1, 2, Buckle My Shoe

July 3, 2014 Posted by Beate Rufft

Edited: Due to migrating the blog in 2016, the original pictures are no longer available.

Would you believe that we have totally lost track of time? We keep saying “what day is this?” But we don’t really want to know what day it is because that would mean knowing that we could be half way through our trip. Which means that we will have to leave soon…which means…sigh….okay, enough of that! I guess what I’m trying to express is how much Vivienne and I are totally enjoying our stay. Don’t get me wrong…it’s been hard work too (at least for some of us!!!! Hmmmpff)

Mind you Vivienne is getting up extra early each morning to work on Karen. She happens to be an Osteopathic Therapist and is treating Karen each morning at 6:30 while I’m still up in the tent having my beauty sleep. She treats Ti Luc at bedtime, and it only takes him 20 seconds before he is sound asleep.

But mostly it has been such a treat to hang out with the kids. We are constantly reminded of the blessings we all have and take for granted. You should have seen the joy on the kids’ faces when they received a wee bag of Cheesies as a treat, or the glow sticks that Anthony (Vivienne’s hubby) insisted she bring….Good job Anthony, the kids were ecstatic.

We had a lovely day staying at home. Karen gave us a tour of the school and the new church/meeting hall. It is amazing, and a big BRAVO & MERCI to the Brentview Baptist Church in Calgary who paid for half of that construction. What a great and generous gift you gave HATS.

It gets very hot in the afternoons, and today I spent a bit of time with Ti Luc teaching him how to use PowerPoint…yes…I said PowerPoint! He created backgrounds, inserted clip art, and composed in English his version of “1, 2, Buckle My Shoe.” We even figured out how to use the voice over and added sound to his story…Ti Luc read the whole story in English and I recorded it for each page. This little boy is amazing to say the least. He is totally tri-lingual (Creole, French and English). Maybe I can teach him some German too? He manages his special key board and mouse pad using his toes only. I CAN’T believe what a smart guy he is.

Just before dinner, we joined the kids at the school for a game of “Haitian football,” (soccer) but that didn’t last long as we were easily distracted by the almonds…I have never seen a real almond tree, and almond in the raw. It took a lot of pounding to finally get one open (think of a mini coconut). All that work for just a wee crumb….

After dinner, Ti Luc practised his printing…this time he tried to teach Beate to use “his” technology…not so good on my part.

Okay, one last thought for today. You know, when I take my school kids to a winter camp, we disallow any form of technology, so that the kids can actually enjoy nature and socialize…hmmmmmm…what do you think? Should I try to enforce that rule for these two kids????

Okay, we are signing off now…Vivienne is a horrible typer so she handed over this job to me, but is hanging over my shoulder supervising. She says hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii…….

Hugs,

~Beate and Vivienne

About Beate Rufft

Beate Rufft, was introduced to Hands Across the Sea and our founder, Karen Huxter in 2010, after seeing the devastation of the earthquake and wanting to volunteer in the country. An elementary school teacher in Ontario, Beate has previously worked with homeless children in Columbia and orphans in El Salvador. Beate is currently serving as Board Secretary and travels to Haiti each year. She is a proud to support the vital work that HATS does for the children and families in the community of Deschapelles.

Archive by Month

Testimonials

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
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
Such important work done with LOVE and commitment!

Dana Wight Kayal
HATS Supporter
I had anticipated that I would enjoy spending time getting to know the children and being a part of Karen’s daily life in Haiti but I had not anticipated that it would capture my heart like it did. I will miss spending time with the children and Karen but I am hopeful that I’ll be able to see them all again in the not too distant future.

Sara-May Cardy
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
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
Amazing organization! Had the pleasure of visiting twice, and can’t wait to go back again someday. God is doing some wonderful things at HATS!

Jess MacDonald
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
I’m not sure what we’re doing here, just showing up for a week – it’s not like it’s sustainable. And I don’t want to become depressed by some of the harsh realities that Karen has to deal with every day. You know it’s ONE thing to start an orphanage and school (Yes, Karen has done things that are beeeeyond me), but it’s ANOTHER thing to raise the 20 babies that become YOUR kids!!! Not only are they a big family, but they are a big family containing individual stories that got them all to where they are in the orphanage. I don’t even know how to describe it…I have never seen a woman her age with this much energy…fun loving energy that is. She so inspired me today and really is a wonderful mother to all these children.

Barbara
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