America is known as the land of the free - where everyone has opportunities and a chance at a good life, but not every country is as fortunate.
   Along with their youth group at their church, five GS students took time out of their summer to help people in need. They visited Haiti for 10 days in an attempt to make the Haitian people’s lives a little easier after the earthquake that devastated the country.
   “My youth group goes on two mission trips in the summer,” senior Rachel Ott said.  “This summer, freshmen and sophomores went to an Indian Reserve in Arizona and juniors and seniors went to Haiti.”
   A number of the kids who went to Haiti play soccer and ran a week long soccer camp for the Haitian kids.  They fed lunch to approximately 600 kids every day, attended church and worship services and visited an orphanage for small children.
   “Giving my testimony was the most beneficial part of the experience,” Ott said.   “It was the experience that changed me the most while in Haiti.”
   For the members of the group who had never been on a mission trip prior to this one, it was an eye opening experience. 
   “The mission trip put me out of my comfort zone, but I grew from it,” senior Josh Kappel said.  “I have a different outlook on life now; I appreciate everything I have in the US even more.”
   The group did a number of things to prepare for their trip.  They had various meetings to talk about what to expect and what to pack.  The members also had to get a few shots, take Malaria pills and get passports.  In addition, they went around their neighborhoods and collected donations.  Some of the donations included soccer balls, granola bars, toiletries, etc.
   “These people live in such poor conditions and as I was traveling back to the US, it was upsetting to think that they had to live like that all the time while I only had to for 10 days,” Kappel said.
   Most of the group still keeps in contact with the people they met while in Haiti.  They encourage everyone to get involved to help people who are less fortunate than them.
   “All of my mission trips have been life changing and everyone should help out,” Ott said. “I have been to Mexico twice where I reached out to orphans and I am going back in November and February.”
   One of GS’ teachers has also traveled around the world to approximately 45 other countries; a number of them being less fortunate than the US.  Although this teacher travels for beneficial reasons, hers are a little bit different than the students.
   “I travel sometimes for fun but mostly for research and to expose teachers and students to better ways of doing things in their environment,” Mrs. Rosemarie O’Neill said.
   While Mrs. O’Neill is traveling she gets to experience new cultures and meet new people who live life in a completely different way.
   “In March, I am going to the Baja California Peninsula,” O’Neill said.  “After I retire I want to join the Peace Corps so I can help the less fortunate and do my part.”