Every year, the Dove Broadcasting Missions Department undertakes a mission trip to take food, toys, blankets, and love to children and families in the Appalachian Mountains.

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This is not the end of the story. A local minister's wife was with us. She began working to get someone to repair the family's car! The greatest ending of this story is that both Eric and his father accepted Jesus Christ as their personal savior! The minister's wife who was with us immediately got information and said she and her husband would love to have them come and be a part of their church family. She said the church would provide transportation in order for them to attend worship services. All honor and Glory goes to God for the greatest of all miracles: the salvation of this precious father and son.

On our next visit we met an extraordinary young man, Austin Adams. Approximately 3 years ago Austin was given an antibiotic which resulted in a severe reaction. His skin was burned leaving him with scars over most of his body. Austin also was left with total blindness. Austin's mother, Sarah, is a single mother working hard to support Austin and his brother. Life has been difficult for this special family. They have to drive to Ohio in order to get the medical treatment needed for Austin. Sarah does not have the financial resources to pay for the expense of the trips. Austin heard about Dove Broadcasting coming to Kentucky. He wrote a letter asking is we could make his mother's Christmas special. He did not ask for anything for himself; he just wanted his mother to be happy and have something nice.

Thank you for making Austin's dream come true. This family had a special Christmas because of your support of the Appalachian Mission Project.

When we left the home of Austin Adams we drove further back into the hollows. The roads were so narrow we wondered if the trucks and vans would be able to make it. When we arrived at the location of the home of Bobbie Jo Herald and her four children, it was so treacherous we could not get to the home. The family had to climb up out of the area of the location of the house. The children were running and screaming with anticipation. Bobbie Jo Herald is a single mother who is trying to support herself and the four children. Amy and Eula are twin girls who were born prematurely. Amy weighed one pound and Eula weighed 1 and a half pounds at birth. It was necessary for the babies to spend three months in a hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. The twins have experienced numerous physical problems requiring many hospital stays. In fact on the day of our visit they had just been released from the hospital where they had been treated for Spinal Meningitis. Bobbie has two older boys, Granville, age 15, and Bobby, age 13. This family takes life one day at a time. Bobbie Joe has no car and has to depend on others to transport her to needed medical appointments for the children. I was amazed to hear that Bobbie Jo walks to get groceries and also walks to the school for issues regarding the children. Bobbie Jo has never missed a parent-teacher conference. This is amazing as she has to walk approximately eight miles (one way) to the school. This family has no telephone. Bobbie Jo and the children remind me of pictures I have seen of Appalachian past. This woman is determined that she will survive and that her children will be educated. Each day Bobbie faces struggles and despair but she will overcome with the help of the Lord. Before we left, this family accepted Jesus. When we waved goodbye, I continued looking back through the rear view mirror at this very special family thanking God for allowing me the opportunity to be used in making a difference in the lives of the Herald Family.

We traveled on to the home of Betty Sebastian and her two children, Jo and James. Betty had just been released from the hospital where she had open heart surgery. She is also diagnosed with diabetes, high blood pressure, depression and multiple other medical problems. Betty's husband left her when she became sick.

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