By Crystal Young

Have you ever fallen asleep under the stars with the moon is your light. That was my experience last night. I felt an awesome overwhelming joy as a lay down  to sleep; the voices of  people singing,  animals and music were all my entertainment. As I went to bed, I was so thankful to God for allowing me the opportunity to be here and experience his splendor.  As the morning approached my group and I got up had breakfast and prepared for Sunday morning service. Breakfast was fantastic! I enjoyed the best tasting oak cake I have had in forever, it was to die for. After breakfast we prayed and gave thanks, many of the kids came over to say good morning. The kids are just a blessing to be around, they are so lovable. Many of them gave us big hugs, smiles and ‘hi fives’. What a blessing! God’s love being expressed through interacting with a child, it is a humbling experience. The children embraced us as if we were family they haven’t seen in a while…wow, I feel right at home.

Crystal with Judel, Jofky & Jonathan

Patricia, Sandra, Anne, Leica, Karena & Djemima

Silly Goose Ti Luc with Silly Goose Kathleen

Before church photo

In a crowded church I heard the voices of angels, their melodies were so harmonious, the room felt as though it was immerse with the power of God. Glorious, magnificent, wonderful are the words that only begin to describe the praise and worship this morning. As for me, I felt right at home, dancing, singing and of course beating the tambourine! The children and locals that attend the church performed a few  special selections that they have been practicing…they were perfect…no music, just the voices of angels….I can listen to them all day.
 

Church service

Team singing in church

Students group - Voice of the angels

 After the service we spent some time with the attendees, we gave out treats to the kids, they loved it!.

After church

Refreshment time

During a short rain time this afternoon Jess was dancing on the top of Karen's place with the children standing on their gallery dancing with her.

Jess dancing in the rain. My kids dancing with her but on their gallery

After lunch we had an opportunity to watch the kids from the school practice for the Haitian Flag Day, with only one practice with Mariah they were technically ready for the show…so talented! I can definitely learn a thing or two from these kids. In the cool of the day we took an opportunity to organize our donations. My heart was heavy as we did this, I thought about all the things we throw away, all the clothes, shoes and everyday items we disregard without thinking of those less fortunate than ourselves. Our teams donated a variety of items, clothes, shoes, medical supplies, toys, and things you would never think to donate 'maple syrup'.

Donated medical supplies that will be going to a clinic and hospital

Some of the donated toys

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.

Hi all, from Haiti, this is Jenny and Patricia writing the first blog for our team.

It has been an incredible journey to Haiti in more ways than one.  After a year of preparation and planning, with much support, we left our respective provinces Friday, arrived in New York and finally met the whole group. The groups being fourteen of us from Corner Brook Baptist Church, and ten from Hanwell New Brunswick. We left New York early this morning and arrived in Port Au Prince at 10:00 am. Overall we had smooth trip, considering we had to move twenty-four people from Canada to Haiti.

Once on the ground, we were met by Karen.

Airport arrival. NB & NL group

NL & NS group for HATS

She helped us organize ourselves and our stuff into two vans.

Luckner tying down extra luggage that could not go into the van

About to leave for HATS

Front seat reserved for our photographer

The seven coming to the orphanage fared well compared to the seventeen crushed into their van, heading to the ruble housing project!

Luggage on top & then 17 in a 9 person van off to Rubble House project

Haiti is definitely a country rich in natural beauty and landscape, but obviously the people are living in poverty. During the fast-paced three hour drive, there was constant traffic of speeding motorcycles and tap-taps (pick-up trucks used as taxis, that people tap on to get off), and vendors along the entire route, selling everything from food to phone cards to local crafts. The free-roaming goats, horses, cows and donkeys also made an impression on us Newfoundlanders (we are used to moose!).

After we arrived in the compound and unloaded our baggage, we were anxious to spend time with the kids. In a matter of minutes they won over our hearts by taking our hands and inviting us to play. We found it very heart warming to hear the children referring to each other as siblings and Karen as "mama". We already suspect that it will be difficult to leave these precious kids.

Erica & Emily from NB

Patricia with two arms full shortly after arrival

Thank you...

...to everyone who responded to my last blog giving prayer support, encouragement, and saying you will be helping financially. Thank you, too, to those who posted my blog on facebook to help get the message out.

Thank you also to the Western Star in Newfoundland and to reporter Diane Crocker for the article she has already done.  Diane saw the blog and got in touch with me.  One more thank you is going to CBC Radio St. John's and to Francesca Swann for contacting me to do an interview on Monday, 28th, with Angela Antle for CBC's Radio Noon.

Thank you to these two news medias in Newfoundland for reaching out to this Newfie in Haiti - wanting to help get the SOS news out.

