4.29.25 Life in Ukraine, defunding Planned Parenthood, and surviving natural disasters in North Carolina

Summary

The World and Everything In It: April 29, 2025 Episode Summary

Host: Mary Reichert and Nick Eicher
Description: This episode of "The World and Everything In It" by WORLD Radio delves into the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the political maneuvering around defunding Planned Parenthood, and the resilience of North Carolina residents in the aftermath of natural disasters. The program features in-depth reporting, expert analysis, and personal stories that provide a comprehensive view of these pressing issues.

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1. Life in Ukraine: Seeking Peace Amidst Conflict

The episode opens with a focus on the protracted war in Ukraine and the recent discussions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky regarding potential peace terms.

Key Points:

• Ceasefire Proposal: Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a three-day ceasefire from May 8th to 10th, commemorating the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. However, skepticism remains among Ukrainians about Russia's commitment to even a temporary halt in hostilities.

  Kent Covington reports, “Vladimir Putin says the unilateral ceasefire will mark the 80th anniversary of victory in Europe Day. That’s the day that Nazi Germany surrendered to the Allies in World War II. But Ukrainians on the ground say they’re skeptical” (03:44).

• Impact of Recent Attacks: Correspondent Will Flieson shares harrowing accounts of recent missile and drone strikes in Kyiv, highlighting the enduring resilience and enduring spirit of the Ukrainian people despite continuous threats.

  Will Flieson describes the atmosphere post-attacks: “Some people shelter every time... Others are desensitized and carry on their daily business” (09:50).

• U.S. Involvement and Future Strategies: The conversation touches upon President Trump’s role in brokering peace and the potential strategies he might employ. Foreign policy expert Clifford May suggests that Trump may intensify pressure on Putin, which could either move towards a durable peace or result in further escalation.

  Clifford May states, “President Trump now will take up that offer, do what he himself has suggested, and put some significant pressure on Putin” (07:10).

Notable Quote:

Will Flieson (25:03): “The instant reaction is, that's our house and it's gone. There's our life.”

2. Defunding Planned Parenthood: A Battle for Pro-Life Resources

The program transitions to the contentious issue of defunding Planned Parenthood, exploring the implications for pro-life pregnancy centers and the broader abortion debate in the United States.

Key Points:

• Legislative Efforts: Conservative groups have been pushing for the Defund Planned Parenthood Act, aiming to redirect federal funds away from the abortion provider. Recent actions include the Trump administration withholding funds from 13 Planned Parenthood affiliates, primarily impacting Medicaid payments.

  Anna Johansson Brown explains, “The abortion industry has recently faced pushback at the federal level... most of that came from Medicaid payments” (12:19).

• Challenges for Pro-Life Centers: Redirecting funds to pro-life centers is complicated by eligibility criteria. Most pregnancy resource centers are not qualified Medicaid providers as they do not offer comprehensive gynecological services.

  Anna Johansson Brown notes, “Most pregnancy resource centers aren't eligible to serve as Medicaid providers” (13:36).

• Alternative Funding Avenues: Some pro-life centers receive funding through Title 10 grants, but the application process is burdensome. Additionally, temporary assistance programs like TANF have seen attempts to exclude pro-life centers from funding under the Biden administration, though recent legislative efforts aim to protect these centers from such exclusions.

  Anna Johansson Brown discusses, “Republican Representative Chris Smith... introduced the Let Pregnancy Centers Serve act in March” (16:24).

• Community and Conviction: Many pro-life centers rely on private donations and are hesitant to seek government funding to maintain their independence and uphold their convictions. Leaders like Jim Hardin of Compass Care emphasize the importance of community support over governmental assistance.

  Jim Hardin states, “We do everything for free” (17:38).

Notable Quote:

Chuck Schumer (17:56): “Pregnancy centers basically do everything except for abortion. Meanwhile, abortionists do nothing but abortion and for a fee.”

3. Resilience in North Carolina: Overcoming Natural Disasters

The final segment highlights the enduring spirit of North Carolina residents as they navigate the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and subsequent wildfires, showcasing personal stories of loss and recovery.

