New Life Christian School Joins With Samaritans Purse in Swannanoa, NC to Help With Hurricane Relief

Loading into 3 cars with muck boots, work gloves, and water bottles in hand 16 New Life Christian School teachers, students, and alumni headed to link arms with Samaritans Purse to work in some of the areas hardest hit by hurricane Helene. The group left in the late morning on the 11th and arrived late that night in Shelby, NC, their base camp. They would travel about an hour and a half each way every day in and out of the worksite. After a few hours of sleep, they would get up, headed for the worksite.

The task of getting to the site was unique as roads were closed due to bridges being washed away, trees being all knocked down, houses being washed across roads and mud/sand just burying whole roads and even towns. Upon arrival at the worksite, the group was assigned a variety of jobs. These tasks included: mudding out homes, tearing out wet drywall, ripping out wet insulation from under trailers and inside walls,clearing out tons of debris, shoveling mud from the outside and inside walls of homes, emptying homes of all wet items including walls and floors. The group would work until about 5 each day and then head back to their base camp and usually arrive about 6:30 each night. Here they were blessed with accommodations through the networking of the body of Christ and one of our graduates' families. The group was housed by Mr. And Mrs. Voss and their wonderful friends. They returned to home base each day, physically drained and emotionally worn out to be greeted by the delightful aroma of a warm dinner provided by the Voss Family and their church.

The group traveled back on Wednesday, October 16th. Dr. Sarah Hutter reflected on their time and said, “I am honored to have been able to serve alongside these young people. They loved the person in front of them well, as Jesus would, they worked with all of their hearts as unto the Lord, and they blessed all who came in contact with them. They are true heroes. My heart, however, is burdened, the devastation is so significant that I cannot stop thinking of the suffering. It is getting cold. These people still have water all through their homes, the towns are still covered in mud, there is no electricity, many roads and bridges are out, there is no running water--- it is a war zone. The church of the United States needs to unite and help these people! I worked in the relief efforts after hurricane Sandy, and I do not think this can compare--- I have never seen --- not even in a movie ---something of this magnitude. I am very encouraged by the fantastic work of Samaritans Purse--- a wonderful organization that is making a difference in these people’s lives.“

Senior Student Nii Narku Hanson-Nortey said, ”I will never forget the disorder I saw in those four days. The thick dust in the air, the very unpleasant smell, collapsed buildings, random debris everywhere, buildings covered in “mud”, wires twisted and down everywhere, cars flipped in unimaginable orientations in places you never knew a car could go hanging from telephone poles or buildings, train cars on tops of buildings. The

area was a disaster beyond words. Yet in the disorder, the inhabitants whose lives were literally uprooted remained strong, there was unity among people, helping each other with the little they did have. There was a true sense of community within the area we worked. We went in as strangers wanting to help in the little way we could, removing wet drywall, insulation, mudding out houses and so on, and seeing how this moved the

affected people really spoke to me. People were so thankful they truly embraced our group and were blessed by the fact that young teenage kids would take their fall break to come help people in need. I was touched to hear, on many occasions, from the mouths of these people that they were encouraged by us and that we gave them hope in the next generation. Through them I truly got to understand where the gift in giving

really comes from. My passion to serve has increased.”

Emmanuel Botchway, sophomore at NLCS said, “I am amazed seeing the number of people from all different age brackets coming together for one purpose… to serve and help those in need. It is powerful to see love in action.”

Junior Student Daryl Ekeha said, “I was moved by the number of people willing to volunteer yet my heart is burdened by the seemingly insurmountable amount of work to be done. I am thankful to have been a tiny droplet of help in an ocean of need. I hope to do more!”