IRMA in Haiti

September 8, 2017 Posted by Karen Huxter

For the many people who are wondering and awaiting word -The Hands Across the Sea- Haiti (HATS_Haiti) mission fared well. Thank you for caring, for your loving concern and for your prayers. It has passed Haiti and now we need to pray for the many who are still in the path of this huge storm.

Haiti was spared major damage but there is a lot of flooding north of us and likely more will follow as the Artibonite River is flooded.

Some points below that I have copied from a Haitian newspaper:

Collapse of the former Ouanaminthe-Dajabon border bridge;
A person reported missing at the Cercane River, Department of the Center;
Two people injured at Dondon after a tree fall, and a third at Cap-Haïtien in the collapse of a house in Sainte-Philomène, in the department of the North;
65 shelters open in the Northeast, the North, Center, Artibonite, North West, welcoming 2,142 people;
Evacuation of 139 children from an orphanage in Cité Soleil to the Institute of Social Welfare and Research (IBERS);
25 persons with disabilities are in a temporary shelter in the city of Gonaives near the Emergency Operations Center and are supported by the town hall;
Moderate floods in the rivers of the Northeast, Artibonite, Center and North departments;
Partial flooding in the Northeast (Ouanaminthe, Fort-Libertel, Caracol, Ferrier, North Hole);
Artibonite River is in flood;
At the level of Dondon, in the Rue Saint Martin a coconut tree broke the roof of a house causing two wounded: an adult and a little girl. A sheet metal roof was partially taken to Bas Morne in the same commune;
A part of the deck of the old border bridge between Dajabon and Ouanaminthe has yielded;
On the road from Labadee to 21 street Champ de mars, an electric post ceaded following a gust of winds and could impede the movement of pedestrians and vehicles;
In the Center, the grande ravine Couime in flood blocks the traffic between Hinche and Pignon;
The Guayamounc River cut off a secondary road in the department of the Center;
The Ministry of the Environment has set up an ad hoc crisis unit in charge of guaranteeing the human resources / technical staff of the environment sector in order to facilitate the collection and monitoring of information and mobilized 70 supervisory staff to support CPD.

Please continue to keep all at HATS-Haiti in your prayers and thoughts.

God bless.

~Karen

About Karen Huxter

Karen Huxter, the founder and Director of Hands Across the Sea, was born in Springdale, Newfoundland and is proud of her Newfie roots and heritage. She lived in various places across Canada such as Quebec, the Yukon, Ontario, Alberta and BC before moving to Haiti in 1995. In her professional career, Karen worked in teaching, banking and administration and did extensive volunteer work with community groups and charities. A mother of two grown daughters, one young adopted son and seven grandchildren, Karen is energetic and passionate about the work in Haiti. She loves each of the children and has a heart of compassion for children, women and families in the country of Haiti.

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Testimonials

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’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 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
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
Such important work done with LOVE and commitment!

Dana Wight Kayal
HATS Supporter
A huge thank you to aunt Karen, who always seems to be doing something with her children and the HATS mission. The only time she takes for herself is long enough to spread some almond butter on a banana that she eats on the run. Thank you so much for all your hard work and unwavering dedication. Thank you for being an inspiration to me and so many others. We love you and our Haitian family very much. The longer I spend at HATS, the bigger piece of my heart remains. Take care of yourself and our kiddies until we see each other again.

Jocelyn Barnes
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
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
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
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