Team before bus ride to the mission

You were a great team with a wonderful leader, Don, known here at HATS as  ‘our own Misye Komik’.

Thank you all for coming.  Thank you for all your fundraising efforts  during the past year, and in some cases, for a few years.  Thank you for your acceptance of HATS, of our very valuable assistant director, who wears multiple hats as well,  of Mariah, of all employees, of our children, of the school students and teachers, and of the Haitian culture which is very different than Canada’s.  Thank you for your acceptance and your loving kindness to our very own Ti Luckner.  He has been asking about you since you left.  Emma he has asked for you every day.

Anne with godmother, Emma

Thank you for coming to help.  Thank you for jumping in where and when needed.  You touched the lives of people here and I hope, and I pray, that your lives have been touched in some way.

Catherine with child sponsored by Grace United Church AOTS

Thank you for being a great group of Canadians and, especially dear to my heart, for being such a fantastic bunch of Newfies.  I am a Newfie and dearly proud to be one.

Judel with his godmother, Jennifer, and the pastor

Mirlande with godmother Jocelyn

Dieunel with godmother Alycia

Julie, Melissa, and Emma

Brittanie with Josie & Ti Fi

Robyn, Emma & Ti Luc

Thank you to Mariah too, who was a fantastic help to me, as well as to the team.

Karena Mariah with godmother, Mariah

May the Lord bless you all as you fit back into a world that is so very different than the one you experienced here.

Off the bus and heading into airport to head home

Karen

On Sunday morning we all dressed in our best and headed to church. It was nice to see many of the school children there to worship with us.

Our Sunday service

Emma shocked all the Haitians by having the guts to sing a beautiful solo for us. Karen said she thinks this was the first time a “blanc” team member had sung solo.

Emma blessing us with a solo

Catherine did the devotion and passed on the message that God’s love is like a circle and that there was room for everyone to be apart of the circle and know God’s love. It is our hope that the Christians in Haiti can keep this message with them and share the good news.

Our team then sang a song with the same message.

Team singing 'Draw The Circle Wide'

As the upbeat music and talking continued six of the younger children fell asleep and were moved to the back of the church to sleep on a blanket. The cutest was when a couple of them woke and started playing and talking to each other over the music.

After lunch we quickly got all the children dressed up in their new outfits to prepare for the ‘batem’. Luckner, Rose Lore, and a local Pastor all came to the compound for the service. The service was similar to what we would call a dedication or christening back home. We sang a couple songs and read from the bible then the pastor took each child individually and prayed for their life, asking God to bless them.

Sandra in Papa Luckner's arms before the service started

Ready for dedication service to start

The godparents that were present stood with the child as the Pastor prayed. After all the children were blessed there was another song and it was all over.

JJ and the pastor

Judel with his godmother, Jennifer, and the pastor

Josie with her godfather, Don, and the pastor

Karen then tried to get pictures of all the kids dressed up and with the godparents that were present. Some of the younger ones fell asleep so we took them the best we could.

Karena Mariah with godmother, Mariah

Anne with godmother, Emma

We had some time left to relax and play with the kids before supper and we gave all the children freezies as a treat. It was so funny to see them with them in their hands because they had trouble holding them, as they were so cold.

In the evening we went to the radio station once again for our encore performance. After some practicing in the afternoon I think we all did a much better job! We sang a variety of Christian and Newfie music and a few people spoke and said a few words about Haiti and our trip.

Karen asked the house mothers to wait for our return from the station before putting the kids to bed so we gave everyone a battery operated tea light and sang this little light of mine in the dark. The kids loved it but I’m not sure if it was the singing or being allowed to stay up past their bedtime that they enjoyed most!

Emma received the most precious gift from her godchild, Anne, while we were outside….a kiss! For anyone who has met Anne she is absolutely adorable but is not a child who strangers can just pickup and squeeze as she will often cry and/or go in the opposite direction. Something made little Anne show Emma this affection and we were all touched by this. Emma recalls two little hands reaching for her face and soft little lips pressing against hers. What a sweet way to end her trip!

We have all enjoyed our stay with the kids, Mariah, and Karen and are sad to leave in the morning. In just a few short hours we will be saying “see you later” as we know we’ll be back….the question is when? Hopefully that time comes sooner than later!

On Saturday morning we piled in Karen’s “tap-tap” to go to the market. Half the group waited in the truck while one group went in and afterwards we switched. It was really interesting to see how they set up the market. Small shelters were made with sticks from trees covered with a tarp or material over the top. Anything that you could possibly want was at the market; clothing, food, hygiene items, machetes, cooked food, drinks, goats, pigs, chickens, and on and on. We were impressed with how it was setup into sections so similar items were being sold in the same area.

