Dickie’s Trip to Haiti

January 31, 2010 Posted by Dickie MacDonald

I left Halifax Friday morning after a bad drive from Kentville with Kim. It was storming very bad. We were late leaving Halifax because we had to wait an hour in line to de-ice. It was a good that I had a 4 hour lay over in Toronto. I retrieved my bag at US Customs and filled out my form. I got in line and when I told him how much money I was carrying he stamped my form and took me to secondary screening. I waited an hour and then was told I had to report the money to Canadian Customs as well. I went down stairs and waited 45 minutes and filled out more forms. Back up stairs for another wait and more forms. I finally got to Security and had to empty both my bags as the cheese showed up in one and the yogurt and cream cheese in the other. I was standing in front of 200 people with no belt, holding up my pants and no shoes, repacking my stuff. I got down to the gate and grabbed a sandwich and left $9.00.

When I got to Miami I got my bags and started to look for Carol Cole. She had to walk a long piece and I only waited 10 minutes. We took the Shuttle to the Hertz garage and after a long while we eventually got a car. I did not have a Reservation and that was the only problem. The guy at the counter said no cars. I asked to speak to the Manager and we eventualy left with a car. The drive to Fort Pierce was 2.5 hours. That is where Missionary Flights International flies to Haiti. We stayed at the new Holiday Inn for $55.00 as well the Hertz car was half price. All because we were going to Haiti on MFI. I dropped my stuff in the room and went to the Business desk and printed out a map to MFI. This was 11:15pm. I found it no problem and the manager was just leaving. He checked the passenger list to make sure we were on it. He also said we could leave the rental car and they would take care of it. That made my sleep much better knowing where to go in the morning.

On the way to the Airport MFI flies out of I had passed a gas bar with 4 police cars parked having coffee. I figured it was safe even though they were long gone on my way back to the Hotel. I was wrong. It was the most sketchy place at 12:30 am I was ever in. I convinced my self that I was going to be robbed by a gang of 12 or more coming at me. I took off out of the parking lot and back to the main drive. In my haste I forgot to turn on the lights and a police car came up behind we with all lights blaring. I pulled to the shoulder of the street and waited forever for him to come over. Then I heard a loud voice on a speaker. Pull into the next driveway. On the third time I heard it I figured, He’s talking to me. So I pulled in to the next street and waited and waited. Then I heard him again. Turn of your engine. I did. Then he said, Look straight ahead. I did. Then He said, Put your hands on the top of the steering wheel. I did. He came over and said, Can I see your driver’s card? I said, Can I take my hands of the wheel? At this point in the exercise it was probably the wrong question. Long story short he said before driving again learn to turn on the lights. I went to the Hotel and slept soundly .

We had to be at the Airport at 8:00 am. We left for Haiti at 10:45. We were treated like kings for the entire morning. The DC 3 we were to go on left with freight and I was not keen on flying in a plane manufactured before I was born. Mel Newell, Mike Smith, Lloyd Sweeney, Ralph Cleveland and other Nascar fans – we flew to Haiti on JOE GIBBS RACING TEAM plane. We had his Chief Pilot, Co-Pilot and Stewardess. Treated again like Kings. They had flown 7 days straight. Leaving tomorrow for the Daytona 500. There was 31 on board and I was the only Canadian. Carol and I and the rest were Doctors or Residents. We got through Customs in PAP and on the road in 30 minutes. I drove to the Compound and we we met by some familiar faces.

The route we planned to take next week through the DR is now too dangerous for anyone because of the bandits. Some of the doctors on board were telling us that US citizens using this route have to be in an armed convoy.

I am heading for my tent, I am exhausted.

~Dickie

About Dickie MacDonald

Dickie Macdonald has been involved with HATS since 2005. When he learned that Hands Across the Sea was paying a parent organization 10% of all donations to look after the finances and issue receipts, he volunteered to take over the task. An avid community volunteer in Yarmouth and active grandfather to six grandchildren, Dickie is responsible for the financial aspects of the work of our organization and travels to Haiti each year with his wife Sandra.

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Testimonials

Culture shock for this Canadian team at first, but a ride through busy, vibrant streets proved terrifically interesting; busy markets, vendors selling exotic fruits, clothing and shoes, used tires and rusty metal… and then the gorgeous countryside: banana plants, mangoes, cows and goats and pigs and dogs, the Golfe de La Gonave by our side. Rice patties indicated we were close to our home for the next week. We were greeted by Magalie, a house mother, with hugs for all and, of course, the children themselves, so gorgeous and endearing. A beautiful meal was followed by a sharing of impressions: there is a lot of poverty but so much potential and hope. We are already in love with Haiti.

Team Canada
HATS Visitors
Such important work done with LOVE and commitment!

Dana Wight Kayal
HATS Supporter
I spent a week in Haiti at HATS in November 2017 and it was a wonderful experience. Karen is an amazing woman and is doing amazing work. She is dedicated to the children in her care and is changing lives. I would love the opportunity to visit again and help out where I can.

Sandy Eastly
HATS Visitor
One thing that has impacted me on this trip is seeing the children and all the dedication in this orphanage. There is so much going on behind the scenes to keep the HATS orphanage and school running.

Donna Wheeler
HATS Visitor
I have learned much about Haiti in my short stay here, much about generational, entrenched poverty, and much about hope. We can only be part of the bringing of hope if we become one small actor on the huge stage that is poverty. Thank you, Lynn Clark, for inviting me to share this life changing experience with you, and thank-you, Karen Huxter, for investing so much of your life in a work designed to bring hope to those who need it more than any Canadian could ever imagine.

Linda
HATS Visitor
It’s my hope that I manage to touch their hearts in some small way, the way that they have touched mine – in a major way.

Cherie MacDonald
HATS Visitor
I am so thankful to God for allowing me the opportunity to be here and experience his splendor. 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.

Crystal Young
HATS Visitor
I am going to try to explain why a trip to Haiti is life-changing. No-one can be thrown into a group of people who have the common purpose of doing something for someone less fortunate and not be changed in many ways. As with those I joined in each of the first four trips I made to HATS, my respect and affection for each of the team members grows daily. To those who wonder if your donations and prayers are actually making a difference, I will answer you in this way…there are about 300 children in front of me right now and some or many of them God will use in a great way to change the future face of Haiti and its people. YOU have helped make that possible — AND THAT, FOLKS — is a fact!

Brian En
HATS Visitor
This is my first trip to Haiti and I’m hoping that it will not be my last! I could start by telling you all about my experiences however I’ll start by saying that Haiti DOES hit you in your heart! Not a day goes by when I’m not fighting back tears. Hands Across the Sea is an amazing place! Our team has been assembled of different men that all who all felt God calling them to do his bidding. Since I have been here I was quick to realize that we are just helpers here. Karen and her team of workers are, what I believe to be, the real workers of God! Each child presents their own challenges and Karen and her staff make sure that all of the children, not one child, are seen to!

Bernie Melanson
HATS Visitor
We’ve made a difference, I believe. Big stuff, little stuff; it all contributed to the greater good and that big picture: keeping HATS a surviving and thriving, safe haven for the children of Deschapelles, Haiti. And oh my, what children they are. As expected, it was tough to leave. There were tears, whispers, hugs and I’ll miss you’s. I learned that it gets easier (only a bit) for those who’ve done this a few times. As Bob says “I’m part of the furniture now. I don’t say ‘goodbye’, I say ‘see you later’.” Maybe that’s how you cope with leaving…you return. Once, five times, 10 times. However many. Guaranteed you’ll leave a different person than when you came in.

Aimee Feaver
HATS Visitor