Tomorrow morning I will be picking up a team who will be with me for a week.  Half of the team are coming from a Baptist Church in NL and the other half from a Baptist Church in NB.  It is going to be a good week.  They are coming to help and help they will.  I know, they will also thoroughly enjoy fun with the children, and maybe even want to put one of the little ones in their luggage when they leave.  I am looking forward to having adult company conversing in English.  Yeah!!!

I had planned on warning the group before their arrival that I am not 'as up to snuff as is normal for me'.  I am still doing everything but at a slower pace.  Nine days ago, while crossing the street to our bank in St. Marc, a motorcycle and I collided in the middle of the street.  I was not the winner.  I went down hard on the pavement and a pregnant lady who was on the back of the moto fell down on top of me.  The moto driver got out of there in a hurry leaving both of us on the ground.  He knew he had been driving very fast and not paying attention, so chose the escape route.  Daniel, our police security, searched the area for him, to no avail.  I will admit to saying  thank you to God more times than I can count.  It could have been a lot worse.

I am fine, already healed from most of the bruises on my body.  I am, however, still laughing at what a sight it must have been for anyone who was watching.  A white lady, in the midst of a lot of chocolate people, is hit by a moto, goes splat on her stomach, even hitting her face on the cement, and a very pregnant lady falls from the back of said moto directly onto her.   It must have been a comical sight.

The children have shown me they are very happy that their mama is healing as they wanted and needed their hugs and more fun play time.  No doubt they will be blessed double fold in that area during the next week with eight people here to give it.

The students know the team is coming.  They, too, are eagerly waiting to have time with them at church on Sunday and at school on Monday.

I know I talk about children a lot, but that is what HATS-Haiti is all about.  I am here for the children.  Teams come for the children.      

IT    IS    ALL    ABOUT    THE    CHILDREN

You will be hearing from the team members starting tomorrow.

Blessings everyone.  Karen

This is a difficult blog for me to write.

I do not like writing about the financial end of things for the mission.  I, however, feel I must let friends of HATS-Haiti know the situation we are in.

Our donations are down quite a bit compared to the past three years and we are quickly running out of funds to keep the mission running as is.  Financial help is needed.   Some 'Friends of HATS' have told me that if we find ourselves in this situation to let them know.  I am doing just that today, but feel the need to go public and let all who follow HATS-Haiti, in Canada and in the US, know we are in need of financial help.  We need general funds so we can continue to care for the needs of the children, which includes paying salaries.   

I knew a lot of years ago I was to go to the mission field to help children. I felt I would do this with my life, when my girls were grown and married, as long as I did not have to ask anyone for financial help - ever.  I have always found it easy to support other missionaries and give help where needed but have always found it extremely difficult to be the one looking for help. If we are honest I think we would all agree it is much nicer and easier to give than to receive if we had to ask for help.  I am still like that and I know it is my pride that gets in the way. 

Today I am looking for help.  Not for myself but for the needs of the children and for our mercy ministry in the community, which includes seniors who have no family.

If you can help in any way please do so.  All donations, whether one time or monthly help,  should go to:  Hands Across The Sea,  PO Box 101,  Yarmouth, NS  B5A 4B1.   100% of anything you donate will come down to HATS for the running of the mission.

OR

If you would like to donate, you can use the following credit cards through PayPal to do so online:

In the past I have mentioned specific projects that needed to be done.  I will still do that.  Some people prefer to help with a specific project.  Our church project is still underway and in need of funds to finish it. 

After our Easter Sunday Service yesterday some people asked if we could go look at our church that is under construction.  They are all anxious to be able to worship in it.  I took a photo and am including it even though it is not a good one.  I asked everybody to stand down on the ground for the photo so nobody would be in the shadows. They wanted to stand in the church entrance instead and some even stood inside the church and could not be seen at all.  They said it made them feel more like they were 'in our church'.  We actually had 109 people in church yesterday. 

Church congregation today standing in front of unfinished church construction

We will soon be putting windows and doors in the church.  When that is done we can use it without it being finished.  We do, however, need something to sit on and are considering using cement blocks with planks on top for now.  Is there anyone who would like to come down and make benches for our church?  If so, please let us know.

Again I say a huge thank you for every dollar that has come to this mission over the years.  Your funds have seen children fed, educated, given homes, and hospital bills paid, and more.  THANK  YOU.

Thank you, too, for all the prayer suport and the encouragement during the past 19 years that HATS-Haiti has been in this area of the Artibonite Valley.  Your support has been a tremendous help in the lives of the children.

IT    IS    ALL    ABOUT    THE    CHILDREN

God bless you all.  Karen

Hello from HATS-Haiti.

