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Jolo –
The Hollow Church
12/16/2006
It is another of our recent warm days, almost 60
degrees in mid-December with sunny skies. There seem to be no weather
norms over the past five years or so but plenty of controversy as to why
so we uneasily indulge ourselves. It has been over two months since I
have been back to Jolo. In the meantime there have been many phone calls
to the hospital, Don and Connie, and to Rev. Elkins home keeping abreast
of Bob’s medical condition. If you read “Spiritual Transitions” you will
understand the seriousness of his illness. He is home after an extended
stay in the hospital, enormous medical expenses, and with his wife
Aileen having been told “there is nothing else we can do, enjoy his
remaining time”.
I leave Speed at 8 am and encounter little traffic
until the Corridor G mountain top removal area. This is an area south of
Charleston where they continue to scrape off the mountains to build more
and more consumer driven craziness. There are now four major shopping
areas and at peak times even the new highway expansion completed last
year is pressed to its limit. I am always amazed as the level of buying
we do. There seems to be little regard for where or how things were made
and the cost to human lives in terms of wages, working conditions,
access to health care, child care, and other social justice issues. Kind
of an irony given “the reason for the season”.
Once you leave this area the traffic drops off
almost immediately by 75%. Rt. 119 South is a four lane corridor that
has opened up the southern coalfields for increased access to other
areas of the state and connection to major highways. There are a number
of “corridors” in West Virginia and most have come with controversy
regarding environmental damage, loss of individual’s homes, and always
with promises of economic opportunity which is very arguable.
It is a wonderful day to drive. At this time of
year, with the trees bare, everything is revealed in the mountains. It’s
like a mask has been removed and the scars revealed. There is much
beauty remaining but is sometimes overshadowed by what humans leave
behind in their wake. The two photos below illustrate these points.
 
Mountainside Farm Buildings The
Hidden Side of Consumerism
Once you leave Rt. 119 at Logan, about an hour
south of Charleston, you are into the heart of the coal fields. The
roads literally snake through the crevices at the base of the steep
mountains until those routes are exhausted and you have to climb and
descend the winding roads scraped out from the side of the mountains. It
is this lack of access that has kept the world at bay for the most part.
The only major employers have traditionally been timber and coal and
then the education and health care systems that come with the building
of communities. You can see the resilience in the way people live. The
modern is mixed next door to the traditional Jenny Lind homes.
One of the biggest economic developments to bring
a renewed sense of hope to the area is the Hatfield-McCoy Trail system.
This has been a cooperative effort between a variety of landowners, the
state and others to open up a large area to four wheelers. This has
brought an influx of out of state people that literally come by the
thousands to ride the old logging and mining roads in these beautiful
hills. You can see the new businesses that have opened up in four
wheeler rentals, small motels and new restaurants. The interest in
4-wheeling has a downside and that is in accidents. WV recently had
their 53rd fatality. Unfortunately most of these have come
because the riders are not following safety codes such as wearing
helmets, riding two up on a one seater, being under the influence, and
riding at excessive speeds. The folks operating the Hatfield-McCoy have
had only one fatality in their few years of operation because they
require riders to adhere to a safety code and they have rangers
patrolling the trails.
There are always oddities along the way and I don’t
mean that in a negative sense. One that has always been fascinating is a
home that that is made of small round stones and at one time was
surrounded by rock walls. It is easy to imagine that it was a quite a
home in its time. It is now in very bad shape but still has someone
living in it. I have always wanted to meet that person but have
hesitated from further intrusion.
When you get to Iaeger (pronounced Yeager), you get
further off the main road by taking Rt. 80 which leads to Rt. 83 at
Bradshaw and then on to Jolo. The roads seem to increase in their
curvature as you get deeper into the southern WV Mountains. Just before
Bradshaw they are building a new middle school and the road was closed
and a detour was posted. In the six years I have been coming down I had
never had to take an alternate route and so was excited to see new
territory. I headed up the mountain and I had no idea where it would
lead. Again we are even further off of a main road and are able to see
where and how people live even deeper in the mountains. There was of
course a mixture of modest modern homes, doublewides, trailers and Jenny
Lind houses, each with their own personal blend of mountain lifestyle.
