By 6:00 a.m. it is hot.  By 8:00 I am very much in need of the second shower of the day.  By 9:00 it does not matter if I  showered or not because I sure don’t look like it or feel like it, but neither does anyone else.  So who cares.

I do.  And in two days I get to leave this horrible heat for a short time.  Thank you, God, I say.  I am going to the most wonderful area of the world – Nova Scotia and then Newfoundland.  Does not get much better than than in my book!!   I will visit with family and friends but I will also be working for HATS.  I will be sharing my heart on Haiti and the HATS mission on many occasions.

I will not be blogging as often but I do plan to do the promised blog on my girls while away.  And I just might blog on some other interesting things.  So stay tuned folks.  You just never know!

I recently took photos of the outside of the HATS Mission for Mr Wonderful Dickie so decided I should share one with you folks.  Actually I think it looks quite nice.

HATS Mission - Both Compounds

I knew we were going to get the foundation for the new Kid’s Home, Kay Timbrmart,  started early on Monday so Sunday after church I had Vladimy, JJ and Moise start moving some of the rebar pillars already prepared to another area of the compound.  They were quite willing to do so in anticipation of the new house getting underway.

Willing helpers

The digging for the foundation did get started Monday morning and today Tuesday they were already mixing and pouring cement to hold some of the rebar.

Foundation for Kid's Home is started

Digging out for the foundation

Cement mixing for rebar in foundation

Rebar being cemented in already

School.

It is almost that time again and I am so very thankful to God that I am getting away to eastern Canada before school reopens, in October, this year.  Due to all the schools lost in the earthquake, etc the government has announced that schools will reopen in October.   Without getting away I might not be able to face the opening of our school again.  School opening means tons of preparation work.  For the past two years I have said that I cannot face another reopening of school without having support missionaries here with me.  Well, guess what.  That is not yet a reality but I have the preparation work well underway.  I have pulled in Martha, Antoinette and Vladimy to help me.  It is 10:30 p.m. as I write this and Antoinette and Vladimy are still here helping cut, fold and sort the three different kinds of fabric to give parents of sponsored students tomorrow morning.   I am not looking forward to tomorrow at all, but God will see me through it once again.

Huge task - Uniforms for sponsored students

I will be set up at the school to receive all parents.  All textbooks from last year must be returned tomorrow before I give fabric and sewing funds for the uniforms for this year.  Recording all names and grades and keeping it straight and organized is a huge job and especially for me with the spelling of the names, etc.  Besides, some of the students go by a couple of different names.  O fun and games tomorrow.   Anyone want to come and give me a hand?

Great news today about our HATS School.  The results came out today on the government exams for grades six and nine.  All schools, including HATS, were prepared for other than stellar results due to the earthquake and how that affected all teachers and students.   I am thrilled to report that our school did extremely well again this year.  We had only one student in grade six who did not pass and five in our grade nine class.  Our results again are better than other schools in our area.   We are pleased and we are very thankful.

Thank you to all who have sent in your sponsorship funds.  The fees are being put to use for your students.   We have already spent a lot of money on uniform fabric and are preparing to purchase textbooks.

All the HATS children continue to do well.   I had told you that our littlest one was to be named Tayanna Mariah.  We have decided to change her name to Karena Mariah.  Luckner will be working on a birth certificate for her while I am away.  On Sunday I spent some time with the kids and took some photos of them to share with you.  In the photo of the girls there are two missing – Ti Fi and Ismyis.  In the photo of the boys there is one missing – Vladimy.  Hopefully next time I do groups I will have them all with me.  They decided to have me sit down with Karena while they took photos of the two of us.  I told them the best photo of Karena and I would go on the blog and here it is.  It was taken by JJ.

Five of my six handsome boys

Five of my seven beautiful girls

Mama Karena & Karena Mariah

Too, we have a new girl added to our family.  Karma is five and another student for our prescolaire class.  This year I have six in prescolaire.  Almost enough for our own class.   Anyone interested in sponsoring Karma please let me know.

