The history of the Hattens in Haiti
This is our whole family, their spouses, and our granddaughter too.
We were married in 1983 and both felt God's leading into missions of some kind. As we prayed about this our first year of marriage we were made aware of a medical ministry in Haiti. We spent the summer of 1984 in Haiti at the Hospital of Light located in the mountains of the southern peninsula. Tom assisted in surgery and Carolyn did child care and worked organizing the library at the hospital. Feeling God's leading into full time ministry we came home and began raising support to return to Haiti with Worldteam Missions. Two years and two babies later we did return to Haiti full time.
Katy was not quite two and Will was four months old. This time we lived and worked at a clinic in Les Cayes close to the coast and about 30 minutes from the Hospital of Light. Tom, working as a physician's assistant, did out-patient medicine and Carolyn taught kindergarten at a school for English speaking children. We returned to the US in late 1987 and Tom began medical school in 1988. We had learned to love the generous and hospitable Haitian people and feel blessed beyond measure to be allowed to return and minister there again.
Katy was not quite two and Will was four months old. This time we lived and worked at a clinic in Les Cayes close to the coast and about 30 minutes from the Hospital of Light. Tom, working as a physician's assistant, did out-patient medicine and Carolyn taught kindergarten at a school for English speaking children. We returned to the US in late 1987 and Tom began medical school in 1988. We had learned to love the generous and hospitable Haitian people and feel blessed beyond measure to be allowed to return and minister there again.
Carolyn with Katy and Will while in Haiti in 1987-88
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Bath time!
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A motorcycle is a great way to travel in Haiti!
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Taking a break in the mountains above Port-au-Prince
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Current Ministry Involvement
Since we returned from Haiti in 1988 we have followed news from missionaries and general happenings in Haiti, We remember being so saddened when we first heard of the earthquake in January of 2010. Knowing the already desperate needs in Haiti, we knew instantly this was a catastrophe of enormous proportions. Our hearts hurt for them as we prayed for the people of Haiti, just as many of you did.
In the fall of 2010 I (Carolyn) met Joy Reeves as she shared in a Sunday school class about New Vision Ministries in Haiti. Joy and Kerry Reeves started New Vision Ministries and are living and ministering in a variety of ways in Montrouis, Haiti. Kerry is an eye doctor and holds regular eye and medical clinics.They have also opened a home for children, began a fishing ministry, worked with earthquake refugees, started a feeding program for the elderly, started a school sponsorship program, began a housing program for single moms, hold discipleship and literacy classes in the fishing village, and most recently has taken over the administration of Liberty Academy ( school for English speaking children) in St. Mark. God is truly blessing the obedience and efforts of this sweet family. They live in Montrouis with seven of their nine children.
We joined a group from Cornerstone Church in Maiden, NC on a trip to Montrouis in April of 2011. This group went to serve and help teach classes during a revival held by a group of eight churches Dr. Reeves works in partnership with. This was a wonderful trip and ignited our love for the Haitian people again. We returned in June for Tom to hold surgery clinics in order to identify patients for surgery for a visiting surgical team later that summer. During this trip Tom also completed physicals on the children currently in the Celebration Children's Home in order to complete requirements for a license to begin adoptions for these children.
Our desire to serve in Haiti was growing, and we began praying for God's leading in possible full-time service in Haiti. We returned in October of 2011 with a medical team and our ten year old son, Jacob. Anxious to see how Jacob adjusted, we prayed for God's continued leading. We had a wonderful busy week. Jacob spent most of his time helping at clinic, made some new Haitian friends, enjoyed swimming in the ocean, and generally had a great week.
I spent part of the week at the children's home and helping out at Liberty Academy. Tom felt a special connection and desire to help the elderly in the fishing village, as the medical team did home visits to those in the feeding program. Feeling God's leading to pursue the possibility of full-time work in Haiti we talked with Kerry and Joy and began making plans to return to work and live in Montrouis.
Our home church, Lincoln Community Bible Church, has been faithful and supportive during our journey this year and has agreed to be our sending body. We are so thankful for their friendships, prayers, and support. We ask for God's blessings as we plan to return in the spring of 2012 to take Anna for her first trip to Haiti, transport supplies for school and clinics, and make our housing arrangements. We plan to move to Montrouis in August of 2012, Thanks for all your prayers. We know God works through the prayers of his people, and we truly need God's guidance for each one of these steps. Please continue to pray for the people of Haiti.
In the fall of 2010 I (Carolyn) met Joy Reeves as she shared in a Sunday school class about New Vision Ministries in Haiti. Joy and Kerry Reeves started New Vision Ministries and are living and ministering in a variety of ways in Montrouis, Haiti. Kerry is an eye doctor and holds regular eye and medical clinics.They have also opened a home for children, began a fishing ministry, worked with earthquake refugees, started a feeding program for the elderly, started a school sponsorship program, began a housing program for single moms, hold discipleship and literacy classes in the fishing village, and most recently has taken over the administration of Liberty Academy ( school for English speaking children) in St. Mark. God is truly blessing the obedience and efforts of this sweet family. They live in Montrouis with seven of their nine children.
We joined a group from Cornerstone Church in Maiden, NC on a trip to Montrouis in April of 2011. This group went to serve and help teach classes during a revival held by a group of eight churches Dr. Reeves works in partnership with. This was a wonderful trip and ignited our love for the Haitian people again. We returned in June for Tom to hold surgery clinics in order to identify patients for surgery for a visiting surgical team later that summer. During this trip Tom also completed physicals on the children currently in the Celebration Children's Home in order to complete requirements for a license to begin adoptions for these children.
Our desire to serve in Haiti was growing, and we began praying for God's leading in possible full-time service in Haiti. We returned in October of 2011 with a medical team and our ten year old son, Jacob. Anxious to see how Jacob adjusted, we prayed for God's continued leading. We had a wonderful busy week. Jacob spent most of his time helping at clinic, made some new Haitian friends, enjoyed swimming in the ocean, and generally had a great week.
I spent part of the week at the children's home and helping out at Liberty Academy. Tom felt a special connection and desire to help the elderly in the fishing village, as the medical team did home visits to those in the feeding program. Feeling God's leading to pursue the possibility of full-time work in Haiti we talked with Kerry and Joy and began making plans to return to work and live in Montrouis.
Our home church, Lincoln Community Bible Church, has been faithful and supportive during our journey this year and has agreed to be our sending body. We are so thankful for their friendships, prayers, and support. We ask for God's blessings as we plan to return in the spring of 2012 to take Anna for her first trip to Haiti, transport supplies for school and clinics, and make our housing arrangements. We plan to move to Montrouis in August of 2012, Thanks for all your prayers. We know God works through the prayers of his people, and we truly need God's guidance for each one of these steps. Please continue to pray for the people of Haiti.
