On Thursday, September 27th, the eastern half of the Tennessee Knoxville Mission began to be pounded by storms from Hurricane Helene. Asheville broke the 2-day record for rainfall recording 9.87 inches of rain in a 48 hour period. High winds toppled huge trees and snapped power poles. The French Broad River crested at over 24 feet, 1.5 feet above its previous record, rising over 20 feet in two days, flooding much of Asheville. Most of Asheville became isolated with no power, no water, no cell phone signal, and most roads into the area being closed. The Kingsport area around Johnson City also sustained damage to trees and homes, losing power and cell phone service. In Newport, Tennessee, the Pigeon River rose to over three times the flood stage and set a new record at 26 feet, flooding portions of the town and shutting down power and water to much of the area.

While it was a stressful 24-48 hours in trying to contact our missionaries, many “Tender Mercies in the TKM” happened during this time:

• Even with most of the area without cell service, we were able to contact all of our missionaries in under 36 hours.
• All missionaries were protected and kept safe and no missionary apartments were damaged or flooded by the storm.
• When we re-established contact with our missionaries, most of them were already being supported by our senior missionaries in the Asheville area, Elder and Sister Bennett and Elder and Sister Chris. These two couples made a tremendous difference! Shout out to all senior missionaries!
• Two of our biggest apartments in the Asheville area never lost power or water, which created places we could gather many of the missionaries.
• A missionary in Hendersonville has diabetes, and that was one of the apartments that never lost power, helping to preserve his medication.
• While cell service was out throughout the area, all of our missionaries had cell service restored by Saturday night, which is a small miracle.

After speaking with everyone on Saturday, we loaded up our car with groceries, 12 cases of bottled water, and 25 gallons of gasoline, and along with Samantha set out to find a way to get into Asheville. We hit road after road that was closed, and it was beginning to feel impossible, but we kept trying. We saw a big van that was a disaster recovery truck and stopped to talk to him. We found out he had driven down from Chicago and was trying to get to Asheville too. He said he had heard on his radio that they had just opened up the Old Asheville Highway that had been closed due to mudslides. So we followed him and sure enough, the road was open. There were lots of cars going out and very few going in. I think we had to be one of the first cars going into Asheville through that route. Another tender mercy…

Our first stop was at Elder and Sister Bennett’s home. When we arrived, only Sister Bennett was there. They were without power and water, but had busted open their year supply of food and had been cooking on a camp stove outside. The Weaverville and Marion sisters had stayed at their house the night before, and the Asheville Central elders had been joining them for meals. A short time later, Elder Bennett arrived as well as the Asheville Central elders, Elder Wagnon and Elder Gardner (who had only arrived in the TKM one week earlier). We left the Bennett’s with some water, fuel, and groceries and headed to Hendersonville.

On the way into Asheville and then on to Hendersonville, it was shocking to see the size of trees that had toppled over. While traffic wasn’t too bad and we could get around okay, we would run into roads with long, long lines of cars and found out they were lines for gas. Because the power was out, most gas pumps wouldn’t work. Where they did, many of those gas stations were out of gas. So where there was gas available, there were incredibly long lines.

The Hendersonville Elders were doing great. This was one of the apartments that never lost power and water, so the Micronesian elders, Elder Kaumavae and Elder Cox, had relocated there joining the Spanish elders, Elder Kerksiek and Elder Youngberg, and the English elders, Elder Huff and Elder Bowen. Power and water was out at Elder and Sister Chris’ apartment, so they had been coming there during the day to help the elders. We left them with water, groceries, gas, and some cash.

.

Our final stop was the Arden building in Asheville where we would meet the Asheville sisters, Sister Hall and Sister Low, and Asheville Spanish elders, Elder Richins and Elder Safsten. When we arrived, we saw President Gillett, the stake president of the Asheville Stake. He had a Starlink internet satellite receiver set up on his car and was in communication with leaders throughout the stake who were providing reports on members and their needs. Also there were the Weaverville sisters, Sister Avei and Sister Harris, and the Marion sisters, Sister Hunt and Sister Herget. All were in good spirits. It felt so good to lay eyes on all these missionaries in Asheville. We gave them groceries, water, gas, and cash as well.

