A Stranger, a Chainsaw and a Plan

The providential fix that reopened Camp Linn Haven

One of the biggest challenges Camp Linn Haven faced after Hurricane Helene was near the bridge it had completed in 2024. While the bridge leading to the property was intact, the road between it and the camp had washed away.

Without vehicle access, recovery efforts were at a standstill.

A MIRACLE BRIDGE
Watch the incredible story of how a stranger, a chainsaw and a tree helped reopen Camp Linn Haven after the flood.

THEN CAME A STRANGER

Volunteers had cleared most of the debris, but one massive log—a tree three feet wide and 50 feet long—was wedged against the missing stretch of road. It seemed immovable.

Then, a stranger from Greensboro, North Carolina, drove by.

“He said, ‘God woke me up and said, go to the mountains,’” Rev. Bryan Chestnutt retold the story. “So, he’s up here driving around—and he’s a tree guy—and sees our bridge with this huge tree at the end.”

The man stopped and introduced himself.

“Someone said, ‘Hey, we’re just trying to figure out how to get rid of this tree,’” said Chestnutt, pastor of Mountainside Lutheran Church in Linville. “And he says, “Wow, I don’t know why you want to get rid of that tree, because God put that tree right where you need it.’ ”

A BRIDGE OF WOOD AND FAITH

The man had a bold idea: rotate the tree parallel to the bridge, then cut it in half lengthwise to form a flat surface. Volunteers hesitated, but after a night of prayer and discussion, they moved forward.

The next day, the tree expert climbed onto the log with a 36-inch chainsaw and cut it down the center. Just as he predicted, it opened perfectly. Planks were added, and what had been an impassable break became a bridge strong enough for vehicles.

“The Lord works miracles,” Chestnutt said. “Thanks be to God.”