Show Notes
What used to be a safe haven of beautiful gardens, fruit trees, and a calm stream now has evidence of Hurricane Helene’s path, as water tore through Kim and Michael Mitchum’s property. Kristy Graham visited Kim and Michael and heard their story. Despite losing so much, Kim radiated positivity and gratitude.
“I never lost hope and I never lost faith. Not one time did I ever lose faith. Did I get sad? Absolutely. Did I get angry? Absolutely. Was I, ‘Why me, Lord?’ Absolutely. But the faith never wavered and the hope never wavered.” – Kim Mitchum
The Mitchums’ home was severely damaged, so the couple sprang into action, tearing out walls, insulation, and carpet. They were determined to fix their house themselves, but it would take years. When Kim first connected with Samaritan's Purse, all she asked for was a tarp for their roof. Kim never anticipated that months later, they would receive a brand-new home.
Samaritan’s Purse volunteers and staff selflessly gave of their time, energy and effort in building the Mitchums’ home, and Kim and Michael were always quick to give back. Christopher and Brittany Young came to Mountain City for a week to serve with a group of their students from an international Christian school in Philadelphia. Christopher and Brittany shared with Kristy how serving the Mitchums blessed them.
“Kim used the very products that she stored up for herself to be able to have while her ground was in shambles, and she shared it with us. And so, that just speaks so much to their hearts. [The Mitchums] could have preserved those things for themselves, right? They could have been selfish, but instead they chose to be selfless. And I know that God is gonna bless them.” – Brittany Young
A few weeks later, and the Mitchums’ new house had walls and a roof. Kim gave one of our podcast correspondents a tour, as volunteers were hard at work building the front porch and back porch. Volunteers took the time to write Scripture all over the drywall.
“It feels so sturdy and it feels so safe, and it feels just like it's already home. To a lot of people, this is, oh, we're building a house and everybody that comes here to me, they're building a home. They're building a home.” – Kim Mitchum
God is faithful. And because Kim’s faith was built on the rock, her faith never wavered. Two months later, and the Mitchums’ home was complete and move in ready. At the dedication event, they were prayed over, officially handed over the keys, and able to see their home for the first time. Kristy sat down with Kim on her front porch, hearing her reaction of what it was like to finally be home. But it is not the material things that Kim is most grateful for. She is praising God that Michael came back to the Lord.
“My husband has found his faith again through this process.” – Kim Mitchum
Please pray for Kim and Michael as they settle into their new home! If you’d like to keep up to date with more stories from On the Ground, please visit SamaritansPurse.org.
Ten months ago, in Mountain City, Tennessee, Hurricane Helene turned Kim and Michael Mitchum’s lives upside down. Now, they have a fresh start as they move into their brand-new house. Follow the Mitchums’ journey as they witness volunteers and staff build their home from the ground up and hear directly from Kim and Michael’s hearts.
Resources
• Serve on the Samaritan’s Purse rebuild after Hurricane Helene.
• Listen to “Hidden Heroes: Serving Behind the Scenes” to learn about the many unsung heroes of Samaritan’s Purse who make our work on the frontlines possible.