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Rachael Wood, Ellen Brabo and Anne Baxter, all of Washington, volunteering with Samaritan’s Purse in Western North Carolina. (Ellen Brabo)

The mountains of Western North Carolina are breathtaking. Their towering peaks, rolling ridges, and lush forests have long been a place of beauty and refuge. But when Hurricane Helene struck, the landscape became unrecognizable. Floodwaters poured down the mountainsides, uprooting trees, shattering lives, and scattering debris in every direction.

Last month, I stood in the aftermath of that destruction with two friends from Washington, NC. We had traveled west to join Samaritan’s Purse, an organization I had never heard of until this year. Through a friend in my Bible Study, I learned about their mission: to serve communities in crisis in the name of Christ. And so, I said yes.

I didn’t know what to expect. Maybe, in the back of my mind, I thought the work would feel big—like renovating a house, rebuilding a roof, or clearing a tree from a road. Instead, I found myself picking up rocks. Thousands of them.

The creek beds had exploded with the force of the floods, sending piles of stone crashing into homes and yards. In some places, the debris was seven feet high, covering everything. It wasn’t glamorous work. There was no dramatic before-and-after moment to capture. It was tedious, exhausting, and seemingly endless. But each rock mattered.

At first, I struggled with the monotony. Surely there was something more important I could be doing. But as the hours passed, the deeper truth began to take shape. It’s not about the rocks.

It’s about the people.

One homeowner we served was a fellow Air Force veteran. We talked about her service, her family, and her memories of the home she had fought to protect. Another home belonged to a former mayor. Both had dedicated their lives to serving others, and now, in the wake of unimaginable loss, they needed help. It was a privilege to give back to them.

I was surrounded by a team of volunteers who embodied the same spirit. Many were veterans, retired first responders, and medical professionals—people whose lives had been built on a foundation of service. Even in retirement, they answered the call.

Each morning, we gathered as a team to pray. We asked the Lord to guide our hands and fill our hearts with purpose, and then we got to work. We scrubbed mud from basements where the floodwaters had risen eight feet. We hauled away firewood, raked leaves, bagged debris, and, yes, moved rocks. Sometimes, we worked in silence. Other times, we shared stories and laughter. Always, we worked with a sense of gratitude for the opportunity to be there.

The devastation we witnessed was overwhelming. One homeowner described the sound of rocks hurtling down the mountainside, slamming into her house like bowling balls. Another spoke of families stranded on rooftops, separated by the rushing water. These are stories the news cycle has moved on from, but for the people of Western North Carolina, the recovery is far from over.

The work wasn’t easy, but it was holy. It stripped away the noise of everyday life and brought clarity to what it means to serve. To be the hands and feet of Jesus isn’t always comfortable or convenient. Sometimes, it’s messy and exhausting. Sometimes, it’s not about what we want to do but what the Lord has for us to do.

I’ve carried many lessons home with me, but the one that stays with me most is this: even the smallest acts of service can have the greatest impact. Each rock we moved cleared a path—physically and spiritually—for a family to rebuild.

If you’ve ever felt helpless in the face of disaster, let me offer this: prayer is powerful, and so is action. Samaritan’s Purse provides everything you need—lodging, meals, supplies—so you can show up and serve. The work is ongoing, and there is still so much to do.

So, if you’re able, I encourage you to step into the discomfort. Pick up the rocks, scrub the mud, and see how the Lord works through you. You’ll find that it’s not about the rocks at all. It’s about love, faith, and being His hands and feet, one act of service at a time.

Western North Carolina needs us, and I can promise you this: when you give of yourself, you’ll receive more than you ever imagined.

U.S. Army Veteran Ellen Brabo is the owner of The Ell Hotel in Washington, North Carolina, and a member of the Washington Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

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