The morning of Hurricane Helene, I opened my eyes to the sound of wind and rain outside. What time is it? I looked at the clock. 7:30. I looked outside the window and almost began to panic. The wind was gushing and the trees were rocking violently. I instantly felt fear at the idea that this was my first hurricane and that I could be killed. I sat there, feeling more and more scared at the noises outside.
Suddenly my mom came in, looking worried and shaking her head. I stared at her in surprise. She said, “We’re praying the rosary.” It was one of the few times my mom didn’t have to tell me twice. I was scared. I wanted to pray, because I knew only God could save us.
So me, my brother, my mom and my dad all began to pray, while my younger siblings were sleeping. I prayed while looking outside, scared that at any point, the house would go flying with me and all my family in it. Then the power went out.
***
We went a week without power. It was difficult to keep my little sisters occupied and to keep myself busy. Our everyday lives had been destroyed, but I knew there were people out there with worse problems. I knew there were houses destroyed, and people trapped or even dead. There were people I knew that didn’t have food or water.
My mom took us to a church, where we picked up 50 boxes of food, and then we went to Swannanoa to distribute them to workers who were helping fix roads and houses. Seeing the destruction the hurricane had left in Swannanoa pierced my heart, because I knew people’s lives would never be the same. Buildings were destroyed, the river flooded, and it was really dry and dusty in some areas.
Though it was sad to see that, my mood instantly changed when I noticed how there were many places where food, water and clothes were being distributed, and I knew that through it all, we were helping each other. The hurricane had brought something good out of us.
Once we had given out all the boxes, we returned home, passing the same destroyed buildings but with renewed hope. Hope that everything would become normal, and that everyone would have a home. We prayed that all those people lost would be found, and all those whose family members died be consoled.
A few days later, my mother went to a friend’s house. She wanted to cook meals for those in need. Since I couldn’t cook much, I helped take care of my siblings. It was good to know that I could help in small yet meaningful ways.
Seeing all of my mom’s friends show up made me realize how our community had united to help out. Those who were safe helped those who weren’t. Neighbors opened their doors, and people were working together. We all had hoped that Asheville would become the place it once was, a place where people helped one another and where you had friends and neighbors to help you in troubling times. Seeing the community come together gave me courage, and I wanted to help.
I helped in the best way I could, comforting my siblings and trying my hardest to be patient with them, because I knew there were people far less fortunate than I, and because I was thankful they were still there with me.
Arriving home that afternoon, my mother summoned us to pray. Kneeling toward the altar, I gave God my greatest thanks. He had let me help, and let me see all He has given me and the goodness in people. I thanked God for the hurricane, because I knew only He knew why He let it happen.
I looked out the window, at my neighbor’s house, knowing that they were OK. As I closed my eyes, concentrating, I felt the presence of God in me. I recalled the people, all the workers in Swannanoa and those who were willing to help, and I knew God had been working through them.
Maybe that’s why the hurricane had happened, because God wanted us to unite, to help others. He wanted our community to strengthen, though the buildings were destroyed. Through everything, Asheville was going strong.
And that’s when our power returned. Lord God, I thought, You are great.
Jackie Sandoval is a seventh-grader at Asheville Catholic School. She wrote this story of faith, prayer, hope and resilience in Catherine Lordi’s English Language Arts class on her return to school after missing 18 days of class due to Hurricane Helene.