Because of your generosity, hope continues to rise in the mountains of Western North Carolina.

Week after week, volunteers have shown up—giving their time, churches have sent teams, and donors have provided resources—turning disaster zones into places of restoration.

One of those families is Tracie and Clint.

When the remnants of Hurricane Helene swept through Black Mountain and Swannanoa, massive trees crashed through their roof. By God’s grace, they weren’t inside—but what they returned to was devastation.

Overwhelmed, they asked, “Where do we even begin?”

That’s when you showed up.

First through Operation Blessing, and then through Adventures Relief, hope began to take root again. Volunteers arrived with chainsaws, prayer, and presence.

Earlier this summer, Pastor Mark and his team from Parker Church spent days hanging new drywall inside Tracie and Clint’s home—thanks to materials donated by Mercury One and the faithful support of believers who gave, prayed, and served.

“When we first opened the door, I couldn’t even step inside,” Tracie shared. “Now I walk in and see walls going up—and I just keep whispering, ‘Thank you, Lord.’”

Because of your obedience, what was once a place of loss is becoming a place of peace again.

The Work Isn’t Finished

As winter approaches, families are still waiting. Roofs remain tarped. Homes sit half-gutted. Yet hope continues to grow—one prayer, one meal, one volunteer at a time.

You can help finish the story.

Go. Give. Pray.

Go: Bring a team to serve in Western North Carolina. Spend a week restoring homes and hearts in the Blue Ridge Mountains. New 2026 opportunities are available.

Give: Help a family rebuild their home and their faith. Continue funding the work your generosity started.

Pray: That every volunteer and homeowner would encounter the love of Jesus through this ministry of restoration.

Together, let’s keep rebuilding lives—and keep hope rising in the mountains of North Carolina.

[Join the Effort →]

How many times can you be forced to move from hotel to hotel before you begin to lose hope for your future?

That’s the question Marissa – a single mother of three – asked as she shared her story with our visiting team from Faith Christian Church (Harlingen, Texas).

When Hurricane Helene hit, the wind ripped away shingles and rain poured through the ceiling.

“We told the kids to pack their bags,” Marissa remembered. “One of my daughters packed her toys. We planned to leave, but it was too dangerous. We stayed – two weeks without power or running water. We weren’t prepared: no candles, nothing.”

After the storm, her family lived in a tent in their yard. The septic backed up, mud filled the floors, and the home was eventually gutted and left to the rain again. For months, they bounced from hotel to hotel – never knowing where they would sleep next.

By the time Adventures Relief met Marissa, her hope had been tested over and over again. Yet she never gave up.

Our volunteers began rebuilding her home – hanging drywall, replacing ceilings, restoring what was lost. Even after injuring her ankle at work, Marissa came to dinner to thank the team who had come to serve her family.

At our one-year anniversary dinner, Marissa stood and shared a poem she had written in the middle of the storm. Her words – raw, honest, and full of faith – captured the heart of a mother’s courage. That poem was transformed into a song and played at the banquet.

A mother’s dedication, courage, and resilience have now been embedded in her family’s legacy as she leads her young children through this recovery journey.

Through this partnership, we didn’t just rebuild a home – we helped rebuild hope.

Because of people like you, Marissa and her children are seeing light after the storm.

👉 Help More Families Like Marissa’s for the Holidays

This Thanksgiving, what if your family gathered around something more than a dinner table?

In North Carolina, hundreds of families are still rebuilding their lives after Hurricane Helene forever changed their communities. This November, our Adventures Relief team is hosting a special Thanksgiving Week outreach (Nov 22–28) — and you’re invited to be part of it.

Throughout the week, volunteers will serve alongside local ministries, preparing and distributing Thanksgiving groceries to families who’ve walked through some of the hardest seasons of their lives. Then, on Thanksgiving Day, the team will deliver hot meals to first responders who have faithfully served their communities since the storm.

It’s more than an outreach — it’s a chance to live out gratitude in a tangible way. To step away from the holiday rush and experience what thankfulness looks like in action: serving side by side with your loved ones, bringing warmth, hope, and the love of Jesus to others.

If you’ve been looking for a meaningful way to spend your Thanksgiving break, this is it.

Serve with purpose this Thanksgiving.
Join the team in North Carolina, Nov 22–28, 2025.
Family-friendly serving opportunity.

Last week marked one year since Hurricane Helene swept through Western North Carolina, leaving behind destruction and heartbreak. But as we gathered to remember, we were reminded of something far greater — the unwavering faithfulness of God.

To commemorate the anniversary, we welcomed 175 homeowners, volunteers, coalition partners, and local leaders to the Excel Better Together Base. The purpose of the evening was simple: to celebrate God’s goodness and reflect on the ways He has moved over the past year.

