Hello again. This is the fourth and last blog about the precious children at HATS-Haiti that I love and miss. 

Jonathan Saint-Louis

Jonathan, age 8, (9 in September) joined our family when he was one month old. Jonathan’s mother died shortly after giving birth. His dad brought the baby asking us to please give him a chance at life. His dad was not well, is still unwell, had no one to help him, and already had other children to care for, with no means to do so. 

Jonathan is doing grade 3 this year. He does well in school. We are all hoping he keeps this up instead of following the example of two older brothers who like to hide away instead of responding when called to do homework and go over his lessons for the next day. Jonathan is sensitive and caring. He loves to pick a flower in our yard and bring it to his Mama Karen or to my sister, Sandra, when she and Dickie are there to help. He is often asking if I can give him some work to do for me. Since Markenson and Dickieson joined us he and Markenson, who is only a few months different in age than Jonathan, are usually found together. He loves trucks, cars and anything on wheels. He also likes to kick a soccer ball, climb on the swing set, dance and race. He is a happy, well adjusted child and an additional blessing to our family.

Markenson and Dickieson

These two sweet boys are biological brothers. I will share some photos of them together and also separately. 

Markenson turned 9 and Dickieson 7 last month. They were four and two when they joined our family. These boys arrived at HATS in bad shape, both malnourished with red hair, and big stomachs. Markenson could not walk without his knees touching. Dickieson has Sicle Cell. Dickieson must be taken to the hospital every month for an injection and meds he needs to take daily. Today Markenson’s legs are now straight. He  can walk normally and runs as fast as the other children. Dickieson too, apart from Sicle Cell, is healthy and happy. 

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Markenson

Markenson is a sweet boy who loves to play soccer and ball hockey. He is strong and does well at both. He loves anything that moves, anything with wheels, and is quite a climber. I see him often at the top of our swing set. He loves to draw, with cement chalk or on paper with coloured pencils. He is a good dancer – really has the moves. Sometimes he will take things from his younger brother, Dickieson,, but he will not accept for anyone else to do so. He can stick up for himself and also does so for Dickieson. A couple of days after joining our family we put him into our school. I borrowed one of Jonathan’s uniforms for him to wear until we had a couple made for him. He proudly came to see me before school on his first day showing me how handsome he was in his uniform. He would turn around and around saying “Look Mama. Uniform. I go to school too.” The uniform shorts had pockets. He was delighted and kept saying, “Look Mama, pockets, pockets.”  With good nutrition, love and prayer Markenson now has now straight legs and has become a healthy happy  boy.

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Dickieson

Dickieson is an adorable lovable little boy. When he first arrived he was not too sure about this white lady that all the children called Mama. His mama had died when he was born. Too, he and Markenson had been living in the mountains and were not used to seeing white people. A few days after being with us, I heard a sweet voice calling “Mama, Mama”. I left my office to find Dickieson and Markenson sitting outside looking for me. Markenson said “You are our Mama now?” Yes son I am. “Okay, we came to play and get hugs.” The other children had told him their mama would play with them and hug them. Wow, needless to say I hugged and played with them for hours, leaving all my work for later. Dickieson loves cars and trucks, and now also loves to kick a soccer ball. He loves to swing as high as possible, climb on and over everything, dance and draw. His health is good with his monthly hospital visits. 

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This completes the four blogs about our precious children. My heart longs to be back with them, but like everyone else I await until it is safe to travel.

James 1:27a “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.” 

Thank you to all who take the time to read the blogs, to comment and to share them. Thank you for every means of support for all at HATS-Haiti, prayer, finances, and encouragement. All are needed and greatly appreciated.  

God bless you all. Continue to stay safe.

Love, Karen