Key Points:

• Hurricane Helene’s Aftermath: The hurricane, which struck last September, left significant destruction in its path. While some communities have recovered, others continue to face extensive restoration challenges compounded by recent wildfires.

  Caroline Levitt reports on Matthew Rogers' experience: “These steps here... I've just would myself cut down trees and put mulch. And I made it a project” (21:18).

• Impact of Wildfires: In March, the Black Cove Fire destroyed Rogers' home, despite initial survival of the hurricane. The increased frequency of wildfires, attributed to dry conditions and fallen trees from the hurricane, has placed additional strain on recovery efforts.

  Will Flieson recounts, “The instant reaction is, that's our house and it's gone. There’s our life” (25:03).

• Community and Continuous Response: The Red Cross faces ongoing challenges in providing sustained disaster relief, highlighting the need for long-term resilience strategies. Residents like Rogers are adapting by planning to rebuild differently, focusing on community support systems rather than returning to their pre-disaster normalcy.

  James Blair emphasizes, “We have to find our new normal. I don't think we're going to get back to our previous normal before Helene” (26:27).

• Personal Stories of Hope: Rogers and his wife are determining not to rebuild their original home but to repurpose the land for a community summer camp, demonstrating a proactive approach to recovery and community rebuilding.

  Will Flieson shares, “I can be like Job in a small way and just realize that I'm still here... and we're going to be okay from this event” (27:26).

Notable Quote:

James Blair (25:49): “There's always something happening. If it's not every week, it's every other week.”

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Conclusion

This episode of "The World and Everything In It" effectively intertwines international conflict, domestic political battles, and personal resilience stories to provide listeners with a nuanced understanding of current events. Through expert interviews, firsthand reports, and poignant personal narratives, Mary Reichert and Nick Eicher offer a comprehensive look at the complexities shaping our world today.

Looking Ahead:

• Tomorrow’s Preview: The next episode will explore the ongoing tug-of-war between the White House and the courts over injunctions, and the poignant story of a man's mission to reunite with his family after escaping Saigon.

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Notable Final Quote:

Mary Reichert (32:16): “The Bible says, let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil, hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Verses 9 and 10 of Romans 12.”

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This summary is based on the transcript provided and aims to encapsulate the key discussions, insights, and conclusions of the April 29, 2025 episode of "The World and Everything In It." For a more in-depth understanding, listeners are encouraged to tune into the full episode on Apple Podcasts.

Transcript

[Mary Reichert]

Good morning. As the war continues in Ukraine, Presidents Trump and Zelensky talk peace terms.

[Nick Eicher]

What would a ceasefire mean? It could lead to a long term freezing of the hostilities. Also today, federal funding for Planned Parenthood faces new scrutiny. What could that mean for pro life pregnancy centers? And resilience in the face of natural disaster? Will meet a family picking up the pieces over and over.

[Will Flieson]

The instant reactions. That's, that's our house and it's gone. It's right there.

[Nick Eicher]

There's our life and walking with those who are struggling with addiction.

[Mary Reichert]

It's Tuesday, April 29th. This is the world and everything in it from listeners supported World Radio. I'm Mary Reichert.

[Nick Eicher]

And I'm Nick Eicher. Good morning.

[Mary Reichert]

Time now for the news with Kent Covington.

[Kent Covington]

Today marks 100 days since President Trump moved into the White House for the second time. How those 100 days have gone, of course, all depends on who you ask. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer.

[Chuck Schumer]

The start of Donald Trump's second term.

[James Blair]

Has been the worst start of any president in modern times.

[Kent Covington]

But the White House says Trump's second term has thus far been a historic success, starting with the southern border Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair. Last month we had the lowest border crossings on record and that's a result of not new legislation as Biden said.

[Nick Eicher]

We would need, but just a new.

[James Blair]

President getting the job done.

[Kent Covington]

And border czar Tom Homan told White House reporters that the United States, in his view, now has the most secure southern border in recorded US History. And the president on Monday signed another executive order related to immigration. It directs federal officials to publish lists of so called sanctuary cities in states that do not cooperate with immigration authorities and for federal funds that could be withheld from them. White House Press secretary Caroline Levitt.

