On 4/14/11 7:36 PM, "GACS" <mcost@greateratlantachristian.org> wrote:
Dear members and parents of the GAC Haiti Mission Team,
I’m writing this email to give you the latest information we have concerning the status of your funds, a possible summer trip and how Airtran is handling the group tickets. But please, also, allow me to share how deeply sorry I am that this amazing experience had to be canceled and the overall events that lead up to the decision. I’ve helped lead GAC mission teams for 15 years. Over that time, we have had to cancel a couple of trips due to other concerns, but never under such bizarre circumstances.
The situation in which we found ourselves that Thursday morning was incredibly difficult. The final decision to cancel the trip was made – literally – as Gary Richey was on the shuttle bus to the airport ticket counter. To give you some background: the company through which we booked the flight from Fort Lauderdale to Cap Haitian sent word that it would not be able to transport the team to the island on time because the company owner had recently purchased a new plane and could not get it certified as quickly as he had planned. The owner said that he could still transport the team, but it would be a day later. We were not happy, but when you travel to Haiti, you expect bumps in the road and we believed things would still work out. Kenneth Lynch, a Board member of Eternal Hope In Haiti and our team coordinator, drove through the night Wednesday to Fort Lauderdale to meet with the company owner in person and confirm that the plane could be certified within 24 hours and the team would make it to Cap Haitian - with only the loss of one day’s time. Kenneth soon realized that the owner was not going to honor his word or the contract he had made to transport the team – in fact, the owner refused to meet with Kenneth or answer his phone calls. Early Thursday morning, we began a search to secure alternate transportation from Fort Lauderdale to Cap Haitian, somewhat confident that something could be found. One option was to fly the team through Port au Prince, but that was quickly rejected because we had heard that the results of the national election were due to be announced any day and did not want the team to find itself at the Port au Prince airport if/when that occurred. Another charter airline offered to transport the team directly to Cap Haitian. We decided we would use that airline until the company at the last minute chose to take advantage of our situation and charge us an exorbitant amount. Other companies were contacted, but none were willing to transport the team on such short notice. The obvious dilemma was, “Do we allow the first group of GAC travelers to board the plane from Atlanta not knowing when (or whether) we can get them to Cap Haitian or do we cancel the trip before anyone takes off and gets stranded?” In the end, we thought it wiser and safer to opt for the second choice, but sadly it left everyone (including the team leaders) stunned and disappointed.
So with that background in mind, here is our current situation:
1. Summer trip: We have not yet received a refund for the airfare paid (just under $20,000) to the original charter company. We are taking steps to recoup the funds and are hopeful and prayerful that all monies will be repaid shortly. While our desire is to have a “postponed” trip this summer, financially, we must hold off making definite plans until this money has been refunded. Once that occurs, we will see how many students are able to do a trip this summer and if schedules can be worked out.
2. Funds donated/raised: All student funds will carry over and be applied to next year’s Haiti trip OR a different GAC mission trip. Students will only be asked to pay more IF they choose a trip which costs more than the amount he/she raised this year. A record will be kept of each student’s totals and will be kept in the Haiti account or transferred to a new trip. All funds donated toward a GAC mission trip are considered tax deductible gifts to the school and therefore are non-refundable.
3. Airtran tickets: We are continuing to work with Airtran and are asking for a written statement of their policy, but what we have been told is that the company will hold a total dollar amount credit that can be used toward other Airtran flights. The tickets are not issued in individual names, so the individual student can not call Airtran and reschedule his/her own flight. We will up date you as soon as more information becomes available.
4. For students who are unable or choose not to go on a GAC mission trip next year, your funds may be transferred to a sibling going on a mission trip, if you prefer. Once we work out the details with Airtran, we believe that you can also use that credit for future travel.
I apologize for such a long and tedious email. I also regret that I am unable to provide solid information to every question and item of concern. Thank you so much for your continued patience and support of your team leaders. Please allow me to reassure you that Coach Richey, Mrs. Williams, Mr. Harsh and Dr. Fincher are working to do the right thing for you and are praying that maybe God will one day allow us to see why this happened. We know there are battles being waged in the heavenly realms – maybe this is one of them. We also know that we prayed for many months for God’s protection. Maybe this was his way of answering that prayer. Whatever the reason, we believe that all things work together for good for those that love him. Because of that, we will not be discouraged, but will press on toward the goal of “knowing God and making him known to the world.”
As the director of the GAC mission teams, I am extremely grateful for your servant heart, for the love you have for the orphans in Haiti and for the sacrifices you made to bring joy to their lives. Circumstances prevented you from getting to Haiti last week but you were faithful to the mission.
Please feel free to call or email as needed. We will continue to communicate information as it becomes available.
May God bless you and the children of EHIH.
Melaney Cost
Missions Director
770-243-2000 x 325
Greater Atlanta Christian School
1575 Indian Trail Road
Norcross, GA 30093
He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”
Mark 16:15
