“…it takes even greater faith to stay when the rain doesn’t stop.”

Jenny Oaks Baker

On August 22nd, our American Mosaic show at Mount Rushmore was rained out.

And then… somehow, it wasn’t.

Thirty minutes before showtime, the rain began pouring. We had spent months preparing for this performance, bringing in equipment, instruments, lighting, an LED wall, and nearly 30 performers and crew from across the country. A choir of 46 children had also traveled with their families from Utah.

As the rain came down harder, we gathered backstage and prayed. Our children’s choir began singing hymns of supplication to God.

We prayed for the miracle of the rain stopping.

But it didn’t.

Then my daughter Hannah came to me with an idea: take down everything that couldn’t withstand the rain, protect the instruments, use only the basic amphitheater lighting, bring the audience closer, and perform the show—unplugged.

So our SHOW WENT ON.

We lost much of our audience to the rain. Our beautiful set looked completely different. The LED wall was dark. Dancers slipped on the wet floor. Our choir sang through the drizzle. My daughters, our musicians, vocalist Oyoyo Bonner, and I performed in the shadows of a little tent. Our loyal audience sat in puddles.

Then, during Amazing Grace, the amphitheater lights went out.

So we performed it in the dark. And somehow, it became one of the sweetest performances of my life.

The Spirit was incredibly strong. Every performer was smiling—not because the circumstances were easy, but because we were grateful we could still perform.

Ben Lomu began his narration with words I will never forget:

“It takes faith to pray for the rain to stop. It takes even greater faith to stay when the rain doesn’t stop.”

We had prayed for one miracle. But God gave us a different one.

He didn’t stop the storm. He gave us the faith, creativity, courage, and determination to keep performing in the middle of it.

Sometimes the miracle isn’t that the rain stops. Sometimes the miracle is discovering that you can still make something beautiful in the rain.

And that night, at Mount Rushmore, we did just that. ❤️

Fondly, Jenny

Cast and Choir of American Mosaic at Mount Rushmore National Memorial Amphitheater.

Mount Rushmore audience in the rain. Everyone using their flashlights when the lights went out.

Cast of American Mosaic in the rain under a tent performing.

From left to right: Ben Lomu, Jenny Oaks Baker, Sarah Noelle Norhus, Laura Dickenson, Oyoyo Bonner, Hannah Baker Erickson.