[Caroline Levitt]

We're going to continue to forge ahead with this mass deportation campaign and the president is open to all remedies to do that.

[Kent Covington]

Trump also signed an executive order aimed at strengthening law enforcement. It calls for more training, better pay and stronger legal protections for police officers. Separately, Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of Transportation to enforce rules requiring commercially licensed truck drivers to be able to read and speak English. The administration says being able to read road signs and communicate with law enforcement is a matter of public safety. Caroline Levitt also told reporters that the president remains heavily focused on trying to broker an end to the war in Ukraine.

[Caroline Levitt]

The president has made it clear he wants to see a permanent ceasefire first to stop the killing, stop the bloodshed.

[Kent Covington]

Russia now says it is planning to temporarily halt its attacks against Ukraine next month, but only for a few days. May 8th through the 10th. Vladimir Putin says the unilateral ceasefire will mark the 80th anniversary of victory in Europe Day. That's the day that Nazi Germany surrendered to the Allies in World War II. But Ukrainians on the ground say they're skeptical. One man heard here saying no one trusts Putin to keep his word even for three days. Leaders in Kyiv say they want a ceasefire of at least 3, 30 days. The suspect in a deadly vehicle attack in Vancouver, British Columbia, faces at least eight counts of second degree murder, with more charges very likely on the way. Prosecutors say Kai G. Adam Lowe drove an SUV into a crowd of people celebrating a Filipino festival Saturday night. Vancouver police Sergeant Steve Addison. Here in Vancouver, for our community, our.

[James Blair]

Close community, our tight community, we've never experienced a crime to this scale, a crime this horrific.

[Kent Covington]

Investigators do not believe it was an act of terrorism. Authorities say Lowe has a history of mental health issues and encounters with police. Meantime, in Illinois Monday, several children were killed when a car smashed through a building during an after school program. The crash occurred in Chatham, outside of Springfield. Deputy Police Chief Scott Tarter.

[Nick Eicher]

We can confirm that there are four fatalities, three that were struck outside of the building before the vehicle entered and one inside. Several patients have been transferred to local area hospitals by ambulance and one by life flight helicopter.

[Kent Covington]

The driver was uninjured but taken to a hospital for evaluation. It was not immediately known what led up to the crash or whether it was intentional. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation projected last night that Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberal Party as won Canada's federal election. The victory capped a dramatic turnaround for the Liberals. Months ago, Canadian voters appeared ready to move on from a decade of Liberal Party rule, and opposition leader Pierre Poitiev enjoyed a big lead in the polls. But Carney then shifted toward the center on some issues. And political analysts believe the trade war with the United States led to a surge in nationalism that helped the Liberals flip the election narrative.

[Chuck Schumer]

FOREIGN.

[Kent Covington]

Covington. And straight ahead, an update on the war in Ukraine, plus recovery efforts in North Carolina after last year's hurricane and this spring's wildfires. This is the WORLD and everything in it.

[Mary Reichert]

It's Tuesday, the 29th of April. So glad to have you along for today's edition of THE WORLD and Everything in It. Good morning. I'm Mary Reichert.

[Nick Eicher]

And I'm Nick Eichert. First up, elusive peace. In a moment, a conversation with our correspondent in Ukraine. But first, the latest in efforts to end the war on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a three day ceasefire will take hold in May to mark the 80th anniversary of victory in World War II. But here is the reality for Ukraine.

[Mary Reichert]

Rescue workers combed through debris last week after drone and missile strikes hammered civilian areas of Kyiv. The attacks drew a sharp rebuke from President Trump, who wrote on Truth Social, vladimir, stop.

[Nick Eicher]

The president later met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the funeral for Pope Francis on Saturday. Here he is after his return.

[Will Flieson]

He told me that he needs more weapons, but he's been saying that for three years. He needs more weapons and we're going to.

[Nick Eicher]

Foreign policy expert Clifford May says the meeting at the Vatican signals Trump May be willing to turn up the heat on Russia. I think it is at least possible that President Trump now will take up that offer, do what he himself has suggested, and put some significant pressure on Putin, which he has not done to date.

