Hi! Don and Emma here . (Written Thursday - now Friday)

It’s hard to believe it is Thursday already. Time sure flies when you’re having fun……  Thought we might backtrack a little to the day we arrived on the HATS compound. What a joy to be met by such beautiful chocolate faces all wanting to be kissed and hugged!!! Only for as short while though as it was getting late and we had to get our sleeping quarters arranged. Sleeping in our mosquito proof+ed tents in the great outdoors was something we were all looking forward to .

Sleeping quarters

Since we are the two old fogies on this team we thought it would be a good idea to enlist the help of a computer expert to help us with this blog. Thanks very much Ti Luc, you are the best!!!

It was so good to finally meet Nicki and Mike, formerly from Yarmouth, now living in Halifax, Nova Scotia, who have been Karen’s helping hands for the last three months. Such beautiful people with their hearts in the right place.

An interesting event occurred on our journey to the mission. We had to overnight in Montreal and what to our wondering eyes did appear at the hotel but a sign that stated “ RCMP Haiti Mission”. All Alert!!!!!

Well, the girls anyway. Imagine,a group of fine gentlemen from the beautiful country of Canada heading to Haiti as well!! Dare we attempt to find them?  It’s ok Debbie, your Lacee is safe with us. If she gets out of hand we will call the RCMP…..   These guys are on a year long engagement in the country to assist the Haitian police with further training. Way to go!!

Our day started with a wonderful breakfast, which included fresh fruit, toasted buns and boiled eggs. I have waited a full year for a delicious mango and you can bet I wasn’t disappointed!! Yummy!

After breakfast we held our morning devotions .  As always devotions are the best way to start the day with beautiful singing and prayer from these lovely Haitian voices.

Judel has a friend in morning devotions

Hi Ho Hi Ho it’s off to work we go!!!Another Health Awareness Morning was held where we distributed toothbrushes and vitamins to the school children and spoke with them about health and hygiene.

Mother (teacher) and daughter attending one of our health care days

We then took a quick trip to Luckner’s place (Luckner is the HATS assistant director and school principal and 'all around go to guy for problems and advice') for a cold drink and conversation about upcoming events for the week. Oh the joy of riding in the pan of Karen’s tap tap.

After a nice lunch Emma, Jenny, Nicki, and Todd headed out to the devotion room to start bagging food for families.

Measure the food ladies

Karena helping with measuring food for the community

Food measured and cleaning up

As this was happening, Don, Karen, Alycia and Lacee headed into St. Marc for some much needed supplies that weren’t to be found in our area.  They took HATS chief security with them so a new security was put on duty.

New security on duty Thursday

Playing with the children is always a wonderful treat so after our work was finished we had fun time. This included finding hammer and nails, some disposed of wood and a tarp with which we made a tee pee. The kids were thrilled!! They even attempted to make their own!!
Yes Dickie, I did put your hammer back in the same place!!

Fun times in the teepee

Lost in thought in the teepee

The troops arrived safely home and stored away their treasures. Time for supper and to discuss the day’s events and what tomorrow might bring.

There is thunder rumbling in the distance and we hope for much needed rain. The crops really need it. Ti Luc draws our attention to a beautiful rainbow and we gather outside to admire the arc d’ciel . As we write this blog the thunder is getting louder and the rain has started to pour. Maybe we may be able to pull a sheet over us as we sleep tonight!! Oh easterly wind, I dare not take your name in vain again. Not this week anyway.

Evenings bring storytime with Karen which we all enjoy. Time to reflect and learn the many details concerning the HATS mission and children, their stories and their futures. All that and a cup of Red Rose tea. Put the pot on Jenny!!

Good night and God Bless! Now go home!!!!!!!!!!

May 25th, 2016

Yesterday we all arrived safely at HATS Haiti, well almost!!! We were delighted to see Karen’s welcoming smile at the airport, and it appeared that the chaos we experienced a year ago upon arrival had changed. Well, that was before the team was being led by Daniel to the vehicle and oops no Todd or Karen. The team was separated after Daniel’s vehicle had been moved. After sometime Todd and Karen appeared oblivious to the stress the rest of the team experienced.

Upon arrival we enjoyed playing with the kids, meeting the new children, and set up camp on the roof which is always fun.

We were surprised by how early darkness came compared to previous years. However, it gave us an opportunity to meet Mike and Nikki, who have been here almost 3 months and are beautiful additions to the HATS family. Karen told us a story or two before bedtime which has always been the teams favourite evening event. We ended our night with a group prayer and fell asleep very quickly.