Some are collectors in a hap-hazard style others very neat and orderly.
Most all have gardens, trucks, four-wheelers, and dogs.
As I got to the top of the ridge I realized that
Shannon and I had been here before. In one of the first years we were
coming down, one of our acquaintances, Kenneth Hicks, had brought us up
here to meet a young man whose family owned a huge apple orchard. During
that trip we also visited a cock farm and fighting rink, moon shiner and
a shooting range with gambling parlor. Anyway the view at the top was
nice, the ridges filled with apple orchards terraced into the hillside.
They appeared to be old tress and not very well cared for at this point
so I’m not even sure it was an active orchard.
Interestingly enough
the detour brought me out on the Virginia line, just above Jolo. We had
circled above, behind, and south of where we would normally have come
in. As long as I was at this point I was only two miles from the church
so I went by so see if Dewey was there.
I knocked on the door
and it took a few minutes for Dewey to answer. He looked pretty fair in
health. His living situation is not good, there is not running water or
bathing facilities and the toilets in the church were not usable, but he
seems to survive somehow. He did tell me that friends and relatives do
stop by at times and bring him food (Lydia, his sister) or take him to
their place for a meal or shower (Melissa, his niece). He walks
everywhere else, his ability to drive no longer with him.
There has not been a
service since Dewey and I managed to pull it together with a few others
at Homecoming over Labor Day. I asked to go in the church and was
shocked when I entered. It was cold, damp, and hollow.
The piano, organ and
guitars were all gone, only the drum set remained and it was in pieces.
Almost all the photos that had been on the walls were gone. Those
remaining were the photos I mounted on the front wall in the form of a
cross, a drawing that Shannon had done of Ray and the remaining photo
had been a gift of another photographer in 1991. It was of Dewy, Ray
McAllister and Jeff Hagerman with the verses of Mark 16 -18 imposed over
the image in red. The frame was bent from the weight and there were dead
bugs between the glass and photo. I asked Dewey if I could take this and
clean and reframe it and he agreed.
Dewey stated that he
would like to begin services again on New Years Eve. It seems such a sad
dream. Not impossible, but it was Bob Elkins that drew people to the
church with his charisma, manner of preaching, and they way he lived his
life. As I stood in the church at this time, feeling the dampness, the
cold, and seeing how people had literally stripped it of its soul, the
reality of the end of the congregation was the most evident ever.
I asked Dewey if he
wanted to visit Bob with me and he was happy to do that. We drove the
few miles to Aileen and Bob’s, knocked a few times and Aileen answered.
She looked good but weary. I’m sure she was relieved to be at home after
living at the hospital with Bob. She had left his side very few times
and for only a few hours during that time. The house was decorated for
Christmas with a tree that rotated; its lights were perfectly strung,
and were flashing multiple colors.
Bob was in his
bedroom. They had exchanged his king-size bed for hospital bed so that
he would be more comfortable and he could be cared for with much more
ease. I was surprised at how good he looked. His skin tone was much
better and his ability to talk without gasping for air a little
improved. He was skin and bones other than his face, having lost a lot
of weight. He is on constant oxygen and of coursed multiple medications
for a variety of complications. He is fragile to say the least. But Bob
being Bob, he was up for company and had his usual sense of humor which
is wonderful.
We chatted for
a short while and then I asked Bob and Dewey if they would be willing to
clarify some aspects of the faith and its practices from their
perspective. They agreed. Over the years I have read much on the
questions I was to ask but still felt that from their experiences it was
needed to hear it as it was lived by them. The interview was taped so
there would be accuracy in transposing both questions and answers but
some was still difficult to translate and I have indicated those areas.
Chuck - When people speak in tongues, who is it that hears and
interprets the message?
Bob
– “Well, it’s the one God gives it to. Not everybody has got the gift of
interpretation. Theys a gift of interpretation and then there’s a tongue
where you - they speak unto God and not unto man… see. Interpretation
can be interpreted by somebody or answer somebody up there and their at
the pulpit…when they are speaking an unknown tongue your speaking unto
God and not unto man”.
