The Miracle of the Hail Storm

It had been a very long and difficult morning. The kids had been presented with a challenge to get our two handcarts and all their family members to the top of a very long, very steep hill using only muscle and a rope that was supplied. They worked together, met the challenge, then turned around and helped other families behind them with the same demanding exercise.

Then we were guided, cross-country, several more miles to our next company campsite area. Cross-country with handcarts that morning meant uneven, sandy ground studded with sage and dried briars of some sort and leftover corn stalks from previous crops. Extra pushing and pulling was required, as well as diligence in keeping the scratchy bushes from snagging under our long skirts. Several of my girls had scratches on their legs that were deep enough to bleed. By the time we got to camp the kids were extra tired, hot, sweaty, sore and itchy. Lunch was served, tarps were erected in each family campsite to provide shade in the barren landscape, and a few tents were put up. Mostly the kids just wanted to sit and do nothing. The more exhausted ones only wanted to sleep, as you can see in the following photo.

Rest time was all too short and soon the bell was rung to signal every family to circle up in the center gathering area. Reluctantly, everyone grabbed their buckets to sit upon and arrived together to receive instruction from the company leaders. While we sat there in the heat, with the sun baking down upon us, I noticed the sky darkening in a significant way to the south of us. Since we had already experienced clouds, wind, lightening, and even rain the night before without any hardship I was not too concerned about this afternoon thunderstorm in the distance.

The leaders kept talking, stories were told, scriptures were opened, and since I was seated facing south, I was watching the approaching storm. (The following photo is not mine, nor is it the actual storm that was coming our way, but it looks very much like what we were seeing at the time. This photo is from another photographer's blog.)

As the dark mass got closer and closer, I felt more and more concerned, knowing that our campsites were not completely secure yet. Then the presentation by our leaders was abruptly interupted as they received word from the property management that the approaching storm was categorized as severe. They informed us that this storm was bringing 70 mph winds with golf ball sized hail, which was already damaging areas in it's pathway. The storm was coming straight for us and was expected to be upon us in 15 minutes. We were advised to get to our campsites, secure our gear as quickly as possible, and be prepared to crawl deep into sleeping bags with the tops pulled over our heads for protection.

In spite of the exhaustion that was displayed throughout camp only minutes before, our group of 350+ children and adults moved into action quickly and did the things that needed to be done. Then we watched the storm and waited for the signal to get under cover. As we waited, the miracle occured. The dark storm which was solidly approaching us PARTED. One large band of angry looking clouds went to the east of us and another went to the west. Passing directly above us was a soft, light colored mass of clouds, bringing light breezes as it floated past.

We all stood amazed, hardly believing what we were seeing with our own eyes. This huge, violent storm heading straight for us had parted....absolutely split itself in two, and left our campsite completely unscathed. We had witnessed a miracle! Heavenly Father knew exactly where his children were and kept them safe.

When the danger was past, the afternoon and evening progressed, and camp life returned to normal.
But how can anyone ever be "normal" again after witnessing such a dramatic tender mercy from God? I know this particular memory will be a part of me forever, and I will share this experience throughout the years with my children and grandchildren so that it can be part of their heritage, too. My heart is full of love and gratitude to our Heavenly Father for allowing me to see and recognize one of His miracles. Since most of His miracles are smaller in scale, I will be watching even more diligently to see them, too.

Remember this! Miracles are always around us. We simply need to be paying attention to reconize the hand of God in our lives. He lives, and He loves us. I won't be forgetting that.