Eddie Lane would have normally been in his bed with his therapeutic oxygen mask on. But on the night of January 11, he was in the kitchen with his wife, Ronda. The change in routine turned out to be providential since it was the night a large storm hit Hickory, North Carolina.

As the strong winds shook the walls of their mobile home, Eddie screamed at Ronda to get down and wrapped him arms around her. In a matter of seconds, the entire home began to lift off its foundation and roll down the hill.

“When we were turning in the trailer, all we could see was stuff coming at us, but it felt as if it was just tapping us,” Ronda said. “We shouldn’t be alive now, but God saved us. He shielded us from all the elements in that trailer.”




Eddie and Ronda could have continued down the hill and off the side of the mountain, but they landed in front of a piece of the debris. Eddie had a number of injuries, so he and Ronda went to the nearest hospital. Eddie realized that if he had been in his bed with the oxygen on, he would not have heard the storm coming, or had time to help protect his wife.

“The whole time God was with me,” Eddie said. “I believe in my heart that He had His hands on top of us and protected us.”

Eddie miraculously left the hospital with only six stitches in his kneecap and a wounded arm and shoulder. The storm injured 15 people, damaged 60 buildings, and destroyed 16 homes.

The next day, Samaritan’s Purse arrived at the closest church to the destruction—South Fork Baptist—to help affected families. In a matter of hours, our staff and volunteers were on Eddie’s property, helping salvage some of his personal belongings, clearing away debris, and offering him and Ronda many prayers and hugs.




“I think the volunteers are wonderful,” Ronda said. “They have made me feel so loved and happy inside.”

Over the four days our teams served the people of Hickory, about 350 volunteers helped about 40 families recover by removing debris, cutting up fallen trees, or putting tarp on roofs.

Our volunteers also went beyond the physical work by doing whatever they could to help. When Eddie accidentally stepped on a nail as he was looking through the debris, team leader Cathy Holder was ready with first aid to bandage his foot.




“I’ve never received so much help in my life,” he said as the SP volunteers surrounded him.

After being invited to breakfast at South Fork by his new friends wearing orange, Eddie arrived at the church Saturday morning and had a life-changing experience—he trusted in Jesus Christ for his salvation. Right on the stairs of the church, BGEA Chaplain Leo Grabowski encouraged him with the hope of the Gospel and led him in a prayer.

“After I prayed, this feeling came over me like I didn’t have a worry in the world,” Eddie said. “I know now I don’t have to worry about anything anymore.”

Before the day was over, Ronda, daughter Amber, and son Eddie Jr. all rededicated their lives to Christ.

“I want our story to let someone know that God is there for them,” Ronda said, “… and that He always has His arms reaching out for you.”