We Made It

Starting from both coasts of Canada and the nation's capital, we all arrived safe and sound in Deschapelles last night after a long and interesting journey. Our flight was unable to land in Haiti due to a disabled aircraft on the runway, so we circled around the Gulf of Gonave several times while they worked to remove it. The day was clear and sunny, so the view was quite nice for those of us (well, me) in a window seat!

Happy to be out of the airport

Happy Travellers

Friends of Karen's, Dave and Tammy, were with her to help us transport all of the luggage back to HATS. Karen and Sandra sat in the back of the truck catching up and Luckner let Dickie drive once we were out of Port-au-Prince. Both Jim and Dickie remarked on the changes they noticed since their last visit.

After saying a big hello to all the kids, a great meal of welcome-to-Haiti-soup (soup joumou) and some initial unpacking, we all headed upstairs to our mosquito tents for the night. Nobody slept very well, however, due to the nighttime cacophony courtesy of goats, guinea fowl, dogs, roosters, horses, drums, etc.

Sleeping quarters

This morning, we went to devotions over at the school. We got to see Mariah teaching her adorable, though sometimes naughty students, ages 3 and 4. Dickie worked on fixing various plumbing issues, such as a clogged drain in the kitchen and toilets that didn't have enough water flowing to them. Jim worked on computer maintenance and supervised a group of guys who were here to fix the internet connectivity issues on the compound. This blog is made possible because of their good work. Halellujah! Sandra and I sorted donations, cuddled baby Sandra, brought some supplies over to the school, etc. Karen was super busy as usual!

Sandra serving food to Mariah's class

Mariah with her students

Working on internet

Later in the afternoon, we headed over to Luckner's to see the Radio Creole station. It is quite impressive. Karen was teaching an English class there and she used us as teaching aids for a lesson on families. We learned why Shondi is not married! The class got out early as they were going to get to watch an important football (soccer) match on the television that was being simultaneously translated on the radio in creole.

Trip to Radio Creole

Father and son at Radio Creole

After returning to the compound, all the adults and the kids went for a walk along the canal. There is always lots to see and do and fun was had by all!

Family walk on the canal

Quick Note

Karen asked for a quick note to be posted as she is experiencing internet access problems so is unable to blog at the moment. She asked that the following be passed along.   Jim

I would like people to know we are all okay here. Sandra is home from hospital and doing well. Baby Jonathan is growing like a weed. Other kids are doing better too now.

Everybody happy this week to have Mariah back. Especially Ti Luc and her cute little students.

Seth's throat surgery is scheduled for January 30th.

My internet is still almost non existant - but hopefully better things ahead some time next week - with a new server and Jim on site.

Thanks so much.
Karen

Update Jan 12

I am taking a chance that if I write a blog it can be posted. My internet service is worse now than I mentioned on the last blog. I, however, have not yet thrown the modem or router in the garbage can or the computer out the window. But am very tempted. Perhaps it just might help! I can very seldom get online. I can on occasion (certainly not often) get something to go out, but can hardly get emails to download at all and when they do I cannot read them. I presently have 10 emails showing in my Inbox but none of them will open. Oh the joy of trying to operate with technology like this in Haiti. I've been trying for six hours now to open HATS blogspot, website or facebook. I thought I might be able to send an email through facebook, but cannot do anything.

Today is January 12th - the second anniversary of the devastating earthquake in Haiti. There is, no doubt, a lot of memories resurfacing today and a lot of pain in the hearts of many people here. Haiti has no schools open and no workplaces operating today. Many Christian groups are holding services to give people a place to go and a chance to share. I find my emotions are on a rollercoaster today so how much more, are others going through today. As Sandra said on her comment on the last blog, 'PLEASE NO MORE EARTHQUAKES.'

Tim in Halifax is diligently working to try and find something better for me. Jim, who is also a knowledgeable computer man, is in constant touch with Tim and the plan is that when Jim arrives on 24th of this month, he can help get me up and running again. Oh how I hope this really does happen!!!