[Mary Reichert]

So far, the US has held off on ramping up sanctions or sending Ukraine additional weapons. But with Russian strikes intensifying, May thinks Trump could shift strategy.

[Nick Eicher]

What would a ceasefire mean? It could lead to a long term freezing of the hostilities. And what I have in mind is something like Korea. What happened in Korea? There was a Korean War. There's never been peace, but you have a frozen conflict. It's lasted about 53 years now. You could have something along those lines. Still, he warns if Trump does walk away from negotiations to focus on other foreign policy matters, it might backfire. Then Putin will be incentivized to slaughter more Ukrainians, which I know President Trump does not want. It'll be much more carnage. World correspondent Will Flieson was in Kyiv during the recent attacks and he joins us now to talk about it.

[Mary Reichert]

Will, good morning. And how are you doing?

[James Blair]

Good morning, Mary. I am as well as I could be. Here in Ukraine, when someone asks, how are you? The common joke is you say in Ukrainian or in Russian, zhavoi, which means I'm alive.

[Mary Reichert]

Well, we're so relieved to hear that you are alive. This must be very hard. Let me ask you this, Will. What did you see in how Ukrainians marked Easter in Kyiv this year? After all, Russia had announced an Easter.

[James Blair]

Ceasefire here in Kyiv. Mary, I'm seeing a mix of hope and fear. In early April, there was an attack on the central Ukrainian town of Creevy Ree that included one missile that struck near a playground. That attack killed nine children and just as many adults. Just a week before Easter, there was a strike on Palm Sunday in The eastern city of Sumy, which killed three dozen and wounded more than a hundred. There was later a Good Friday attack in the eastern city of Kharkiv, which killed at least one and wounded over 120. So a literal barrage of violence and bad news. Nonetheless, here in Kyiv, city residents were out in force for Easter. They were honoring the Orthodox tradition of bringing baskets full of food and drink to be blessed by local Orthodox priests. Many of those men and women and families wore the traditional Ukrainian vishyvanka, or embroidered peasant shirt to these church rituals. So acts like showing up in easily targetable places like a church, while honoring Ukrainian traditions have taken on a symbolic meaning in light of these very recent and very painful attacks. At my own church, a Baptist congregation here in Kyiv, we prayed for peace in Ukraine, as I'm sure other churches did around the country.

[Mary Reichert]

Yeah, I imagine they did. So early Thursday is when Russia launched those missiles and drone strikes. What did you see in here?

[James Blair]

Will so the overall effect when I woke up that morning was one of stress and bewilderment in casual conversations, whether those were in coffee shops or gathering places across town. The Kyiv attack was on everyone's mind. Some people shelter every time, especially young parents or those with children in tow. Others are desensitized and carry on their daily business and simply ignore the air raid alerts when they ring out over the city.

[Mary Reichert]

You've been in Ukraine now since February. Have you noticed any changes in the national mood over there as the United States continues to work to bring the war to an end?

[James Blair]

Mary I wouldn't say that I've noticed a change in the national mood as much as a continuation of a very hardened national mood. That national mood is formed from suffering as well as resolve. The Ukrainians who are still here and have chosen to stay in their country have done so deliberately. They have had three years to leave. They're exhausted. They suffer what they have to as missiles rain down on their homes and cities. Yet they're determined to survive this war and rebuild the country as best they can in these harsh circumstances. So again, between their suffering and their resolve, everything I've seen in three months among the among Ukrainians suggests that they are willing to endure as long as it takes to secure peace, even if that means more suffering.

[Mary Reichert]

Will do you have an example of that?

[James Blair]

So one example is a contact of mine, Tim vaschishin, who's a 31 year old Bible studies teacher. He and his wife just had a child a couple of months ago and they've decided to start their family during wartime, despite all the risks that we can imagine.

[Chuck Schumer]

A lot of people when he was.

[James Blair]

Born, everybody's like, is this the right time?

[Chuck Schumer]

Should you do this during the war?

[James Blair]

Is this a necessary thing to do?

