North Carolina Trip
Freedom Warriors Alliance has achieved mission success ! When you choose to put God first, and step outside your comfort zone, to go into the unknown to go serve a cause, or need greater than yourself It challenges your capabilities as a leader, & you quickly discover your strengths. It also reveals your weaknesses as well, thus putting you to the test. Revealing what your character truly is, and where you need growth. What a sobering learning experience this was !
Our trip took us 5 adults 18 hours driving 962 miles to haul 6000 pounds of supplies through the mountains to Asheville, North Carolina The journey taught us to fully place our trust in Jesus; and each other, even when it gets uncomfortable ! We discovered that in the face of utter loss, loving compassionate community stepped up to the plate to help each other. Billy Graham is a person that many read about, and to get a taste of his family ministry was an incredible thing we will never forget
We told all of you back home that Samaritan’s Purse was the organization which would then partner with us, and then instruct us on where we were needed. We are thankful to everyone at Billy Graham Training Center At the Cove Wonderful folks, however the truth was North Carolina had hundreds of volunteers, and many were not as fortunate to find placement. If it were not for the favor of God to bring resources, and the right people: the requests for aid would have been impossible to sustain as we passed through multiple small towns just decimated by the pounding of flood waters destroying everything in its path. These storms left so many hurting, and desperate of basic needs; but God put us in the right place: Grove Stone Baptist Church just outside of Asheville, in a town called Black Mountain. A church transformed into a community food, clothing, personal hygiene distribution center.
Pastor David Dodge at the church put us in touch with several individual’s who knew people whos families were devastated by the storms. Jesse Kern & Dana Wunsch: who have 2 daughters. Amelia-9yrs & Natalie-14 yrs old. furniture, clothing, accessories, beds, electronics, everything owned tainted by nasty river water bringing mold, & bacteria. Almost nothing was salvageable. We ministered to thier needs: mucking out the house, and feeding them.
We encouraged, & prayed with Jesse, and his friends-gathering in a circle, & joining hands. Seeing the relief in his eyes, and a smile on his face was worth whatever hardship we tackled. Leaving North Carolina this morning we knew that more should be done for Jesse & his family. There is a go fund me page that we would like to share with all of you back home: please help & give give to them !
Our Asheville NC mission trip scripture inspiration: “Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Isaiah 58:7-10 NIV.