Our newest one - Karma

Again, thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you for all the love and support that comes to HATS.  Thank you to those who have come and are returning, and to all who plan to come for the first time.  Thank you for your encouraging words that keep me going.  I can’t do any of this without you.  HATS would not be HATS without all of you.  Together we are a great team!   Jesus is our leader and our defender and we all play equally as team members.  Haiti needs our team.  Let’s keep playing together to help as many children as possible.   Let’s help make a change where needed.

The children are doing fine.  We had a short, two day, visit from a young woman from my home town in Newfoundland, Rana Saunders.  The children had been missing Mariah and Beate’s attention so they were glad to have Rana play with them.  Rana has been coming to the DR to help the needy every summer for years after university finished.  While there she has also come to Haiti for awhile every year.  This year we were finally able to connect here at the HATS mission site.

Springdale girl Rana with kids

Last week Luckner had two men digging so we could put in another septic tank.  They quickly hit water which made the digging process very difficult. What a dirty and difficult job they had.  The rented pump did not work so Luckner brought his own smaller one which he hooked up.  It would take out water but the hole by then had become mostly mud.   We ended up covering the hole for safety of the children until Luckner returns.

Digging through the water

Shovel won't do it , hands will

Little pump good for water not for mud

Before Luckner took a week’s vacation to Canada, we went to PAP in search of parts for the generator and the man who had repaired and serviced it last year.  We had no idea whether or not he had survived the earthquake.   We were thrilled to find parts we needed and the repair man.  He came and spent two days working on the generator.  This is a much better way to go than having to take the generator to PAP to be fixed.  Once doing that was enough for us.

Serving hungry, thirsty generator workers

Generator repairs

Luckner recently brought Ti Luc a large amount of the small sweet bananas that he had grown in his garden. Ti Luc was determined to take some for himself before sharing with the Kid’s Home.  As we watched he did actually remove some from the stem and then tried to figure out to place one in his mouth by himself.  It was fun to watch him.

I want one of those bananas now

Got it. How do I eat it.

Yesterday Sunday, the children were playing in the sand box.  They decided to make a special cake for Sunday dinner and called me to come take a photo to share with people.  So I am doing just that.

Sandbox birthday cake

advanced version of the cake

I told you last time about Ti Fi falling and getting her chin stitched at the hospital close by.  It was a never ending battle to keep her hands from ribbing out the stitches.  Dirty hands I might add and I was very concerned about infection.  Thus I started putting diapers and socks on her hands and using duct tape to secure it.  She worked hard at removing it with her teeth.  Anyway, yesterday morning our dear Ti Fi fell on her chin again.  Ouch.  I heard the screams and did not get out the door before I saw Antoinette coming with Ti Fi covered in blood.  I was able to stop the flow and re-bandage it again, but I told Antoinette I thought stitches had broken and could be infected.  Ti Fi was on antibiotics I might add.    She returned to Kid’s Home with Antoinette and sat in kitchen next to Magalie as breakfast was being prepared before Sunday School.   Can you imagine this – Ti Fi fell again while sitting on a little chair and hit her chin on the cement floor once more.  It happened too quickly for Magalie to catch her.  Up here again and this time it took longer to get things under control and bandaged again.  I knew that going to the hospital on Sunday would be useless so I did what I could.  She was watched carefully all day.  This morning she had an appointment at the hospital and Antoinette took her.  The doctor said the stitches had released and it was infected.  They re-bandaged her chin and she just arrived back home.  I am to change the bandage daily.  I have decided to put Germaine in charge of watching Ti Fi until the wound heals so Antoinette and Magalie can look after the other children and still get a day off.   Never a dull moment for sure. Ti Fi’s seizures are happening more often these days.  Her medication has been increased but I am wondering if perhaps it should be changed.  The good news about Ti Fi, however, is that she is slowly and steadily developing.  She is saying more words all the time and she is showing us a slow and steady improvement in comprehension.  We give God thanks for this.