Precious baby Sandra is still in the hospital and is being treated for pneumonia. I've been running back and forth to the hospital a lot. Each morning I make a change in the person who stays at the hospital to take care of Sandra. Antoinette, Naomie, and Magalie have been taking turns. I take one up in the morning and bring the other one down, and do likewise the next morning. With an emergency like this they do not get a night off, or even a full day. On their scheduled days off they get 3-4 hours and then must return on site. This too shall change!

Sandra in hospital

My other children are ill a lot too. Presently I have my three little musketeers, Anne, Jofky, Karena ill as well as Ismyis, Djemima, and Mirlande ill. Six here and one at hospital. When I get these six doing better five or six more will likely be ill again. Fun and games. During December and January months in Haiti there are a lot of people ill with colds, fevers, etc. I have a big family and the germs just get passed back and forth. It is a good thing I am doing well. Tired, but well. I thank God for that. I keep running from house to house with my load of meds, with hugs and kisses, and at night with my flashlight. Florence Nightingale I am not, but I am doing my best to take care of these precious children.

Karena - ill with fever

Sick kids - Ismyis, Jofky, Anne and Jonathan

I'm putting it in my mouth Mama

Yesterday we managed to get the children out for a short walk anyway, and we stopped for drinks and cookies and a birthday gift for Josie. Josie was thrilled to receive her own "Pink Princess Dress, Pink Princess Cape, and Pink Princess Telephone. She is indeed 'Pretty in Pink' and loves being a princess. Thank you Alexa for this.

Birthday party for Josie and walk combined

Birthday Girl - Princess Josie

Jessie and Seth are still waiting for word as to Seth's surgery date. Please pray for them. Mariah will be returning Saturday morning which will be good for the school as well as for me. This past week we put Mariah's class together with Rose-Lore's as we await her to take over her own class again on Monday.

REMEMBER: I T I S A L L A B O U T T H E C H I L D R E N

Love and blessings to all of you.
Karen and kids

Baby Sandra is in the hospital.

I mentioned yesterday all my children have been, or are, sick. Sandra, too, had been ill with a cold, cough and fever. She, however, had come through it and was okay. Yesterday she went downhill again and was still not well this morning. Too, we had discovered another problem. Her vaginal opening had closed, almost looked like it was stuck together, and red. Whenever we checked her she would cry in pain and would cry when she would wet her diaper. This morning I sent Antoinette to the dispensary with her. The hospital will no longer let me take my children there directly. The nurse at the dispensary sent her to the hospital so then Antoinette and I took her there. She was burning up by then as the meds I had given her had worn off. What a zoo the hospital is - absolutely a 20 ring circus. I strongly dislike having to go there. I cannot swim. I, however, would prefer someone kick me into the contaminated canal water in front of the mission rather than go to the hospital. But I do so out of love for my children. I arrived there at 11:00 a.m. and six hours later I was still holding my extremely hot baby who had not yet been given any meds. She had seen a doctor after four hours of us being sent to eleven different places in the hospital. The doctor said she needed to be admitted. Then another two hours passed while trying to pay to have an xray and blood work done. Finally after one more hour had passed (making it seven) and while they were looking for a bed and place to put her I asked them to give her something for the fever. It did not go over well with the nurse but they did do so. Antoinette is staying with Sandra tonight and Naomie came back from her supposed day off to take care of the children. Fun and games. Tonight I was Doctor Mama again as I was going around with my little bag of meds for various ailments, checking on and administering what was necessary to several of the other sick children.

