Mission in Collaboration
NEPA Synod Congregations Serving Together in Asheville
In October, volunteers from several congregations across the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod came together to serve in Asheville, North Carolina, an area deeply impacted by Hurricane Helene. Through shared planning, prayer, and hands-on work, participants from multiple churches collaborated in disaster response efforts alongside Lutheran Disaster Response.
The reflections below offer two perspectives from this shared mission experience, highlighting both the work accomplished and the relationships formed when congregations serve together as one body in Christ.
Reflections from the Mission Possible Team
Written by: Dawn Hickernell of Trinity, Wernersville
The Mission Possible team from Trinity Lutheran in Wernersville spent a week from October 19 through October 25 doing home and property repairs in multiple locations near Ashville, North Carolina, an area hit hard by Hurricane Helene. We worked on four projects through the week and were blessed with fourteen team members from multiple local churches. We partnered with Lutheran Disaster Response and stayed at Lutheridge Camp.
Project 1, half of our team spent the entire week and the remainder spent a partial week there. This was a couple who had a farmette and guest cottage that was a successful Air B&B. They were in the low point of a valley, and the creek which was just along the edge of their property redirected and went right through their property. Water entered their home, destroyed the guest cottage and outbuildings, washed all their top soil and gardens away, killed their chickens, bee hives and many trees. Stranger’s vehicles and huge amounts of debris were left behind. We arrived around a year later and there were still huge amounts of work needed. We built a large building where half will be their new chicken coop, the other half will be used for storage. We were able to get the structure part built, but they still needed quite a bit of work to be done to finish it. We also fixed a fence, dug out invasive plants (the only living plants left) and we planted some trees and bushes. We dug out and hauled away inches of contaminated dirt behind the house, split a huge amount of wood, repaired the deck gate and removed small pieces of metal and debris from the dirt.
Project 2 was with a partial team. They moved some large furniture pieces to a shed so the home could be demolished and rebuilt.
Project 3 was with a partial team. They cleaned out around the outside of a home and filled the dumpster with debris to allow another group to come in and clean out the house for demolition and rebuild.
Project 4 was a partial team that went to a nature preserve. They hiked down and back up the mountain while digging trenches on the paths to divert rain water so they don’t wash out in the future.
During our week there, we saw God in the people we helped and in our team of helpers God put together with the hearts of service to others. Also, in the beauty of the land and the miracle of accomplishing all that we did. We especially saw God in the couple with the farmette. They started sharing miracle after miracle that they witnessed and lived through in the past year. Miracles that could make a non-believer re-think their belief choices. These mission trips are always life changing for those who were helped, and also, for those doing the work. The engagement with people who are at one of the lowest points of their life, makes me think about when Jesus was here walking among the people. Loving them, although a stranger, and helping them to heal from the travesty they experienced.
Evening devotions were always a time to experience a strong connection with our team. Sharing our experiences of the day and what that meant to us personally. Knowing we were with a trusted, caring group, even though many of us did not know each other before this trip. I believe we all left after that week with a deeper sense of faith and love for Jesus.
A Congregational Reflection from Salem Shalter’s Lutheran Church
Written by: Kraig Biehl and Doug Kase
Mission Trip to Asheville, NC
From October 19–25, two of our Shalter’s members, Kraig Biehl and Doug Kase, joined 14 other volunteers—including four pastors, all from several churches—for a mission trip to Asheville, North Carolina.
Together, they met Joseph & Jennifer, the homeowners whose home and property had been devastated by catastrophic flash flooding from Hurricane Helene. The team prepared for the work ahead, offering all of their combined skills and heartfelt encouragement.
Throughout the week, the volunteers carried out many tasks:
- Built an elevated chicken coop
- Replaced a deck gate
- Removed fallen trees and split them for firewood
- Planted new shrubbery
- Completed other miscellaneous restoration projects
The group stayed at Lutheridge Camp & Conference Center in Arden, NC, about half an hour away. Though the week flew by, much remains to be done. The family was deeply appreciative of the assistance—and the team was blessed to celebrate Jennifer’s birthday during their stay!
This mission trip was a living testimony of God’s love in action: strangers becoming neighbors, and neighbors becoming family, united in service and hope.