Chuck - So there can be two different tongues?
Bob
–“Theys two different tongues. You know its one spirit, there’s two
different manifestations”.
Chuck - Is there a way to be taught to speak in tongues or is it just
something that comes through the spirit.
Bob
– “It comes through the spirit. They got that a goin’ or did have in
Richland’s; learnin’ people how to speak in tongues but that ain’t God a
speaking that’s them”.
Chuck - That’s one of my questions…I’ve heard some ministers come to the
church….and speak in tongues but it seems to be…
they seem to be saying the same repetitive phrase over and over. So it
doesn’t seem to be…now this is just my perspective, it doesn’t
seem to be natural. It seems to be practiced. Is that what we’re talking
about is that…
Bob – “The Bible says that when a Pentecostal receives the Holy
Ghost…says they spoke in tongues as the spirit gave utterance…see that’s
the spirit in there and…and if ain’t the spirit speaking it ain’t no
good. It’s the whole way you gotta (an unintelligible word here)
religion but it ain’t.
Chuck - Has the spirit moved you to speak in tongues?
Bob
– Oh yea…he gives me more to interpretate than speak in tongues.
Chuck - Is there a difference in feeling when the spirit moves in that
way than in other ways?
Bob – No...Ahh…see God speaks to the heart and you know just what to
say.
Chuck - Another question I have is of Baptism by water. Does it make a
difference whether it is flowing water or still water?
Bob – Well…I’d rather be flowin’ water cause the Bible speaks of washing
away of sin…if I was still water it wadn’t goin
nowhere.
Chuck - So the baptisms you have done have been in the creek or the
river so it is flowing?
Bob
– Right…
Chuck - Do you or have you anointed prayer cloths to send home to people
who are sick?
Bob – Sure have…they work to.
Chuck - So…that’s
a blessing that comes from God through you?
Bob – Yea…or maybe someone else you know.
Chuck
- So someone else could ask for that cloth to be anointed?
Bob – Yea…just anybody you know… (Starts coughing and loses breath so we
pause).
Chuck -
In the Church of the Lord Jesus… that when you open and close the
service… most people are very vocal in their prayers. Is that a
tradition, is just typical of the church, or the Pentecostal faith, or
the Signs - Following people?
Bob – Sign Following people. Everything that they do, ya know, they
hold it in the name of the Lord Jesus. That’s what the Bible said do,
that everything that you do, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Chuck - Ok, so that’s the reason that its vocal is so that everyone can
hear that?
Bob – Yea...we want people to know what we believe….they know other
salvation given through and by him…you know….
Chuck - Are all signs following churches…are… are they very musical?
Bob – Yea, most of em’ have quite a bit of music.
I can tell it is time to give Bob a rest. He is in his element when
speaking of his faith and his effort is very much appreciated. At
this time I turn to Dewey to get his perspective on some of the
questions.
Chuck – Dewey, have you spoken in tongues (he replies with a yes) and
does it come to you in any other way…than the spirit would come to you
to do any of the other signs, I mean is there a different feeling?
Dewey – There’s one spirit. It all works just like a (can’t make out
several words) and all things we should do them with the spirit...I
agree with everything Bob said there (meaning the answers Bob provided
to my questions) there’s just one Lord, one faith, one baptism…one
spirit. And that one spirit is….a baptism is sort of, you know a
different thing. The spirit of the Lord is water…one thing…and you
cain’t change it. (Unfortunately I interjected here…“it just simply is”
and Dewey repeated that back to me) ….and we like the one Lord, one
faith and one baptism…we cain’t change the faith…cain’t change the word
in no way shape or fashion. And he also said be a doer of the word……..by
saving your own self…were…were just…like pretending like were believing
the word of God and talking above the word in secrecy…serious about the
whooole thing. Cause God is a serious thing…he’s your maker, he’s our
judge, he’s everything… he’s a jealous God to start with so that tells
ya got some kind of controversy there. It’s like being involved with two
different people…would it, there’s some controversy between us. There’s
differences….