Ti Fi taped up for healing and safety

Thank you and blessings everyone.   Karen

Mariah, I am very proud of you.  You worked two jobs along with going to school, and saved your money to buy a plane ticket to Haiti, to come and help.  You have a big heart to help others in need and it shows. You are sensitive – well not the cry easy sensitive type like Beate and myself  – but you are sensitive to the needs of others.

Mariah with Ti Luc & Tayanna

You were a big help in many areas but especially with Ti Luc, and with our newest one – your namesake Tayanna Mariah.  Ti Luc knew you had left yesterday but this morning he was asking for you and for Beate.  Wishful thinking!!  He was quite excited today when he saw the photo on the computer of you lying on sofa with both him and Tayanna.

Beate, I cannot believe that we have not known each other for years.  Wow.  How awesome it is when two people click like we did.  You were a great help with Ti Luc too, and with the other children.  The tasks you accomplished have made things a lot easier for me.  Thank you for all the encouragement and support as a friend.  I know I truly have another ‘friend’.

Beate & Karen

Saying   “Never a dull moment at HATS”  truly is an understatement.  What would I do with a calm and quiet day??  Actually, I know what.  I would take my Bible, my journal, and another book up to the roof and enjoy time alone.  It is in my dreams!!  This morning 6:30 I heard crying from the Kid’s Home that sounded serious so off I ran.  Almost bumped into JJ who was running to get me.  Ti Fi had taken another fall (happening a lot again lately) and had split her chin badly.  One look and I decided it was not a job for Dr. Mom but for a real doctor.  Antoinette, Ti Fi and I were quickly off to the hospital. Thank you, God, for the very dependable vehicle outside the door.  Back home at 2:00 p.m with the chin stitched up and bandaged.  Problem.  Ti Fi does not want tthe bandage there and rips it off then proceeds to pick at it with dirty fingers.  Yikes.  I rebandaged several times since the hospital did it.  This last time I also gently tied her hands together with a roll of bandage gauze.  How long will it help?   My guess is – not long enough.

TiFi stitched up after another fall

Saturday Mariah, Beate, and I, with four of our kids went to Pont Sonde to visit friends I had not seen for far too long due to my work schedule.  Lot of hugs were passed back and forth.  While there we saw something we were not willing to hug and did not fit in the friend category.    A big spider of the colourful fuzzy variety that I see too often here – tarantula.  (This photo is for you, Blair.  It was on the wall in the corner of a bedroom.)   One hour ago outside my kitchen door I saw another one that I prefered not allowing to come inside.   Thus I called my security agent to ‘take care of it’.  He did not need the 12 gauge and a bullet todo so, but if they keep getting bigger he might some day.  If he had not taken care of it I would have myself!!   Truly I would.     All of you who have known me for years should be proud of how far I have come.  I am.  Years ago I would run screaming if any kind of insect even touched my clothing.  God showed his sense of humour when he sent me here.  Too bad Mariah and Beate had left my house before seeing that thing so close to my kitchen.  They would have slept tied to the ceiling.

Tarantula on wall at friends' place

Tarantula outside Karen's house

There are no  ‘ifs’  about God!   HE  IS  GOOD  ALL  THE  TIME  !!   On our way back from taking Mariah and Beate to the airport yesterday I saw a sign on a car windshield and I could not resist a photo.   It gave me a good chuckle.

Seen on a car in St. Marc

On Thursday Luckner heads to Canada for a week’s visit with friends in Montreal.   He is back for one week and then I head east to spend time with loved ones and to share about the work at HATS.  O happy, happy day when my feet touch NS and NL soil again.

Thank you everyone from the bottom of my heart.  I can’t do anything here without all of you.  We are in this together to make a difference in the lives of needy children.  Changing lives – one child at a time!!

