Hope deferred makes the heart sick but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

October 14, 2019 Posted by Karen Huxter

Greetings everyone,

I have been trying for awhile to write a blog but have found it too difficult to write anything about our HATS-Haiti Mission or Haiti generally without ending in tears. I am endeavoring today to get a few words written. I had kept thinking I would be able to write from Haiti long before now. It has not yet happened with no idea when it might.

I am finding it extremely difficult to be in Canada when I want so badly to be back at the mission in Haiti. My heart is very heavy over the plight of the Haitian people and all they are going through. I have tried several times to return. Due to an approx 3 hour drive from the airport to the mission I’ve had to cancel each time due to heavy gang activity in our area and/or all the political unrest throughout the country.

Our school did open and run well for awhile in September. This was very good for our students and teachers. It has since had to shut down and wait for things to settle down in the country. The students look forward to returning to school as soon as the break in the situation comes. The year’s school work will be completed. I am including photos of our HATS kids happy to return to school in September. Last year’s school results of IMKH were excellent. Many parents want to register their children in our school due to these governmental results. We, however, are unable to accept all who wish to attend.

Schools having to be closed is a very sad situation, but it is also sad about market sellers, stores, banks and other businesses having to be closed often and hospitals unable to to run or not run properly. The violent dangerous demonstrations throughout Haiti against the president has held people captive for too long. The roads are blocked, often by people armed, rock throwing breaking vehicle windows, oil and broken glass on some roads, all businesses are hurting, so very many employees unable to work, people becoming hungrier daily, people without electricity due to no gas, no water, and unable to freely search for these things.

Our children are well albeit anxious for a return to normalcy. They want school to reopen and able to run peacefully. A huge thank you to HATS’ other director, Luckner for this, as he often puts his life on the line to spend time with them and see that things are being run as well as they can be in this situation. Recently he took our HATS kids to his house with his family for a week as there was no diesel, no electricity, no water at HATS. That meant 22 children were being given excellent care at his place. This man is a blessing to HATS-Haiti and to many others in our area.

Please continue to pray for Haiti, for the innocent hurting people, the missionaries and expats living in the situation, for those causing the huge problem (as they need changes in their lives), also for me to be able to accept, without tears, the fact that I am unable to return for now.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 13: 12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

I choose to trust in Him. He will make the path straight for me to return. My sad longing heart will be fulfilled.

Thank you. God bless you all.

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.

Archive by Month

Testimonials

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
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
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
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
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
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
Such important work done with LOVE and commitment!

Dana Wight Kayal
HATS Supporter
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