Another Amazing Adventure Trip

October 25, 2013 Posted by HATS Visitors

Another beautiful day in beautiful Haiti. Some of us would like it a little cooler, but we have to live with the fact that God is in control not us, thankfully and we have to bless that wonderful fact. We are alive today and enjoying his wonderful creation, in a place where there are such beautiful people.

This fact was brought home to me this morning, in amazing abundance. On other trips here and for the first few days I stood in the back of three classrooms, that had been opened up, for morning devotions. This morning the other seven , blancs, on this Team, Don Huxter, Jim Steer, Dickie & Sandra MacDonald, Dave Buckle, Bob Huxter, & Lisa Edison, plus Director of HATS Karen Huxter. I went to the front of the room so I could becloser to the children and see them better. It was a great decision. I was up front with several of their teachers, and being the only Blanc it seemed like all of the children were looking right at me. They were scrubbed up as clean as a whistle, there faces sparkling and their hair and uniforms done immaculately. Their eyes sparkled like diamonds, and I was looking into the faces of over fifty children in the first few rows. They start school here at age three – Pre School 1,2,&3. The three year olds were in the first few rows, then the four year olds, and so on. I have never seen such a beautiful looking bunch of children in my life. They were all staring on me and a lump came up into my throat and I had to fight to keep the tears in. I’m not telling anyone else this, but I know where I’m going to be standing for school devotions again.

Morning devotions at school

Jim, Sandra, Bob, Don & Lisa were working on the school sponsorship program. This involves getting the children to come out for a photograph, holding a large piece of paper, with their name on it, so they can send it to that students’ sponsosr. Each of the students send a sheet of info to their sponsor with the picture. They have been doing this for several days and I helped them with it to some of the time in the past few days.

Preschool I students looking for sponsors

Grade 9 class doing letters to sponsors

This morning Dickie had a few work projects on the go for him, Dave and I. They re-hung some doors for improved people movement, while I worked on making a new step for some stairs and re-making parts to a security gate to keep the children from going up the stairs to the second level.

The Assistant Director of HATS, and school Principal, Luckner Estimable has been working very hard for Hats and has been extremely busy. So we arranged to have a small surprise party for him, while we were here, to thank him and show our appreciation. It was a lot of fun being with him and all the children and staff all together this afternoon.

Team Canada with Karen & Luckner at HATS-Haiti

Papa Luckner & Ti Luckner at the party

Luckner and Dickie at the party

Don cleaning out cake pan to share with kids

Did I say the weather was too hot? Dickie, Dave and I have moved our little screen tents up on the roof of the top floor. There is more breeze up there, the stars are bright and the Haiti night sounds, as those of you who have been here will know, are like night music. One night there was a lightening storm, so we had to move our tents down to the roof on the second level. This has been another amazing adventure trip, that I wish you all could experience.

~Ken

About HATS Visitors

HATS – Haiti encourages individuals and work teams to travel to Haiti to be a part of the work we are doing. Those who come to Haiti are given the opportunity to join in construction projects, visit in the local community, spend time with the children, and minister in church. You can help us in our work for the most needy and most vulnerable members of Haiti’s population. Come be transformed by seeing the need and being a part of meeting that need. Be part of the story

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Testimonials

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
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
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
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
Such important work done with LOVE and commitment!

Dana Wight Kayal
HATS Supporter
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
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
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
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
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