We sent out a special alert this past month after Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc in Western North Carolina. See last post if you missed this alert. Thank you to those of you who quickly responded with funds to help specific needs. We promised an update from our “liaison” Carleigh. This is her report: 

Hey, I’m Carleigh, aka the referenced ‘boots on the ground’ liaison for VOB. I wanted to share a little about myself, my experiences with Hurricane Helene, and how your support and prayers have meant so much to me and all of Western, NC. As mentioned before, I am a student at Appalachian State University. In my time here, this mountain town has become my home, this year being the first where I lived off campus, signed my own lease with a roommate, and was setting up my life for at least the next few years in Boone. That was until the hurricane. Helene struck my apartment, causing about a foot and a half of water to enter in and my roommate to be evacuated via life boat rescue, while I was stuck at work. My roommate’s car was totaled, and our apartment was deemed ‘condemned’ by the town of Boone. Yet, in this, we had multiple people offer their couches, their space, their clothes and company. I can say the day of the flood, once waters had receded, there wasn’t a better feeling than calling my parents, and hugging my friends who were safe and healthy. It was then I realized many didn’t have this privilege and that I was blessed beyond measure.  

Helene struck Boone much harder than expected, and yet this town’s devastation pales in comparison to that of neighboring cities in these NC mountains. These places are not equipped to handle such rain and flooding, being stuck in between towering mountains with roadways risky to drive, and homes already isolated by landscape. My roommate and I wrestled with the duality of gratitude and grief. Gratitude for the fact we are college students with many options of what lies ahead, with salvageable items, and surrounded by Christ centered community. Our hearts overflowing with gratitude, yet also deeply grieving over the expectations for our next few years, and for our community who we watched lose everything.  We watched first responders with children on their shoulders, elderly people in wheelchairs, entire families, getting evacuated from their homes. 

We spoke with professors, church members, and friends who lost everything.  These were people with families and roots in the ground here. And all of that had suddenly been wiped out. We wanted to help, we were called to help, we were living in the Philippians reality of the church living ‘others-centered’.  We knew a fraction of what these people were feeling, being displaced ourselves. So we went out and volunteered we were able to minister to, speak with, and pray over individuals. We were hit with the reality that the deep physical needs of these people, were also sometimes met with the deep spiritual need within them as well. 

With the funds you gave, we were able to begin the process of buying another keyboard for a college student who writes worship songs.  She was not in Boone at the time of the flood because she had just had heart surgery.  But her worship instruments were ruined in the flooding, as she lived on the back side of mine and Katie’s apartment complex. 

We were also able to give a portion of your donations to a family through a church here in Boone.  A large portion of this families’ house had been washed out from the flood, and their home was unsafe. These funds went to not only housing them temporarily, but also allowed them to have money in order to rebuild and repair their home.

This season, while extremely difficult, has been one full of rich lessons. I have found that there is really nothing besides Christ that satisfies, and all I could do in the midst of uncertainty, was depend on the Lord. I knew none of what was happening, or why it happened, but I had to sit with the truth that I know who holds it all in His hand, and I believe that He is Good and Sovereign. The affected areas still need your prayers, and support, but it has been a joy to watch the church go out and be the hands and feet of Jesus, showing people that they are loved. I am only able to be in high spirits and go out and volunteer, not in my own strength but because I know I have an army of people praying over me, supporting me, and lifting me up. So, I say this from the bottom of my heart with sincere gratitude, THANK YOU!

“…assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” Matthew 25:40