HAMLET – Wilmington Street in Hamlet was lined with more than a hundred anxious friends and family members on Monday night, as they awaited the safe return of the mission team that had travelled to Haiti on July 3 from First Baptist Church of Hamlet and First Methodist Church of Rockingham.
They held lighted candles, sparklers, and balloons while chatting, checking social media updates, and counting off the minutes until the sound of sirens were heard around 10:15 PM.
Loud cheers were heard from the crowd as the procession of vehicles came into view with a blue light escort.
Led by Richmond County Sheriff’s Department and the Hamlet Police Department, the First Baptist Church bus turned the corner at Hamlet Avenue and parked in the road, allowing the weary travelers to depart to an abundance of hugs and well wishes.
At the end of their stay in Haiti, due to rioting and unrest in the country, the mission team was accommodated in a secure hotel recognized by the U.S. Embassy as being safe.
Concerns were heightened as to whether or not they would be able to leave Haiti on their scheduled flight, but they were able to maintain contact through social media to ease the worries of their friends and family.Â
The mission group had arrived at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Haiti via police escort early Tuesday morning and flew into Miami, arriving shortly after 12 noon. After some delays there, they finally arrived at RDU around 8:00 p.m. Tuesday.
Reggie Monroe of First Baptist Church of Hamlet had travelled to the Raleigh-Durham International Airport to pick the group up on Tuesday afternoon after a harrowing number of days in a volatile area of Haiti.
The returning team members expressed their gratitude to the people who had been waiting to make sure they got home safely, walking through the crowd shaking hands and sharing hugs.
Pastor Allison Farrah led the group of 19 that had been able to accomplish the majority of their mission working with the children of Orphanage 46 as well as delivering much-needed clothing, shoes, toys, games, hygiene products, and bed linens.
A medical clinic was held where Haitian and American medical personnel worked together to provide examinations, medications, vaccinations, and vitamins to those in need of such.
They also worked with children in Vacation Bible School and other special activities.Â
The group had been commissioned at the First Baptist Church in Hamlet on July 1st and included Mary Catherine Coltrane, Lane Barber, and John Hancock.
Pastor Allison Farrah and other members of the mission team were obviously overjoyed to be back home in Richmond County and are looking forward to sharing stories of the special time spent in Haiti.Â
As they gathered their suitcases and headed home with loved ones, it was quite evident that this trip touched the lives of many people above and beyond those who made the journey itself.
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