Thank you to all of our supporters who have reached out to find out how the HATS-Haiti family is doing, even in the midst of the craziness going on in your daily lives right now. We are so grateful that all of our children and staff are safe and healthy at this time.
There are 8 confirmed cases of COVID 19 in Haiti, but the government is severely lacking in medical infrastructure and test kits, so that number could be much higher. The precautions we are all taking of social distancing, working from home and frequent hand-washing are not easily available in Haiti, so we fear that the virus will spread quickly. Most homes do not have running water for frequent hand-washing and daily trips to crowded markets are required as most homes also lack refrigerators.
At our Hands Across the Sea campus, our hard-working Assistant Director, Luckner is doing an incredible job of keeping our staff and children safe. He has put stringent protocols in place to provide the best possible protection for everyone. Under normal circumstances, we have six on-site caretakers for our children, called house “mommies”. Two of them sleep at the mission every night, one in the Girl’s Home and one in the Boy’s Home. One of these six ladies is responsible to do a large weekly shop at a local market . She also brings it back to the mission, cleans it all and measures out the amount needed for every meal, seeing that the provision for each day is taken from her storage depot to the kitchen of the Children’s Home.
This week Luckner called the six house mothers together and asked for two volunteers to stay at the mission with the children full time for a minimum of a month when things will be reevaluated. Two said yes. He let the others go, with pay, until he feels it is safe to bring them back. The two on site will stay in the area of the Children’s Homes only. They are not going to the gate to speak to family members who might come asking to see them, nor near the security agents on duty.
We have four security who work shifts. There is always a security on duty and often two armed security agents at night. Those staff are continuing to work their normal schedule, except they are not having any contact with the house mothers or the children, in order to reduce the risk of infection. There is a wash station set up for the security to wash their hands regularly.
Luckner has also temporarily let go our gardener and our staff member who works in the main office building and supports visiting teams.
Luckner shopped for supplies, providing enough food basics for 3 months. He will be responsible for bringing fresh produce as needed also. No one, with the exception of our security staff or Luckner, is allowed to enter or leave the compound. JJ, one our oldest kids in the home, is responsible for measuring out and distributing the correct amount of food to the Children’s Home kitchen on a daily basis.
At his home, Luckner is also maintaining strict social distancing and hygiene. His wife and six children all stay in their home or yard. He has the wash stations at his place too. When Luckner goes to HATS, many times a day to see that things are going well, he does not go near the children or let them run to him as they like to do. He has sterilized his car and does not allow anyone but himself in it. He said so far they are listening and following what he has set out for them.
We are so appreciative of Luckner’s thoughtful approach to do everything he possibly can to take care of our children and our staff. God has blessed us with this man at HATS.
Luckner continues to run his local radio station, but has limited access to three members of his team. There are daily worship and Christian message broadcasts as well as valuable information about the guidelines to reduce the risk of the virus. The people in the area are very thankful for this.
We do ask you to continue to pray for our Haiti family as well as the beautiful country of Haiti during this incredibly difficult time.
Karen