Chuck – You mean a difference in the way you express your faith or the
way that the spirit comes through you…is that what you’re talking about?
Dewey – I believe the way the spirit comes through, it…it works through
us….it’s the same spirit…it just works a little different…(he goes on to
begin to describe the way the spirit comes into him but some is not
understandable)…
Chuck – So when
you feel it, you feel it in your gut first?
Dewey – That’s the first place I feel it…whenever it’s really, really
coming through…ats right around in here (rubbing in his stomach area)
and it gets along up in here (indicating his chest area) and that’s
where it stays….my hands used to…I’ve heard people say where it starts
in their hands…I won’t speak to that cause I don’t know.
Chuck – Cause its
different for every individual?
Dewey – Yea…Barb she was a…she was always a spiritual person…she
would….she would more so live with the spirit in most things in anything
of anybody I know of really… she really depended on God for a healing
purpose…of course she was…well…if I got sick or Bob got sick, or
somebody in the family… (Dewey whispers these next few words)….”she
would go to the doctor” but she would also pray for ya to. (Dewey
whispers a few more things about Barb and doctors but it is difficult to
really make out). So, that’s how we were raised but I’ve not always done
that. She didn’t raise us to do it, she raised us to know that she…it’s
the way she walked. It’s what she done. And Bob he was a little bit
difference in ‘at.
Chuck – So you’re saying that the way she raised you she allowed you to
kind of find your own path within the faith?
Dewey – Yea….you…you…you need to…that’s what you need to get your
own…feelings and everything…
Bob interjects – The Bible says you raise them in the way you have ‘em
to go….the old way was the thoughtfulness…so you raise them in the
faith.
Chuck – Bob, when the spirit moves on you, where do you feel it first or
how does it express……
Bob – It moves on the inside.
Chuck – Do you feel it anywhere in your body first?
Bob – At times you can feel it…well…sometime when you’re handling
serpents you feel it in your hands…ya know…different places. Different
things that you do is a different manifestation but it’s all the same
spirit that you experience.
Chuck – I want to move back to baptism. Is there…is there one particular
method that you would use in baptism? I’ve seen where people are
immersed three separate times, does that make a difference?
Bob – Now, well in order to be baptized and that’s in the name of the
Lord Jesus…ya know we wish to the words “what are you”…we wish to the
word “I baptize this my brother or sister, ya know which ever it is and
“in the name of the Lord Jesus”.
Chuck – So one immersion is as good as three?
Bob – That’s right… what do ya need with three, it only takes one. (this
is a classic Bob Elkins line)
Chuck – As you think back over your fifty-some years as the pastor of
the church, what do you see as…as probably one of the highlights in your
memories about being the pastor if that church?
Bob – Well, we are able to get over to the people….the Word is the main
thing. You rejoice inside when you know that you brought the Word and
the people received it. That makes you rejoice see.
Chuck - Since, since your illness and…and you, you haven’t been able to
um, to…to lead the church, how do you come to terms with that…I mean
this is your life?
Bob – I…I just pray. Everyday I pray and thank the Lord for what he’s
done for me, for the blessings he give me…watchin’ over me…that’s my
daily prayer. It’s all I can do I cain’t……if he’d move on me to shout
I’d shout…but you know he don’t….but now he brought me a long way. I can
kind of pull up in the bed where’s for awhile I couldn’t do that. I
stayed 67 days in the hospital. The hospital bill was… ahh…$87,000…an
that was all of it….you know that Dewey? (Dewey responds with yea and
then the three of us have some playful banter about who will pay the
bill).
Chuck – So…so Dewey, in…in all the time that you’ve been involved in…in
the faith and in the church, what are some of the highlights in your
life in being associated with the church?
Dewey – There is a pause and then he says… I don’t understand you
really.
Chuck – If you had one memory of…that kind of wraps up your
faith…umm…what would that be, I mean what was one of the strongest
memories of being in the church?
Dewey – Getting the Holy Ghost…getting the spirit…that would be my first
priority, I wouldn’t, I wouldn’t exchange that for nothing…an I’m
talking about with speaking in tongues…an everything on down the line
that falls with it….and then the spirit the Lord give me inside to
believe.