Main compound sign

Sign 2nd compound - school

God bless you all.   Karen

Luckner has finished the drainage pipes on the opposite side of the compound as well.  Hopefully now the rain water will run out of the yard instead of pooling inside.

More plumbing drainage work

Water pipes laid for kitchen in Kay Timoun

The digging for the new septic tank is held up due to finding water, and the rented pump to take it out, refusing to work.  Our little Judel did a good job of supervising the first day’s digging and JJ took a pick and tried to help.

Digging for new septic tank, Judel supervising

JJ with pick. Wanting to help.

The house for support missionary staff is looking good.  Quite nice in fact. This week Mariah and Beate spent most of two days sweeping and cleaning the inside of the house. <Luckner hopes to get a chance soon to finish the electrical work and the plumbing.  Then it will be ready for furniture and God’s choice of a couple to occupy it.  We have had six enquiries into the position.  We are not rushing into a decision but are praying about each one.   Please join us in prayer to find the right couple to work with the  HATS-Haiti Mission.

Hard working helpers Mariah & Beate

Luckner and I continue to go from project to project, directing, supervising, and also doing lots of hands on work.  This week we’ve been working on plumbing problems due to little kids throwing things in the toilets.  Never ever a dull moment here.  Always one step forward and two back.

Directors fixing Kid's Toilets

The house that was supposed to be a boy’s home, and was damaged in the earthquake, is looking different these days.  One room was in bad shape and the cracks throughout kept opening up further.  That room is no longer a part of the house.  Our plan for the rest of that house is to fix it and keep it for storage for construction supplies, large tools, propane tanks, etc.  Luckner had to do electrical work there to  move the electrical box for that house from the room that came down, into the main room.  Too, the door that opened into that room was closed off with blocks and cement today.

Storage depot house looking different

The heat is atrocious.  Yes, atrocious.  The humidity is very high too and drains one’s energy quite quickly.  But life goes on and the work continues.  The children like to cool down with a frozen juice made by Papa’s Luckner’s business.

Awe yes. Frozen juice on a hot day.

They are all well and continuing to enjoy time with Mariah and Beate. They will miss them when they leave on Monday. Cutie Pitutie Tayanna is going to greatly miss her Ti Mama Mariah.  But then I don’t think the missing is going to be all one sided.

Tayanna Mariah is going to miss Ti Mama Mariah

I regret that I am not getting enough time with the children.  That is always a problem for me and for them.  We love having time together, but as I am still trying to do what 3 or 4 people should be doing I don’t have time for Karen, or the children, or for anything besides 16 hour work days.  That, however, will change.  And hopefully before too much longer.
This week we have teachers working onsite here with our HATS children for two hours a day – one working with JJ, Mirlande and Moise, and one with Ti Luc, Leica, Josie, Ismyis, and Dieunel.   The kids seem to enjoy it and we will continue four days a week for awhile.

Antoinette, Magalie, and the children, are pleased and thankful because they have a sink, tap and running water in their house.  O happy day when that was completed.  Dancing and singing with thankfulness was heard.

Finished Kitchen at Kid's Home

Magalie, in case you don’t know, is our second house mother.   Two women are needed onsite with the children and we are thankful for Magalie. She and Antoinette have been friends for years.  I actually helped educate Magalie for a few years when I lived in Borel.  Now she is a part of HATS.  We are looking around now for another lady – part time, four days a week – for when Antoinette and Magalie have their days off.  There is just too much work for one lady to do.  The HATS children are almost all little and one child quickly leads another child into trouble.  We no longer have any grown up girls to help with the younger ones.  They are all adorable but they  ‘are children’.

Magalie, Leica & Tayanna

Work is continuing on the signs outside both HATS compounds – the main office/ orphanage compound and the school compound.  Don, please take note.