[Nick Eicher]

I'm like, well, God has blessed us.

[Chuck Schumer]

With a child and it would be.

[James Blair]

Wrong not to enjoy this blessing.

[Mary Reichert]

Powerful testimony. Will Flieson is a correspondent for world, currently in Kyiv, Ukraine. Will, thanks for this report. And please stay safe.

[James Blair]

Thank you, Mary.

[Nick Eicher]

Coming up next on THE world and everything in it, good news for the pro life movement. Conservative calls to defund Planned Parenthood have gained some traction in recent months, but it won't necessarily be easy to give that money to pro life pregnancy centers.

[Mary Reichert]

World's Anna Johansson Brown has our story, written by Becca McCallum.

[Anna Johansson Brown]

The abortion industry has recently faced pushback at the federal level. A few quick examples. Less than two weeks before President Trump's inauguration, conservatives in Congress reintroduced the Defund Planned Parenthood Act. The bill still awaits committee review. Then earlier this month, the Trump administration began withholding a portion of federal funding from 13 Planned Parenthood affiliates. The funding comes from a program designed to subsidize things like birth control and screening for sexually transmitted infections. And the Supreme Court is hearing a case that questions whether states can exclude Planned Parenthood as a Medicaid provider. Of the roughly $700 million that Planned Parenthood received from the government in 2023, most of that came from Medicaid payments.

[Caroline Levitt]

And so that's not funding that is allocated to Planned Parenthood.

[Anna Johansson Brown]

Melanie Israel is a scholar with the Heritage Foundation.

[Caroline Levitt]

That's them, you know, providing services to people who are eligible for Medicaid and then getting reimbursed for it.

[Anna Johansson Brown]

She says that if the Supreme Court rules against Planned Parenthood, it won't be the same as the government taking back a fixed sum of money.

[Caroline Levitt]

It's defunding in the sense that you will no longer be allowed to participate in this program.

[Anna Johansson Brown]

Some pro life groups would like to see Planned Parenthood money channeled to pregnancy resource centers instead. On April 17, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention issued a statement calling for taxpayer dollars to be redirected to Pro Life Cent. That might be easier said than done. For one thing, most pregnancy resource centers aren't eligible to serve as Medicaid providers. That's because most pro life centers don't provide the kinds of gynecological services often covered by Medicaid, things like cancer screenings and birth control.

[Caroline Levitt]

They can do ultrasounds. But when it's time to actually Have a regular doctor's appointment, they're going to be referring women, you know, to affordable options. They're not necessarily doing those kinds of things in house.

[Anna Johansson Brown]

Even though Medicaid couldn't help the majority of pro life centers, some could get funding from Title 10. This program allocates funding for services like contraception and STD testing for low income individuals. It's one of the main government grants Planned Parenthood receives. But it would be difficult to redirect this funding to volunteer led pregnancy centers.

[Caroline Levitt]

The process of applying for those grants and staying in compliance, I mean, that is a really time consuming process. Like a lot of organizations have people who work for them full time, specifically just handling grants, it's a massive undertaking.

[Anna Johansson Brown]

That's just one reason why most pregnancy centers rely primarily on private donations. According to Jor El Godsi, president of Heartbeat International, some pro life groups refuse government help. As a matter of conviction, many centers.

[James Blair]

Are actually opposed to government funding. There are those who take a stand that they're not going to ask the government to do this because of that local support and their conviction that the local community, particularly the faith community, should be the ones stepping in and helping in this manner in this way.

[Anna Johansson Brown]

Still, support for pregnancy centers is growing in some conservative states. Eighteen states offer funding for alternatives to abortion. There's also a program known as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or tanf. It provides federal dollars that four states direct towards pro life centers. During the Biden administration, officials proposed a rule banning pro life centers from receiving TANF funds. Katie Glenn Daniel is director of Legal affairs and Policy Council at Susan B. Anthony Pro Life America.

[Caroline Levitt]

So that's another funding stream that under Joe Biden, pregnancy centers felt either they actively became ineligible or they worried that there would be requirements to refer or counsel or say positive things about elective abortion if they participated in the program.

