Samaritan’s Purse dedicates to God the house rebuilt for the family almost a year after Hurricane Helene devastated the area.
“All I asked for was a tarp,” Kim Mitchum said as she stood on the back porch of her brand-new home built by Samaritan’s Purse.
After she and her husband, Mike, lived their entire married life in Florida, they decided to return to Mike’s roots in Western North Carolina about five years ago. They found a home in Mountain City, Tennessee, only about half an hour from Valle Crucis, North Carolina, where he grew up. They were enjoying life along the Blue Ridge when Hurricane Helene hit in September last year and ruined their house.
Both Kim and Mike fought back tears during the home dedication ceremony on July 17, as different Samaritan’s Purse staff members presented them with a hand-signed journal, a photo album from the rebuild process, a “PAID IN FULL” plaque, and a set of keys to their new home.
The couple celebrates during their ceremony as Kim joyfully holds their PAID IN FULL plaque over her head.
To close out the ceremony, one of the foremen on the project, Caleb Satterlund, prayed over the couple and over the new house. He directed everyone to either lay a hand on the couple or on the house as they prayed.
Volunteers gather to pray at the beginning of the Mitchums’ ceremony.
“I pray for the bones of this building, the two-by-fours, the plywood, the paint,” he prayed. “I pray that they would stand firm in the storms to come, and you’ll be with them in all the storms of life. We just pray for protection and most of all, peace.”
The camaraderie was evident between the Mitchums and the volunteers and staff on site. Dozens of volunteers joined for the ceremony and stayed afterwards. Family of both Mike and Kim also joined from around the country to celebrate their new home. They embraced and laughed with one another throughout the afternoon. The Mitchums had also prepared a large meal for everyone to enjoy.
Mike and Kim chose a shade of sage green for the outside of their home.
Kim and Mike are comfortable hosting large events, as they used to run a karaoke business when they lived in Florida. The couple cooked and mingled with people, playing music and encouraging everyone to eat as much as they wanted.
Kim said that for months she would go to bed after a day of working on the house with volunteers and wake up the next morning thinking about what a wonderful dream it had been. Over and over again, she has been overwhelmed by the generosity of Samaritan’s Purse.
A Scripture plaque hangs by the front door as a reminder to build all of life on Christ. It also recognizes that the house was made possible by the generosity and labor of Samaritan’s Purse supporters.
“I try and keep in touch with everybody who’s been here because they’ve touched us,” she said.
More Important Than Just a New House
During the ceremony, just as the foremen were preparing to close out in prayer, Mike wanted to add one last statement to the dedication. He talked about how he has found his way back to faith these past few months. During the storm and in the months following, he had felt hopeless and lost track of his relationship with Jesus Christ. The faith and love of Samaritan’s Purse employees and volunteers and the work that they did helped bring him back to God.
A Samaritan’s Purse foreman presents Mike and Kim with an album filled with photos from throughout the construction process.
“Being in there in the morning when you guys pray in became so important,” he said. “I had to be there in the evenings when you prayed out.” These times of prayer became very important to both Mike and Kim as they were renewed and strengthened in their faith while their house was being built.
Kim reflected on this with Kristy Graham, host of Samaritan’s Purse podcast, On the Ground, who visited the couple for the dedication. They chatted while sitting on rocking chairs donated by one week of volunteers. “He’s back,” Kim said. “My husband has found his faith again through this process. And please don’t think I’m being ungrateful or anything, but that’s bigger than the house.”
Kristy agreed, saying, “That’s why we do it.”
Kristy and Kim chat on the porch of the Mitchums’ new home.
