
It is hard to put into words how in awe we are at all the Lord is doing through our partnership with Appalachia right now. Our October trip to the Williamsburg/Corbin, KY area left many of us wanting to go back as soon as possible. Seven of us girls were able to return in February. One lady (Beth Gross) spent the weekend helping the missionary (Melany) with activities for the teenagers in the community. Beth learned the heartbreaking stories of several and is still in contact with some of them. Six of us arrived on Sunday night and stayed through Thursday. We saw snow and freezing temperatures everyday but had some beautiful photo opportunities! Our group of six worked to help organize donations at Melany’s warehouse. We were also able to catch up with individuals we had met in October while also making some new frie
nds!
During our October trip, Ted Cone volunteered to drive a trailer full of supplies for us. While there, I asked Melany to show him around the warehouse in hopes that men’s teams could go and help with some of the work. The two of them were instant buddies! Ted has taken several of the guys there over the past few months to see the facility.
Last weekend was the first of many trips that will be planned to work at the warehouse and later, in the community. The first team had to be made up of electrical contractors who could re-wire most of the building. Ted and Eddy Sharpton led a group of 12 to travel there last weekend. Eddy’s brother, David, a pastor at Maysville Baptist, was able to go to help. One of the team prayed to receive Christ early last week. A second prayed to receive Christ on the ride up to Kentucky on Friday morning! That man’s wife prayed to receive Christ last night (Monday).
Melany and her family passed out flyers in the community over the weekend announcing the first-ever worship service to be held at the warehouse on Sunday. David preached the message and 10 individuals prayed to receive Christ. Another two rededicated their lives. Everyone involved can’t stop talking about how powerful the service was! Melany has already had lots of calls asking for services to continue there. The Director of Missions for her area is hoping to help start a church there. David termed it WOW (Warehouse of Worship)! (See picture below of prayer time at the end of the service.)
In addition to the changed lives, the Lord also allowed the team to get much more work done than they had anticipated! Most of the second floor is now re-wired including the family’s living quarters. One of Melany’s daughters has been going around counting the electrical outlets they now have and is thrilled to know she will be able to plug her nightlight in. The teenage daughter is thrilled to now have an outlet in the bathroom for her hair dryer and curling iron! Our guys were also able to install a furnace in the coldest part of the upstairs. (We could see our breath in most of the building the entire time we were there!)
Ted and Eddy will make a return trip there this coming weekend to work on the downstairs electrical system. I
n the next few weeks or so, they will be taking plumbing teams as well as heat/air teams. General construction teams will be needed later. Part of Melany’s ministry is doing home repairs so there are plenty of opportunities in that area as well. Eastern Kentucky is in what is known as the “poverty pocket of America.” Many live without electricity and/or in homes in very poor condition. The needs are great, but our God is greater! It is a privilege to be His hands and feet in that area!

During our October trip, Ted Cone volunteered to drive a trailer full of supplies for us. While there, I asked Melany to show him around the warehouse in hopes that men’s teams could go and help with some of the work. The two of them were instant buddies! Ted has taken several of the guys there over the past few months to see the facility.
Last weekend was the first of many trips that will be planned to work at the warehouse and later, in the community. The first team had to be made up of electrical contractors who could re-wire most of the building. Ted and Eddy Sharpton led a group of 12 to travel there last weekend. Eddy’s brother, David, a pastor at Maysville Baptist, was able to go to help. One of the team prayed to receive Christ early last week. A second prayed to receive Christ on the ride up to Kentucky on Friday morning! That man’s wife prayed to receive Christ last night (Monday).
Melany and her family passed out flyers in the community over the weekend announcing the first-ever worship service to be held at the warehouse on Sunday. David preached the message and 10 individuals prayed to receive Christ. Another two rededicated their lives. Everyone involved can’t stop talking about how powerful the service was! Melany has already had lots of calls asking for services to continue there. The Director of Missions for her area is hoping to help start a church there. David termed it WOW (Warehouse of Worship)! (See picture below of prayer time at the end of the service.)
In addition to the changed lives, the Lord also allowed the team to get much more work done than they had anticipated! Most of the second floor is now re-wired including the family’s living quarters. One of Melany’s daughters has been going around counting the electrical outlets they now have and is thrilled to know she will be able to plug her nightlight in. The teenage daughter is thrilled to now have an outlet in the bathroom for her hair dryer and curling iron! Our guys were also able to install a furnace in the coldest part of the upstairs. (We could see our breath in most of the building the entire time we were there!)
Ted and Eddy will make a return trip there this coming weekend to work on the downstairs electrical system. I