[Anna Johansson Brown]

The Biden administration withdrew the proposed TANF change in late 2024. Legislative efforts could protect pregnancy centers from funding discrimination. Republican Representative Chris Smith of New Jersey introduced the Let Pregnancy Centers Serve act in March.

[James Blair]

Notwithstanding any other law, the federal government and any individual or entity that receives federal financial assistance, including any state or local government, may not penalize or retaliate against an entity because the entity offers life affirming support and resources to women facing unexpected pregnancy.

[Anna Johansson Brown]

But for now, some pregnancy centers remain wary of applying for government support. Jim Hardin is CEO of Compass Care Pregnancy Services in New York. He estimates the organization's five centers provide upwards of $3 million worth of free medical care to women each year. Compass Care does not receive any government money, and Hardin doesn't anticipate that changing anytime soon.

[Chuck Schumer]

We could theoretically apply for funding, but we'd have to submit to the states regulations around their definition of comprehensive reproductive health care.

[Kent Covington]

The state's definition of comprehensive reproductive health.

[Chuck Schumer]

Care includes abortive patient contraception, abortion referrals and abortion provision.

[Anna Johansson Brown]

Hardin believes that pregnancy centers will continue to serve mothers and families, but he agrees that funding, as long as it doesn't come with requirements to endorse abortion, could help the cause.

[Chuck Schumer]

Pregnancy centers basically do everything except for abortion. Meanwhile, abortionists do nothing but abortion and for a fee.

[Kent Covington]

And we do everything for free.

[Chuck Schumer]

We should be the ones getting all this money.

[Anna Johansson Brown]

For World, I'm Anna Johansson Brown.

[Kent Covington]

Additional support comes from Dort University. Dort's Ag Service Technology program offers hands on experience for seamless workforce. Entry dort. Edu from Eyewitness an immersive audio drama experience exploring stories of faith and transformation on podcast apps or at the letter I witnesspod.com and from the Crossway Podcast, thoughtful interviews with authors on topics related to the Bible, theology and the Christian life. Crossway.org podcast.

[Nick Eicher]

All right, I think the first thing we need to do here is slow everything way down. Kind of like this. Because if you're tired of the fast paced life, Sweden has the perfect solution. Moose walking very slowly. It's called the Great moose migration, a 20 day live stream. It started back on April 15, and if you've ever seen moose migrate, you can blink all you like because you won't miss much. You can think of it as Bob Ross meets a herd of happy little moose. Executive Producer Johann Erhaak.

[James Blair]

Everyone is so stressed today with the social media and the way we produce everything we do in our life. And this is the total opposite of that.

[Nick Eicher]

Yeah, no mistakes, just happy little accidents, happy little hoof prints across the countryside. Well, now back to our regular quick pace. It's the World and Everything In It.

[Mary Reichert]

Today is Tuesday, April 29th. Thank you for turning to World Radio to help start your day. Good morning, I'm Mary Reichert.

[Nick Eicher]

And I'm Nick Eicher. Next up on the World and Everything in it, revisiting victims of Hurricane Helene.

[Mary Reichert]

The storm ripped through the Southeast last September, leaving a trail of wreckage. Many communities have bounced back, but for others, they're looking at years of restoration.

[Nick Eicher]

Work, and winter storms and wildfires since then have only made things worse. World's Mary Muncie met one man trying to keep his head above water and smoke out of his eyes.

[Will Flieson]

The only thing you can recognize is, like, where the water heater was, where the.

[Caroline Levitt]

Matthew rogers is walking around what's left of his house in flat rock, north carolina. A construction worker is here trying to figure out how much it'll cost to replace, rebuild.

[Will Flieson]

I saw the policy. It ain't gonna cover it. So they've got to work with.

[Caroline Levitt]

They're not rebuilding from hurricane helene. The rogers house and family survived that. But last month, a wildfire swept through and burned the rogers home to the ground. Rogers and his wife moved here 40 years ago into a log cabin on a hill in the middle of the woods about an hour south of asheville. He spent decades planting azaleas, building a dock on the pond, and putting in rock walls.