Happy Easter and blessings to you as we celebrate the reason for Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

I know it has been awhile without a blog but here we are.  I have been unable to get it done for various reasons.  One of which has been internet problems once again - on and off - more off than on. Today I have had no internet service.  Have no idea when this blog will actually be posted.  We are on satellite and internet service can be challenging.  I, however, am very thankful for the internet service when we have it.

Once again this blog will be short.  Photos will do the talking. Everyone here at HATS-Haiti are well and certainly keeping busy. The children are enjoying their Easter/Spring break.  It is back to school again on Tuesday.

My lovable kids

Fun skipping time

Mama Karen's two youngest

Sandra & Jonathan checking out preschool and visiting big brother Jofky

School break. Play time with Mama

JJ and Moise love to do puzzles

JJ & Moise can't finish the puzzle. Enter Djemima to do so

Two oldest girls and two youngest children

Godfather Vladimy with his godson Ronel

I will blog again soon.  Then next weekend a team from two Baptist churches -  New Brunswick and Newfoundland - will arrive.  They will blog while they are with us.  Two of those arriving, Kathleen from NB and Jess from NL, are very special to all of us and are definitely a part of the family of HATS.  We look forward to making new friends who are coming with our Jess and Kathleen. Excitement here is mounting as we await their arrival.  They are coming to help with the work of the mission generally but especially with the children.

IT    IS    ALL    ABOUT    THE    CHILDREN

Karen

Ti Sandra turned three.

We had a fun birthday party.   The highlight of the party food was a big mango for everyone.  The mangos are not yet ready in this area so mangos are a huge treat right now.

Birthday girl Sandra

Mangos for Sandra's birthday party

Mango birthday feast

Mango juice everywhere

Happy Birthday Sandra

Sandra likes her birthday gift

Those of you who follow the blog know that my kids love to be outside the compound with their mama and love to climb trees.  Sometimes it is nice to leave with just the two older girls, Leica and Djemima.  They love it because they have mama Karen's undivided attention.  We talk, laugh and have an English lesson together.  The girls like to climb trees just as the boys do and do it quite well.

Two precious girls

We go through a lot of food at our school.  The kids filled the truck and off we went to store it elsewhere so two cases can be cooked every morning.  Keith, this is another of many ways you are missed.  We are all waiting for you and Joan to join us.

Food for school loaded to be taken to front storage

April fools.   I am known as a prankster.  When in Canada I almost always pulled some things  on April 1st.  I have done some things here, but not on April 1st, and mostly to visitors.  When message chatting with friend Heidi last night about April Fools Day I decided to do something this morning to Ti Luc and Germaine.  I knew that by doing something to Ti Luc it would be doing it to Germaine too.  They both love the pranks that happen here when Dickie is with us.  Ti Luc is getting good at it and he still tells people that he is Dickie's accomplice.

When Germaine opened the jar of peanut butter to feed Ti Luc this morning she found what looked like bugs mixed with the peanut butter.   It was actually black raisins. Ti Luc saw it and ran away.

Ti Luc needed to use the bathroom and so I helped him sit down.  Germaine was there too.  Ti Luc quickly stood up with a very puzzled look and said "problem, problem, something is stuck to my bum."  He and Germaine laughed so much over the plastic wrap on the toilet.

Germaine was putting his uniform shorts on him but could not get his legs to go in.  Germaine asked Ti Luc to try harder and said if he was playing a game to stop as he might be late.  After several tries Germaine took the shorts off to investigate as she started to suspect something.   When she discovered the legs were sown together she and Ti Luc laughed so hard they fell on Ti Luc's bed.

These uniform shorts will not go on..

Ti Luc then wondered about his uniform shirt.  It was hanging on ahanger in his closet and Germaine checked and told him the shirt had nothing done to it.  It didn't either to the sleeve that was in front.  She took it down and got Ti Luc's one arm in the sleeve, not easy to do a lot of the time, and proceeded to try put the second arm in.  No way.  It was blocked.   Again gales of laughter from both of them.

Removing thread from sleeve

Germaine kept saying "Dickie is here this morning.  Dickie is here.  When did he arrive from Canada?"  Dickie you have a reputation here so I told them to blame you for everything.   That works well for me.

Again from the bottom of our hearts - thank you for everything that you have done, are doing, and will continue to do for the children in our area of Haiti.

IT   IS   ALL   ABOUT   THE   CHILDREN

Another photo blog from Karen.

The photos will show that HATS-Haiti truly is    ALL   ABOUT   THE CHILDREN.   Everything is done with them and for them.

Karen

All kids happy for Papa hugs

The 'Man' of HATS who wears many hats

Low water in canal so kids could climb down this morning

Sandra

Anne

Jofky

Karena

Ti Fi and Josie

Four monkey doodles

JJ, Leica & Djemima - going higher

Actually meant to keep animals from going in - obviously not the two legged kind