Memories

May 1, 2021 Posted by Sandra MacDonald

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

About Sandra MacDonald

Sandra Macdonald has been involved with HATS since 2005. She participates in fundraising events, travels to Haiti annually, and is responsible for organizing all visiting teams to Haiti. A retired administrative assistant, Sandra loves to dote on her grandchildren in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

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Testimonials

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
We’ve made a difference, I believe. Big stuff, little stuff; it all contributed to the greater good and that big picture: keeping HATS a surviving and thriving, safe haven for the children of Deschapelles, Haiti. And oh my, what children they are. As expected, it was tough to leave. There were tears, whispers, hugs and I’ll miss you’s. I learned that it gets easier (only a bit) for those who’ve done this a few times. As Bob says “I’m part of the furniture now. I don’t say ‘goodbye’, I say ‘see you later’.” Maybe that’s how you cope with leaving…you return. Once, five times, 10 times. However many. Guaranteed you’ll leave a different person than when you came in.

Aimee Feaver
HATS Visitor
One thing that has impacted me on this trip is seeing the children and all the dedication in this orphanage. There is so much going on behind the scenes to keep the HATS orphanage and school running.

Donna Wheeler
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
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
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
This week has been amazing – one of the best weeks of my life thus far, hands down. I can’t really think of any other experience in my life that can even come close to comparing to this. Though my visit here was short (too short), it has been incredibly eye-opening, and life changing. I will never forget the people I have met here, or the things I’ve gotten to experience! Most of all, I would like to say how remarkable it is to see first-hand the amazing work God is doing here. I am behind this ministry 100%, and will continue to support it. I am so, so blessed to have been given the opportunity to come here, and I am REALLY not looking forward to saying goodbye to the children tonight. My heart sinks just thinking about it. There’s no doubt that they’ve had a bigger impact on my life than I’ve had on theirs. I will be leaving a big piece of my heart with these people and this country. God bless.

Jess Buckle
HATS Visitor
I spent a week in Haiti at HATS in November 2017 and it was a wonderful experience. Karen is an amazing woman and is doing amazing work. She is dedicated to the children in her care and is changing lives. I would love the opportunity to visit again and help out where I can.

Sandy Eastly
HATS Visitor
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