RESTORE APPALACHIA ~ TRIP THREE

Darin Shiflett
Oct 23, 2024
5 min read

October 18th, 19th 20th, 2024

Our third trip began with a shopping spree to stock up on items that were relative to the immediate needs, according to our sources on the ground in NC. The snow and ice are making for miserable nights in those cold mountains and ridges.

Thanks to our local Tractor Supply, Co-Op, and Harbor Freight, we bought out every fuel tank, lamp, and hand/foot warmer they had on the shelf. They were kind enough to offer some discounts so we appreciate them big time!

We are loaded with sleeping bags, socks, hats, blankets, and another trailer loads of toilet tissue, paper towels, drinks, 80 gallons of bleach, two cases of blankets, cases of Bibles, 75 flat shovels, 85 brooms, and medicine are coming in from West Virginia for distribution.

Our new friends and volunteers from West Virginia, Kevin and Lisa Blankenship, along with her sister Roberta, drove down with a massive load, and we off-loaded the bulk supplies at our newly established supply hub here in Sevierville, TN. Our friends & partners at Mountain Brooke Village, Spencer & Hailey, as well as Cam & Glenn, wanted to assist with the relief effort, and granted us access to their climate controlled building to stage, sort and organize donations and supplies as needed.

Additional friends & volunteers, John & Teresa, arrived to help us unload, along with our friend Colt Sauchegraw. We sorted and repacked the vehicles and headed off on our trip to North Carolina. WOW! What amazing people God has brought to help in this effort. We are so grateful!

Our first stop was at a small place we had visited on our previous trip, Little Creek Cafe. It was also serving as a local distribution hub and we wanted to see if they needed any of our supplies. While there, a patron overheard our conversation and said she was led of the Lord to go give some money to a person in need at a place called Bee Log that was hit very hard. She asked if we could bring come of our supplies to a nearby supply depot at Ebbs Chapel Community Center. They were in need of water, propane and bleach. We made that drop and then we followed her over the mountain and arrived at a camp operating out of an old school building. The folks at Bee Log needed small propane tanks, which we gave some, and then asked if we needed a generator to take to those that needed it, and we did.

The next stop was at Walnut Grove Church in Newland, North Carolina that was functioning as a distribution center, and we were able to hand deliver some bleach, propane heaters, and small propane canister to those in need, along with some coloring books and toys for the children.

From there we headed to a remote area just south of Micaville that still had no power, and the people were in need of various supplies in a place called Seven Mile Ridge that we had been told about. The electricity was still off here, and will be for a month or so according to what we've heard. Our contact offered to store our supplies in his shop ,and he and his team would run the supplies up the mountain ridges to those who needed it, but couldn'tget down to it. He informed us that there are about 60 homes that are still without power up there.

On the way back from Seven Mile Ridge, we came through Micaville and were shocked at the sheer distruction of that community. The devastation was breathtaking! We stopped and spoke with a few folks who were cleaning out an old church, and they also needed some bleach and large brooms. Here's a few videos and pictures to tell the story more...

Needless to say, we were tired and ready for some food and sleep, but we made one more stop in Spruce Pine to a contact named Melissa, who had reached out to Amanda days before, requesting some propane and supplies. We pulled in and spoke with an her husband, Busch, and her son. Melissa wasn't there, but we would see her later. After some discussion with her, she revealed that she had been following our ministry for years, and how the Lord had used us to help her and her husband grow in the Lord, and in healing and more freedom in Christ. We were amazed that she had reached out on FB, after seeing Amanda's posts about us coming to the area. We were astonished that the Lord had allowed us to help them, and were amazed at the connection.

Busch had lost his job due to the affects of the storms, and they were super glad to see us! It was getting late on Saturday and we were about to leave. Just before we left, we all prayed, and Melissa wanted to invite us to come to their church in downtown Spruce Pine the following morning. She told Busch to make sure to invite us.

The lower level of their church had been destroyed by the flood, but the upper room was in tact and ready for worship! We prayed about it and felt the Lord wanted us to attend that service the following morning.

The church is called The Ark of WNC. The service that morning was combined with another assembly from a nearby town, which had their sanctuary wiped out by the mud and water. The spirit was sweet and the people were glad to assemble and worship the Lord. This community was hit very hard, and the church folk were playing a large part in the recovery effort of the town and area. We have felt led to partner with this church as well as the leaders who are leading very organized effort to rebuild and restore. The state senator was among them, and he was very in touch with the situation. We will be back to this church for sure, and loved the Pastor and his wife..such precious people, and you can tell they are true "shepherds" of the people.

We were informed about the severe devastation in the area of Pensacola nearby, and the urgent need for extensive assistance. Consequently, we decided to leave the church and head towards this area. Once there, we realized it is one of the most ravaged regions we had encountered.

The entire valley had been washed away, with miles & miles of road gone, bridges collapsed, and no electricity available.

We connected with a local camp that has organized a plan to help the region recover, but many are still cut off due to fallen trees and debris from the storm. Teams are working night and day to get to them, but the area is just utterly devestated!

In the upcoming report, we will provide further information about our plans to support this area. This is the specific area where we feel called by God to offer assistance. It is receiving minimal attention, lacks substantial aid, and appears to be a neglected valley of despair and hopelessness.