Video by Perry Alexander; drone flood footage provided by Devin Hutch (DevinHutch TikTok)
Our town and our church building were flooded following Hurricane Helene in the geologic event that devastated much of Western North Carolina, as well as parts of Georgia, South Carolina, SW Virginia and East Tennessee. It's impossible to fathom the extent of the damage to our community, and as we prepare for the cold winter to come we wanted to think back across these past weeks.
Perhaps surprisingly, one of the first emotions to surface through the murky emotional tides is that of gratitude. Not gratitude for the waters made toxic by plastic manufacturing and septic waste upstream, not for the loss of dear lives, of rich biodiverse communities along the river, not for the loss of homes and businesses and beloved trees---all of which we mourn deeply. But gratitude for the community that has drawn us even closer together, the thousands who have come to volunteer, the many who have reached out to us by phone and email and Facebook messenger to ask one simple question: What can I do to help?
These times bring out the best of us as well as, sometimes, the worst. Right now we wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the many blessings that we have received. We didn't do as good a job as we would have wished to in keeping track of names and contact information from many who have come to help; please know that you are deeply appreciated, and loved. Please come back to visit us in the future, where we hope to find a brighter future together. Marshall Presbyterian Church will never be the church it was before the flood, nor should it be. We were all changed by this event. We hope that continued growth through the Divine Spirit of Love will bring us into a better, brighter future. Please know that you are all invited, no matter what you may have been hurt by churches in the past. Our doors are open, and will continue to be open, to all.