Chuck - And when you have spoken in tongues are you aware of it?
Dewey – Yea, if I wadn’t aware of it I wouldn’t be….in what aspect do
you mean about being aware?
Chuck – Well…do you know that you’re speaking in tongues at the time?
Dewey – Yea.
Chuck – Do you interpret that or is it simply something that comes
through you and maybe somebody else interprets that?
Dewey – Sometimes come through you with no one…you know what’s
happening, what’s being said…and then they are interpreters to
it…Bob…Bob used to be good at it…or he used to have a good spirit of
interpretation…and Barb had it.
Bob – Sometimes you get a message for yourself.
Chuck – In the speaking of tongues?
Bob – When you’re speaking in tongues, ya get for yourself and it ain’t
to be told sometimes.
I
thanked them both for their time, this was important to me. After a
little more talk with Bob and Aileen we said our goodbyes. As usual Bob
told me he loved me and appreciated the visit. It is a special moment
for me when he says that, I see and feel his spiritual nature, with him
seeing me beyond the “sinner” and as a friend. Aileen gets a special
hug. She has much to bear not only with Bob’s care but with all things
family.
Dewey and I are next off on a very short drive to see the Evans family.
Melissa is his niece and lives with her husband Richard and sons Nathan
and Tyler. Melissa had loaned me two of her personal photo albums that
contained documentation of the church, congregation, serpent bites, etc.
I had photocopied these for historical purposes and as a potential
addition to an exhibit. Not wanting to be invasive I didn’t bring in my
camera although in the past it was not an issue as I always bring them
photos.
Melissa is in her pajamas as she had not been feeling well. Richard is
cooking a pot of brown beans for supper and the boys are doing their own
thing but everyone stops to hang out with us. Nathan and I get into a
discussion of his desire to be a coal miner. I try to give him some
insight and reality check and enlist Richard (disabled from the coal
mines) into the conversation. Melissa and Richard would rather Nathan do
something else, but Nathan sees what he considers big money and a family
tradition. He is a good kid and we have a time exchanging little barbs
about Don Blankenship, Massey Coal, and he chides me about Buddha.
We
are invited to stay for dinner and of course cannot refuse. We sit down
to white bread and brown beans while Tyler scrambles himself eggs as he
doesn’t like brown beans. Nathan actually does eat the beans with us
although he had stated before he didn’t like them either.
I
return the albums to Melissa and ask if she has others that I can
borrow. She gives this some thought which is understandable, these are
irreplaceable photos and most of the negatives have gone by the way. She
brings out three more albums that we look at and she agrees to let me
borrow them and I make a pledge to guard them dearly.
Richard has only two serpents at this time and we talk about getting
together in the spring to serpent hunt again. This is a great time to
get deep into the McDowell Mountains and engage in a very exciting but
risky activity.
It
is moving toward 6 pm and I still have to drive to Roderfield so we say
our goodbyes and thanks for dinner. Richard tells me of another way
towards Welch so I don’t have to back-track over the mountain detour
again. I take Dewey back to the church, we talk awhile and in the
conversation he asks “where’s your wife”. The subject of Shannon comes
up in each of my visits but I have long since quit providing responses.
I just don’t know what to say and cannot speak for her.
The way to Roderfield that Richard suggests is going back through
Bradshaw and over the mountains towards Welch. There is still a little
sunlight left so you can see the details of people lives around their
homes. I pass through the small towns of Bartley, Yukon, Cavetta, Big
Creek and Coalwood. Against the backdrop of a leaf-less forest,
abandoned buildings, and junk cars it does seem bleak. What are not so
evident are the resilience, creativity, determination, pride, and
friendliness of the folks living in these mountains. The only way to
know this is to slow down and visit on their terms and time frame.
The road ends between Welch and Roderfield as I turn left towards Don
and Connie’s. About mid-way there I stop to photograph a pink/blue sky
against the black ridgelines. The color combination reminds me of two
things from my childhood, Good n Plenty’s (candy) and a 1956 Buick that
my father had that was pink and gray. It’s interesting how the senses
are so connected to memory. Anyway, as I was out of the car
photographing Don’s black pickup goes by with the horn blowin’. A nice
little welcome before arriving at their home.
