05/28/2026
Most days, you can find Kasey Kelly keeping our ministries on track as Administrative Assistant for Western NC Conference, United Methodist Church Mission Engagement and Disaster Relief & Recovery. But she recently spent two days with our High Country team in West Jefferson, getting a firsthand look at their daily operations.
"The staff welcomed me with incredible hospitality, sharing meals, stories, and a clear passion for the work they do. At one point, Doug looked around and reminded me that "the mountains are his office"—and under a perfect blue sky, it was easy to see why.
The highlight of the trip, however, was meeting our clients. Watching them look at their homes slowly being rebuilt helped me connect my "behind-the-desk" administrative work directly to the physical structures going up on the ground. It was a powerful reminder that every role in our conference is vital. Whether we are managing logistics in an office or swinging a hammer on a roof, we are all working together to ensure our neighbors return to safe, sanitary, and secure homes."