Appalachia, West Virginia: Well its day four of our adventure in West Virginia and we have done and seen so much.  Today we spent the day with our community leader Jack; he drove us all around the windy roads through different towns in the Appalachians to set up places for our upcoming short term mission trips.  Although some of us got sick, not naming any names, we survived the drive!  We met a lot of really nice people and saw a lot of work that needs to be done.  We spent a lot of the day driving through a nearby county that has recently been hit by a flood; it was crazy seeing what the flood had done.  Some homes were falling apart from the inside out and in other homes the damage was not as easily visible on the outside but the inside damage was equally devastating.  Floors, walls, porches, cars, and many other things were ruined.  Also, most of the time the roads we were driving on followed the river which was the cause of most of the flooding and in the river was so much trash and debris it was unbelievable.  There were house doors, bed frames, mattresses, blinds, and so much more in the water or stuck in trees and bushes near the water because of how high the flood had been in some areas.  It was really hard to see but also hopeful because we knew we could do a lot of good in these areas.

All the people we have met thus far are so nice and have such positive attitudes.  Even though they have been through so much and the flood has ruined so much they have they are still kind, welcoming, and hopeful.  We met the Eaton family today and they were victims of the flood, a single mom and her two daughters live in the house, but today the sister, mother Dot, and a few other people were at the house helping to restore the floor and walls.  We got to visit with them and see what they would need help on and we also met their neighbor who had literally moved into the house a week before the flood hit.  She was also very positive and one thing that really stuck with me was the hope she had when she said “May was one of the toughest months ever…but June will be better, I know it.”  All the people we have met in the Appalachians of West Virginia so far have carried this hope and kindness about them and it is amazing to see even in the midst of disaster and devastation.

Signed,

Alisha Butler

Note: Experience Mission sends out short term mission trips to Appalachia, West Virginia throughout the summer. Go to www.experiencemission.org to find out more!