Our Blog Authors
The following is a listing of our blog authors, their bios and a link their posts. We hope you will enjoy reading our stories including the life changing experiences of those who visit Haiti to help Hands Across the Sea.
Karen Huxter (434)
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.
HATS Visitors (318)
HATS – Haiti encourages individuals and work teams to travel to Haiti to be a part of the work we are doing. Those who come to Haiti are given the opportunity to join in construction projects, visit in the local community, spend time with the children, and minister in church. You can help us in our work for the most needy and most vulnerable members of Haiti’s population. Come be transformed by seeing the need and being a part of meeting that need. Be part of the story
Keith Wight (115)
Joan and Keith Wight have been involved with HATS since 2011. Keith is a retired airline pilot and previously volunteered with missions in Belize, Zimbabwe, Panama and Honduras in various capacities. Joan is a retired music teacher and uses her abilities to assist with the office work and tutor the children at HATS. Since retiring they have committed to 4 months per year in Haiti. They live in Montreal and have 3 daughters, 2 son-in-laws and 2 grandsons and 2 grand-daughters.
Liette Wilson (49)
Liette Wilson has been involved with Hands Across the Sea since 2000. She lived in Haiti from 1995-1997 and has been involved with international development initiatives since that time. A literacy teacher and mother of four in Calgary, she loves knowing that her work with this organization makes a tangible difference in the lives of children and families in Haiti. Liette is currently responsible for the sponsorship program for which she travels to Haiti each year.
Sandra MacDonald (47)
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.
Joan Wight (38)
Joan and Keith Wight have been involved with HATS since 2011. Keith is a retired airline pilot and previously volunteered with missions in Belize, Zimbabwe, Panama and Honduras in various capacities. Joan is a retired music teacher and uses her abilities to assist with the office work and tutor the children at HATS. Since retiring they have committed to 4 months per year in Haiti. They live in Montreal and have 3 daughters, 2 son-in-laws and 2 grandsons and 2 grand-daughters.
Beate Rufft (35)
Beate Rufft, was introduced to Hands Across the Sea and our founder, Karen Huxter in 2010, after seeing the devastation of the earthquake and wanting to volunteer in the country. An elementary school teacher in Ontario, Beate has previously worked with homeless children in Columbia and orphans in El Salvador. Beate is currently serving as Board Secretary and travels to Haiti each year. She is a proud to support the vital work that HATS does for the children and families in the community of Deschapelles.
Dana Kayal (33)
Dana Kayal has been supporting the work of HATS since 2000. A successful entrepreneur, Dana regularly promotes the organization and raises funds for Hands Across the Sea in her role as a Director with Epicure. Dana lives in Kelowna, BC with her three children and her chickens.
Jim Steer (18)
I first visited Haiti in 1989 and felt God drawing me back there in 2009. After speaking with Karen I was added to a team for 2010 and have been returning regularly since. I felt I had something to offer the mission but soon discovered that I received much more than I could ever give. God has blessed me so much through all the people I have met there, especially the children. The country is beautiful, the people a delight and the time at the mission flies by.
Jocelyn Pitman (17)
Jocelyn Pitman was born in a small town on the East Coast of Canada. She always had a desire to serve people and enjoyed helping in her church and at home with her family but never really looked beyond the small town of Yarmouth. In April of 2015, she traveled to HATS for the first time and fell in love with the country and people. After returning in December 2016, it was clear that God wanted her there longer than a week. After much prayer and guidance, Jocelyn returned in October 2017 to begin a six-month term. When home in Yarmouth, Jocelyn is actively involved in her church, serving on the mission’s board, and doing fundraisers for HATS.
Dickie MacDonald (13)
Dickie Macdonald has been involved with HATS since 2005. When he learned that Hands Across the Sea was paying a parent organization 10% of all donations to look after the finances and issue receipts, he volunteered to take over the task. An avid community volunteer in Yarmouth and active grandfather to six grandchildren, Dickie is responsible for the financial aspects of the work of our organization and travels to Haiti each year with his wife Sandra.
David Nance (13)
David N. Nance has been involved with Hands Across the Sea since 2008. He believes that one of the greatest privileges of his life has been the opportunity to travel to HATS with mission teams from Texas. Karen and the HATS staff have welcomed them with open arms and each team that has traveled to HATS has left with a piece of their hearts behind. David lives in Texas with his beautiful wife Allison and their three kids. He teaches Sunday school and serves on his church’s missions committee. David has recently become a member of the U.S. board that is working towards 301C charitable status.
Tim Newell (9)
Tim Newell has been involved with HATS since 2009 when he went on his first visit to Haiti after hearing of the devastation from hurricanes in the area. Wanting to do something, his wife challenged him by asking, “What is stopping you?” That challenge led to his first incredible experience in Haiti, followed by another visit in 2010 with his wife Heidi & their three children. They were in Haiti during the earthquake but were thankfully protected throughout that experience. Tim has worked in Information Technology and computer security for the past twenty years. He lives in Nova Scotia and currently serves as Board President.
Don Huxter (6)
Don Huxter has been involved with HATS since 2002. He joined the board in 2009. A retired high school teacher, Don was also a soccer coach and referee for 25 years. He lives with his wife Lila in Springdale, NL. Don is an enthusiastic supporter of Hands Across the Sea and has participated in several successful fundraising campaigns for capital projects in Haiti.
Robert Comeau (6)
Robert Comeau has been involved with Hands Across the Sea since 2006. He has traveled to Haiti 13 times and has worked on most of the HATS-Haiti projects. Robert and his wife have recently retired after operating a senior’s facility with 17 residents for the past 20 years. Robert, who lives in Nova Scotia, is very happy to be a board member & give of his time & energy to support the work in Haiti.
If you’ve ever considered sponsorship, now is the time to do it. Your donation truly does make a difference!
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Our Blog Authors
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Testimonials
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Thank you Karen for everything you do, all the hard work and dedication that you put into this place, all of the work behind the scenes. Thank you for putting up with all the craziness that we bring when we come to your house for the week, just thank you times a million and one for everything Karen. I can write about my week until I am blue in the face (maybe not write that long but if you know me I can definitely talk for that long), and can sing about kit kat bars until my voice gives out, but I cannot even begin to try and articulate in song, dance, or other random art forms how thankful and blessed I am to have been given this experience not only once but twice! Thank you – thank you – thank you – thank you!!!!!!!
Kathleen
HATS Visitor -
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 -
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 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 am so thankful to God for allowing me the opportunity to be here and experience his splendor. This day will forever be in my heart and mind. The scripture that resonates with me today is “…whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matt 25:40. I am so happy I decided to come to HATS, this experience will stay with me for my life time.
Crystal Young
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 -
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 -
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 -
Personally, this is my first time here. I’ve never done a mission trip of any sort before and I’ve certainly never been anywhere this hot before. I keep seeing things that are different from what I’m used to, and hearing about things even more unfamiliar to me. One of the most surprising things to meis how quickly I’ve grown to love all the people here. Everyone here is great, and the team is wonderful too. Watching everyone support each other warms my heart almost as much as the sun warms my skin. I’ve learned a lot from this experience, and I know that this trip has already had a profound impact on my life.
Matthew Sketchley
HATS Visitor -
We have so enjoyed our time here. The work we have done has been fulfilling, the fellowship has been memorable and our hearts are forever impacted by the sweet, sweet children. A piece of HATS will always stay with each of us and who knows, maybe a few will return!
Ashley Withrow, Nicki White & Deborah Gilbert
HATS Visitors
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