Today, the team divided into two groups. The men traveled to finish the tiny home, while the women remained in town to encourage and pray with local residents. On the drive to the tiny home, we passed through an area that still bears the effects of the hurricane. Seeing the lingering damage was humbling and gave deeper meaning to the work ahead. Despite complications left from earlier construction, the crew worked together with remarkable perseverance and completed the project.

When I signed up for this mission trip, I never imagined I would find myself crawling under a deck to install skirting on someone’s mobile home. Yet that unfamiliar task became a reminder that serving often means stepping outside our comfort zones and doing whatever is needed with a willing heart.

After lunch, the entire team visited Miss Jules and blessed her with a monetary gift.  Her warmth immediately made me understand why the other team members had spoken so highly of her.  I felt as though I were one of her own children. She told us, “God had taken her family, but gave her a new family,” a statement that captured the love and connection at the heart of this mission.

After completing our work, we spent a little time at Backbone Rock, which is part of the Appalachian Trail. As I hiked, I was struck by the beauty of this region and by its resilience two years after the hurricane. The landscape offered a quiet reminder that devastation does not have the final word; renewal and beauty can still emerge.

God has stretched me this week by leading me into new and sometimes uncomfortable situations. Through each experience, He has shown me the value of serving with an open heart and of walking alongside a faithful team. I could not have chosen a better group for my first mission trip. I came to the Smoky Mountains hoping to bless others, but I am leaving with 11 new friends.