[Will Flieson]

These steps here, you know, for years before I had money, I just would myself cut down trees and put mulch. And I made it a project.

[Caroline Levitt]

For some in helene's path, the hurricane started what may be years of recovery, compounded by further problems even as they rebuild. When rogers first moved to north carolina, he opened a sandwich shop and bought the cabin nearby. Winter was about the only time they had a problem getting from their house to the sandwich shop. Then hurricane Helene hit.

[Will Flieson]

Trees fell down all over the roads that we had to chainsaw out for Saturday and Sunday. And when we get to the main road, you, know, it's news that the bridge, the big, big, hungry river bridge, and it's gone like metal was down the river.

[Caroline Levitt]

That bridge connects rogers and his neighbors to the main road. With it gone, they were trapped. Three days after the hurricane hit, some rescuers delivered food and water by zipline and airlifted some residents with health issues out, leaving rogers and the remaining neighbors to figure out what to do.

[Will Flieson]

And I've been up there long enough to know that there's a way to go out the gamelands at the end of big hungary, through some trails, and I had a jeep, and I thought if I could get to deep gap road, I could get to hendersonville.

[Caroline Levitt]

So about a week after the hurricane, Rogers and his wife loaded up the jeep and took off through the woods, trying to get to their sandwich shop.

[Will Flieson]

The restaurant was fine. No loss of power. The basement's fine. So we went up and started helping people and serving and getting our employees back.

[Caroline Levitt]

They put a bed in the basement of the sandwich shop and started living there.

[Will Flieson]

I'm not late. We got coffee. We got food here. So we stayed, you know, and there was no reason for us to go home because we knew that if you went out the back way, you could get stuck on the muddy trail.

[Caroline Levitt]

Eventually, they moved into a friend's basement apartment. They thought the worst was over. They returned to the cabin in December to celebrate Christmas and grab some winter clothes. Then they went back to living in their apartment. Then in march, the state finished a temporary one lane bridge to their neighborhood.

[Will Flieson]

We all felt like our lives are back where you can take your groceries and if you needed a delivery of a new washing machine, you didn't have to say, well, when the bridge six months ago gets back, we all felt good.

[Caroline Levitt]

They went back for a neighborhood potluck the following Saturday, but still weren't living there that day. They could see smoke in the distance the next day. Rogers neighborhood evacuated. They watched the fire inch closer. And the next morning, rogers woke to a video of a burning foundation. A firefighter had posted it online.

[Will Flieson]

The instant reaction is, that's our house and it's gone. It's right there. There's our life.

[Caroline Levitt]

The black cove fire burned over 7,500 acres and was one of several major fires burning in the carolinas in march. The rogers house was the only one in the neighborhood that burned.

[Will Flieson]

And we cry and then we rejoice that we're alive and that no firefighters we found out weren't harmed. Our neighbors are fine.

[Caroline Levitt]

The north carolina forest service says there were twice as many wildfires this march compared with last year. Some blame a combination of dry conditions and downed trees after helene. The dumbwami has put a strain on people trying to help out.

[James Blair]

There's always something happening. If it's not every week, it's every other week.

[Caroline Levitt]

Adrian mines works with the red cross for the north Carolina region.

[James Blair]

So how can we help build resiliency while we're having continuous response when people are overwhelmed and feel burnt out?

[Caroline Levitt]

Continuous response is a disaster relief term for sustained, ongoing effort. And it's what the red cross is facing in north Carolina right now. The agency expects to be working in the state for at least another two or three years, providing things like tent warmers and helping to rebuild homes.

[James Blair]

I think we have to find our new normal. I don't think we're going to get back to our previous normal before Helene.

[Caroline Levitt]

And he has firsthand knowledge.

[James Blair]

From my home, we were able to see the smoke.

[Caroline Levitt]

In march, a wildfire started near his town, too. Helicopters hovered over their homes. Mines and his neighbors stayed glued to the news and monitored wildfire apps. Which way would the flames shift? How much would the fire consume?

[James Blair]

It was scary. I think, you know, it definitely triggered some trauma for the community members.

