Rain and Wind and more Rain and Wind

May 2, 2012 Posted by Karen Huxter

It was great to pick up the team in PAP yesterday and even better to drive into the compound with everyone safe and sound and to see them receive a warm welcome.

The team members chose their mosquito sleeping tents on the second level last night and placed their belongings in them. Before time for bed we heard rain. Ran to check and found Don’s tent and three others were getting wet and had to be taken down. Don slept in living room downstairs and three ladies from Springdale moved into a bedroom upstairs.

This morning we had lots of sunshine and hoped for no more rain. This afternoon it started to rain with very little warning – and I mean rain – a Haitian torrential downpour. Then what I would call a freak wind storm hit. It felt like hurricane wind but acted more like tornado wind. It swept over our school compound and this main compound blowing everything in its path. It tore the roof completely off the school kitchen, took two trees down in the school yard, blew most everything off the second level of this place and soaked everything that flew down and also what stayed up. The sleeping tents upstairs flew down and around. One, complete with heavy mattress, pillow, and personal belongings of Robyn, i.e. camera, keys, glasses, etc flew unto the next person’s land (one with the rice mill) and landed in a lot of mud and water. Holy Toledo.

Team seeing school before freak storm hit

Trees went down and completely blocked the entrance unto our the canal road from the bridge a well as blocked the road over the bridge. A small building at the corner of our road by the bridge, that had four people in it, was smashed flat. Thank God they were okay. Traffic was backed up on both sides of the bridge for a long time – while the rain poured. I was in the rain for a long time trying to assess what was going on and of course to get some photos. Luckner drove as far as he could in vehicle and then walked through the rain to join us. Too, he wanted to see if his help was needed on the bridge. Mariah joined me and then the others came outside to see what was going on.

Corner to turn unto canal road to go to HATS

Karen & Mariah – two drowned kittens

People in the vehicles at the bridge started to get impatient as they could not get through and soon tempers flared and arguing started. Some people were working tirelessly cutting branches off the downed trees to open part of the road so people could start getting through. At one point someone got out of a truck and aimed a gun at one of the men cutting the tree. Shots were fired in the air. This action did nothing to help the tense situation.

Traffic backed up – road blocked as a result of the horrendous wind

Trying to clear road

There was no wind at Luckner’s place – just rain. This hurricane type wind here came out of nowhere – cleaned what was in its path – and it was over. Many small homes went down, and many people lost their belongings due to the water.

Luckner and I inspected the school compound and moved everything from the roofless school kitchen into the grade seven classroom. Needless to say there will be no school tomorrow. Then Luckner came here to help with damage to water pipes on the level where the tents had been. Pipes up there for future kitchen and bathroom were snapped off and warm water was gushing out.

roof torn completely off school kitchen and damaged on prescolaire 3

Transfering everything from school kitchen to a classroom

Trees down in school yard

Luckner repairing snapped off water pipes on level 2

Earlier today, before the storm hit wood needed for the church roof, before the tin can be nailed on, was purchased and delivered to the church site. Hopefully the tin can go on soon, as it is needed against this weather.

28 more 1 x 6s needed for church roof

Tonight we have Don in Ti Luc’s bed, Ti Luc in his mama’s, three ladies in Mariah’s room upstairs, three in the other room upstairs, and four on my living room floor. Will we actually get to have a night sleeping in the tents upstairs?? That remains to be seen.

Certainly a lot of excitement for the first day for the team. How will we top this?? Hopefully it won’t happen. Never a dull moment at HATS.

Blessings everyone. Another blog tomorrow by some of the other team members.

~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

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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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