Catherine & Alycia at market

The combination of heat, animals, and meat in the sun was unforgettable! The parking lot was another great sight…lots of horses and donkeys tied up waiting for their owners.

Parking lot for horses and donkeys at market

Four lovely ladies in the market parking lot

Verrettes market

I think I can speak for the team when I say that the meat was the most memorable and disgusting thing there! The smell as we walked through the meat area was unlike anything I’ve ever smelled before!

This little piggy went to market

Meat section of the market

Us “blancs” stood out as we walked through the market, everyone turned in our direction to look as we walked by. We joked about being a television show for the Haitians and becoming famous a few times!

During the afternoon some of us helped Martha ration out beans, corn meal and rice by measuring out how much was needed for each meal at the children’s home. When our work was finished we had the chance to take them rollerblading. Some of them are really catching on and are very proud that they are able to do it alone!

Well done ladies

Ti Luc must belong to Karen (or Dickie)

Later, we helped Karen prepare for the children’s baptism (batem) service – actually it is a ‘dedication’ of the children on Sunday. Some of the team will become proud new Godmothers and Godfathers for the children! In Haiti this service is very important and is kept for government records, as information is taken from birth certificates. Only a few of the kids had been baptized before coming to Karen and she has never had her own ceremony so 14 of them will be baptized on Sunday afternoon. We made sure all the children had a nice outfit to wear and many of the girls received a new dress from the donations brought down by our team.

Tomorrow will be another wonderful day as we head to church, have a baptism service for the children and plan to visit the radio station

After a delicious breakfast of cereal and fruit, we had a fun busy morning and day with an abundance of new experiences. As was earlier reported, the roof had blown off the school’s kitchen. Everyone was very determined to make sure that students wouldn’t have to go another day without a meal, and all sprang into action. First, all helped to bail out the kitchen from the rain water of the afternoon and night before, and bring the dozen items like the charcoal burners and super large pots and rice and beans, etc, to cook the daily meal for the students. Other chores were being done in the Compound when the word came to help deliver the cooked meals by the school cooks. They had been in the sun over two hours with large charcoal fires and burners with two large pots about a meter wide. This was an unusual situation so the 10 team members brought the food, about two plates at a time, to each of the school classes from preschool to grade 6. The higher classes picked up their own dinner.

Cleaning water from roofless kitchen so kids could be fed

Delivering food to students

Judel and another of Mariah's students having their meal at school

We ate dinner a little later back in the compound. Early afternoon we went back to the school to carry the many kitchen items out of the roofless kitchen area to store in the nearest classroom until Monday morning when the same thing will need to be done.

About mid afternoon, the goats started to arrive. Before we came down, we had ordered 15 goats to be distributed to needy families in the area. Seven were brought in this afternoon and were kept in the school yard. Donating goats is a part of HATS mercy ministry. A goat can be a very valuable animal for a needy family at a cost of $70 US. After supper, the goats were brought from the school yard to the Compound for the night.

Chauvek with his gift of a goat

Goat herder, Emma

Some people walk dogs. In Haiti some walk goats

As usual, we all took time to play with the children and in that way helped out the house mothers as well. How can one describe the magic and warmth of the children’s hours?!

Jonathan, Sandra, Dieunel & Karma

Fun with Brittany

The rain came again late afternoon for an hour, but didn’t linger. It freshened the air and the sun came out again.

At 8PM, we all piled into the HATS truck and motored down to Luckner’s house and Radio Station. We were on the radio for close to an hour gracing this area of the Artibonite Valley with our conversations and, messages and songs. Our program included a birthday message from Emma to her two sons, Matthew and Brendan whose birthdays were both today. It was also announced by us that Karen has a birthday coming up in late May, so Happy Birthday was sang over the air for all three. We then did a medley of hymns, Oh Canada, and Newfoundland songs including Ode to Newfoundland.

The best of Newfoundland on Radio Creole

Jennifer and Alycia

Air time

After our studio program, we met on the radio station deck for presentations to Karen and Luckner. We had a short pre-birthday party for Karen and gave her a few presents. Melissa presented Luckner with some presents on behalf of the team.

Emma had prepared a cake for our party for Karen and in honor of the birthdays of Matthew and Brendan, but the cake had no icing. So our truck ride back to the Compound in the warm night air and full moon was “icing on the cake”.

