This morning I woke up with such a heavy heart. Ms. Karen was on my mind, I watch her keenly as she tends to all the children ensuring that she divides her time evenly and makes them all feel as though they are the only one. I am a mother of three and I find this task difficult at times but she makes it seem so easy.

I listen to her speak about the need for others to partake in missions, as there is so much work to be done, then I think about Moses, when he was leading the children of Israel and the task was wearing him down in Numbers 11:16-17 “ And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people….. And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.” When Ms. Karen starts to explain the next steps for the HAT’S organization, I just think about Moses, and say a prayer. Truly there is so much to be done…here in Haiti the word of God is ever so real. Matthew 9:37 “Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out labours in the harvest” this is my fervent prayer for Ms. Karen.

Today  we are celebrating Labor Day Holiday in Haiti.  I look around at the efforts of the individuals at HAT’S. Though today is a holiday Karen is busy getting things organized for the day and Luckner is conducting a tutoring class, getting the 9th graders ready their big government assessment exams. There’s no room for holidays at HATS or so I thought.

This morning we got a treat as Karen took the team  sightseeing at the Ti Riviere.

Heading off to Ti Riviere

Ti Riviere has a palace of 365 doors and a Fort. It was amazing; we were able to see the natives as they go about their daily routines… so carefree. As the sun bearded down on us, we found shade in the Palace as we roam from room to room enjoying the view…imagining  what it must have looked like over 200 years ago.

Palace in Ti Riviere. Restoration work being done on it.

The size of this place is amazing

Original wooden doors (265 of them) over 200 years old

Wonder what the view outside the palace was like 200 yrs ago

The group took pleasure in the court yard view.

checking out courtyard of the palace

Then on to the wonderful views from the Fort….it is amazing, you can see down in the valley, it is a priceless view. As I looked out at the vegetation and livestock, I tried to wonder how and why there are people hungry in a place so lush in agriculture. Then I remembered a verse in the bible, Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee….. seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” Whenever we forget God he will remind us that he is the creator of all.

At Fort.  Artibonite Valley and the HATS Mission behind

Karen with precious granddaughter, Mariah, overlooking the valley where HATS is located

The trip is now coming to a climax, but for me the journey is just getting started. Many may assume that Haiti is far away and the issues here don’t affect them or is not their problem…but this is very false, we all are just a major disaster away from being displaced like Haiti. We should all seek to do our part like Karen…

~Crystal