We set a literal table — inviting everyone who has walked through loss, labor, and love to come together as one family. The night overflowed with laughter, tears, worship, and powerful testimonies. Homeowners shared stories of God’s provision through the hands and hearts of volunteers. Volunteers reflected on how serving here has strengthened their faith. Together, hope was restored.

Hear from the Better Together Coalition from the anniversary event.

This past year has been a journey of rebuilding homes and restoring hearts. A journey of discovering that God’s presence is often felt most strongly in the aftermath of the storm. And a journey of seeing the beautiful impact when we live Better Together.

“The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” — Psalm 126:3

As we step into Year Two of long-term recovery, new doors are opening every day — new families are being helped, new partnerships are forming, and new testimonies are emerging from the ashes.

We’d love to share more of these stories and what lies ahead for this next season.
👉[ Schedule a time to hear the stories, the impact, and the vision for what’s next.]

Thank you for being part of this journey. Your prayers, generosity, and service are making a lasting Kingdom impact in Western North Carolina.

Just three months before the storms came to Old Fort, Dudley was in the fight of his life—recovering from heart surgery. He could never have imagined that while healing from one storm, another was waiting just around the corner. This one wouldn’t touch his body, but it would break his heart.

Dudley’s home, built in 1920, had become his joy and his mission. Room by room, he and his wife poured love, sweat, and hope into restoring it—dreaming of the day it would finally reflect all the care they had given. For Dudley, the house wasn’t just walls and floors—it was purpose.

Then the rains came.

Water didn’t rush in like a raging river. It gathered quietly, pooling at the foundation until it crept inside. Soon, a foot of water filled the rooms, damaging walls, floors, and undoing so much of the work Dudley had given his heart to.

He remembers stepping outside, looking across the street to the school parking lot. Thirty-five cars sat abandoned in the floodwaters. In that moment, he realized just how quickly and unexpectedly the storm had changed everything.

But here’s where the story shifts.

Over a month ago, a small team from St Margaret’s Church arrived with willing hearts and hands. They started simple—hanging new sheetrock in one room. Since then, more volunteers have stepped in, one group after another, mudding, sanding, and now painting primer on the walls.

It’s not just sheetrock or paint going up in Dudley’s house—it’s hope.

For a man who has endured both physical and emotional storms, every nail driven, every brush of paint, every prayer spoken over his home is more than repair—it’s restoration. It’s a reminder that he is not forgotten.

At Adventures Relief, this is why we come. To bring both physical rebuilding and the hope of Jesus into homes and hearts. Dudley’s story is a testimony that in the middle of devastation, healing happens little by little—when the family of God shows up.

Be Part of the Restoration

You can help families like Dudley’s find hope again.
Join us in rebuilding homes and hearts.

Montana came home to a flood zone—and no one to call.

He grew up in Old Fort, North Carolina, on land his family had held for generations. His grandparents, Clyde and Judy, built their home in the 1960s. His mother, Helen, raised him there as a single parent. Together, they were his entire world.

In just three years, he lost all three. Cancer claimed his grandmother and mother. His grandfather followed soon after, passing from heartbreak.

Montana had moved back home during the pandemic to care for them—and stayed to carry their legacy forward.

Then came Hurricane Helene.

Montana was in New York City for work when the storm hit. Despite warnings not to return, he boarded a plane and drove into the disaster zone.

Both family homes were still standing. But each basement had flooded with over six feet of water.

With no immediate family left and FEMA unresponsive after multiple appeals, Montana felt alone. That’s when he reached out to us.

This week, a volunteer team from Knox Baptist Church in South Dakota stepped in. They cleared debris, removed waterlogged furniture, and filled two dumpsters. Yet what they really helped restore was hope.

“This isn’t just about a house,” Montana told us. “It’s about carrying forward the people I loved most.”

His story is one of deep loss, quiet resilience, and a legacy worth protecting.

You can help carry that legacy forward.

• Pray for Montana and others like him who are rebuilding more than just homes.
• Give to support recovery efforts across Western North Carolina.
• Go and serve with us on the ground—there’s a place for you here.

Thank you for being part of the story. You are the difference between devastation and restoration.

For days, the rain wouldn’t let up. Meteorologists warned that a storm churning in the Atlantic would strike Georgia and South Carolina, then push into North Carolina. But no one could have predicted the devastation it would bring to Black Mountain and Swannanoa.

At 5 a.m., Clint left for work like it was any other day. A few hours later, the peaceful woods surrounding their home erupted in violence. Massive trees—ones that had stood for decades—snapped and crashed onto their roof.

By God’s grace, Clint and his wife, Tracie, weren’t inside when it happened.

The storm passed. But the damage didn’t stop with fallen trees.

The roads were impassable. It took three long days before they could even reach their home. When they finally did, their hearts sank.

