Greetings to all our friends, family, and our supporters who pray for, and encourage, us. This is a short update […]
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2024 from all at Hands Across the Sea-Haiti. Thank you for all your encouragement, […]
Update Nov 2023
Greetings folks. I am endeavoring to fill you in a little on the very difficult and dangerous situation in Haiti […]
VBS at HATS Haiti
As some of you know, I cannot be in Haiti at this time because of the gang situation. I am […]
Luckner, teachers, and everyone working with the mission, are doing everything they can in a continuing very difficult situation in […]
HATS Update April 10
Hello everyone, On my last blog, March 18th, things were quite bad in our area of the Artibonite Valley. This […]
Update March 18
Hi folks. Thank you to those of you who have reached out to me in various ways as you are […]
HATS-Haiti Update
Hello again folks. My heart is heavy and my eyes are wet as I try to write this. Many of […]
I come to you today asking for prayer for our HATS mission – Children’s Home, school, and our HATS church. […]
Greetings from HATS
Greetings, I apologize for not having written a blog for far too long. I attempted to do so several times […]
The Girls Leica is 17 years old. She was in grade 9 this past year and is now waiting for […]
We have some photos of our children at our Children’s Home, and in their uniforms at our school, IMKH. Our […]
T H A N K Y O U
Thank you so very much to all who donated funds towards a Christmas meal for approx 450 students and staff […]
Sponsors Needed
After many delays due to COVID 19 and the upheaval in Haiti, our wonderful Assistant Director Luckner Estimable was able […]
Christmas is coming.
Christmas is coming. Children in Canada are starting to look forward to the special, fun, family time of Christmas, when […]
Follow Our Blog
If you’ve ever considered sponsorship, now is the time to do it. Your donation truly does make a difference!
Archive by Month
Our Blog Authors
Urgent Donations Needed
Testimonials
-
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 -
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 -
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 -
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.
Team Canada
HATS Visitors -
Amazing organization! Had the pleasure of visiting twice, and can’t wait to go back again someday. God is doing some wonderful things at HATS!
Jess MacDonald
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 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!
Brian En
HATS Visitor -
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.
Aimee Feaver
HATS Visitor -
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.
Gerry Rhyno
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
Sponsorships Needed