Greetings from Hands Across the Sea – Haiti.

June 5, 2023 Posted by Karen Huxter

Luckner, teachers, and everyone working with the mission, are doing everything they can in a continuing very difficult situation in Haiti to take care of our children and to continue to educate our school students.

Our students continue to attend school daily where they continue to learn academically as well as receive nourishment for their bodies. Both are important. For safety reasons our school continues to close a little earlier than is normal so all can return home safely.

This school year has been marred by the presence of a gang in our area which has caused an immense amount of fear and stress on everyone. It has caused a couple of periods of not being able to open the school for some days. Our school IMKH, however, has been open and teaching the students every day possible. Luckner and the teachers have been, and are, continuing to work diligently towards seeing our students complete this school year.

I hope those of you who are sponsoring a student will be able to understand that we will not be able to supply individual photos and letters from your student(s). We used to do this before the situation in Haiti deteriorated greatly by gangs kidnapping, gang raping women and children, and killing at random. Our school, however, is doing everything possible to continue to educate the students and to keep them safe. We will do our best to get a few photos of our school students generally to post. The most important part of your student sponsorship is knowing your students are continuing to be taught. Thank you Director Luckner Estimable for continuing to make this such a high priority.

For safety reasons our HATS-Haiti children from our Boys’ Home and from our Girls’ Home are still unable to live on our Mission compound. They, however, are safe and they are well, thanks to your prayers and to Director Luckner. We believe that the day will come when they will be able to return to their home at HATS to live as they did before the gang members entered our area.

A vehicle, driven by someone Luckner has hired, picks up the HATS children from where they are presently staying and drives them to our school. It arrives back at the school in the afternoon and returns them safely back to the other place.

Thank you so very much to all of you who have been praying for the safety of Luckner and the children. They have been kept safe during very scary and extremely difficult situations around them. While speaking of educating our school students I would like to put the spotlight on three people who have worked diligently for years by collecting and washing recyclable bottles to raise funds to cover the cost of educating some students in Haiti – Bev Chappelle, who started Education Haiti with her husband John in the Dartmouth-Halifax area, and continued after John’s death, and Dickie MacDonald, who has collected in the Yarmouth, area. Collecting 5 or 10 cent bottles may at first seem not to be impactful, but Bev, John and Dickie have been able to raise a lot of money over the years (tens of thousands of dollars) for the students who wanted to attend our school for an education. Thank you to Bev and Dickie, and for all that John had done, for all your dedication and work to send funds to HATS-Haiti to help change the lives of many students who wished for, and certainly deserved, an education. Thank You!!!

washing the bottles

Collected and washed for recycling

Ready to be dropped off

Proverbs 3:27 “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.”

Proverbs 11:25 “A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”

Thank you so very much for your continued prayer support for Luckner and our HATS children. Thank you too for your continued individual sponsoring of students for an education. Thank you to everyone who has donated bottles in the past, and to those who continue to do so to help educate students. You all have played, and are playing, a part in seeing students move forward at our school, IMKH.

Markenson

Leica

Karena

Josie

Jonathan

Dieunel

May God richly bless all of you as you have blessed many.

Love, 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.

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Testimonials

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
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
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’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
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
They call Karen “the helicopter ” and after spending three days by her side I know why. She propels through life!!! If you want to get on the ride you better start running. It is an amazing work that the Lord is doing here through so many many dedicated workers…literally hundreds of children impacted every day with the love of Christ…but the task to do so is enormous. The dedication of staff is invaluable…they NEED US ALL!!

Barbara & Louis
HATS Visitors
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
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
A huge thank you to aunt Karen, who always seems to be doing something with her children and the HATS mission. The only time she takes for herself is long enough to spread some almond butter on a banana that she eats on the run. Thank you so much for all your hard work and unwavering dedication. Thank you for being an inspiration to me and so many others. We love you and our Haitian family very much. The longer I spend at HATS, the bigger piece of my heart remains. Take care of yourself and our kiddies until we see each other again.

Jocelyn Barnes
HATS Visitor
This morning, we woke up as the sun came up and as we all began to trickle downstairs; we were met with warm welcomes from the precious children. As the children arrived, we were deeply touched and came to the realization of how important the HATS organization is to this country. Many children who would not have had any opportunities are now well nourished, educated and have a loving home and a mother who loves them more than we could ever comprehend, Karen Huxter.

Nicole Boudreau & Marcia Muise
HATS Visitors