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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels July 20, 2004 Going back (safely) to Mexico By John Darling Tidings Correspondent A year after a tragic van rollover killed one teen and seriously injured several others, Ashland Christian Fellowship is repeating the house-building mission trip to Baja, Mexico - this time with safer vehicles and more stringent driving rules. Becky Brown (left) and her daughters, Heather, Brie and Kerri, "flamingo" a North Laurel Street lawn to raise funds for the Ashland Christian Fellowship youth group's trip to Mexico. Denise Baratta | Ashland Daily Tidings "Everyone's excited but a little anxious," said Susan Rosenlund, whose daughter Elisa, 16, suffered a fractured pelvis and still wears a brace on her foot. She is among 10 teens on last year's trip who are returning this year. "I can't say I'm completely ready for her to go, but if this is what God wants to happen, he'll open the door and if not, he'll close it," Rosenlund said. "I'm trusting the Lord and trying to stay positive but anyone who says they're not anxious is lying, because it was pretty devastating. As a mother who almost lost her daughter, I have to trust this is what the Lord wants." The van accident occurred on Aug. 17 on I-5 in Sacramento as the group drove home from the mission trips. Jessye Newman, 14, of Talent died from head injuries, while two others, Rosenlund and Kelsey Smith, suffered crippling injuries, since largely healed. Reckless driving Earlier this year, police charged driver and ACF youth minister Jeremy Hascall with reckless driving, for driving through the night and falling asleep at the wheel. After leaving the road, he overcorrected, flipping the van, according to the accident report. Most of the teens were not buckled into their seats. Hascall was sentenced to 300 hours of community service, to be carried out in Jackson County. Hascall organized but will not be going on this year's trip. In the wake of the tragedy, ACF got rid of its 15-passenger extended vans, which "tend to roll when over-corrected," put drivers through extensive safety training, screened drivers for past offenses and purchased two GMC minivans - safety rated, with wider wheelbase and rollcage, said ACF minister Mark Anderson. "We hopefully have learned from our stupid mistakes of last year and are doing the best we can to protect the children," Anderson said. "We know we can't drive overnight. We'll never do that again. We need skilled and rested drivers - what any thinking person would do is what we should have done." Hascall and a dozen church elders wrote a lengthy safety code, which calls for mandatory seat buckling, maximum six-hour driving shifts for one person and maximum 10-hour total daily road time for passengers, he said. Teens will sleep in partner churches and adults in motels. The code was submitted to the church's insurer, which has covered all medical claims to date and which has not raised the fellowship's rates, he said, noting there have been no negligence suits from families of the injured teens. As a further safety measure, Elise's father, Derek, a paramedic with Ashland Fire Dept., will be making the trip, one of 11 adults along. Repeating the trip, to be taken Aug. 13-22, "triggered a lot of memories and scary stuff," Anderson said, and brought up much discussion and prayer within families and the church. "We thought it would be tragic not to go," he said. "We really believe we're being obedient to what God wants us to do - that we should return. We also have a spiritual motive, helping people in need and exposing our children to a different culture." To pay for the house they'll build for a family south of Ensenada, church members raised $4,215 with a novel and highly successful strategy - placing a flock of 15 plastic pink flamingoes in the yards of church members, with an appeal for contributions, jokingly called an "extortion letter," left on the door. After making a contribution, the member gets to pick the next "victim" of the flamingo flock, said Becky Brown, mother of Brie Brown, 16, who was in the rollover van last year. Becky underwent surgery for shoulder injuries, but is making the return trip this year. Another daughter, Kari, 15, is also going. Becky Brown said she's comfortable with the new safety measures and "for people who can't believe I'm sending my children, I say: 'If God wants to take them to Mexico, he's going to take them to Mexico.' I know he wants that because he raised the money for it and the kids are raring to go. I don't have any anxieties about it." Brie said, "I feel great, really excited. I know God has a plan for me, so I'm happy to go. I told my parents I really want to go back and we talked and prayed and saw God wants it." Anderson and parishioners said the tragedy has brought the "church family" together and helped them learn how to practice love in very hard times. Both Brown and Rosenlund parents said their daughters' character has been strengthened through in the recovery process. "It's been incredible, amazing to see everyone come together and to see how tight and close the kids are and how wonderfully she dealt with loss and tragedy," said Becky Brown. The mission will use its fund to pay for a year-round missionary in the Ensenada area, Brown said, and for materials on a new frame house for a family now living in a plywood and cardboard shack. 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