Trees covered the roof. Inside, standing water and mud soaked every room. The smell of mold was overwhelming—sharp, sour, and suffocating.

Their minds swirled with questions:
Where do we even begin?
Will we ever live here again?
Where will the money come from?
Who would help us now?

The needs kept piling up:
“We’re going to need chainsaws. Dumpsters. Trucks. Time off work. Money. What about insurance?” The list felt endless. They were stuck. Overwhelmed. Alone.

Tracie couldn’t even bring herself to step inside the house at first. It was too much. Imagine everything you’ve worked for—everything you’ve built—soaked, warped, and ruined.

But that’s when hope arrived.

First through Operation Blessing, and then Adventures Relief (AR). AR didn’t come with all the answers. But they brought something deeper: faith, presence, and a willingness to serve in Jesus’ name.

This week, Pastor Mark and his team from Parker Church are inside Tracie and Clint’s home, installing fresh drywall—generously donated by Mercury One, a nonprofit providing materials to families trying to rebuild.

The work isn’t glamorous. It’s slow. Messy. Heavy. But it’s sacred.

Because of the obedience of so many—churches, volunteers, and donors—hope is rising from the wreckage.

God is still at work here.

And there’s room for you in the story.

Come serve in North Carolina.
Sponsor a team. Supply materials.
Pray for families like Clint and Tracie.

You can be the hands and feet of Jesus.
Don’t wait—say yes today.

A Testimony By Pastor Caleb, Hopkins Community Church

“We thought we were going to North Carolina to clean up a little storm damage.

Our group of 8th grade students had signed up with Adventures Relief to help with recovery after Hurricane Helene. We were prepared for light cleanup—some branches, maybe minor repair work. That’s what we expected when we walked up to Linda’s home.

Then we opened the front door.

The damage was overwhelming. A tree had torn through the roof. Water had soaked through every room. Black mold was spreading fast. Every single item in the house—furniture, clothing, keepsakes—was ruined.

That’s when Linda arrived.

She walked up the driveway as we were carrying out the remnants of her home. She took one look and broke down in tears. And in that moment of heartbreak, something sacred happened.

Linda asked if she could share her story.

With raw honesty and quiet strength, she told us about her life—her struggles, her prayers, her faith. Through every part of her story, one phrase echoed over and over:

“God’s got this.”

We gathered around and prayed for her. Then she surprised us—she prayed over us. She quoted Scripture. She sang a song that had carried her through the darkest nights. And when she finished, she looked up with tearful joy and said,

“I do believe we just had church.”

Weeks later, some of our high school students returned. They tore off the broken roof, rebuilt the trusses, and added a brand-new porch. Just as the final nail was hammered in, a heavy rainstorm rolled in.

That night, Linda sent a text: “The house stayed dry.”

Linda’s home is still being restored. But her faith—it’s already whole. She stays in touch with many of our leaders, sending encouragement, prayers, and updates. The bond she formed with our students is real and lasting.

We came to serve. We thought we were bringing hope.

But Linda reminded us what really matters:

• Slowing down
• Sharing life
• Trusting Jesus

Adventures Relief doesn’t just repair homes. They create sacred spaces where the Church becomes the Church. Where strangers become family. Where mold-covered drywall gives way to worship.”

————————————————

We’re grateful for every student who said “yes.”
We’re grateful for every volunteer who showed up and kept showing up.

And now, we want to invite you.

There’s a place for you too.

If your heart is stirring—if your church is looking for a way to serve—come join us.

There’s more to do.
The work isn’t finished.
But God’s got this.

→ Join the long-term recovery with Adventures Relief

Seven months ago, Hurricane Helene interrupted everything.

Thirty-six young people—freshly launched missionaries—had just stepped into their calling when the storm changed their course. What began as a hopeful journey with the World Race was suddenly rerouted. Their assignment was replaced with an emergency evacuation. Their dreams, it seemed, had been derailed before they even had the chance to begin.

At the time, it felt like loss. Like God had pulled the plug on a story He had just started to write.

But last month, the squad went back after months of living on mission.

Back to the place where the storm had hit hardest. Back to the ground where those 36 lives had been spared. They stood in a circle, surrounded by memory and meaning. With them were Jason and Elodie—God’s hands and feet that night—who had answered a perfectly timed phone call that led to a life-saving evacuation. And standing quietly nearby was the squad mentor, the one who had walked them through those dark days with prayer and wisdom.

They asked the Holy Spirit to reclaim the story.

And He did.

That week made one thing clear: what had felt like a setback was actually a sending. The obedience of those 36 young people—their “yes” in the midst of fear—became the spark for something bigger than any of us imagined. Since that moment, thousands of volunteers and hundreds of families across Western North Carolina have been impacted. What began with confusion and tears became a movement of compassion and healing.