I
get there just behind them and there is another car waiting for them
also. This is Terri, Connie’s daughter and her son, Shane. Don and
Connie have been keeping Shane’s two children for the past couple of
months so they won’t have to go to foster care. It seems Shane has made
a few bad decisions that placed him on probation and w/o custody of the
children. This is a big change in Don and Connie’s life, taking on mere
babies. Aliyah is three years old and her brother Colton is two. Aliyha
is initially shy but becomes very friendly and talkative while Colton is
still trying to figure out language.
Don,
Connie and the kids have been to the store are there is much food to
carry in and store away. I have met Terry and Shane before but only once
and it’s been awhile. Throughout my time there Shane is quiet and
doesn’t say much to anyone. Terri is easier to engage in conversation
and very likeable.
Aliyah
has gotten a new toy, a horse with a long mane and tail that comes with
hair-ties, berets and jewels that can be used in decorating both. She
asks me to open up the package for her so we sit on the floor and while
I’m doing this she just talks away. Once the toy is out I have to
decorate the mane and tail at her insistence. Her language skills for
her age are pretty impressive. It wasn’t long before we had a great
relationship going. At one point she looked up at me and said “you’re
cool”. I was hooked and in love and you can see why………
She is such a sweetheart and I have a suspicion she knows this!
Her brother Colton is in his own little world and played with his toys,
staying to himself mostly.
Don and Connie have taken me in for the past six years and been
incredible friends. I have brought Connie flowers each visit and
brought Don photos and writings on the church. They have very big hearts
and do a lot for many folks in the area. They have been close supporters
of Bob Elkins over the years.
Connie as usual fixes food for everyone and there is always more than
can be eaten. It is fun to be there with the kids, they do add something
to the atmosphere but I can see where it is very tiring when you have
been out of that scene for many years. Terri as the grandma is very
helpful to both the kids and Shane, he is very lucky. Terri works at a
post office in Virginia, Shane is soon to be driving a coal truck.
We
finally all reach our limit of sleep deprivation but we do stay up to
catch the Power Ball numbers. I win $7, not quite the jackpot. Aliyah
wants to sleep with me on the couch in the front room but both Connie
and I explain that there isn’t room. She pouts and is so cute in her
mannerisms and expressions!
I
get up in the morning and surprisingly Don and Connie are up. I
generally am up well before them but I think the kids may have something
to do with this as I see Aliyha in their bed. I drink a little coffee
and then drive down the hollow to get the Sunday papers for Don.
Everyone else is asleep but Terri does get up with us. Over the course
of an hour Connie fixes biscuits and gravy (no meat to suit my
vegetarian choice), eggs, bacon, sliced tomatoes, and a variety of jams
and jellies. Three of us go through two pots of coffee bringing the
morning into hyper focus.
Terri leaves to run home to Bradshaw to take care of home business. I
show Don the albums that Melissa has loaned me and what I’m planning to
do with them. He says he wants a copy also but would like them in color.
He has a friend at a Pharmacy that may do them at a good cost. I explain
that none of the photos can be shared with others, they are very
personal. He states that he will stay with the albums while they are
being copied and assures me of their safety and confidentiality. I trust
Don so agree to this as color copies would be the optimum to have.
The
kids and Shane are still sleeping when I say my goodbyes and thank you
to Don and Connie for their hospitality. It has been a wonderful visit
with everyone and one of seeing great changes in so many of their lives.
On
the drive back I stop at the road-side yard sales going on, one of my
minor passions. At one stop I do find a wonderful John Denver album for
$1, in perfect condition. I have a love for vinyl and the clarity of its
sound.
Generally much of the drive back home is one of reflection. Looking
back at this particular journey with the church and not knowing when or
how it may end. That is the mystery of our lives. It is what intrigues
us as we wake each day and question with wonder all that surrounds us.
We absorb all that is within our senses, imagine what is beyond that and
make up the rest.
Peace
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