Today, the team concentrated on two main areas; unpacking the mounds of donations including gifts for sponsored children. At the school, the team was busy providing various ‘health promotion activates’. Everyone received a toothbrush, multivitamins, and essential teaching. A teacher and first time mother, dropped by with her newborn and Jenny taught her the essentials of caring for her baby. Jenny suggested if she had any problems, she would be willing to take the baby back to Canada! Ha

We were reminded that it is rainy season in Haiti when the torrential rains started late afternoon. Nikki was so happy to feel cool for the first time in 3 months as she stood soaked outside.

We will all sleep well tonight … Todd & Jenny

Parties and More Parties!

By Mike and Nicki

Who doesn’t love a good party? Well, we have had lots to celebrate this week here at HATS! Each month all the birthdays for that month are celebrated altogether in one celebration. On Sunday we celebrated birthdays for TiFi, Jofky, Anne and Dieunel.

The birthday kids checking out their gifts – Dieunel, Anne, Jofky and TiFi

TiFi loves her doll!

Their traditions here are wonderful! The birthday kids sit on special chairs and are sung to in three languages! Then each of the other children get up and give them a birthday hug followed by each of them opening their gifts. Then there is cake of course!

Magdela and Markenson think the cake tastes really good!

After the party we had some races. The kids love it when we do this!

The races with Anne in the lead!

Just a few days later it was Flag Day on May 18. It was quite an event! The students gathered at the school which was all decorated with the Haitian flag, and along with a band marched along the main street for several kilometers waving flags. We followed along enjoying the music and the excitement of the students and teachers. Parents and neighbors were all out watching the event. It was great! Good thing the parade started around 9am though, as by the time we got back to the school a couple of hours later it was REALLY hot! It was so nice to see the kids so excited. Back at the school a meal was prepared for the students and the band continued to play while students danced around the school yard. I’m so glad our time at HATS included this very special holiday!

Students getting their flags and preparing for the parade

Leaving the school they first marched over the bridge

The younger grades marching

Some of the older kids really got in to the music!

Back at the school the band continued to play

The school was decorated with flags!

I love to walk early mornings.

It is very therapeutic and gets my day off to a good start.

Karen's early morning walk

Scene from morning walk

Life is very busy and hectic here.  It is not easy to keep up with the work load needed to keep things running properly. Thus morning walks are very important to start my day in thankfulness and appreciation.

man cutting and pulling strings from a sack so he can make a rope to tie his animals

Men about to enter the fields to work

Some of the time the older children and/or fellow missionaries to HATS are with me but mostly I do so by myself.  I love the cooler temperatures, the quietness before it all becomes noisy and busy.

Moto transport

Too, I love to see and photograph the beautiful and industrious Haitian people as they go about the start of their days.

Scenes of Haiti

Scenes of Haiti

Scenes of Haiti

I like getting off the beaten paths and seeing the people I have come to love.

Scenes of Haiti

Scenes of Haiti

Scenes of Haiti

I thank God for the honour and privilege of serving him in Haiti for the past 21 years and for allowing me the health and strength to continue doing so.

Scenes of Haiti

Women in Haiti

I thank him for all of you, our HATS friends and supporters, who make it possible for us to help educate the students and to take care of the children.

HANDS ACROSS THE SEA-Haiti    IS   ALL   ABOUT   THE   CHILDREN

God bless you all.
Karen

Web site revision

Good morning Hands Across the Sea supporters,

We will be making some changes to our website in the next few days and our site may be unavailable for a day or so this week.  Please don't panic - we'll be back up and running soon.  We'll be sending out an update when our fantastic new site is up and running.  A big thank you to Lynn McKee who is getting our new site created!

If you are wanting to make your sponsorship donation please use the Donate button on the blog or the Donate button on Facebook. Both of those allow you to specify the amount you want to give.

May 16th Gotta Love Those Teenagers!

By Mike and Nicki

We spend most of our time at the HATS orphanage, but HATS impact extends beyond the walls of this compound into the community as well. Sundays are a good example…we go next door to the school compound, which also houses the church. Lots of community children and some adults call this their church. There is a pretty impressive group of teens who have really taken on some leadership roles in the church. There is a rotation made up mainly of teens who take turns leading worship, reading scripture and singing specials.

Carrying Mama's Bible to church

teens singing a special in church

teens leading worship

some of the teen boys drumming

Some of the teens even came up with the idea to offer Sunday School lessons prior to church on Sunday mornings.

Sunday School on the porch of the school

what a crowd of kids!

Moving from Sunday school to church

One section of Sunday morning service

On a recent Sunday afternoon the teens got together for a fun game of soccer in between the church and the school. They were really good! Notice that the “soccer field” is a little rocky – that didn’t stop a few of them from playing in their bare feet. They kindly offered to let us play with them, but I’m afraid our skills weren’t up to their level.

Flora, one of the goalies makes a great save!

A great game of soccer!

I love it that the teens are providing a great example of leadership to the smaller kids. I’m sure they are watching and learning, because

it’s all about the children!