Sandra moving without her knees touching cement

Sandra and Karena calling Dana on telephones she brought down

Today was our first day of school after the Christmas break. We did not have a lot of students. Some schools did not open today and do not plan to do so this week. Reason: the word was out that President Martelly had said on the radio that people did not have to return to school until after January 12th (the second anniversary of the deadly earthquake.) Last Thursday - early morning 4:25 a.m. - I was preparing to leave for PAP with our visitors. While standing in my bathroom I started to feel like I was standing in a boat. The mirror on the wall started to move and the room door starting moving as if someone was knocking lightly on it. My thought was "No, it absolutely cannot be happening." It stopped and I became relaxed again. It was according to the radio news a 5.2 earthquake. The weather is not normal for this time of the year, all overcast and feeling heavy, and the people are nervous - thinking perhaps something bad is going to happen again. We, however, plan to keep our school open this week as normal.

Thanks for praying for Sandra, my other children, Seth and Jessie, and for Haiti. Too, for me to be able to keep going and keep it all together. Thanks for the prayer support and for every other kind of support that comes this way. Needed and greatly appreciated.

IT IS ALL ABOUT THE CHILDREN

Love and Blessings. Karen and gang

Last week we were blessed...

...by having Keith and Joan Wight from Montreal join us for a couple days. We packed a lot into that short time. There was just the two of them but they arrived with a lot of luggage - 8 or 10 large hockey style bags packed with things for our school, my children here, and other children in the area. Our thanks for all these things and for it arriving free of charge goes to Air Canada. Air Canada has a charity for children called "Kid's Horizons". Keith, an Air Canada pilot, helped to get these things donated to Kid's Horizons. Air Canada saw that it was all transported to Haiti, to HATS, to bless children in this area. Thank you Air Canada. Thank you Keith. Thank you Keith and Joan for coming, bringing it all and spending a short but valuable time with us.

Keith & Karen with Air Canada donations

Joan, Karen & kids happy with their backpacks

Joan with Sandra & Jonathan in backpacks from Air Canada

Seth and Jessie were scheduled to return this Thursday, Jan. 12th, and Mariah to return Saturday, Jan. 14th. Mariah will return as scheduled. We will manage this first week of school without her - albeit I might hide out so I don't have to do her class for a week. Mariah has cute kids but I already have more than my share of work ahead of me this week. Hopefully Rose Lore will put her and Mariah's classes together for one week.

You many remember we wrote about Seth being ill awhile back. He had a terrible problem with his throat which in turn caused him to be a very sick man. He pulled through enough to function for awhile and to be able to travel back to their home in the US with the help of a lot of antibiotics. At one point I thought they might have to change their tickets for returning home in December and get Seth back home earlier to see a doctor. They managed to wait and leave as scheduled. The day after they arrived home he did see a doctor. To make a long story short their return date has been delayed as Seth needs medical help before coming back. For starters they will be removing his tonsils, then after the healing time, they will be checking to see if that takes care of all his suffering. We were all looking forward to their return this week. Now we are praying for Seth and Jessie, for all to go well with the surgery and that when they return Seth will be in good health. Being ill is never fun, but being ill in Haiti is not something anyone should have to experience. We will be waiting their return in God's timing when all is well with Seth.

I have been experiencing a lot of computer and internet problems for quite some time which has escalated in the past couple of months. It has caused a tremendous amount of frustration and wasted time - as noted by Liette, Yvette, Dana, Mariah, Jessie & Seth or anyone else who has come lately. When a person's plate is already overloaded, and that person has to sit and fight with a computer and internet service daily, and in the bargain lose 1 1/2 to 2 hours a day, the overloaded plate might just fall to the cement floor and crash . (Dropped plates break easily when they hit cement floors.) I tell you this so if you do not hear from me it may be caused by:
1. The modem and/or router having been yanked off the wall and thrown in the garbage.
2. The computer having been thrown out the office window.

