A blog is overdue again, but finally here we are. This one is mostly about Ti Luc in Canada. In a couple of weeks I will be with the other children in Haiti and will blog about them.
First some good news through Luckner – Ti Fi is doing better. The children are well again. It goes without saying that Luckner is definitely overworked so continuing to lift him up in prayer would be appreciated. Thank you.
Ti Luc now has two Happy Places – Newfoundland and Harambee Camp in BC. He loves both and is blessed to be able to be both places this summer.
Harambee is an annual camp for families who have children of African heritage. It apparently was started 21 years ago by three families who decided to camp together. This year I understand there were 400 of us representing 80 families. This was year 13 and year 12 in attendance for daughters Dana and Liette and families. I had been able to attend for a couple of days on two different occasions when in western Canada in July. I knew then that I wanted to be able to attend with Ti Luc once he was Canadian and able to be in the west.
This was our first year attending the week of Harambee camp but God willing it will not be our last. Ti Luc was quickly accepted totally and unconditionally. His disability was not a problem.
People reached out and made him a part of whatever was going on. He loved it and so did I. Being there with Dana and her kids and Liette and her kids made it even better – one of the best weeks of our lives. Ti Luc adored the freedom to go, look for other kids, join in playing or sometimes even just watching. This was a true blessing and a new experience for him and new for this mama too. Everyone there accepts everyone else’s children and looks out for them. I had difficulty learning to relax knowing I did not have to run around looking for him. He was safe and very happy. One thing I did know – he would always return to the cabin we were in when he was hungry or needed help.
It was obvious a lot of work and organization was put into the week camp. I wish to thank everyone involved and everyone who met, accepted and helped Ti Luc. THANK YOU.
Ti Luc and I met a lot of wonderful people at camp but one man named Chad stands out and needs to be mentioned. He saw Ti Luc sitting watching children play soccer – the game Ti Luc adores – on the first morning. He sat next to Ti Luc, befriended him, and took it upon himself to see that Ti Luc was included in everything from then on. Thank you Chad from the bottom of my heart.
There is a barber who attends the week of camp and gives the children some pretty fancy hair cuts. Dana and Liette made an appointment for Ti Luc to have his done too. The mother part of me was a little nervous about the moving of his head but – not a problem with this barber. He showed Ti Luc he liked him and did a great job for him. This boy got one fancy hair cut that he loves and loves to show off.
The fact that Ti Luc knew he was heading to Newfoundland was his saving grace to not cry buckets of tears about having to leave on the last day of camp. I kept reminding him we were heading to his other happy place.
We have been in my home town of Springdale for one week and we are both loving it. Enjoying time with family and friends and enjoying the peacefulness of seeing the water all the time. I grew up on the bay and I am still very much a ‘bay girl’.
We have been doing some running around with Don seeing some breathtakingly beautiful little towns that I have not seen for far too many years – a first time of seeing them for Ti Luc.
On Saturday we spent one of those running around days. It was ‘one of those days’ in more ways than one as during the short time it took the three of us to walk past a parked car Don and I lost Ti Luc. He walked past the car on the inside away from the pavement as taught by his mama for safety reasons while Don and I walked on the pavement. We past the car and turned for him but Ti Luc was no where to be seen. Don and I both were asking “Where is Ti Luc? Where did he go?” Soon Don saw our boy at the bottom of a hole – a four foot drop – sitting/lying in the dirt, his head in long grass grinning up at us. Once we saw he was fine the laughter started. The edge/side of the road he had taken had quickly ended but this could not be seen due to all the parked vehicles. It took awhile for Don to be able to get him up out of the hole. Another experience that, thank God, ended up nicely and is still providing laughter for the three of us.
Mondays to Fridays, while here in Newfoundland, a period of schooling time has been started as morning school hour for Ti Luc. This is to help keep his mind sharp and his skills up to date, and to improve his reading of English.
In a couple of weeks I return to Haiti for awhile. Ti Luc will be staying in Nfld while I do so, no doubt enjoying his happy place and hopefully waiting for the return of his mama.
I am anxious to see all the children again, spend time with them, and be of some help to Luckner. I will blog from there next.
Thank you for all your support of every kind. You know, and God knows, all you have done and continue to do to help with the work of HATS for the needy children.
God bless you all.
Karen
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