[Caroline Levitt]

Mines and his neighbors homes were fine. Back at the restaurant, Rogers and his wife are making plans. Rogers says they won't rebuild their house. They want to turn the land into a small summer camp and buy a smaller house closer to the restaurant. He says some days are harder than others, but he's keeping his eyes on what he has, not on what he's lost.

[Will Flieson]

I can be like Job in a small way and just realize that I'm still here. My wife and I are still our family has their health and and we're going to be okay from this event.

[Caroline Levitt]

Reporting for World I'm Mary Muncie in Hendersonville and Flat Rock, North Carolina.

[Nick Eicher]

Today is Tuesday, April 29th. Good morning. This is the WORLD and everything in it from listener supported World Radio. I'm Nick Eicher.

[Mary Reichert]

And I'm Mary Reichardt. Up next, World contributor Daniel Darling says famous stories of recovery should inspire those helping addicts to overcome.

[Chuck Schumer]

It's been quite a ride for Beverly Akins. In 2015, she was at rock bottom, homeless and living out of her car. She had no contact with her children and had squandered a promising nursing career. Her story is portrayed in the bestselling hillbilly Elegy by J.D. vance, made into a movie by director Ron Howard. Little did Ms. Akins know that a decade later, her journey of recovery would be celebrated. One of the most powerful rooms in the world. Her son, now the vice president of the United States, kept a campaign promise and honored her at the White House.

[James Blair]

Well, we are here, of course, to celebrate Moms.

[Chuck Schumer]

It's a beautiful story. From despair to hope. Given a painkiller at work one day, the nurse immediately knew she'd have a craving for more drugs. She soon spiraled into abusing both narcotics and alcohol, even selling substances in the hospital. She lost her Ohio nursing license. In his book, Vance chronicled the trauma he suffered with an unstable mother, remembering vividly the time she was arrested. Though the relationship was understandably rocky during his formative years, Vice President Vance and his mother have since grown close, and he has celebrated her remarkable recovery both privately and publicly. Earlier this month, with the White House seal behind him, the vice president said, well, here we are, and you made it, and we made it. And most importantly, you're celebrating a very big milestone. And I'm just very proud of you. I'm, I'm gonna try not to cry here. You couldn't blame him if he did cry. This was not only an important moment for this improbable occupant of one of the most powerful positions in the world, but an important moment for many Americans, men and women like Beverly Akins, who battle drug and alcohol addictions. According to the National Survey on Drug use and health, 48 million Americans struggle with substance abuse. Like the Vance family, that represents a lot of heartache, misery and despair. Drug problems in our communities have faces. Many families weep and pray over sons or daughters, mothers or fathers who can't seem to overcome the grip of addiction. The vice presidency is a powerful platform. By highlighting his mother's story, Vice President Vance can point many other Americans to find help hope. It reminds me of the powerful way in which first lady Betty Ford shared her own struggles with addiction. Many thousands of people have been helped by the Ford's establishment of treatment centers across the country. For Christians. Beverly Akin's story should be a reminder that many like her exist in our communities. Precious souls who struggle with serious addictions. The church can offer help and hope for those who struggle under the weight of the fall. The gospel offers forgiveness of sin, redemption and the possibility of change through the power of the Holy Spirit. Even for those who know the Lord, the path away from addiction is rarely easy or quick. In a fallen world, sanctification comes in fits and starts. This is why God's people must come alongside those who have found themselves on the margins of society. Jesus often walked among those who had come to the end of themselves. He offered to them and to us the promise found in Matthew 11:28. Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. I'm Daniel Darling.

[Nick Eicher]

Tomorrow, Washington Wednesday will report on the tug of war between the White House and the courts over in injunctions and the story of one man's escape from Saigon and his lifelong mission to reunite with the family he left behind. That and more tomorrow. I'm Nick Eickert.

[Mary Reichert]

And I'm Mary Reichard. The world and everything in it comes to you from World Radio. World's mission is biblically objective journalism that informs, educates and inspires. The Bible says, let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil, hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Verses 9 and 10 of Romans 12. Go now in grace and peace.