Radio Creole, under Luckner's direction, and with help from his support team continues to get God's word out to the public. The messages and the Christian music it plays continues to bless and help change the lives of people in the area. On New Year's Eve Luckner and team were on the air all night and said they would be starting 2012 out by spending a lot of time on the air January 1st, both day and night, and letting people be involved by telephone. Well, the afternoon of the 1st trouble started. It was discovered someone had tampered with (sabotage according to the repair man) Luckner's big generator. Luckner was home, heard a noise and ran quickly to discover a lot of oil and gas had leaked unto the floor and the generator caught on fire. He was able to put it out before it reached the motor. He decided to use his little generator by putting it on the roof and using long extension cords to run things in the radio station, when batteries for inverter ran out of charge. He needed to look for gas for that little one, but discovered his truck would not start either. It was broken down with an unusual problem, that caused suspicion as well. He then discovered his inverter, in the station, had a problem and would not work anyway. His microphones/headsets in both studios made a screeching noise only and could not be used either. Needless to say Radio Creole could not start the year off for the Lord as planned but they were not crippled for long. The generator has been repaired (albeit not working as well as before), truck has been repaired, inverter repaired and microphones/headsets have been replaced by a trip to PAP. The determination of Luckner and his support crew to reach this area with the Good News and to help those in need has not waned but increased instead.

Several people have asked for information on workteams to HATS and have expressed an interest in coming down.   There is seldom a month that does not see a group come to help.  If you are interested in the possibility of joining a team in the future please contact Gerry Rhyno at gkrhyno@ns.aliantzinc.ca. If interested in coming early July you can contact Gerry in NS or Beate in Toronto (team leader for that group) at beatefufft@yahoo.ca.

My children have been fighting sickness for a couple of months now - especially from fevers and headcolds. I always have 3 or 4 sick at a time. As fast as I get some better 3 or 4 others are sick. At this time Jofky is still ill, two others have ongoing head colds and Sandra and Ismyis have fevers. Oh joy! Never a dull moment.

Tomorrow school reopens. Do I feel ready? No! Do I feel like I had a break? No! Did my desire to have a day, or at least a 1/2 a day, for myself happen? No! But off we go to school tomorrow for 7:30 a.m. anyway.

I am, in the midst of all the sickness and busyness, looking forward to the arrival of four precious members of my family two weeks time. I may not get a rest, but I will have fun and do lots of laughing. That is the best medicine ever. Will Sandra be able to fill Dana's shoes with goat herding, and feeding I wonder? Perhaps I should have Sandra try milking a goat too. The four coming will do the blogging while here so hopefully you will not have to wait so long to find a blog has been posted.

Yesterday I made three employees, Antoinette, Naomie, and Marguerite, and my children very happy when I put a new six burner stove in the kitchen of the children's home. It was overdue for some time. Such joy on the faces of the workers. Gas hooked up and all was well. A few hours later I was presented with a piece of cake that they had made to celebrate. The oven in the old stove had not worked since they had it. Today, Sunday, thanks to the new stove the children ate their meal on time instead of 2 -3 hours late. We are all thanking God for the provision of this stove. At the same time we say thank you to those who continue to support us so needs like this can be met.

Antoinette, Naomie & Marguerite very happy with new stove

For awhile now I have been sitting on the roof of my house with the older children after dark. It has become a special time for Mama and children. We have some good discussions while there, and I am kept on my toes by a lot of good questions they ask. Last night I decided to try and get a photo of the five children who were there with me - JJ, Moise, Mirlande, Djemima and Leica.

Nighttime on the roof with Mama

Anne, my cutie pitutie 1 1/2 year old decided yesterday to help herself to a box of 'Reliv Kid's Now' chocolate powder mix. She was very happily eating the powder by herself when we found her.

Anne escaped the house with a box of Reliv Chocolate powder

Anne happily enjoying her chocolate

Anne, however, was not so happy when I decided she should leave the rest so it could be mixed with water to share with the other children.

Okay, not so happy.  Don't want to share it.

The children are all growing and learning and all very precious indeed. I am tired. I am, too, a happy and blessed mother of 18.

