I note that I have not recorded the most dramatic miracle of the weekend. It is with humble heart and gratefulness that I record for my memory:
Saturday evening, after the very early morning, fabulous hard work, unloading of the truck multiple times, picking up the shades and water containers, working hard and concerned regarding the watering of the trees that day, my upset stomach and problems there, and then a phone call that the group before us at the park wouldn't get out, could B please come quick? We loaded the truck quickly trying to get there, praying we had everything we needed as this was the last big event of the weekend, but also the climax of the entire event, and yet the last in the long chain, were we prepared? We found ourselves at the park miraculously with all the parts for the sound system. The stage was assembled and actually waiting for us when we got there, the mean people call, come quick was (funny) our back door neighbor and former Stake President! Don't know why that urgent message came, but nonetheless. Several had run around and around the park to prepare all the meeting areas for the testimonies, the food committee was prepared to feed 420 people, and the food was arriving from the caterer as the storm clouds gathered!
Reminds me of the introduction of the song God Bless America....
"While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer. "
The storm clouds gathered, and just as it was time to begin, the youth were arriving, the drops began to fall. YC Staff were all scurring around trying to cover electronic equipment, worrying about how to pull this off. I was well aware of my many many prayers for cooler temperatures. Even a few hours earlier, I placed a call regarding the shades for this evening, deciding as a team we would forgo the shades for the evening, it was so gusty it would wreck havoc on them, twisting them as we had already lost one. Now, we wished we had the shades for protection from the rain. How would the long awaited, prepared for program be presented in the rain? I must note how beautiful it was to run through that park under the canopy of the trees with the music of K.S. and C.S. ringing through the air - to the tune of "We Believe" "Live Like you Believe" "Hold On, the Light will Come" It was breathtaking!
Just as the culmination preparation faded, and the young people began to arrive, the skies blackened... the sunshine disappeared, and then.. the rain drops began to fall! Panicked and concerned, we hurried to cover speakers, keyboards, microphones... what now?
I felt my prayers were inadequate to pull the power we needed and knew without a doubt that everyone was praying, but saw no one gathering to call down the powers of heaven. Running, I approached a couple of ladies which included S.G. and ???. I don't know exactly what I said, but asked her to unite our concerns in prayer to which she requested that I do it. Without hesitation, I remember hearing myself plead with our Father for his blessing. Recognizing the power of the adversary and his attempts to thwart the plan of salvation and even this grand finale of this spiritual feast for the young people of our stake. I remember pleading for his divine intervention, and then I heard myself dedicate this evening into His hands, trusting his timing... even "Thy will be done." Feeling a peace unspeakable, we embraced, and parted, continuing our battle to protect the equipment, possibly prepare for the worst if that was His will. It was literally minutes before the storm clouds parted. The rain disipated, the sunshine shone through the clouds! I know without a doubt that our Father was in charge that evening! He has a grand plan, and he has All power! "Be What you Believe" - I believe he loves us, he sees our good works, and desires to have our help in blessing the lives of His children here on this earth!
The program was indeed beautiful! There was not another threat of rain or even gust of noticable wind that evening! The sunset was beautiful!
At the conculsion of the most beautiful songs (mentioned) President A. closed the conference talking about the importance of purity and then of the hosts of angels that were seen and unseen. I'll have to ask someone where he was quoting, I was worried about the lighter, but I heard him talk about the hosts of heaven, and I remember looking upward, and knowing without a doubt that there were hosts there helping us! Thank you Father! That meeting was dedicated to Him, and he made it most beautiful! Miracles I will not soon forget, and which I desire to record, so I can Remember! Thank you Father!
Saturday evening, after the very early morning, fabulous hard work, unloading of the truck multiple times, picking up the shades and water containers, working hard and concerned regarding the watering of the trees that day, my upset stomach and problems there, and then a phone call that the group before us at the park wouldn't get out, could B please come quick? We loaded the truck quickly trying to get there, praying we had everything we needed as this was the last big event of the weekend, but also the climax of the entire event, and yet the last in the long chain, were we prepared? We found ourselves at the park miraculously with all the parts for the sound system. The stage was assembled and actually waiting for us when we got there, the mean people call, come quick was (funny) our back door neighbor and former Stake President! Don't know why that urgent message came, but nonetheless. Several had run around and around the park to prepare all the meeting areas for the testimonies, the food committee was prepared to feed 420 people, and the food was arriving from the caterer as the storm clouds gathered!
Reminds me of the introduction of the song God Bless America....
"While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer. "
The storm clouds gathered, and just as it was time to begin, the youth were arriving, the drops began to fall. YC Staff were all scurring around trying to cover electronic equipment, worrying about how to pull this off. I was well aware of my many many prayers for cooler temperatures. Even a few hours earlier, I placed a call regarding the shades for this evening, deciding as a team we would forgo the shades for the evening, it was so gusty it would wreck havoc on them, twisting them as we had already lost one. Now, we wished we had the shades for protection from the rain. How would the long awaited, prepared for program be presented in the rain? I must note how beautiful it was to run through that park under the canopy of the trees with the music of K.S. and C.S. ringing through the air - to the tune of "We Believe" "Live Like you Believe" "Hold On, the Light will Come" It was breathtaking!
Just as the culmination preparation faded, and the young people began to arrive, the skies blackened... the sunshine disappeared, and then.. the rain drops began to fall! Panicked and concerned, we hurried to cover speakers, keyboards, microphones... what now?
I felt my prayers were inadequate to pull the power we needed and knew without a doubt that everyone was praying, but saw no one gathering to call down the powers of heaven. Running, I approached a couple of ladies which included S.G. and ???. I don't know exactly what I said, but asked her to unite our concerns in prayer to which she requested that I do it. Without hesitation, I remember hearing myself plead with our Father for his blessing. Recognizing the power of the adversary and his attempts to thwart the plan of salvation and even this grand finale of this spiritual feast for the young people of our stake. I remember pleading for his divine intervention, and then I heard myself dedicate this evening into His hands, trusting his timing... even "Thy will be done." Feeling a peace unspeakable, we embraced, and parted, continuing our battle to protect the equipment, possibly prepare for the worst if that was His will. It was literally minutes before the storm clouds parted. The rain disipated, the sunshine shone through the clouds! I know without a doubt that our Father was in charge that evening! He has a grand plan, and he has All power! "Be What you Believe" - I believe he loves us, he sees our good works, and desires to have our help in blessing the lives of His children here on this earth!
The program was indeed beautiful! There was not another threat of rain or even gust of noticable wind that evening! The sunset was beautiful!
At the conculsion of the most beautiful songs (mentioned) President A. closed the conference talking about the importance of purity and then of the hosts of angels that were seen and unseen. I'll have to ask someone where he was quoting, I was worried about the lighter, but I heard him talk about the hosts of heaven, and I remember looking upward, and knowing without a doubt that there were hosts there helping us! Thank you Father! That meeting was dedicated to Him, and he made it most beautiful! Miracles I will not soon forget, and which I desire to record, so I can Remember! Thank you Father!