Oh my DEAR!! What a day!!
We went to the beach with 18 kids and only 3 adults to supervise!! This adventure has been in the works for a couple of years. As various different supporters donated extra monies Karen put it into an envelope and earmarked it for the kids visit to the beach. Dickie also found some on his end and the result was a marvelous ‘one day vacation’ for the HATS-Haiti children. The trip was supposed to happen in January but different people got sick and it was postponed to today. Thank you Dickie and Sandra and Jim for that…I was happy to go in your places.
We needed 2 vehicles to transport everyone safely. Jocelyn took one for the team and travelled in the van with 13 kids and Karen and I had the 5 youngest ones in the truck.
Mama Karen assigning the seating arrangements and giving last minute instructions
We literally had not moved 1 meter before we had our first emergency. The kids in the backseat all started screaming that Dickieson’s knee was bleeding. Quick stop, bandages and off we go. Of course his knee was probably bleeding all morning but he wouldn’t tell anyone for fear of being left behind. Only half of the kids had ever been to the beach before and for the younger ones in our truck it was an adventure to cruise past the market in Pont Sonde and thru the busy city of St. Marc. 55 Kms to the beach took 1 ½ hours and the conversations from the back seat were priceless. Jonathan kept encouraging me to go faster like a Haitian.
Markenson was fascinated by all the food stands and food groups available at the market.
We made it to Moulin sur Mer and the younger kids get to ride the golf cart to reception
That lifeguard looks familiar
None of the children can swim but that did not stop them from running straight into the water and splashing and jumping and putting their faces in and having a blast. Magdela, the smallest kid was fearless which was scary. The smallest wave knocked her over. Dickieson was scared to death and had to be coaxed into the shallowest parts. None of the kids would relax enough to let us help them learn how to float in the salt water. They kept flailing their arms or clinging on for dear life.
Jocelyn keeping a watchful eye on the fearless and excited Magdela
Dickieson has a death grip on Jocelyn while I try to get Jofky to let go and try floating.
Beach time and lets bury Jocelyn and Dieunel
Trampoline fun
Water fun
More beach fun
We had a fantastic Haitian buffet for lunch. Man can ALL those kids pack away the food. Some of the older boys got their money’s worth with 4 trips to the food tables.
Lunch time feast
After lunch the older kids headed back to the water and the younger ones to the park.
How much does Keith weigh? Karena + Jonathan + Anne + Sandra + Jofky +++
The kids were happy to leave at 4PM to head home. Happy, tired, dirty and well fed. 5 minutes after leaving the resort all 5 kids in the truck were sound asleep. Dickieson is missing from the picture…He had rolled unto the floor and continued his nap uninterrupted!
Tired beach bums
The nurse dealing with the minor beach injuries before bed
What a wonderful daytrip for these children to experience a beach outing like today. It is a memory that will be cherished for a long time for young and old alike. Thanks to all the donors for making this happen.
~Keith