New Sign in progress

School sign also being worked on

I have not forgotten my promise to do a blog about my girls.   Beate is doing a blog of lovely photos today so I will hold off on that for awhile.

God bless you all.
Karen

Construction work

Borel Mission

Soccer game in Borel

House next door

Beate

Putting Big Gate to compound back up again

Soon feel safe again

Load of gravel to be spread inside the gate

Luckner and I looked at the sky, then at each othe,r and said  “Now we are going to be tested.”   We had to take a quick run, in the rain, to Pont Sonde with both trucks (his and HATS) to meet a vehicle who had brought our Reliv product for the school and orphanage from Titayan for us.  The product was quickly packed into the two trucks, tarped and tied, and we headed back to the compound.

The rain continued and we saw lots of evidence of flooding in Liancourt and Coupon/Borel area on the way home.  We knew the HATS compound was truly being tested and we were anxious to see how it stood up after all the work Luckner had overseen.  I am very happy to report that as we drove over the new bridge into the compound and then to the Devotion/Meeting room to unload the Reliv boxes we did not do so in water.  Thank you, God.

There was water on the compound but it was on the areas not yet worked on.  There was water between the gate and the generator room that does not yet have the drainage pipes in or any fill there.  There was some water between the Kid’s Home and the Devotion/Meeting room too, as that also has not been worked on.  We wanted to get our first rain and see what would happen there.  And if it could wait we would build the new Kid’s Home “Kay Timbrmart”  before putting fill in that area of the yard.  It was getting dark and raining so I did not get photos of where it was wet.  Wet, but not flooded!

As far as I, Karen, am concerned, yesterday we were tried, tested and passed.  If all that work had not been done the compound would have been flooded again.  Boss Luckner, and our great team of construction workers, have done a great job.  They have all worked long and hard in intense heat.  I am thankful and proud of them.

On Thursday Luckner, Mariah and I went to the airport to pick up a lady from Ontario, Beate Rufft, who came to help me and will be leaving with Mariah.  She will travel as far as Miami with Mariah and see that she gets to her gate for her flights to Dallas and on to Calgary.  For this I am very thankful.  The arrangements for her coming to help were made shortly after the earthquake and I am glad we did.  I feel as if I have known her for years.  She was a godsend in her first day here.  Her first night here, however, was marked by the constant crowing of roosters.  All who have been here know of which I speak.

Beate's arrival at airport

While in PAP we drove Mariah through some of the earthquake damaged areas so she could see for herself.  It is still very difficult to see and it was obvious Mariah too was finding it thus.  Not a lot of progress that I could see.  We took her to see the broken palace and all the crashed government buildings – some of which have been removed.

Mariah & the Palace in PAP

While there we could not resist a photo of an ingenious young man selling pop from his moto.

New method of selling pop

On our way back I arranged for Mariah to see David in Montrouis.  He is a fine young man who received an education here through Education Haiti.  He is special, to Liette and family as well as to me.  He informed me that he was interviewed and retested again recently, and rehired to teach English again in September.  David is a good example of sponsoring a student.

Mariah & David

Things Mariah was helping with are now on Beate’s shoulders as Mariah has truly become the Little Mama for our cutie pitutie, one-year-old Tayanna.  Mariah has her hands full there.

Yesterday, payday, Mariah was ‘ Madamn Directrice’  for awhile.  She took my place in paying all employees, even to borrowing my glasses to look the part.  (I might add she did this job while Tayanna was napping.)

Mariah paying salaries (Note glasses)

Last night we had our very own ‘crowing rooster’  just outside my house.  I was thinking of Don and Ed.  I was remembering sitting on the roof top with the HATS family and other workteam members while Ed did the rooster dance and Don did the crowing which had us all in stitches.

