Youth from Calvary and St. Barnabas Episcopal Churches just returned from a five-day mission trip to Bat Cave, NC. Rose Petersen, Emma Landen, and Stephanie Townes traveled with 19 youth and adults from St. Barnabas to serve the Bat Cave community — the third such trip for Calvary and St. Barnabas youth and adults.
Why Bat Cave, NC?
In 1900, Mother Eva Mary of the Sisters of the Transfiguration traveled from Cincinnati, OH to Bat Cave, NC via train and horse-drawn wagon for rest and refreshment. She later established a retreat house for the sisters there, and the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration was founded in the town some years after by the Sisters. This long relationship between Cincinnati and Bat Cave was the original inspiration for our mission trips.
However, in September 2024, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida but turned north into the North Carolina mountains, devastating small rural areas like Bat Cave. Rivers and creeks rose almost instantly, and the resulting wall of water destroyed homes and businesses and washed out roads and bridges. The area has recovered some, but much work remains.
Mission Trip Work
Our youth worked for three days. The first day was spent at Church of the Transfiguration, helping with ongoing repairs and beautification: laying mulch in the outdoor chapel (whose tree canopy was destroyed by a mini cyclone during Helene), assembling new playground equipment (the only playground in Bat Cave), and planting and weeding their Hope Garden, all alongside Transfiguration parishioners.
The second day was with Bat Cave Relief, a local organization that fills in gaps FEMA and larger agencies often leave. The third day took us to the small neighboring town of Gerton, NC, which is still dealing with flooding regularly, most recently over Memorial Day weekend.
Signs of Helene’s devastation are everywhere: temporary, often one-way roads where two-lane roads washed out; homes still without bridges across the river; and debris still visible in the creeks. One group of our youth helped with cleanup in one of those creeks. But signs of life are returning: businesses are reopening every day, and we heard stories of those who had to leave their homes returning back after months away.
Work and Fun
Our youth had fun too! We worshipped with the Transfiguration community, sang at the Offertory, and Stephanie Townes preached. We also relaxed at nearby Lake Lure, thanks to a parishioner who opened up their lake home for us, and many youth spoke how much they loved the friendships they made and deepened.
