St. John’s mission group arrives in Antigua, eager to meet kids at Escuela Integrada

Twenty high schoolers from St. John’s Lutheran Church in Salisbury, North Carolina, arrived in Antigua on Sunday afternoon for a week-long mission with Escuela Integrada. The group met at St. John’s at 3:30 a.m. Eastern Time and traveled over 12 hours to Antigua. Though tired from a long travel day, members of the group expressed excitement about the days ahead.

“I heard a lot about the school from other people who visited and from the angel tree project,” said Rebecca Lewis, who is 16 years old and soon to enter 11th grade. “I wanted to see it for myself, to see what they go through on a daily basis.”

Many carried extra suitcases to make room for donated school supplies. Rebecca and her friend Claire Allen combined their personal belongings in one suitcase and filled the second with items for Escuela Integrada.

“I’m most excited about going to the school and seeing how excited the kids are to see us,” said Rebecca. “I know I’m going to want to take the children home with me.”

The mission group will meet the children at Escuela Integrada during a welcome ceremony Monday morning. During the week, the high schoolers will help with a painting project, go on home visits, and play soccer with the children at Jocofut, a nearby soccer complex. Together, the children and the mission group will also make and deliver crafts for a local nursing home.