After coming back to the compound for a while we went back to the school to visit the classrooms. First stop was Mariah’s class with only 7 students today as the rest were taking an extended holiday. They enjoyed playing with playdough brought down by the team. We now understand why Mariah enjoys teaching so much as she was sitting down with playdough creating along with the students! Afterwards Luckner took us to the 7,8, & 9 classrooms to introduce us to the classes. He tried to help the students understand our reasons for coming to help and that money doesn’t grow on trees in Canada as some of them believe. He introduced Catherine a female pastor and tried to explain that in Canada females are accepted as leaders within churches. It was also interesting for us to learn that there are 4 or 5 female pastors in Haiti but they are not currently recognized as pastors by the people because of their gender. Most Haitians believe that men should be the ones in powerful positions such as this but hopefully with time that will change.

Visiting Mariah's classroom

Visiting grade 7

Visit to grade 8

Papa Luckner and Ti Luckner at school

The broken roof from the school kitchen was removed from the yard today. Thankfully there was no school at the time it blew off and everyone is safe. Hopefully the kitchen will be repaired soon so that the students can receive meals once again.

Blown down roof at school being removed

We had some free time before lunch so a few of us spent time at the children’s home helping the house mothers. Alycia and Melissa enjoyed helping bathe Jonathan and Sandra. Emma and Melissa helped crush the beans to make bean sauce for the kids’ lunch. Brittany and Jennifer helped wash dishes. Jocelyn was on mango duty- she had to go help the kids pick up mangos that fell on the ground from the mango tree to eat.

After lunch we piled into Karen’s tap-tap and went to visit Luckner’s house/radio station/trade school/store. Wow, what a busy man! We took a tour of the radio station and are hoping to get the chance to go on-air before we leave. They played some English and Newfie music for us while we had a cold drink on the rooftop. I think we were all very impressed by this man with many talents!

On the way home from the radio station Karen took a detour to show us the area where the hospital is. We got to see the doctors’ houses and where Mariah lived for a couple of years with her parents. It was nice getting the chance to see more of Haiti! Don was rather uncomfortable all cooped up in the pan of the truck with the girls so Karen had to make a special stop to let him out.

We need a piece on the truck for Don

We managed to go for a short walk on the canal with the kids today just before the rain hit. We didn’t get very far before having to turn around so we missed out on many of the usual sights but hopefully we will get to go again!

Short walk before the rain hit

Brittanie with Josie & Ti Fi

It’s still raining here tonight so instead of visiting the radio station for our debut we opted to watch Ti Luc’s fashion show! He looks handsome tonight as usual! We must hurry before we miss the rest of the show. We are all having a blast; can’t believe it’s Thursday already!

Ti Luc modeling his new clothes from J & J

During devotions this morning Karen received a message that all the children had to be at the Catholic Church for vaccinations. We quickly had our breakfast, organized the children and walked the short distance to the Church. There were many mothers waiting in the open garden with their children. We entered with our 14 and sat on a fallen tree and waited patiently for our turn. As the children were being vaccinated we could hear the crying. Eventually all received their vaccination and we returned home. What an experience to participate in such an important event.

On the way for our kids to be vaccinated this morning

Do we really need to have an injection

Ti Luc being vaccinated

Two youngest about to be vaccinated

We returned home to see what Karen had in store for us next. She was, as well as we were, anxious to see how the roof on the church was progressing and so we all piled into her pick-up truck, nine of us bouncing down a dirt road while four sat comfortably in the air conditioned cab. What fun we had having to stop for cattle, and mud holes. Don at one point had to wade through a particularly big pot hole to make sure it was safe for the truck to pass. It was deeper than he thought! And while returning to the truck he stepped in a cow patty. He was almost sent to the back of the pick-up but was allowed into the cab after cleaning his shoes with our drinking water.

About to head off to see the church roof

Don checking depth of mudhole

The church was a fair distance away on top of a mountain which we climbed in the scorching heat. A mid week service was in progress so we didn’t have an opportunity to go in, but did get to see the almost completed church roof and heard the beautiful singing. We also had an opportunity to meet some of the local people who lived on the mountain side.

Church roof almost finished at noon - now finished .

After our busy morning, lunch was in store followed by a delicious and messy mango feast with the children. Yummy, nothing like fresh off the tree mangos.

The afternoon was busy with local folks wanting to support themselves and their families by offering us local arts and crafts. All of us had a great time bartering with the merchants and we are all very pleased with our purchases. We are all coming home with unique wares made from the cashew tree, paintings created by local artist and baskets weaved from palm trees. Oh joy!!! Retail therapy even in Haiti.

Finally came the excitement of opening the many suitcases of donations brought from and donated by generous big hearted people from home. WOW, what great offerings and blessings for H.A.T.S. and the village of Deschapelles. Karen’s excitement was evident as was her enthusiasm to share this generosity with her staff, children, school and community. Her gratefulness is over whelming.

Donated clothing

Organizing donations to share with community

Robyn, Brittanie, Melissa and Julie

Our day is coming to an end and we feel blessed for all that we have experienced so far. Stay tuned and we will share more tomorrow.

