Sherry Pickering, Lifepoint Church member and Montgomery County Veterans Coalition Director, recently visited Jolo, West Virginia as part of a mission trip with Convoy for Hope. Read her story in her own words below:
My husband Bret and I were among a group of 10 Clarksvillians who went on a mission trip to Jolo, West Virginia as part of Clarksville’s Lifepoint Church and Convoy of Hope. In preparation for this trip, research was done to become familiar with the area and the challenges faced by its residents. Reading this research made us aware of the extreme poverty and drug abuse in the area, but it did not prepare us for the vast amount of devastation the community has endured since the coal mines there have closed.
During our trip, we saw people living in homes that would be condemned here in Clarksville. There are so many people with disabilities from years spent working in the coal mines, including a very high rate of cancer. Many of the residents of the area with the ability to leave, have done so. This mass exodus has left the community with only the very old and the very young. However, for some, this is the land where their roots are deeply planted and they stay to fight for their home and its people.
As with many poverty-stricken communities, illegal drugs have plagued Jolo. A great many of the young adults still living there are struggling with drug addiction, which leaves grandparents and even great-grandparents raising young children. Many of these elderly caretakers are disabled themselves and are barely able to feed and care for themselves.
This story could end here, and it would be accurate, but not complete. What has not been told is the incredible strength it takes for the people of this area to continue to survive in what would be hopeless circumstances to others. While delivering food boxes to those in Jolo, we spent time with them and heard their stories. One very elderly lady, who is raising her great-grandchild and caring for her disabled husband, lost her trailer to fire. Not having other options or resources, she decided to put a tarp over the chicken coop as a place to live.
Luckily, Pastor Charlie Rose, of the Family Worship Center, found out about her plight and began assisting her. As missionaries like us come into the community, Pastor Charlie guides their helpful hands to assist those community members in the most need. Another elderly gentleman we spoke with who was in a wheelchair, almost blind, and had the beginnings of gangrene in his feet, explained how he was struggling to get a needed surgery. However, not once did he complain about his plight or the fact that he is raising his 5 year old granddaughter on his own.
Most jobs available in the area are either in the education or medical fields. Many of the residents do not have the training or education for this type of employment. This brings to light the difficulties of bringing jobs back into what is often called one of the most destitute counties in the United States. A few of the many challenges to bringing jobs back to this area include dangerous and often impassable roads with no money to repair them; the local rail systems have likewise not had the upkeep and maintenance required to remain functional; and there is also a huge lack of a young, healthy workforce which any potential new industry would need.
It is easy for outsiders to go into an area such as this and assume what the people there need, instead of asking them what they need. This is demonstrated in a story about missionaries in Haiti, as told by one of the ladies with Convoy of Hope. These missionaries came upon a group of Haitian children playing soccer who did not have shoes to wear. The missionaries, upset by the children mot even having shoes to play, had athletic shoes delivered for the children. As the children were given their new shoes and went back out to play, they removed their shoes before playing soccer. When asked why, they explained that they didn’t need shoes to play and didn’t want to ruin their new shoes.
So many valuable lessons were learned through this trip to Jolo and it will be an honor to return once again in the future. I would like to individually thank the people and businesses that generously sponsored this mission trip for myself and Bret. Thank you to Chris and Kim Holland of Raeford, NC; Ruemell Pannell of Scotts Hill, TN; Representative Joe Pitts and Cindy Pitts of Clarksville, TN; JoAnne Ross of Juice Plus; Jo Stutzman of dōTERRA International Essential Oils; Larry Krieg of PMI and of Clarksville Real Estate, Inc.
If you wish you were able to go on a mission trip to make a difference in another community but are unable to do so yourself, you can be like these generous supporters and make it possible for others to go in your stead. If you have questions about this mission trip or future ones, please email spickeringvtc@gmail.com.