October 11, 2014

The blog today is coming to you through the experiences of Gary.  What a wonderful adventure it has been! Time is passing so quickly and the team only has two full days left. It seems only like yesterday that we arrived. We have been so blessed and honored to be at this mission in HATS.

Today was an early start as usual. Some members of the team went for an early walk with the older children and others continued to prepare the job site for the team’s project.  The number of benches in the church has increased by twelve and they have been placed in the church for tomorrows’ worship services.

Church Bench Delivery

Ready for Church

Some of the team visited Radio Creole today. The station is owned by Luckner, the school principal and he permitted some of the HATS children to come and view a special soccer match between Brazil and Argentina on his studio television. Such an invitation is a treat because most homes do not have a television signal and having such modern technology is considered a luxury.

Luckner

Radio Creole

A message from Cathy today:

The ladies were treated to a visit to the town market in Verrettes today.  How Karen can maneuver her truck around the paths and alley ways, dodging horses, donkeys and motorbikes is amazing!   Staying very close together for security, we wandered the market just as the locals do.   The sights, smells and atmosphere cannot be portrayed in pictures.  They can buy just about anything in the open market, from fresh goats heads, to freshly slaughtered chicken (with feathers and all), to piles of charcoal.  And as you will see from the picture below, there is a parking lot in the back for their horses.  Thank you again to Karen for sharing that experience with us.

Market

Market valet parking

We also had a visit from two ladies who made homemade crafts. The workmanship was immaculate as expected, displaying the pride and talent that Haitians have in both their country and abilities.

Craft lady and Cathy

One feature that I was not expecting was the beautiful landscape which surrounds this vast country. The hills roll majestically around the villages capitulated by large towers of stately greenery.  These settings only enhance the beauty of the Haitian people.

Lush landscape

HATS backyard

Needless to say the food has been exquisite.  We have been so blessed with the expertise of Germaine, our team cook. She has made the transition from our home land so much more pleasant.

Germaine and veggies

Fritay

I ask that you continue to pray for the team and all those associated with this beautiful ministry.  Remember the greatest command which was given by Christ was to share his love with the whole world. We continue to live in Christ’s faith to help make his world a better place. God Bless!

Gary

Blog – Oct 10th -2014

Cathy and Gary sharing with you today.

Another fantastic day here at HATS!  There are lots of new experiences for us and lots of fun with Karen’s beautiful children.

First of all, it’s raining buckets right now – a welcomed reprieve from the heat of past few days.

Our day, however, started with staff devotions led by Germaine, one of the ladies who work in the kitchen.   What beautiful singing, what energy, and smiles.   Just a bit of a challenge for us, to say the least, to read the words of the songs in Creole.  The tunes are recognizable, though, and we are improving!

This morning we accomplished a lot with 7 more benches made by Gary, Al and Keith, while Lily and I finished cleaning out and organizing the storeroom.

Then it was off for an adventure.   Karen took the time from her busy day to take us outside the compound and into the village of Deschapelles.   It was a bumpy ride in the back of her pick-up truck!  To see how the people live, the shops along the streets and the Albert Schweitzer Hospital was just amazing.

All aboard

Street market

Carol loves singing with the children and gathers them around her, after school in the afternoons, to sing, color, and just hang out.  She is practicing a special song with them for church on Sunday.   Lily, Joan, Carol and I are teaching them to play the tambourines in rhythm and will be doing a drill at worship on Sunday to the song “Give me Oil in my Lamp, Keep me Burning” – one of the songs the children can sing in English.

Give me Oil

Starting young

Birthday boy drummer

This afternoon we had a birthday party for two of the boys who had birthdays this month. 
Ti Luc is now 9 years old and Jonathan is 3.   We celebrated outside with singing,  gifts and a party lunch.   The children sure enjoyed the cookies that Lily and I made!  Later the children were off to continue the celebration with a rare treat – to watch a movie. They were so happy and excited.

Jonathan opening gifts

The cakes

The party girls

Happy boy

Now, for us, we’re hoping for another good night’s rest in our little tents.  Hopefully the roosters won’t start too early in the morning!!!

Cathy and Gary

It’s Lily & Al sending greetings from Haiti.

It’s been another great day. Excuse clothes and hair dos because it is so hot that it is pointless to shower and change because you feel the same after. (But we do) It is all about the children so that’s our focus.

The morning began with me (Lily) taking my turn getting Ti Luc ready for the day. He loves fun and has mastered the English language quite well so it makes it quite easy to talk to him.

Lily and Ti Luc

Every morning before Karen’s children go to school they come to the house and gather in a circle for prayer. It is quite touching to hear the children lead in prayer.

We were all thrilled to be a part of the morning devotion and flag break at the school. The children amaze us with their singing abilities and reverence. They look so sharp in their uniforms .

Morning devotions at the school

Flag is being raised

Cathy and I began to organize the storage room. We hardly knew where to start but we were quite pleased with our accomplishments. We were able to sort what was there previously with what we brought down with us.

Before

After

Joan continued with her administration duties as well as giving us instructions & support when needed.

Carol was busy assorting school supplies and organizing the office. She was also able to get time with TI FI and spent part of her afternoon with the younger children singing, coloring and playing games.

The wood for the benches arrived yesterday. Gary, Al & Keith were able to get a start & spent most of the day at the benches for the church. This is such an exciting project because when the children have devotions & church is held on Sundays, People will actually be able to sit.

AL and Keith bench building

Gary coating to prevent termites

It was Ti Luc’s birthday on Tuesday so the Party is tomorrow, Cathy and I baked cookies. I am sure homemade cookies will be enjoyed by the children.

Cookie time

Before we sat to eat we enjoyed a refreshing walk along the canal. The country is quite lush. It is interesting to see the rice fields being planted. An amazing part of God’s creation.

Cousins Lily and Keith

The lush rice fields along the river

Afternoon walk, Ti Luc is tired

Lily and Al

Oct 8, 2014

Hello from the HATS Internet Cafe…I have been told to sit down and drink some water…a perfect time to take my turn on the blog.  So, here goes…my first post…

I’m a newbie…my name is Carol Patterson…an Early Childhood Educator from Montreal…I am delighted to have been invited to join my friends Joan and Keith on this visit to our HATS Family.  I know that I speak for all of the team, when I say that it is was with the love and support of our extended families that we filled suitcases and hockey bags (Keith guesses about 750 lbs) and traveled to this special place.   When I was at the airport…on the plane…I would catch a team member’s eye… “We’re going to Haiti!  We are going to Haiti!”  I would say with nervous excitement.  Then, as I walked off the plane…my feet touched the tarmac and my eyes took in the lovely mountains…it was not the heat…although it was that hot… that took my breath away… but the beauty that was around me.   I remembered a verse from my childhood…Psalm 121… “I will lift up my eyes unto the hills…from whence cometh my help?   My help comes from the Lord.  Who made heaven and earth.”  God is here.  It was then with peace I breathed, “I am in Haiti.”   Then it was on to meet the children…it’s all about the children.   The singing…the smiles…the hugs…the screams of Mr. Keif…greetings in English…each a loving welcome…pure delight…I was indeed in Haiti and so looking forward to getting to know these beautiful children.

I awoke with the moon still shining ,the sounds of the roosters...the feeling of sweat dripping down my forehead…and the realization that I was in Haiti…Hot Haiti!

A moment from my day…we visited the School this morning!  It was recess and the children were enjoying a little snack and a break from Classes.  As we walked down the path we were greeted by the children dressed in their uniforms and full of smiles and gentle touches.  I was only able to make it as far as the stairs before I was sitting down surrounded by children showing me their smiles.  I would ask what they were eating and they took delight in showing me…telling me (in a few languages…including sign language) what it was…crackers, lollipops, juice, chocolate puffs, a great recess.  Towards the end a little boy comes and joins our circle, he is not smiling and his mouth is if full of a lollipop…still wrapped!  I unwrapped  it and he put the lollipop into his mouth the smile made its way onto his face.  Suddenly there were several lollipops being handed to me and we were talking about the colours and the flavours.  Then the bell rang and it was back to work for everyone…the children to School and the team to their projects…Karen’s to do list!

Enjoy the photos…moments from the team’s day…

Welcome to HATS Haiti

Recess at the School…much better when the wrapper is off!

Lunchtime…I think that she likes it!

Adventures in plumbing…but now we have 2 fully operational washrooms!!!!

Walking along the Canal…It’s been a busy day!

Hi Joan here and so happy to be here!

We made it with all the bags! and we are so excited to be here. Let me tell you who has come to Hats this week. Keith and Joan Wight from Montreal have brought a team with them…all “newbies” to Hats. The team will be staying a week and then Keith and I will wave goodbye to them and be staying a while longer. Karen will let us know when we are going home! Eugene, who led devotions this morning thought we should stay a year!  (Karen is attaching photos and proofing this.  To Keith and Joan staying a year she says YES.)

Montreal airport

Off to HATS we go

Carol Patterson has come from Montreal. She is a huge support for us as we come and go from here and now she is here with us! Lily and Al Ball have come from Deer Lake and Cathy and Gary Ash from Stephenville. Both places are in Newfoundland for those of you that have never been. Carol Patterson, a friend of Keith and Joan’s has joined them from Montreal.

Now there is a connection between us all, in case you were wondering how we all ended up going to HATS  together.

Carol is a long time friend of ours and part of our family in Montreal. Lily and Keith are first cousins so there is the family connection. Keith and I had many a meal at their place in our first months of marriage ( now that was just a few years ago!) when I was teaching in Deer Lake.

Cathy and Gary’s daughter Heidi is married to Lily and Al’s son Dave so there is that family connection. Keith got to know Dave and Heidi on their trip together to Zimbabwe and we were so hoping that they could join us for this trip but were not able to. We got the “rents” instead! Even though Keith and I have been to Hats before it is fun to travel with the “newbies” and see Haiti and HATS through fresh eyes.

 Last evening when we arrived at the compound, the kids were all waiting for us jumping up and down with excitement.  They had made us a welcome sign and it really made us feel at home. With lots of hugs and kisses to boot we were really and truly welcomed and at home.

Team and Vladimy were very welcomed

Welcome team

Team & children happy to be together

Kids kept saying Keef, Keef, Keef

First day arrival

Lily has her hands full

We settled in and had Germaine’s delicious Haitian soup for supper. You have got to come and taste it, it’s my favorite. I’m trying to convince her to serve it again tonight!

Thanks to Luckner’s generator we have water this morning! God is good and He provides.

This week is going to be full of lots of work and moments that we will not forget and lots of kid time starting when they get back from school later. Even little Jonathan and Sandra went off to school this morning! I miss having the little ones around.

Gary and Al have spent the day in the bathroom together. We need that second toilet with so many around. Thanks guys!

First job for Al and Gary is fixing toilets

Lily and Cathy sorted the bags. Thank you to all who gave us things to bring…you are so generous.

Organizing donated supplies by Lily and Cathy

Carol  organized the office supplies so Karen can find the school supplies for the kids when they come asking for pens and pencils.

Carol's first job is organizing the supply cupboard

Joan worked on the school class lists.

Karen and Keith did the tour of the property and so tomorrow there will be a list for us all!

Thank you for your support for us and for the kids.   It is all about the kids.

 Joan

This blog is photos.

They will do the talking. Keith mentioned on his blog, we have very little electricity and thus are very short on internet time.

The children were truly happy to welcome mama back home.  We have had some great times together in the past few days.
 

Sign on very top of my house when I arrived home

Another sign to welcome mama home

Bye mama. We will be here with you when school is out

Karena's first year in this uniform for grades 1-6

Jonathan and Sandra off to preschool one

Djemima in our uniform for grades 7 and up

Happy to be back outside walking with Mama

Karena needing to retie her shoelace

Sandra saw me take a photo of Karena retying her laces so she decided hers need help too

Helping little sister to walk

Saturday morning walk - watching workers in the gardens

Planting rice

Threshing rice by hand

Blessings everyone.  K

Hi. It’s Keith....

...and Karen has me blogging, even though I don’t arrive in Haiti until Tuesday!!!  (She hopes to get a blog up by next week.)
 

Karen arrived back at HATS on Tuesday to a warm and loud welcome from the kids. She was in Newfoundland for 5 weeks for medical treatment and is back as good as new - only thing different according to her - she has less energy. Of course there was a mountain of things to do and help is on the way. Joan and I arrive Tuesday and we will be at HATS for 4-5 weeks. Our team of Carol, Lily, Al, Gary and Cathy arrive with us and will be there for a week.

As part of Karen’s welcome home the electricity from Hydro Haiti is off. Also the Delco/generator is on the fritz.  New one not yet arrived. As a result, very little internet etc.  (Only when Luckner loans his small generator to charge Karen's batteries for a couple of hours)

So this is just a short blog to bring you up to date and there will be more next week.

Keith