It has been an incredible journey to Haiti in more ways than one. After a year of preparation and planning, with much support, we left our respective provinces Friday, arrived in New York and finally met the whole group. The groups being fourteen of us from Corner Brook Baptist Church, and ten from Hanwell New Brunswick. We left New York early this morning and arrived in Port Au Prince at 10:00 am. Overall we had smooth trip, considering we had to move twenty-four people from Canada to Haiti.
Once on the ground, we were met by Karen.
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| Airport arrival. NB & NL group |
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| NL & NS group for HATS |
She helped us organize ourselves and our stuff into two vans.
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| Luckner tying down extra luggage that could not go into the van |
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| About to leave for HATS |
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| Front seat reserved for our photographer |
The seven coming to the orphanage fared well compared to the seventeen crushed into their van, heading to the ruble housing project!
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| Luggage on top & then 17 in a 9 person van off to Rubble House project |
Haiti is definitely a country rich in natural beauty and landscape, but obviously the people are living in poverty. During the fast-paced three hour drive, there was constant traffic of speeding motorcycles and tap-taps (pick-up trucks used as taxis, that people tap on to get off), and vendors along the entire route, selling everything from food to phone cards to local crafts. The free-roaming goats, horses, cows and donkeys also made an impression on us Newfoundlanders (we are used to moose!).
After we arrived in the compound and unloaded our baggage, we were anxious to spend time with the kids. In a matter of minutes they won over our hearts by taking our hands and inviting us to play. We found it very heart warming to hear the children referring to each other as siblings and Karen as “mama”. We already suspect that it will be difficult to leave these precious kids.
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| Erica & Emily from NB |
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| Patricia with two arms full shortly after arrival |
~Jenny and Patricia
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