Whirlwind of Heat and Hugs Since Arriving

July 2, 2015 Posted by HATS Visitors

Ronaele

It’s been a whirlwind of heat & hugs since arriving here at HATS in Haiti. I’m a Calgary girl, so there was no way to anticipate the heat in July & a wet towel has become a constant companion. But…nothing, and I do mean nothing, can take away from the gratitude I feel when I hear the laughter & get the constant cuddles from these beautiful children. A trip like this has allowed me to see love, in its basic form; without the frills & spoils of material goods we THINK we need to give our children in Canada. To watch learning, the LOVE & eagerness of learning to sew tells me we have too much excess “stuff”. It tells me that just maybe some of the money we spend at the dollar store on junk, the endless clothes, stuffed Christmas trees & the latest ipads or computer is simply not justified. I do think we need to see beyond our own eyes & reach further into what “feeds the soul”, because lets face it…all the extra STUFF is bought on impulse.

a view of Haiti

Some of the wonderful donations

Put a coin jar out in the kitchen & forego the Starbucks…see how much you can collect. You see, this is what I plan on doing for HATS. One cannot comprehend what it takes to run a place like this & how every penny is used to its highest capacity. I SEE now…but I wasn’t able to see it firsthand prior to the trip, but put some names to these little faces & giving to a place like this is going to be a no-brainer. AMAZING PLACE. My cup is most definitely FULL this week. My soul is aching with joy & humility. Xoxo

~Ronaele

Beate

I’m so happy to be home again. I’m thrilled to get hugs and more hugs from the kids, and boy they have grown up in the last year. This year, we have been blessed by some new members of the Beate Team…Heather from Cape Breton, and LaRee and Ronaele from Calgary (mom and daughter duo). There was an instant connection between us via email, and I felt that this was going to be an awesome team…I was 100% correct! The only person missing is Vivieene who had to cancel her trip last minute. The kids and Karen miss you Vivienne.

A wonderful welcome

Yesterday was a scorcher, and the “newbies” did super well even though they were melting away. You see, NO ONE gets it when we say it is HOT in Haiti until they actually get here. Thank goodness it poured rain for about 30 minutes which happened to be on our way to see Luckner at his radio station. Heather and I decided to jump in the back of the truck for the ride home and got pretty wet…it was glorious.

This morning was so very exciting to see everyone at devotions. I know I will always leave devotions uplifted and happy to start the day. I need to do this at home in my condo…wonder what the neighbours would say if I belted out “Sevi l, Sevi l, Sevi li nan matin, Sevi li nan midi…?” After yummy Hatian oatmeal made by the ever famous, wish she could come home with me, Germaine.

We started something super exciting with our older kids. You see, LaRee teaches sewing to young people, and wow, they brought 3 sewing machines with them and all the fixins to teach our kids to sew. We were all so very proud of JJ, Moise, Djemima, Leica and little Dieunel who all listened so well, and quickly got started on sewing a pair of shorts for themselves. They had to pin the patterns, mark them, cut them out, and sew them. Can’t wait to have a fashion show.

cutting out the material for shorts

Heather showing Leica a trick to cutting

Mama, are you paying attention

Big brother JJ helping Dieunel

Then this afternoon was spent on the new computers that had been donated to us. Again, such quick learners. And all this teaching is done in English…these kids are soooooo smart!

Using the Internet

Learning how to work the mouse pad

Well, I’m signing off as we have a big day ahead of us. Canada Day will be celebrated here at HATS in a fun filled way, with lots of games that involve WATER!!!!! YIPPEEEEEE….

One last note: Words simply can’t express how happy I am. My heart is truly, deeply filled with joy again. It is such a joy to see these children being loved so much and taken care of by Karen and the house mothers. It is such a joy for this to be my fifth visit to HATS…and yes, it does feel like home. I know I just got here, but Karen and I are already planning my next year’s visit.

P.S. Ronaele is still with us…we haven’t lost her…however, she is the one behind the wonderful pics. We promise to take some of her as proof that we still have her…hee hee

~Beate

Heather

We arrive just before 9am in the blistering hot 38 degree Haitian sun–a slight change in temperature for this Nova Scotia girl who just left frost warnings in the forecast only a few days ago! Interestingly enough, the girl I sat beside was also making her way to Deschapelles, as she works for Sean Penn’s reforestation efforts in Haiti. Turns out she was here to see the planting of their 2 millionth tree! The number is staggering and hard to imagine when it comes to trees, but even more surprising was the fact that this reforestation effort is solely concentrated in the area of Deschapelles! No sign of Sean Penn, though!

After making our way through the airport and yet another customs’ line, we join the hundreds of people in the relatively small baggage area–3 flights have landed within 15 minutes of each other, including a mission team all the way from South Korea, easily identified by their neon green vests. I am pleasantly surprised to see so many young people in the airport, and they are all identified with a mission group of some sort.

Just exiting the airport with our 8 suitcases, carry ons, and 3 sewing machines was no small feat either. We wound our way up the incline of the parking lot to our air conditioned black van, Identified by the windshield full of cracks, and began the white knuckle drive through the streets of Port au Prince, and continued onward to the orphanage!

After nearly 2.5 hours of twists and turns, and one ‘near miss’ with a truck, we finally cross the last bridge spanning the canal that runs outside the orphanage. To say the drive was hair raising would be an understatement, but I came to realize that was the Haitian way! No yellow highway lines seems to mean that whoever gets in the passing lane first gets the right of way!

We are swarmed with happiness when the big blue gates open to the compound, revealing our welcome sign and 16 beautiful Haitian boys and girls singing a song in the Haitian language of Creole. The children immediately stole our hearts, from 2 1/2 year old Magdali, the smallest and youngest, to 13 year old G.G., one of the oldest and tallest. They weren’t long taking our hands in theirs, showing us to the swing set. I eventually was overwhelmed with trying to keep up with requests for pushes on the swings, and piggy back rides around the yard! 2 kids on one lap quickly became the norm, and they clung to my legs when I tried to get up to leave.

To be here and see these children, you can’t help but be drawn in by their big smiles and their beautiful brown eyes which seem to truly sparkle, just like their personalities. But I have found out that if I spend too much time thinking about why they’re here, it’s impossible not to feel sad inside. Instead, though, I have to remember that they are well taken care of, they go to school, they are loved, and they are happy here–their giggles and laughter are proof of that!

So, after a day of sewing lessons, some computer lessons, and our ride to the grocery store, I had time to play with the kids at their playground. It turned into more pushes on swings and more piggybacks, and ended with 3 sets of little hands braiding my hair in the dark, while one of the boys sat on my lap to hold the flashlight for the girls to work! It was a real team effort!

Now we’re off to bed, listening to the chorus of roosters who seem to do their best ‘cock-a-doodle doing’ between 11-7 am, along with their ‘back up’ band of neighborhood dogs, horses, and billy goats, and our own snorer. Haiti, here I am…gimme all you got!

Ok, so you do snore.

~Heather

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

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
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
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
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
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
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 am going to try to explain why a trip to Haiti is life-changing. No-one can be thrown into a group of people who have the common purpose of doing something for someone less fortunate and not be changed in many ways. As with those I joined in each of the first four trips I made to HATS, my respect and affection for each of the team members grows daily. To those who wonder if your donations and prayers are actually making a difference, I will answer you in this way…there are about 300 children in front of me right now and some or many of them God will use in a great way to change the future face of Haiti and its people. YOU have helped make that possible — AND THAT, FOLKS — is a fact!

Brian En
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
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