Greetings everyone,

Many of you have been waiting and watching for some word from Hands Across the Sea-Haiti. I must ignore my sad heart and wet eyes about not yet being able to return there and write an update as best I can from Canada. I last blogged about our school having reopened. The previous school year, 2019-2020 was completed and early this month the students moved on to their next grade. As mentioned before in Haiti governmental exams must be written in grades 9 and 13 (graduating year). Our students wrote these exams in October. The grade 9 results were received this month. The results for our school were fantastic. 40 students wrote the exams. 40 students passed. I am one pleased and thankful lady. All thanks for these perfect results go to Luckner Estimable, who continues to do a great work at our school and at HATS generally. Luckner and our grad class are still awaiting the results of their final exams.

I hope that you, our students’ sponsors, will understand that, it is also impossible for my daughter, Liette, to go to Haiti this year. Liette is in charge of the sponsorship program for HATS-Haiti and she has been faithfully, along with some helpers, going to Haiti every November to see that our students have their photos taken and write their yearly letter to you, their sponsors. It is impossible to have things done as other years but we are working on a way that you can at least receive something about your student this year. I ask for your understanding during this pandemic, which along with a lot of insecurity in Haiti, keeps Liette and I both in Canada for now.

Thank you to all sponsors who have donated for your student(s) for this school year, 2020-2021. Our school is continuing to run well under the very capable direction of HATS’ own Luckner.

Thank you, too, to all who have donated towards a Christmas gift and special dinner for our children at the mission. Other years Liette would arrive at HATS to do her sponsorship job, toting donated gifts for our Childrens’ Christmas. Like everything else this year, things for Christmas for the children will be done differently.

Thursday past saw my eldest one there, JJ (Jean Jacques)  reaching the age of 19. I accepted the orphan baby boy at four days old. Not being able to celebrate this milestone with my son was difficult for us both but HATS other director, Luckner, also known as Papa Luckner to our children, again came to the rescue and saw that JJ had a birthday party with friends to help him celebrate. JJ is now working with the mission for which I am extremely grateful.

No matter what traditions you have been used to for celebrating the birth of Jesus in the past, this year’s celebrations will likely be different for many. You may not be able to see family members or friends as in the past. Travel plans may have had to be cancelled and normal plans of getting together with friends left unorganized. This Christmas, however, may we all remember the birth of our saviour and Lord. May we celebrate by remembering those less fortunate, those around us who need a helping hand and an encouraging word. May we, instead of focusing on those who can’t travel to join us this year, put our focus on helping provide for those who need our help right where we are. A small gift and encouraging words can go a long way to lifting the spirit of others.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all who have been a part of our HATS-Haiti Mission during this past year with your prayers, encouragement and finances. You, our supporters, are the reason the mission work in the Artibonite Valley in Haiti has continued during this extremely difficult year.

May God bless you and keep you all safe.

With love, Karen