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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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 -
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!
Yvette Calderwood
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 -
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’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.
Cherie MacDonald
HATS Visitor -
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 is my first trip to Haiti and I’m hoping that it will not be my last! I could start by telling you all about my experiences however I’ll start by saying that Haiti DOES hit you in your heart! Not a day goes by when I’m not fighting back tears. Hands Across the Sea is an amazing place! Our team has been assembled of different men that all who all felt God calling them to do his bidding. Since I have been here I was quick to realize that we are just helpers here. Karen and her team of workers are, what I believe to be, the real workers of God! Each child presents their own challenges and Karen and her staff make sure that all of the children, not one child, are seen to!
Bernie Melanson
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 -
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 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.
Linda
HATS Visitor
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