Hand Picked Mangos for Breakfast
It’s always fun on Sundays to watch the kids arrive for service all cleaned up and dressed for church. Yesterday...
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.
It’s always fun on Sundays to watch the kids arrive for service all cleaned up and dressed for church. Yesterday...
And we are back! Yup, Joan and I arrived back at HATS last evening. What a wonderful Easter break we had...
Today was just another normal chaotic busy noisy day at HATS. The kids finished exams so they started their Easter...
I think today may have been our busiest Saturday ever in Haiti. We promised Karen we would have her bedroom...
It’s Friday again. It’s the last day of school for the week for the kids. Unfortunately for them tomorrow will...
Sunday dawned bright and warm. No one showed the effects of the time change. All the kids were well dressed...
Sunday was Birthday day. With 16 kids at HATS there is usually at least one birthday every month and Sunday...
ROAD TRIP We made a road trip to St. Marc yesterday. No demonstrations in sight, just the usual traffic chaos....
I have a new additional job responsibility. The water tanks, quantity, quality and leaks have now been assigned to me....
One of the things Karen stresses at HATS is preparing the kids for when they leave and are on their...
The weather this past week has been very variable. We had had some rain which is almost unheard of this...
“ELECTRICITY” – the HATS soap opera – The Sequel. Yes. We are back with the sequel and a whole new...
Last Saturday I was home in Montreal and snow-shoeing, this Saturday I was playing soccer in Haiti with Moise and...
I am pretty sure today is Monday, November 3rd but I have no idea what time it is. Saturday before...
Karen, Joan and I have been taking school pictures this week. We have Pre-School 1, 2 and 3 done as...
If you’ve ever considered sponsorship, now is the time to do it. Your donation truly does make a difference!
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!
Such important work done with LOVE and commitment!
I have learned much about Haiti in my short stay here, much about generational, entrenched poverty, and much about hope. We can only be part of the bringing of hope if we become one small actor on the huge stage that is poverty. Thank you, Lynn Clark, for inviting me to share this life changing experience with you, and thank-you, Karen Huxter, for investing so much of your life in a work designed to bring hope to those who need it more than any Canadian could ever imagine.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
It’s my hope that I manage to touch their hearts in some small way, the way that they have touched mine – in a major way.
I have absolutely loved the Haitian people and Haiti the three times I have been there. I go to bless them, only to be blessed myself!
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