Each day begins with a safety briefing at 7:30 a.m., followed by stocking the truck with supplies before heading out to the sites to work until about 4:30 p.m. Once on site, the team meets with the homeowner to set project goals and say an Opening Prayer. As the work is completed, each team member signs a Bible with a few words of encouragement, which is then presented to the homeowner just before a closing prayer and departure. 

Depending on the scope of the projects, our team was able to help two or three sites each day. Sunday was our day of rest, and we took the opportunity to check out some of the local sites, including the arts district in Asheville - which also suffered from flooding. 

Our next site was a home just next to the Elk River, with about four feet of water running through it while the homeowner watched the destruction from just up the hill. The video he shared with us was devastating.  The shell of a house remains, but everything inside is gone.  Previous teams had already removed the contents, floors, and some sheetrock.  Our job was to remove more of the soggy sheetrock from the upper walls and remove debris from beneath the floor joists.  Although our efforts seemed to be a small step forward to recovery, homeowner John, who is living in an RV next to the structure, was grateful for our help.

About twelve miles north by the George Gap Branch of Cove Creek in Vilas, NC, a swath of trees across several hills had tumbled over like matchsticks, presumably by a microburst of weather.  Homeowners John and Joanne sat in their dining room watching the destruction, knowing that if one landed on the house, they would both perish.  Thankfully, the house was spared, but the trees stacked several high littered the yard, leaving an enormous pile of work for the elderly couple. We spent a day and a half at this site, cutting and stacking logs and dragging brush into piles for burning. Joanne cooked hot dogs for lunch, and we learned of John's ongoing battle with pancreatic cancer and the effects of radiation therapy treatments and chemotherapy.

The next site near Sugar Mountain was up a long private road perched on a hill with a beautiful view. With a team of 28 volunteers, our job was to clear brush and move it away from the house to reduce the fire risk.  The site was on a very steep hill, which made it difficult to maintain a firm footing.  We set up a bucket brigade-style line to pass the branches down the hill. Three to four sawyers cut logs, limbs, and branches, which were then handed down the line.

The people of NC were so grateful for our efforts, and we were thanked not only by the homeowners but also by cashiers, pedestrians, and even random drivers who got out of their cars to say thanks. Much to our surprise, our entire restaurant bill was paid for by an anonymous donor one evening. Truly amazing people down there!

The mission of this relief work and the annual Appalachia trip to West Virginia is twofold. First, from a practical perspective, we aim to repair and restore living conditions after times of great destruction or simply hard times when folks can't provide for themselves.  Secondly, and more importantly, our goal is to share God's love, listen to their stories, and let them know they are cared for and loved by others. It's a privilege to have the opportunity to serve others, and trips like these are such a blessing for both the homeowners and volunteers. Perhaps the greatest gift as a missionary returning from this work is the heightened awareness of all the wonderful blessings we have in our Notre Dame parish here in Morris County.