DALTON, Ga. — Two days after meeting children in a village in Petit-Goave, Haiti, last November during a mission trip, Lawrence Brownlee said something happened that brought a smile to his face.

“I was riding in the car with my window down when I heard ‘Lawrence, Lawrence,’” he remembers.

In the native language, one of the children was yelling his name. 

“It meant a lot to know these kids didn’t forget me,” he said.

Brownlee, of Dalton, and area residents Allie Blackwood, Bill Blackwood, Anthony D’Angelo, Hope D’Angelo, John Densmore, Roger Leiviska and Sylvie Totherow are planning a mission trip to Haiti June 4-11. Brownlee said the purpose of the trip is to support schools there and Haitian children by taking clothing and supplies and “spreading the Gospel.”

This will be Brownlee’s third trip to Haiti. Each November and June a group of area residents goes there.

 “I can’t ever go back to picturing the world the same now,” Brownlee said. “The Haitians have become my friends and changed me forever.”

Brownlee said seeing the residents there living without running water and electricity “really humbles a person.”

“I’ve been to their homes and schools,” he said. “I’ve spent time experiencing what their daily life is like.” He said those are not experiences “one can easily forget.”

During last November’s trip, group members took 13,000 pencils and purchased 15,000 pounds of rice that fed about 550 families. 

“The first time I went we bought 650 pounds of rice, and 12 months later through monetary donations we were able to buy more,” Brownlee said.

In total, through Brownlee’s team members and other people from around the world collecting donations, 40,000 pounds of rice was purchased.

“Rice is a staple product in Haiti, it’s an inexpensive food, and residents eat it with every meal,” Brownlee said. “It’s easy to prepare and doesn’t require refrigeration.”

Brownlee said that’s important because all of the homes his group visits don’t have running water.

“A lot of them live in tents or tarp houses so they have no way to store food,” he said.

Group members are asking for donations of children’s summer clothes, flip-flops, pencils, chewable vitamins and suitcases for the June trip. The clothing should be for ages 4 to 16 and nothing larger than a medium.

The group will also take soccer balls, toothbrushes, toothpaste and tarps. People interested in donating can call Brownlee at (706) 313-3655 to arrange a pickup. The deadline is Friday.

This will be Anthony and Hope D’Angelo’s first time in Haiti. She said a mission trip is something they discussed before getting married six months ago. 

“I went on a mission trip to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina,” Hope D’Angelo said. “I always felt God was calling me on an international scale.” 

D’Angelo said her heart is with kids.

“We had a choice of different countries (to visit) and Haiti seemed to be the one we were drawn to,” she said.

D’Angelo is interested in seeing the country from the residents’ perspective.

“Their joy and happiness doesn’t come from things, but from family bonds,” she said. “We’re not expecting anything, we just feel like this is where we were called to serve.”

Brownlee said children are always happy to see the group members. 

“They know we are bringing love because it’s what the Bible tells us to do,” he said. 

Totherow is returning to Haiti for the third time.

“Each trip is always eye-opening for me,” she said. “It’s motivation for me to go love on people, not just in Haiti, but everywhere.” 

Totherow said she loves reconnecting with families in Haiti.

“After my first trip, when I left, it was like leaving a piece of my heart,” she said.

Totherow’s ultimate goal in Haiti is to share God’s love.

“Even though we don’t speak the same language, I feel that sharing God’s love is universal,” she said.