It was great to pick up the team in PAP yesterday and even better to drive into the compound with everyone safe and sound and to see them receive a warm welcome.

The team members chose their mosquito sleeping tents on the second level last night and placed their belongings in them. Before time for bed we heard rain. Ran to check and found Don’s tent and three others were getting wet and had to be taken down. Don slept in living room downstairs and three ladies from Springdale moved into a bedroom upstairs.

This morning we had lots of sunshine and hoped for no more rain. This afternoon it started to rain with very little warning – and I mean rain – a Haitian torrential downpour. Then what I would call a freak wind storm hit. It felt like hurricane wind but acted more like tornado wind. It swept over our school compound and this main compound blowing everything in its path. It tore the roof completely off the school kitchen, took two trees down in the school yard, blew most everything off the second level of this place and soaked everything that flew down and also what stayed up. The sleeping tents upstairs flew down and around. One, complete with heavy mattress, pillow, and personal belongings of Robyn, i.e. camera, keys, glasses, etc flew unto the next person’s land (one with the rice mill) and landed in a lot of mud and water. Holy Toledo.

Team seeing school before freak storm hit

Trees went down and completely blocked the entrance unto our the canal road from the bridge a well as blocked the road over the bridge. A small building at the corner of our road by the bridge, that had four people in it, was smashed flat. Thank God they were okay. Traffic was backed up on both sides of the bridge for a long time – while the rain poured. I was in the rain for a long time trying to assess what was going on and of course to get some photos. Luckner drove as far as he could in vehicle and then walked through the rain to join us. Too, he wanted to see if his help was needed on the bridge. Mariah joined me and then the others came outside to see what was going on.

Corner to turn unto canal road to go to HATS

Karen & Mariah - two drowned kittens

People in the vehicles at the bridge started to get impatient as they could not get through and soon tempers flared and arguing started. Some people were working tirelessly cutting branches off the downed trees to open part of the road so people could start getting through. At one point someone got out of a truck and aimed a gun at one of the men cutting the tree. Shots were fired in the air. This action did nothing to help the tense situation.

Traffic backed up - road blocked as a result of the horrendous wind

Trying to clear road

There was no wind at Luckner’s place – just rain. This hurricane type wind here came out of nowhere – cleaned what was in its path – and it was over. Many small homes went down, and many people lost their belongings due to the water.

Luckner and I inspected the school compound and moved everything from the roofless school kitchen into the grade seven classroom. Needless to say there will be no school tomorrow. Then Luckner came here to help with damage to water pipes on the level where the tents had been. Pipes up there for future kitchen and bathroom were snapped off and warm water was gushing out.

roof torn completely off school kitchen and damaged on prescolaire 3

Transfering everything from school kitchen to a classroom

Trees down in school yard

Luckner repairing snapped off water pipes on level 2

Earlier today, before the storm hit wood needed for the church roof, before the tin can be nailed on, was purchased and delivered to the church site. Hopefully the tin can go on soon, as it is needed against this weather.

28 more 1 x 6s needed for church roof

Tonight we have Don in Ti Luc’s bed, Ti Luc in his mama’s, three ladies in Mariah’s room upstairs, three in the other room upstairs, and four on my living room floor. Will we actually get to have a night sleeping in the tents upstairs?? That remains to be seen.

Certainly a lot of excitement for the first day for the team. How will we top this?? Hopefully it won’t happen. Never a dull moment at HATS.

Blessings everyone. Another blog tomorrow by some of the other team members.

Between airport and transport bus

Sharon Snow will be sad to know, we have yet to see Sean Penn!

Our first full day in the compound was a warm, unforgettable experience that made us feel very welcomed. When we arrived we were welcomed by the children singing. They ran to hug us as we got off the bus. There was so much love and affection, it was so inviting. We all fell in love with all of the children right away. Then Karen gave us a tour and we ate delicious Haitian soup made by the excellent Haitian staff. We certainly won’t be going hungry this week.

Jennifer happy to see Sandra again

Unloaded all the goodies from the bus. Now what?

Choosing a tent on a nice 'dry' floor

The kids were gone to bed for the night while we settled in and went to bed early, We were excited to see the children as soon as they woke up. At night we could hear cows, crickets, and birds from all over! We slept outside in a row and the four of us were out like a light. We woke up to roosters and later the distinct sound of a rice mill. We got ready, had some amazing coffee grown in Haiti, and headed to devotions. The children were there and wide awake! Along with prayer there was a tons of singing, clapping, and dancing. What a way to wake up!

Warm welcome for the team

Devotions on first day of workteam

–Brittany, Melissa, Robyn,& Julie