. They use it on their underarms etc although the circle on the neck is not for sweating.

My Mom the Diva – so yesterday Alexa said ‘isn’t it amazing that your mom used to be a Diva and look at her now!’. Yes, my Mom the diva. That’s not the word I’d ever have used although it’s pretty accurate. When I grew up I remember my mom didn’t even own runners or jeans and even in the house wore high-heeled feather or fluff topped slippers. I remember coming home late as a teenager and she’d sit angrily rocking in her gold velour chair (throne), wearing her turquoise velour robe with the high ruffled collar. She’d scream when she saw the tiniest bug or spider. We had thick pile carpet that she vacuumed many x a day so there were no footsteps in it. Now she lives among bugs regularly and there are no high heels or carpets anywhere.

Many of you are asking about her hair. For those of you that missed it read back a couple blogs to catch up. Mom wouldn’t let me take a photo of the ‘interesting’ post perm results so we did a re-enactment photo with an item that looks as close to the actual hair that evening.

Re-enactment of hair post perm

Hair after she fixed it

Basic Stuff. I brought the kids 5 soccer balls, getting them from a Soccer supply store rather than the cheap walmart ones. Walmart ones work find at home although here I knew the surface would be a lot rougher. Today in the storage room I came across one of their balls.

Soccer Ball

Soccer Field

Sugar Cane. My kids have been wanting it since they got here. We’ve checked outside the gate a few times and the vendor wasn’t there. Mom told Luckner she was looking for some and the next thing we know a moto shows up at the gate with 2 long sugarcane pieces! My kids were very happy! It took me A LONG TIME to clean up a 4” piece of the sugar cane so they could eat it. Today Jacques, who is the Jack of all trades around her, cleaned up 12 feet of sugar cane (for all the kids) in the same amount of time that I cleaned 1.5 feet… The lesson here is that if someone else is better than you and it’s not an immediate necessity leave it for them to do!

Cane on Moto

cane with kids

Sugar Cane Machete

Devotions. Today we did devotions at 7:30am. It doesn’t matter who you are, how tired you are or how late you’ve worked, EVERYONE is at Devotions at 7:30 M-F, including all staff before work starts at 8am. Everyone is in a big circle singing and clapping. Today was the first time I was able to see all the kids face on, in one place, in the light, without them moving around. It’s also the first time it’s not been 10+ huddled around our legs, or chasing a soccer ball or waving at you or running up for a hug as you’re on your way through the compound to do some work somewhere. As a result of this circle of non-moving children, I have now worked out a number of their names! Jofky is another of the babies, although since he’s not hanging onto Alexa and is chasing after the big boys I didn’t even know who he was until this morning. Now seeing the other girls faces I will no longer have to look for Leica’s hair band to know it’s her. I have also identified Josie, who at a quick glance is very similar to Leica. Then there is JJ (pronounced gg since it’s french) and Moise. Both boys are similar in size with shaved heads, one is 9 and the other is 10. The easiest way to see who is who is to check to see which one is being helpful and running around being a right hand. That’s JJ. He also lead devotions this morning. The one causing dezod (mischief/trouble) is Moise. Yesterday hitting Ti Luc with a big stick, today throwing rocks at a water pipe and breaking it. That leaves about 3 girls for me to identify. I think. Just asked my mom to write me out a list. She’s missing 2 on her list. Now I don’t feel so bad.

Sponsoring. I found out today that the kids in the Childrens home have 2 sponsors. 1 for schooling (which is what I sponsor Leica for) and 1 for their support in the home. The school is from Preschool to Grade 9 and has 248 kids. Today I am painting the school.

~Dana

About Dana Kayal

Dana Kayal has been supporting the work of HATS since 2000. A successful entrepreneur, Dana regularly promotes the organization and raises funds for Hands Across the Sea in her role as a Director with Epicure. Dana lives in Kelowna, BC with her three children and her chickens.

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Testimonials

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
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
Such important work done with LOVE and commitment!

Dana Wight Kayal
HATS Supporter
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
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
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
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 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
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
The time has passed so quickly. We know what we’ve done this week is important and makes a difference here at Hands Across the Sea. But it’s easy in Haiti to feel that anything we do here is simply a drop in the ocean. So much need on so many different levels: political, organizational, educational, social, spiritual…But we remind ourselves that each individual life is of infinite value so changing the life of one child and one family is worth the effort.

Liette Wilson
HATS Visitor, Supporter & Board Member