At each stop, we told the missionaries we could transfer them out of the Asheville Zone to other areas of the mission, but all missionaries (including those in Waynesville – Sister Harrison and Sister Harrop, Franklin – Elder Collins and Elder Columba, and Forest City – Elder Graham and Elder Wren) expressed their desire to stay and help the people in Asheville. Luckily, the Cherokee elders, Elder Woodward and Elder Griffith were not impacted by the storm. They all now had plenty of food, water, and fuel so they could be self-sufficient. We consolidated companionships to where we had power and water. Missionaries were already involved in serving, cleaning up, and helping to contact members and create an inventory of needs. Despite all of the challenges, they were all doing really well…much better than we expected.

.

Ironically, we were supposed to be in Asheville that Tuesday for interviews, so we decided to head back to Asheville on Tuesday. Luckily we were able to get back into Asheville on the same route, but it had much more traffic so it took over four hours to get there. We met all of the missionaries at the Arden building where the Asheville Stake was setting up a “Command Center” where they were receiving shipments of emergency supplies from the church and could be distributed. The missionaries were excited to help in unloading the trucks and setting up the Command Center. They were especially excited to break open a box of the yellow “Helping Hands” shirts that all volunteers would receive. The missionaries were the first to get these shirts. We spent the day unloading trucks, setting up the Command Center, and cleaning up all the debris that was around the church. We gave Elder Bowen and Elder Huff groceries, water, gas, and cash for the Waynesville, Franklin, and Forest City missionaries to ensure they had what they needed. It was a great day of service together. We again let every missionary know we could move them to another area, but they all again expressed their desire to stay and help. I’m sure they will have weeks of really memorable service.

.

Sister Low arrived in the TKM only one week before the hurricane, and it was her birthday. Sister Hall had asked us to bring a cake and candles so we could all celebrate her birthday with her. I’m sure that will be a very memorable birthday.

.

On the way back from Asheville, the road that we had been using was closed, so we found a route that took us back through Newport. Driving through Newport was shocking as well. Our Newport elders, Elder Creech and Elder Ortiz had already been providing service every day at the Newport Water Distribution Center where they helped distribute drinking water. They had power but had been without water like all of Newport.

For the rest of that week, the Cumberland Zone joined Elder Creech and Elder Ortiz in serving at places that were cleaning out businesses and homes. The Knoxville and Cumberland Zones will continue to join that service this next week.

.

Other missionaries served at the Water Distribution Center. Because water was out for all of Newport, they had shipped in pallets and pallets of water bottles that people could drive up and get a case of water. The missionaries helped load the cases of water into people’s cars, which made the lines for water way more efficient.

.

On Thursday, October 3rd, we were in Johnson City to do interviews. Most of the missionaries in the Kingsport Zone gathered in Johnson City to help unload a truck full of supplies to help people in the area impacted by Hurricane Helene. The supplies were unloaded off a big trailer and loaded into trucks to deliver to different distribution points in Johnson City. Love the members in the Kingsport Stake and love these missionaries!

While it was a stressful week, there were so many miracles. Here are a few things we witnessed this week:

1) The Lord watches out for His missionaries. He knows them and loves them. In the middle of many, many challenges we’ve also seen what we call “Tender Mercies” in the TKM. Our two biggest apartments in Asheville never lost power or water, so we had gathering places for the missionaries. A missionary in Hendersonville has diabetes, and that was one of the apartments that never lost power, helping to preserve his medication. None of the apartments were damaged or flooded. All missionaries were kept safe. While many throughout Asheville struggled with cell service, we were so blessed to reach all our missionaries after 24 hours. So many tender mercies…

2) Senior couples make an incredible difference. We already knew this, but I don’t know what we would do without them. Elder and Sister Bennett and Elder and Sister Chris have been incredible in supporting the missionaries, especially during the 24 hours we couldn’t communicate. If you can serve as a senior missionary, please serve!

3) Members are wonderful. They love the missionaries like their own. While also taking care of their families, they’ve watched out for the missionaries and helped in countless ways. Providing a warm meal, a needed shower, or a place to wash clothes. We love the members in Asheville!

4) The ministering organization in our church is incredible. We can take for granted how quickly we can check on every member, confirm their safety, and determine their needs. It’s been amazing to see the service rendered through ministering.

5) The welfare program of our church that organizes emergency response is remarkable. It makes us so grateful to be members of this church. The ability to bring any resources required is inspiring…water, fuel, generators, chain saws, tools, manpower…and anything else needed. The preparation behind it all is extraordinary. The tithes and offerings and willingness from the members of the church makes this possible.

6) Lastly, these young missionaries are really special. Sometimes we forget they are only 18-21 years old. They want to help and serve. They have great faith. They are all learning powerful lessons through this experience. We love them!

#WhatsUpInTKM