Madame Joan is Back Home at HATS
Well, well, well, look who is back at HATS. It’s Madame Joan. Her ankle is all healed and she is...
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.
Well, well, well, look who is back at HATS. It’s Madame Joan. Her ankle is all healed and she is...
Some blogs are better with more pictures than words – because “It’s all about the kids!” ~Keith Waiting for the...
*Note this post has been delayed from March 11th due to the website redesign. Enjoy! Motos I love the sounds,...
KEITH Spectator sports are great. I love watching hockey and golf. They each draw big crowds of like-minded fans to...
Oh my DEAR!! What a day!! We went to the beach with 18 kids and only 3 adults to supervise!!...
When we are home in Canada people often ask what a typical day’s schedule looks like for me at HATS....
Early morning Saturday walks are the best. It’s a chance to get off the compound and do a longer stroll...
It’s Wednesday, January 31st and time to return to HATS, Haiti, Unfortunately I am flying solo this trip. Joan broke...
This has been a pretty quiet and tame week at HATS – relatively speaking of course. Last week we had...
Here we are once again. After a fabulous summer or travelling, walking, visiting family, motor cycling, golfing, spoiling grandchildren and...
Last Saturday dawned wet and soggy. Not the start we wanted for the PVG invitational golf tournament. The PVG has...
If you have read any of the blogs of visiting teams at HATS, two things get mentioned often. The children...
The drive to and from HATS and St. Marc is never ordinary and certainly never routine. It should be. We...
Last month I was assigned a new responsibility. (Apparently Karen and Luckner didn’t think I was busy enough.) So, I...
Last Friday Joan did a blog on the kids and Carnival at school. Since then, a few people have asked,...
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!
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.
Such important work done with LOVE and commitment!
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.
This is my first time traveling outside of Canada and I am proud to say it was for a mission trip. I have always wanted to go on one and see what it like in other parts of the world and do what I can to help out. Haiti is a terminus life change for me and how I look at things. Seeing these kids and how they have such a passion for each other and for us is truly inspiring. I look back to what I was like at that age and I don’t think I was half as kind or generous as they are. This morning we did devotions and as I was speaking about what an impact they had on me only in one day I started to tear up…it was very emotional to talk about.
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.
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!
It is our last day and there is always a certain amount of sadness and joy when we come to the end of a trip . We look forward to our homes and loved ones but there is a part of us that wants to stay and be near these dear dear children. They open their hearts and arms to you when you enter the front gate. They give you laughter and tears all week long and then they cry and hug you when they know you are going away. Being near that kind of unconditional love effects us all very deeply. So we leave part of our hearts here and promise to return.
This morning, we woke up as the sun came up and as we all began to trickle downstairs; we were met with warm welcomes from the precious children. As the children arrived, we were deeply touched and came to the realization of how important the HATS organization is to this country. Many children who would not have had any opportunities are now well nourished, educated and have a loving home and a mother who loves them more than we could ever comprehend, Karen Huxter.
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.
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