thefieldjournal

GACS Mission Team Blog #1: Everyone Made It Safely

April 29, 2010 by Hannah McLear

A team made up primarily of students from Greater Atlanta Christian School and their leaders embarked on a mission trip in support of Eternal Hope in Haiti. For those not familiar with GACS, it is a school with long and deep ties with Doug and Twilla, their children, and grandchildren (Elie Haynes is set to graduate from GACS this May). After the earthquake in January, the GACS community raised over $20,000 for EHIH. This is the third straight Spring Break where GACS has sent student to work with EHIH, with the first trip having only four students. This year, there are over 30 students on this trip! Similar to the Earthquake Relief Team blogs in January, this blog is written by Jon Julian based on information from Susie, his wife, who has been on each of the Spring Break mission trips as well as the first Earthquake Relief trip to Cap Haitien. It is our prayer that these updates provide you a picture of God’s work that is being done through these wonderful young people and that all glory goes to Him! The trip began on Wednesday evening with the brave contingent boarding a bus for an overnight ride to Ft. Lauderdale. The plan was to arrive early Thursday AM and immediately board two planes to Cap Haitien. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, the flights to Cap Haitien were delayed. The team was divided into two parts with the first wave arriving in Cap Haitien on Thursday afternoon. The team members on the second flight stayed at the La Quinta Inn in Hollywood, Florida this evening courtesy of the airline, and then arrived in Cap Haitien on Friday afternoon. The first group to arrive in Cap Haitien had a full day on Friday. The boys worked at the first orphanage house installing a washing machine and painting the outside of the house. Along with Coach Mitchell, Mr. Clovis, and two handy men, everyone worked extremely hard and, at the same time, played very well with the younger children. Several of the adult leaders have already commented about the exceptional character of the GACS students and the contributions they are already making. The girls worked today at the “gym” where there has been a clinic set up since the earthquake. In addition to treating earthquake victims, the girls kept watch over several from the orphanage including Ana, Berlinda, Nana, and RoseManie. On Friday evening, there was a sweet reunion at the Mt. Joli Hotel when the second group arrived. Gary Ritchie describes it well in the message he sent to several associated with the trip: “The highlight of my day was obviously getting off the van @ the hotel & seeing Susie & the others who we have been separated from us for a day & a half. I feel so guilty that we were enjoying a very nice hotel in Ft. Lauderdale, nice restaurants & even taking in a movie last night, while our brothers & sisters have been working in the Haitian heat. But all of that went away when I approached RoseManie, a little 8 year old girl who has AIDS, with my arms open — she immediately left Olivia & came & gave me a huge smile & hug.” The GACS mission team is on the ground in Cap Haitien and ready for their mission!