Bravo: Amish Still Helping Rebuild Western NC (Report from Bat Cave)
Since Hurricane Helene ravaged western North Carolina and other areas last September, there have been several reports of how Amish, Mennonites, and other volunteers have been helping with cleanup and reconstruction in the region.
The good news, from one perspective at least, is that they’re still at it.
This report from WYFF is from the wonderfully-named Bat Cave, NC* (NC is my home state and this is one of its many great town names):
Bat Cave resident Kim Gill still gets emotional when she thinks about the horrifying moments Hurricane Helene hit her home.
“The wind was unrelenting. Trees were snapping and popping and breaking all around the house,” she says, “The wind was blowing sideways. So it actually came in and got, part of the roof in our dining room.”
Months after the storm, and with no help from her insurance company, an unexpected group came to her rescue: the Amish.
“They called they asked if there was any carpentry work they could do. they had several Amish, carpenters in the area,” Gill says. “They called they asked if there was any carpentry work they could do.”
“They were out here the next couple of days and did everything. Finished it and one day was fantastic.”
This was organized by Indiana-based Just For Him Ministries. Groups of up to 30 Amish volunteers come to help rebuild at one time.
Amish Youth Make Up A Lot of The Help
As you can see by images here and in the video below, it looks like most of the volunteers in this particular case are Amish youth. This is pretty common.
It gives the young Amish man (or woman in some cases) a chance to help out people who need it, plus the additional excitement of visiting a new part of the country.
Besides Indiana, Amish have come from Kentucky and Pennsylvania through this organization.
“These Amish people, they’re a blessing to this whole community,” says Isaac Guffey, who’s been helping efforts for months. “They’re just getting it done that fast. They do a full roof for somebody, it’s done in just a couple of hours. I mean, they’re great and amazing.”
Overall, the Amish have a well-earned reputation for being good builders, and also for being willing and ready to help out when disasters strike.
Great job guys, and thanks for being such a great example of putting your faith and talents into action to help those in need.
*Wikipedia: Named after a bat cave located on Bluerock Mountain (also known as Bat Cave Mountain), it is the largest known augen gneiss granite fissure cave in North America and is a protected area, not open to the public.
I’d like to say thank you to all the Amish that are helping the people in the devistated states that were affected . THANK YOU.
Amish Helping Helene Victims
Hey everybody,
Erik, thanks for bringing us another
“feel good” story. I’ve been feeling a
bit sad all week and this story puts a
smile on my face. How wonderful that
younger Amish have a chance to serve
others b/c so many affected are hearing
their insurance companies tell them, “Sorry, it’s not covered.” One wonders
why we pay insurance premiums to begin
with. Hooray for all those who have helped people recover in every possible way from this tragedy. This story helps restore my faith in humanity.
Gladly KD! I was happy to see this and also not surprised…I wouldn’t be shocked if Amish are still coming to NC and other affected areas a year+ from now.
Lovely
It’s nice to see people who profess to be Christian actually putting their faith into action. The Amish have a living faith and not a dead one. I would like to find a way to support these volunteer Amish workers with a donation. It must cost them to take time off from work to aid others.
And New York is trying to kill and injure the Amish children as revenge for them voting for Trump. They are trying to force Amish children to be vaccinated even though they don’t go to public schools.
with this disaster and all the other hurricanes plus the storm that just blew over the mid west killing at least 35 remember ….god blesses those who bless israel