Clayton Missionaries on Their Way Back Home

A group of area residents, in Haiti on a medical mission when Tuesday's massive earthquake flattened most of the island nation, are back on American soil.

The group, who had decided to flee into the neighboring Dominican Republic in search of water and food, were whisked away by American soldiers early Friday morning before they left the country, put aboard a military plane and flown to safety.

The group landed at a New Jersey airport late Friday morning and should be back in North Carolina Friday afternoon.

Karen Thorsen, a member of the mission group, said they were given a hearty meal and allowed to shower and rest.

Meanwhile, supplies and monetary donations for a humanitarian mission to Haiti from Clayton continue to pour in despite a ban on all but military flights to the earthquake-stricken country. Community leaders had arranged for three planes, all filled with relief supplies donated by local residents, to leave Thursday morning, but the planes were ordered to stay on the ground.

Mayor Jody McLeod said government officials are concerned about the safety of private flights into the country, along with logistical problems and the danger of disease, which many feel is likely to become a major problem with the huge death toll and unsanitary conditions that prevail throughout the devastation.

"I think they're anticipating a lot of unrest as well," the Mayor said.

Thorsen said in an email from Haiti Thursday night that they tried to fly out Thursday, but no plane came for them. She said the group decided to make an attempt to reach the Dominican Republic in hopes of finding water, food and a flight home, but were rescued before they left the country.

She said conditions are worsening in Haiti, though some supplies are arriving.

"Watch the news, for the pictures are real," she wrote. "More problems await this impoverished country as supplies are being flown in, but there is no one to pick them up at the airport and get them to the people. Food must be rotting as I write."

A reception is being planned for them upon their return to Clayton.

Residents here, mindful that several area residents were in Haiti on a mission, began stockpiling relief supplies, including medical supplies, shortly after word of Tuesday's massive earthquake. Though they won't be delivering the supplies to Haiti themselves, as originally planned, community leaders are hopeful that they will make it there on a military plane or through a relief organization.

"We've got a quite large amount of goods and a good amount of money put together," McLeod said, "and the giving is continuing. We're still working on the details, but these supplies will be going to help the people of Haiti."

Though officials fear the quake may have killed hundreds of thousands, the four from Clayton and those traveling with them from other area churches, survived, including former Clayton Citizen-of-the-Year Helen Little, who was making her 47th mission trip to the impoverished country. The team had been working to care for the sick and injured until making their way to the airport Thursday.

Thorsen described the scene in Haiti as "pretty unbelievable." In an interview which aired Thursday morning on "Good Morning America," she said the medical team ran out of medical supplies.