After Losing Home to Floods, Couple Describes Their Year as a 'Miracle'

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JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. (WJHL) — Looking back after a tragedy often brings clarity. For John and Melissa Lecka, reflecting on the effects of the September 27, 2024 flooding evokes both tears of sorrow and happiness.

The Leckas purchased their home just months before the floods would wash it away.

“I discovered the house by chance,” recalls Melissa Lecka. “As I approached Bill Maulk Road, I noticed the river, and we adore rivers. I immediately knew he would love it. There was plenty of land, perfect for our dream of having farm animals; we just really fell in love with the location.”

John and Melissa dedicated the next six months to transforming the house into their home. This white farmhouse, with its brick foundation, had stood by the Nolichucky River for more than a century, making the outcome of the flood even more unimaginable.

“There was never really a thought in my mind about the river doing what it did,” John Lecka said.

Regrettably, the river swept away their house and everything within it. Their barn was demolished, and although John managed to rescue several goats in his pickup, he sorrowfully notes that many animals were lost in the flood.

Earlier that day, Melissa, who had left home, recorded a video as a neighbor’s house was swept away by the river. It was then that she realized their own home would share the same fate.

John remembers hearing her screams when they reunited at a nearby carwash. “She screamed, It’s gone. It’s all gone,” John reflects.

Over the past year, the couple has come to understand that the river didn’t take everything. Their faith endured, and indeed, it has grown stronger due to the community’s overwhelming support. Lisa recalls how generosity began flowing in just hours after they became homeless.

“One of the first things that happened was one of my best friends came over, I guess that next day on Saturday, and they took us out to eat, and they told us that they wanted us to come stay at their camper in their backyard. And so we that’s what we did. We went and stayed there for a month, and so we had somewhere to be other than just on my daughter’s couch,” Lisa said through tears.

From there, it’s a long list of fundraisers, donations, love offerings, and help from multiple churches that helped the Leckas recover. Even an unexpected donation of a house kit to build on their land. This time, much further back from the river.

“Initially, when I was first speaking with Tim Troyer and I really didn’t know what to expect,” Johns said. “But Tim just said we’re willing to donate you guys a house package. And I’ll never forget the conversation. I was in shock, full of gratitude and just it was just unbelievable.”

After that initial donation of the house kit, churches like Grace Meadows donated the foundation work. A group called C.A.R.E. donated the framing for the home, and the Leckas’ home church, Strong Tower Baptist, “adopted” them, meeting many ongoing needs.

Now, sitting in the living room of their newly built home on their own land, John and Melissa say there’s no way they could possibly thank everyone who contributed to their recovery.

“I mean, that’s just overwhelming. It’s been hard to know how to express our gratitude to all the people and to say thank you, because it seems insignificant to send a thank you card,” John expressed humbly.

And in the midst of rebuilding their lives, they realized another life was on the way. Just weeks after the flood, the couple, who are both in their 40s, were unexpectedly expecting.

“Yeah, I never really thought that would be part of the plan, especially after, you know, just everything we’ve been through that was not on the radar, but God had plans that we didn’t know about,” Melissa says while holding their newborn daughter. “The whole time I was pregnant, we were really worried about getting the house done before she was born. And we got in here one week before she was born.”

The baby was born ten months to the day of the flood. A new life and a new beginning for the family.

John says what’s happened in this past year is nothing short of a miracle.

“We’ve always been faithful people, and believers, you know, Christians,” Johns explained. “And the way that God and Christ and Christians have came together for us has been a miracle. And then and then her. That’s another miracle. I mean, we’re a little older, you know? And so you don’t, you know, maybe, but the chances realistically are not great. And so, it’s a real miracle all the way around.”

Melissa, who is still emotional talking about the flood, said this past year hasn’t been easy, but through everything, God was with them.

“I just want to give God the glory, whatever it is, you know, we never know what he’s going to ask us to go through,” Lisa said. “You know, a lot of people are going through terrible things, but I give Him the glory for bringing us through it, keeping us safe.”

John agrees that this past year has been unimaginably hard. But when asked if they would go through it again, seeing the outcome, would they? After some reflection, he said he would.

“The way that God has showed up for us and the way that Christians have shown up for us has changed my life. It has changed my life and strengthened my faith and touched my heart in a way that I don’t know that anything else would have ever done,” John explained. “And not only that, but I know that it’s also touched the heart of so many others. And in helping us, there has been so many people that have been helped and so, you know, just being in God’s service in that way is priceless.”

John and Melissa say they know they’ve probably left some off the list of those who helped, but they attempted to compile a list of those who helped them rebuild their home and their lives in the past year: