The blog today is written by Heather.

We have arrived!   The wait was endless, but I was so excited.  The first thing I saw when I arrived was a beautiful sign made by the kids to welcome us back.  Then I was given a big group hug that almost toppled me over.  There are two new faces in the group - adorable little boys.  I am so happy to be back, I can’t believe it’s real.

Our sign maker - Dieunel.

Last night, we arrived late due to our missing luggage so we didn’t do much but say hi and eat then straight to bed. I woke up at 5am with the roosters then just laid in bed but did not manage to get back to sleep as it was too noisy. But I would take the noise any day verses the snow in Calgary.

Just arrived.

Lots of work was done today by Liette and her two assistants for that job, Joan and Keith.  Grades 1,2, 3, 4 and 5 had letters and photos done.

Liette off and running with Grade One.

Gr 1's on their way for letters and photos.

A class of 11 Rheto students who are being educated outside of HATS school, IMKH, due to HATS not yet offering the Rheto class came and did their photos and letters as well.

Secondary - Rheto students.

Today was great for me!  I got to keep track of all the little ones and the ones who stayed home from school. What a task to keep all of them entertained. I also got to meet the new HATS darling, Sonson.  He is the cutest little guy - I hope I can make it through customs with him in my suitcase. We started out with a bit of colouring and soccer and finished with some new hairdos for me and more soccer.

Liette with our youngest

Then comes my favorite part: the Slip and slide.  It’s so nice to be in the cool water and those kids do the craziest things. Not all of them understand the process so some walked and some crawled.  And of course there’s Magdala, the water baby  who wanted to run and splash continually.  She cried every turn that wasn’t hers.

Leica enjoying the slip and slide

Jofky's turn on the slip and slide

Then more soccer.  Boy am I tired!  Keith and Joan, the missionary couple, said they got tired just watching me. Finally for dinner, we had Haitian spaghetti which is way better than Canadian.  I'm hoping for Haitian oatmeal tomorrow.  Good night!    

Our blogger Heather

Sunday, November 15th – 2015

Joan.

What is one of your favorite things you remember doing as a kid? This week the kids got a new toy thanks to Keith’s perseverance and ingenuity. They now have a full swing set with all swings working! This is really exciting. It only took 7 hardware stores and two trips to St. Marc to find the chain and hardware to get the set all fixed. Thanks Keith.

Dieunel, Josie, Anne, Sandra and Karena

Keith helping out!

As you can see they love to pile on as many as they can. Keith had to help them out to make sure that the swing will hold! Today was the first time I have seen TiFi on the swings. She was really enjoying herself. The new wooden seats give her the confidence to try it out.

TiFi enjoying a swing.

After a swing early this morning the kids were called in for breakfast. The big kids sit together at a long table and the little ones have their own. I think it is getting a little crowded at the little table. It will soon be Anne’s turn to join the big kids.

The big kids

The little kids

There are certain privileges to getting older. One is getting to sit at the big kids table. Another is being able to take on a responsibility, a small job. Karen and Papa Luckner give the older kids a few jobs to do and pay them a small allowance. JJ and Moise go to Papa’s sometimes to help out and the money they earn is kept by Karen in a “bank account” for them. They can spend it as they wish. At school, they can buy a small snack for recess and I know JJ may be close to spending all his allowance on snacks!

JJ, Moise, Djemima and Leica are a big help to Mama Karen, helping her keep everything running smoothly. Well as smoothly as you can in Haiti. They are growing into responsible young teens with great personalities. I enjoy working with them in our English class.

English class

Leica on left and Djemima on right

Moise on left JJ in back

Thank you God, for the resources to help these kids grow and thrive in this beautiful but troubled country.

Because it is all about the kids.                                  

Friday, November 13th – 2015

Keith

BICYCLES

The kids love to ride their bicycles around the compound and occasionally the older kids take theirs along the canal road.  Unfortunately some of bikes have been outgrown so we were sharing which is never a great option. Fortunately HATS received two donations this summer for new bikes: one from the Yarmouth Wesleyan Church VBS and another from an anonymous Springdale friend of Karen’s. We got the cash and headed to St. Marc and bought 4 bikes, spare tires, seats, tubes and replacement accessories for the current bikes.

Joan and Karen negotiating a good price

Jofky, Judel and Leika with 3 of the new bikes

Of course a half dozen of the older bikes needed repairs for flat tires, seats adjusted and replaced and brakes tightened and repaired. And helmet straps need new clips and adjusted as well.

Keith’s bike repair shop

And then they were off; a dozen bikes and riders tearing up and down the driveway and Karen trying to direct traffic. It was a tad chaotic because some of the riders followed North American standard and rode on the right, a couple had British heritage and rode on the left. Then 2 true Haitians rode in the middle and looked for a chance to pass.
It's fortunate everyone is wearing helmets!!

The cutest pair is Makensen and Sonson, the new brothers at the orphanage.  Makensen is very protective of his little brother. As soon as the bikes come out he heads for the low slung trike and then trots off to find Sonson. He puts him on the back and they go cruising together.

Tuesday November 10th – 2015

Tuesday Tidbits.

The boss lady is back on the compound. Karen arrived home on the weekend from Canada and got a warm and heartfelt welcome from the staff and kids.

Karen was very pleased to know that we had not stolen, lost or sold any kids while we were in charge. She wanted a family picture of everyone together though just to be sure.

The office painting is complete and everything put back almost where we found it. The buddies Karen and Joan are catching up on the news AND hopefully working on the monthly report too.

As you can imagine there are many minor injuries with all these kids at HATS. Nurse Joan administers to Jofky under the watchful eyes of the future medical students.

Monday school was closed – again, this time for a strike related to the recent Presidential elections. So what did Sandra, Jofky, Karena, Anne and Jonathan do? They played school. The only advantage is there is no homework.

This morning the strike is over and the elementary school kids gathered with Mama Karen to pray before school. Precious.

Sunday November 8th - 2015

Joan

So let me give you a quick overview of a week with 17 kids on the compound 24/7 because school is closed. Every day starts with us all gathering at 7:30 a.m. for devotions where we sing and pray and any instructions are given. We finish with greeting each other by shaking hands and saying “Have a good day”.

One of their favorite activities is to play school with the chalkboard the older ones use for figuring out math problems on.

Just after lunch when the heat gets really oppressive, a video is a good way to spend a couple of hours in out of the sun.

When the heat has cooled ever so slightly, around 5:00 p.m., the kids enjoy a walk along the canal. They like to throw rocks in the water, climb the big trees not too far along from the compound and enjoy the beauty that we see in the Artibonite Valley.

We are truly blessed to have such a beautiful place to live.

IT IS ALL ABOUT THE CHILDREN

Friday, November 06th – 2015

Keith

SAY WHAT?
The kids have all been off school this week. School was closed due to elections and exam marking for the teachers. Needless to say the compound has been noisy and busy with everyone around. Mid-morning yesterday I thought my hearing was shot – except I could hear car traffic and birds singing. I went out on the compound and asked the house-mothers where all the kids were. Oh they all went to Kay Luckner’s for the day. Say what? How did I miss that information? I felt like Jay on “Modern Family”

“I only understand about 30% of what goes on around here!”

Anyway this morning everything is back to normal and the compound is a beehive of activity with kids on a sugar high from yesterday. There is lots of noise, shouting, laughing, talking, playing, crying and the busyness that we know and love.

COMPUTER CLUB
In July Beate started a computer club with the older kids. I have recommenced the club with meetings 3 times a week for an hour. HATS had some very nice laptops donated and we are putting them to good use. I brought two educational games for them and they are learning how to type (not the 2 finger hunt and peck like me) and a mathematics arcade game which they love.

The Prof and the students

JJ, Moise, Leika, Djemima and Dieumel enjoy the class and are working hard too.

I attached Ti Luc’s keyboard to a board and set up a computer station for him. It is amazing to see him type with both feet and his math skills are remarkable.

Ti Luc at his computer station

Tuesday November 03 – 2015

Tuesday Tidbits

These kids didn’t get the memo that the clocks went back Saturday night.
So we had an extra hour of praise and worship outside Karen’s house.

Construction is always ongoing at HATS.; the new bathrooms outside the church.

Joan the English teacher is also the music teacher for JJ on piano.

And the drivers’ education instructor again for JJ – Scary!!

It’s time for yard cleanup. Bring garbage or clothes or shoes or toys from around the yard and get a candy. Thanks Carol for the candy. Joan collected a lot of garbage AND a lot of good stuff AND Moise found his shoes!

This is why it takes soooooo long to get anything done at HATS.
The help (Keith) is lying down on the job – again – and pretending to be painting…..