Two weeks ago, thousands of people in my hometown of Morgan Hill, California were evacuated due to a raging wildfire.
The week before, a rare summer storm had moved through the area, producing more than 12,000 lightning strikes and sparking fires across the state, but especially hitting the Bay Area.
Over the course of a week, that fire grew and moved until it was about 6 miles from my hometown, where my parents and countless friends and former ward members live.
While the town was still in “warning” mode, the worst news came – ANOTHER rare storm was coming that weekend.
It was going to bring strong winds that would blow right towards Morgan Hill, and this storm had a 100% chance to produce even more than the 12,000 strikes from the previous weekend that had sparked hundreds of fires.
The situation was dire.
The warnings shifted to mandatory evacuation orders for thousands as the coming storm was expected to bring that fire right to town limits, and new lightning strikes would add additional chaos.
And so the stake presidency called for a day of fasting and prayer.
They fasted and prayed specifically that the strong winds would shift, that the lightning strikes wouldn’t start new fires, and that the firefighters would remain safe.
My parents weren’t in the section of town that needed evacuation, but they had a family stay with them and even walked around another family’s house on FaceTime, collecting the things that they were told to save, as this family was away on vacation.
That Sunday came, and word spread that people were joining in fasting and prayer. Members of the town, both church members and those of other faiths, joined in special prayers that Sabbath.
They braced for the worst, but faced the future with faith.
And on Monday, the town of Morgan Hill released a statement: “The storm that was forecasted did not develop as anticipated which is positive for Morgan Hill.”
The winds that had been forecasted and threatened the entire town, never came.
The more than 12,000 lightning strikes that were 100% certain to occur and spark additional fires, resulted in less than 400 total strikes, and no consequential fires.
By Monday evening, in a totally unexpected move, the orders were completely lifted and everyone could return back home.
It was nothing short of a miracle.
Certain destruction became a minor inconvenience. 100% forecast became a minor asterisk.
The town Facebook page lit up with testimony after testimony of people sharing their gratitude to God and their feelings of unity during the fast.
And yet, sprinkled throughout those posts were comments such as, “You really think that your prayers caused all this?”
Miracles are real. They happened just as Samuel prophesied, and they happen today.
And just as in times of old, WE decide if we are going to believe.
Because miracles are explained away by nonbelievers, and completely life-changing for those who believe.
Happy Studying!
-Cali Black
6 Responses
Thank you for sharing. Miracles are all around us. I am sharing your particular story with our children today on Come Follow Me.
I love hearing about miracles! I truly believe that fasting and prayer work. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for sharing this miracle. Morgan Hill was my hometown ward 40 years ago where I left from on my mission. I had no idea this dire situation occurred. I will forever be indebted to my Morgan Hill ward for literally supporting my mission and giving me a miracle of changing my life. They will forever hold a special place in my heart.
I was able to testify today of Faith, Fasting, Prayers and Priesthood blessings, because of those things I am walking 4 weeks ahead of predicted. I haven’t required home care after 4 days of being home and am remarkably pain free after a surgery that usually takes many months to recover. Was it a miracle, it certainly was for me and those that love and understand Heavenly Father’s desire to answer heartfelt prayers combined with faith and fasting.
Thank you for sharing this miracle. I, too, believe in miracles, and am always touched when I read of them. I also believe fasting and prayer work miracles.
Cali, you are such an inspiration! Thank you for all your posts. I always look forward to reading them.