Back to Black Mountain

Thank you, Jesus, that You are a God of redemption—One who turns all things for good. Your plans are better, and Your thoughts are higher. May I always live in remembrance of what You have done and testify to every ear that can hear, giving You all the glory all the days of my life.

September 27th was the scariest day of my life.
It was the day 36 people—our entire K Squad—ran out of a building for our lives during a massive landslide caused by Hurricane Helene. A day that could have held so much loss… but instead, God showed us unimaginable protection. What the enemy meant for evil, God used for good. If you want to read about how the Lord protected us that day, you can read my blog here:

Miracles in the Storm

At the beginning of this week, we returned to the place where it all happened. It was breathtaking—and overwhelming. I wasn’t expecting the destruction to be as massive as it was. Seeing our beds in the creek, trees crashed through the rooms we were supposed to be asleep in—it left me in complete awe of the Lord and how He truly saved our lives.

We walked through the remains of the cabins, stood in the very places where we had been, and sifted through what was left. Miraculously, I found my iPad—which is a huge blessing since I’ll be refunded for it! I also found some clothes and shoes, which was really nice too. Afterward, we spent some time testifying to the Lord’s goodness.

The man who saved us that day came to visit. He was in tears as he spoke with us, saying he feels like we’re the only ones who truly understand what those moments were like. He shared his side of the story—most of which I had never heard before. He also told us how the experience brought awareness to the children’s home we served at that week. Because of Hurricane Helene, the home is now better funded than ever before, and the kids are thriving. Praise the Lord!

We also got to hear from the Horvaths—the leaders of Adventures’ relief team. They were the ones who came to get us after the landslide and figured out how to get us home safely. They shared their story of that day, which was incredible. They were woken up at 4 a.m. and heard the Lord say, “Get ready to go.” At the time, they thought it was about preparing for the storm in Florida. But at a 9 a.m. prayer meeting, they got a call about our squad. They heard the Lord again: “Go. Get the kids.” What followed was a wild story filled with cutting down trees, persuading police, and even passing through prison gates. Truly, only God could have orchestrated the way we were rescued.

Later, all the domestic Gap Year squads joined us at the site for a powerful time of testimonies and worship. It was so beautiful to lift up the name of the Lord in that very space. He is worthy of all the praise.

Being able to return and serve this community was such an honor.

Yes, what we went through was hard—but these people have been living in the devastation every day since. We got to leave; they’ve had to stay. Surrounded by constant reminders of all they’ve lost.

This week, I had the opportunity to serve in two different homes. The first was a house where I helped crawl under the floor to rip out insulation and drywall. The entire street was completely destroyed—no one lives there anymore. Water had risen all the way to the ceilings, and people were trapped on their roofs for hours. The stories from that street gave me chills. The devastation was heartbreaking. Yet, amidst the destruction, there were teams from all over coming together to help. We met people who knew the homeowners personally, and it was so sweet to talk with them and pray for and with them.

The second home was on a mountain. The ride up was beautiful but sobering—I counted at least five mudslides caused by the hurricane. I can’t imagine what that day was like for them. Many people were trapped with no way out, relying on helicopters to deliver supplies for months. The man we helped was so grateful. Praise God, only his basement was damaged. But his neighbors… their entire family of seven was killed. That hit hard.

We worked hard at his home—mixing and pouring concrete one day, and installing flooring the next. We finished it! It was such a blessing to be able to serve him and his wife in that way. She is currently battling cancer, so we also got to pray over her.

This week was one I’ll never forget.

Seeing all that AIM is doing in the Black Mountain area is incredible. They’re not just rebuilding homes—they’re rebuilding hearts. People are finding Christ, returning to Him, healing from church hurt, and feeling His love again, often for the first time in a long time. I’m so thankful I got to play a small part in the big work God is doing here.

But there is still so much to be done.

Please continue praying for everyone affected by this hurricane. So many are still without homes—and without hope. But Jesus is working. He’s bringing hope, one house at a time. And if you feel led to help, come and be part of the solution! AIM has committed to staying here for two years—or until the Lord says their work is done. Be the hands and feet of Jesus. You can learn more at their website:

//adventures.org/trips/destinations/north-carolina-relief-aid/:

As for me, I’m currently at the AIM base in Georgia—with just five days left until I go home. My heart is a whirlwind of emotions. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for the past nine months, filled with excitement to see my family and friends, and already grieving the goodbye to this beautiful community.

I can’t believe it’s almost over.

Thank you all for reading, for praying, for supporting me through every moment.

With love,

Ashlyn