Christmas Gift Giving at HATS
I’m out of bed today and feeling a bit better after a full day of rest yesterday. Today I feel like...
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.
I’m out of bed today and feeling a bit better after a full day of rest yesterday. Today I feel like...
Are you looking for the perfect Christmas gift for someone who has everything? Would you like to give your loved...
All of your student letters and photos have been completed and emailed out to sponsors. However, we had some technical...
I’m exhausted and was heading to bed when I remembered we hadn’t done a blog last night, nor this evening. So...
Yesterday was a full day of work and fun. We completed the photos and letters for all of the elementary children yesterday. ...
Barb Let me start by thanking all of you who stood with us in prayer and thought on this incredible journey....
We have had a wonderful time and as much as we miss our kids home in Canada, we are sad...
Oh the fun that was had today trying to write the letters with the Preschool One class! The children in...
At 3:00 a.m our first alarm went off…actually it was a truck honking it’s horn and pretty much had Liette...
Falling stars, fireflies, toads and bats were what I got to think about as I went to bed last night....
We’re happy to say that we’ve arrived safely in Deschapelles, Haiti. We flew into Port-au-Prince early this am and were...
The last day in Haiti always brings mixed feelings. Sadness to leave the children and the beautiful country of Haiti....
Today, we decided to enjoy a Sunday of seeing some of Haiti’s beauty. At 6 am today, most of our...
This fantastic work team is hardworking and positive. They’ll do anything – paint, carry, move suitcases, scan letters, resize photos,...
The painting of the children’s home is done today – hooray!!! The team let out out a yell of joy...
If you’ve ever considered sponsorship, now is the time to do it. Your donation truly does make a difference!
I spent a week in Haiti at HATS in November 2017 and it was a wonderful experience. Karen is an amazing woman and is doing amazing work. She is dedicated to the children in her care and is changing lives. I would love the opportunity to visit again and help out where I can.
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!!!!!!!
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.
Such important work done with LOVE and commitment!
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.
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.
Culture shock for this Canadian team at first, but a ride through busy, vibrant streets proved terrifically interesting; busy markets, vendors selling exotic fruits, clothing and shoes, used tires and rusty metal… and then the gorgeous countryside: banana plants, mangoes, cows and goats and pigs and dogs, the Golfe de La Gonave by our side. Rice patties indicated we were close to our home for the next week. We were greeted by Magalie, a house mother, with hugs for all and, of course, the children themselves, so gorgeous and endearing. A beautiful meal was followed by a sharing of impressions: there is a lot of poverty but so much potential and hope. We are already in love with Haiti.
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.
We’ve made a difference, I believe. Big stuff, little stuff; it all contributed to the greater good and that big picture: keeping HATS a surviving and thriving, safe haven for the children of Deschapelles, Haiti. And oh my, what children they are. As expected, it was tough to leave. There were tears, whispers, hugs and I’ll miss you’s. I learned that it gets easier (only a bit) for those who’ve done this a few times. As Bob says “I’m part of the furniture now. I don’t say ‘goodbye’, I say ‘see you later’.” Maybe that’s how you cope with leaving…you return. Once, five times, 10 times. However many. Guaranteed you’ll leave a different person than when you came in.
I am so thankful to Jesus for the opportunity to serve at HATS and to finally experience the great work that God is doing there. I look forward to seeing them all again when I visit next time.
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