I T I S A L L A B O U T T H E C H I L D R E N

Love and blessings,
Karen and kids

Hi From Haiti

Hi everyone,

Well here I am in Haiti and so far it has been an amazing experience. We arrived on Tuesday to glorious heat...it is minus something in Montreal, not something I even want to think about tonight.

We started at 7:30 this morning and have been on a world wind tour ever since. Lots of fun seeing all that Karen has done here for the kids.

A beautiful home for the boys and girls, separate buildings that are painted such a fun shade of purple. The kids were busy sorting their clothes today, even the little ones. I think that Karena was the youngest at 3. We took a walk along the canal that is just across the road. I use the word road loosely as it is more like a cow path and the kids were singing as we went along.

We saw the school next door. No kids of course as the Christmas break doesn't end till Monday. Being a teacher myself, I was really interested in seeing the classrooms. New buildings and classrooms clean for next term. I so wish that I could send down half of what is in the classrooms at my school!

We visited the place that Karen first lived in and actually started her orphanage in and heard so many stories about her adventures. I will remember the cockroach one for a while.

We brought 10 bags with us full of donations from Air Canada employees. School supplies for the school next door and blankets that the kids here at the orphanage are using tonight. The temperature drops this time of year and they get cold at night. Karen was saying that they like to sleep on the floor as well, so the blankets will be well used.

It is amazing to see how God has provided, protected and looked after Karen and the kids here. What she has accomplished here is mind boggling! God is so good!

I will be sad to leave tomorrow. I've picked out just a few pictures of the precious children that are here. Enjoy!

Joan, J.J. and the babies, Jonathan and Sandra

Keith and the babies in Air Canada bags

The kids with Air Canada bags

Joan and Keith Wight
Montreal,Quebec

Another Dana Blog!

I’ve had the intention to write another blog since the day I left Haiti, over a week ago. I thought it was hard to write a blog in Haiti, it’s even harder at home, especially after 2 weeks away from my office! Tomorrow I leave for a weeks business trip so I figured I’d better get this done now!

How many HATS people can you get in one pickup? 24! On Christmas day we planned to go Mummering at Luckners. The Newfies will know what that is… So we decided to stop over for a quick afternoon visit and trial run to see how we’d all fit that evening. We had 11 in the bed of the truck, including all the big kids, 8 littles in the back set and 5 in the two front seats. I had two cuties on my lap and mom had Jonathon in the sling. The kids had grins from ear to ear to be going for that 10 minute round trip ride!

11 kids here

8 kids in here

Cab of Truck

Mom with Jonanthon

Okay, so Mummering… Mummering is a Newfie tradition in which you get costumed up with your faces hidden and you don’t talk (or talk in disguised voice) and go visiting. The people you’re visiting try to guess who you are. This would have been so fun at Luckners since there are so many kids the same size! We would have had to get going by 4pm for safety, that time came and went! We were so disappointed so around 7pm Mom organized us to get sheeted up and head down to the kids home. Martha and Germaine looked at us like we were loons, shrieked with laughter and kept asking ‘why’. Ronel was out playing basketball so missed out on our impromptu costuming!

Impromptu Costuming

As we walked outside there were a few kids still outside, they start squeeling, shouting and running into the homes to get everyone else. It’s Pandemonium! We can barely see we’re running around chasing kids, kids are everywhere, running up to us, trying to see who we are, shrieking and running away freaking out.

Chasing the kids

Leica came up to me about 8 times, asking Dana? Dana? I’d shake my head no. She’d come back a few minutes later, peek into my eye holes and ask again Dana? Dana? It was so funny that she wasn’t even sure it was me! Then the kids got into the act, running into their houses and grabbing towels, grabbing their bed sheets, stripping the sheets off of Jared and running around yelling and carrying on. It was SO MUCH FUN, I can’t remember the last time I saw kids so over the moon excited!! I can’t wait until Liette and family join us in Haiti Christmas 2013 and our giant group goes Mummering!