When we visited Mariah’s biological family early in the week, he said he would come see her on Friday.  He did so, complete with gifts.  He brought Mariah a rooster and a hen – live I might add – and a large bag with bananas, plantain, limes, militon.  He is a nice man.  He has a reputation of gentleness which is evident.   It is awesome to see him with Mariah and see the pride on his face.   Martha will come to work today, kill, prepare, and cook the birds along with the other things Mariah’s dad brought her.  Sleep should come easier tonight with the rooster in the pot instead of under the window.

Mariah & biological father (His gifts to her)

When I blog again hopefully I will have photos of our new signs going up outside the compound. One on each of the compounds – Main compound and school compound.

Beate will blog today or tomorrow and a few times while here.  This will free me up to do some of the million other things that is awaiting my attention.  When she arrived she was warmly welcomed and all the children are happy she is here.

For those who might be interested in knowing – I will be going to eastern Canada for 3 1/2 weeks on Aug 27th,  I will be in Yarmouth area first, at Sandra and Dickie’s – 742-5234, and then on Sept 7th in Newfoundland, at Don & Lila’s – 673-3491.  I will be  talking/sharing about Haiti and HATS but also getting some needed time visiting family and friends.  I am looking forward to touching base with friends – old and new.

Blessings to all of you and again  THANK  YOU  FOR  ALL  YOUR   VARIOUS  FORMS  OF  SUPPORT.   YOU  ARE  ALL  GREATLY  APPRECIATED.
Karen

Lots left to do and getting dark

Pouring of cement on bridge to compound late at night

11pm. All covered in cement. Luckner checking it out.

Mariah saw all the work that needed to be done last night and wanted to help.  She found a wheelbarrow that could not stand up by itself but could be pushed around.  She worked hard for more two hours wheeling lots of rocks, sand, and gravel from one area of the compound to the big gate area where the cement work was going on.  She was a tremendous help.  She out ran the young men who were doing similar work.  At 11:30 p.m. when work was almost finished she sat on the cement in front of depot and leaned against a wall.  She was instantly asleep.   She did not stir when I took the photo.  Thought for awhile I might have to try to carry her to my house.  Now that would have been an interesting sight.

Mariah helping with construction work at night

Almost midnight. Mariah sat down and asleep immediately

We've raised the bridge level this much

Thanks to Liette for her suggestion of a name for our new little one.  We are calling her Tayanna and I think we call her after Mariah as her second name.  Mariah is a great Ti Mama for her.  Mariah is also a blessing to Ti Luc who adores her too.

Ti Mama Mariah, Ti Luc & Tayanna

Ti Luc loves to have Tayanna around but does not like it when she is in Poppa’s arms.  He, however, does not mind his mama or Mariah holding the baby as he likes to call her.

Poppa Luckner with Tayanna & Ti Luc

Today we had a visit from John Chew and his three boys.    They brought clothes to bless our children and left others with which we will bless children in our area.  John, Annie, and their boys, Samuel, Josue and Emile are in the process of moving back to Haiti from the US.  Samuel and Josue used to be playmates of Mariah after she was adopted, by my Liette, but still living in Haiti.  Nice for them to be able to connect again after thirteen years.

Samuel, Josue & Emile Chew & Mariah with our kids

Mariah with Samuel, Josue & Emile Chew

Tomorrow Luckner, Mariah, and I, along with our trusty police escort, Daniel, are off to PAP airport to meet a lady, Beate, from Ontario.  Hopefully next blog you can hear from her.

Registration for our school is happening this week. In other years it was held in the school compound but under a tree that offered shade.  It has to be held inside this year due to all the water on the compound.  Before school opens we will be needing some truck loads of gravel spread in the yard.

I have not forgotten my promise to do a blog about my girls.  You will have photos and a little info on them soon.

Our family is growing slowly and I like it that way.  We are a family.  I want to keep the number of children to a maximum of  16-18 so we can remain ‘a family’.   We will continue, too, to help children who are able to live with extended family outside the HATS compound.

We are here for the children.     IT IS ALL ABOUT THE CHILDREN.

Blessings.   Karen