It has been a long time since I wrote a blog from HATS but am thinking of HATS-Haiti and the children so much, looking through my photos my heart longs to be able to go and write a blog from there again. BUT only God knows when that will be so for now I  just remember, look through my photos, pray for all connected to HATS and for the whole country of Haiti. Haiti needs our prayers.
As I watch some videos I turn the sound up as far as it will go to hear the kids laughter, screams, singing, talking in Creole and English and wish I was in their midst. I have to remember they are more than 2 years older than the last time I saw them. For some of them that is a huge difference and for the smaller ones maybe not as much.  JJ , the eldest has graduated school and is working there and on the compound as Luckner’s assistant...way to go JJ. The photos I receive of them have many of the girls looking so much older...those teenage years has snuck up on them, maybe not on them but it has snuck up on me. I still see them as I did the last visit. The littler ones have all grown a lot, too, and I know our interactions will be different when I get to return.  They may not be as eager to hug and snuggle, bring me flowers every day, play in the toy room and colour! I miss all of that so much. Okay enough of that as tears are streaming down my cheeks now.

A few photos and a line or two about them:

Our early morning look of HATS’ Children’s Home Compound from our bedroom

Our bedroom

Preparing food for hungry families

Feeding the children after church

Jocelyn loving the two youngest, Magdala and Dickieson

Parking lot behind the local market

Photo with HATS kids after church

Dickie and Jim fixing water or sewer pipes

School students and teachers are fed a meal each morning

Believe it or not BUT Karen was cold early morning when only 20 Celsius and wearing coat she has to travel back and forth to Canada.

A wonderful treat for all the kids one year when we went for Christmas. A lady in Newfoundland made Karen a stocking for each child. We asked our church to take a name and fill a stocking. They came through beautifully with a lot of goodies. The kids were blown away by their wonderful full stockings…… what fun it was for us to watch them open them. Such a treat for the children.

I did not think about it being emotional to write this blog, but was I mistaken.  I love the children, staff and Luckner and his family, and thank God for them and pray for them.  Haiti is not a good or safe place to be now. I pray it will soon get better. 

Sandra