November 10-16th 2024
NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS: 21
TEAMS WHO CAME AND WHERE FROM:
Courtney Collins and team from OHIO
Joshua Love from Lexington, SOUTH CAROLINA
Jason Kilby and team from KENTUCKY
Melanie Ethridge and team from TENNESSEE
Rob Kallgren from Charleston, SOUTH CAROLINA
Dillon and Nick Beiring from Charleston, SOUTH CAROLINA
PROJECT PROGRESS MADE
OHIO FARMERS: A group of Farmers from Ohio with heavy machinery came down and served Monday through thursday. They brought a skid steer and mini excavator. They served in various areas of Green Mountain, Barnardsville and Burnsville. We didn't even know they were farmers until they got here but God would have it that many of the places they served were at FARMS in Barnardsville! They made great connections with a farmer named Dillon Lunsford (This is a family we've sent teams to previously and he was grateful for more help!) They cleared debri and helped repair fencing. They also did work at two other farms in Barnardsville who were SO grateful for the help! On Tuesday-Wednesday they were in Green Mountain grading some land and installing a culvert pipe for a man who's house washed away, David Kiester. *culvert pipe was sourced through donations given through the Gathering Church! They also spread some gravel for Jack's Creek Presbyterian Church and did another job for an elderly couple they met along the way. Lastly they helped clear and load debri in a dump trailer at Mr. Causey's house. These guys were LEGENDS!
JOSHUA LOVE FROM LEXINGTON: Joshua was awesome! He stayed on site. He is a GC who came up solo for a day and half mostly to scout work but also do some work while here. He brought his dump trailer which was used at Mr. Causey's. He also did some plumbing work at the Woodward house in Green Mountain! This was a God story for sure as we didn't know he even had those skills. I had just heard that day that we needed a plumber ASAP at the River house to finish up what the previous team hadn't finished. Joshua was able to keep that job moving and "just happened" to even have the plumbing tools in his truck when he normally wouldn't * God at work again! Joshua plans to bring a team of skilled labor up soon!
KENTUCKY CREW FROM JASON KILBY: This is a return crew from a few weeks back. Jason Kilby, a pastor friend of Robbie Foreman of Together Church has now sent a team down for a second weekend! These guys were AMAZING! They worked like crazy at the Woodward House, finally finishing all the demo work (with the homeowners still living in the home this has been difficult as we've worked around them).
MELANIE ETHRIDGE AND TEAM FROM KNOXVILLE, TN: Melanie and her team have been very involved at the Woodward house since day one coming to help almost weekly. Her team brought in LVP flooring for the home and started installing. They also helped finish demo work.
ROB KALLGREN FROM CHARLESTON, SC: Rob did the dirtiest job this weekend!! Rob is a return helper for a third time now! He stayed at the Hallelujah House. On Friday he went to Stacy's house to get eyes on to build a supply list for drywall/insulation install and take measurements etc. Then Rob continued the plumbing work at the River House. As the family is still living in the home, he had the messy job of hooking up active plumbing under the house so that this family finally can have a fully functioning bathroom! He is amazing. He plans to come back as needed.
DILLON AND NICK BEIRING and RUSSELL: Dillon, Nick and Russell are here many weekends and at this point run their own missions and just camp out at the house. They've set up several yurts funded through donations from their community around town and make supply drops to families in need while they are here. Dillon is also an attorney who's helping families with FEMA literacy and submitting appeals as needed to help the families get the coverage they need. (He has done this specifically for Randy and Lucinda at the River House).
BEHIND THE SCENES: Robert and April had more meetings and conversations with Dream Center staff, Luis of Fearless Works, World Vision Reps and Mosaic church out of California regarding working together and streamlining the long term rebuild efforts in WNC. World Vision will be a big source of building supplies moving forward. Mosaic is helping with warehouse space where building supplies can be dropped and stored. We are hoping to streamline the intake form across organizations for houses we will rebuild as well as finalizing contracts for all Fearless Home Rebuilds. Saddleback has donated Industrial dehumidifiers that will be here this week PRAISE! and we will start the moisture remediation process on Mr. Causey's home hopefully at the end of this week! The other two homes of the first three are dry and ready. They are waiting on the online catalogue of finishes from Luis to look through and we will then meet with them to sign contracts and begin a supply order with Luis. The Fearless Works project has felt slow to start, but we believe it will be incredible once we get it rolling!