One of the young women, Isabella, put it this way:
“The thing I saw God’s hand most in was the impact it had on the community—how God used our testimony and others’ to bring people together. And it would have never happened without Helene.”

Her honesty was striking.
“There was irrational fear,” she admitted. “It caused PTSD. I didn’t want to go back to the same place, the same vans. But God made it clear: it was His will for us to return—and He was going to use it for something good. It took eight months of conversation with the Lord, but I surrendered.”

That act of surrender—that return—broke something in the spiritual realm. A stronghold gave way. In its place: peace. Hope. Restoration.

What once felt like chaos was, in fact, divine redirection.

This is the story God is writing. One of purpose born in disruption. One where every surrendered “yes” matters more than we can imagine.

And now, we invite you into it.

Come to Western North Carolina.

See the ground for yourself.

The story is still being written.

Join us in the restoration.

A testimony from Vickie, Old Fort, NC

We came back to the house hollowed by dread. Two weeks of not knowing had stretched thin our hope. Floodwaters had swallowed everything, and as we stepped onto the front porch, we felt it all crash down.

We sat. We wept. The mud was thick—caking everything. Our belongings, our memories—ruined. The weight of it suffocated us.

So we just left for lunch.

When we returned, a flyer clung to the front door. I picked it up and dialed the number.

And the next morning—someone came.

I remember the first group that showed up. It was three young girls in dresses, two blonde boys, their dad, and a few friends. They didn’t look like what I expected, but they walked straight into our mud-covered home and started helping. That’s when I knew: God had seen our pain. He had sent angels.

They walked into our wreckage as if it didn’t scare them. Straight into our mud-soaked living room, and without pause, they began pulling out what was left.

That’s when I knew. God had seen us. He had felt our pain. And He had sent angels.

More came. Again and again. A rhythm of kindness we never could have orchestrated. They brought no grand solutions—just willing hands, open hearts. They dug out the mud. They scrubbed. They listened.

They stayed long enough for us to believe we weren’t invisible.

That maybe, just maybe, we weren’t alone.

I’m grateful beyond words—for the ones who chose to come. To this little forgotten place. For people like me. Not once, but over and over. They weren’t just fixing floors or scrubbing porches. They were repairing something deeper. They were helping us believe again.

This morning I stood over the fragments we’d managed to keep—furniture caked in hardened mud, bits of the life we used to know. I covered what I could with tarps and tents. It’s raining again.

Even my phone had to stay inside—it’s waterlogged.

But I’m still out here, brushing and rinsing, scraping what’s salvageable.

That’s what you do when you’re rebuilding.

You go piece by piece.

Prayer by prayer.

I’m worried about what’s underneath—what damage still hides in the unseen places. But I believe someone’s coming. I believe people are still praying. I believe God hears.

I said a prayer this morning too—for the volunteers’ safety, for strength to keep going, for peace to believe that this story isn’t over.

We’re still here.

And that means something.

— Vickie, Old Fort, NC

Click here to support more people like Vicki and her family.

The first time Jackie stepped back into her home after Hurricane Helene, the silence was deafening.

The house, once a sanctuary, now felt like a hollow shell. The storm had done more than destroy drywall—it had torn through her sense of safety. Waterlogged floors, the smell of mold, and an overwhelming sense of loss greeted her as she whispered the only thing she could: a prayer.

She didn’t know where help would come from.

She didn’t know when it would arrive.

But she dared to believe that it would.

Months passed.

Then, one day, Jackie returned to drop off paint and cabinet measurements. But what she found left her stunned.

The porch was swept clean.

The trash—gone.

The kitchen and bathrooms—scrubbed.

“I had been worrying about how I was going to accomplish that without water,” she said. “You took another load off of me, and I’m most grateful.”

But it wasn’t just the progress that moved her. As she walked through the house, something caught her eye—words written inside the walls, hidden where only the drywall knew to look.

Verses. Scripture. Prayers written in Sharpie by volunteers.

“When I was at the house the other day,” she later shared, “I noticed Bible verses on the walls—where they won’t be seen when it’s all finished. I was quite moved. I’ll keep rereading them each time I’m back.”

Long before the cabinets are installed and the paint dries, hope takes root—in prayer, in presence, in the silent declarations hidden behind the walls.

This is what long-term recovery really looks like. Not just construction—but resurrection. Not just rebuilding homes—but restoring souls.

Jackie’s story is one of many. Families are still navigating loss. They are still standing in half-finished rooms, wondering if someone will show up. And when someone does, it’s not just help that arrives—it’s hope.

Behind every board, beneath every coat of paint, faith holds these homes together.

So here’s the invitation:

Let’s keep showing up.

Let’s keep writing hope into the unseen places.

Because what’s hidden behind the walls… matters.

And so does the love that put it there.

Click here to give today. Let’s keep building hope!