Girl, 15, dies in accident during mission trip to Mexico: 'It is just devastating'
A sophomore student from Tennessee died on a mission trip to Mexico, when a tree reportedly fell on top of a van she was riding in.
According to Knox News, Callie Jordan, 15, a student at Sweetwater High School and a member of the Suwannee Baptist Association mission team, was hit in the head when a tree fell on top of the vehicle, which was stopped at a gas station.
The First Baptist Church of Jasper, Fla., announced the devastating development on Facebook, later providing additional information regarding her death.
“It is with heavy hearts that we have to say that Callie Jordan has passed away due to her injury...we ask that you please continue to pray for her family during this time, as well as her church, and all the missionaries who were there,” read the Friday post. “Thank you all for sharing, and praying. We have been blown away by the overwhelming response to this prayer request.”
Callie’s school posted a quote from American author Henry Van Dyke on Facebook: “Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity.”
A GoFundMe — which has received about $34,000 in donations for Callie’s family, who are reportedly en route to Mexico to bring the teen home — was created. On Tuesday night, Sweetwater High School held a fundraiser and a candlelit vigil for Callie, who played on the SHS Lady Cat basketball team.
Yahoo Lifestyle could not reach anyone from Sweetwater High School for comment. “You hear these things. You hear it happen in Knoxville and Chattanooga, tragedies with students with car wrecks and things like that,” assistant principal Mike Martin told Knoxville news station WATE. “Then you hear [that] she was on a mission trip in Mexico and it is one of your own. It is just devastating.”
Martin said, “She was a wonderful young lady and a wonderful student and a wonderful Christian young lady.”
Callie’s basketball coach Heather Jaramillo told WATE, “She gave the team exactly what we needed. Someone to push them and bring a smiling face and positive attitude to the group dynamic. Callie’s overall demeanor was infectious. She wore a smile on her face and had a helpful heart! All who knew her loved her. She was kind, smart and a joy to be around.”
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