Somedays Encounter More Challenges than Others

July 11, 2015 Posted by Beate Rufft

Would you believe that today is Friday already? I’m here only until next Tuesday (Wednesday I leave early), and already I wish I could have booked a longer time. Next year for sure…I’m staying for at least 3 to 4 weeks. There is simply so much to do, and I’m getting a really good look at what it takes to run this place. It’s not only the paper work (which has taken us many, many hours by the way)…

Hey, this is not too difficult

4 hours later

…or meeting the children’s needs, or making sure there is enough food in the children’s home from the depot, or organizing the many donations (what to keep for 16 growing children, and what to bless the community with), but dealing with the staff on-site. You see, what we as HATS supporters did you know is that the staff, although wonderful, are not volunteering their time here…nor should they. I am proud to say that HATS employs so many people in order to provide a decent living for people who may otherwise not survive without their job here.

Having said that, people are people, and for those of you who have run or managed a business, you will know exactly what I mean when I share this with you. You see, although employees are carefully screened and start out all gung-ho, some unfortunately, lose their motivation and simply don’t do a good job after awhile, or they cause trouble by complaining and gossiping. THAT is very, very stressful to deal with…and Karen has to deal with it on an almost daily basis. I actually got a first- hand experience today and helped Karen with a small situation . As part of my “training and experience” Karen asked me pass a somewhat ”firm” message to an employee this morning…in Creole!!!! Yikes, I was nervous, but did it. The employee was not too happy with the message from DG (the boss), and I didn’t need to know Creole to understand what she was saying to the other women. I wish I could have said in Creole “please don’t shoot the messenger!” or been able to stick up for Karen’s good decision, but I couldn’t. I am going to continue to learn Creole when I go home. As I left, I felt a few virtual daggers thrown at me…shudder…I feel for Karen, really I do. She is such a loving soul and would never hurt anyone, and her choices may be foreign to some, but are logical and save time, money and energy all around.

Having said that, one simply has to watch the children play or get a hug from them, and it’s a simple reminder of why things have to be done, as challenging as they are.

Karena and Sandra making dinner

a little to my right ti luc

As you know I’m sleeping alone upstairs, and I’m not one bit scared…I even made a new friend; Frank I call him. He popped in unexpectedly two nights ago on the dresser. I had nothing to kill him with, and I thought, why do I need to kill him anyway; after all, he does eat the nasty bugs. So last night he showed up on the wall…I said “hi Frank, you stay right there and don’t move while I go have my shower…” and he listened to me. This morning he was gone, but I’m sure he’ll be back tonight to watch over me (please, don’t be in my shoe or my pjs…pleeeeezeeee).

If you’ve ever had a chance to travel to developing countries you will understand what I’m going to talk about next. We say that the world keeps getting smaller and smaller. I’ve also used the expression “same, same, but different “ to describe that essentially people are very much the same all over the world. They will do the same things as us, but due to restrictions, do them a bit differently. For example, JJ & Moise with size 11 and 12 feet, need a new pair of sandals which we don’t think we have in the storage depot. So, in Canada, we would send the boys to the mall to buy a pair. Today, it just so happened that word got out that the guy at the Deschapelles market had sandals to sell. JJ and Moise were told to go with Eugene (one of the employees) to buy some. This “store” was basically a person who put a tarp on the ground , and maybe a tarp above him for shade, to sell his goods in the market. No air-conditioned building, no food court (although there is a woman next to the shoe sales man who sells food), but the goal – buying shoes- is the same. Same, same but different! Here are some photos of stores that we drove by the other day…they may not look fancy by our standards, but they do the trick. What I love about the developing world, is that people basically have similar ideas, just different means to get things done. Sometimes North Americans look down on these people because things may not look shiny and new, but I tell you, the developing world has the intelligence, the imagination and the creativity to accomplish what seems impossible. I worry we may lose this ourselves, because we simply just have to go to the mall (or buy on-line for that matter) to get our needs met.

look close someone inside

Haitian Shoppers drug mart

Food Court

Love to all…

~Beate

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.

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Testimonials

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
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
This morning, we woke up as the sun came up and as we all began to trickle downstairs; we were met with warm welcomes from the precious children. As the children arrived, we were deeply touched and came to the realization of how important the HATS organization is to this country. Many children who would not have had any opportunities are now well nourished, educated and have a loving home and a mother who loves them more than we could ever comprehend, Karen Huxter.

Nicole Boudreau & Marcia Muise
HATS Visitors
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
Culture shock for this Canadian team at first, but a ride through busy, vibrant streets proved terrifically interesting; busy markets, vendors selling exotic fruits, clothing and shoes, used tires and rusty metal… and then the gorgeous countryside: banana plants, mangoes, cows and goats and pigs and dogs, the Golfe de La Gonave by our side. Rice patties indicated we were close to our home for the next week. We were greeted by Magalie, a house mother, with hugs for all and, of course, the children themselves, so gorgeous and endearing. A beautiful meal was followed by a sharing of impressions: there is a lot of poverty but so much potential and hope. We are already in love with Haiti.

Team Canada
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
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
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
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