Every year I write a blog post about my brother Josh and when he went missing 25 years ago. As a family we celebrate our Faith and that we have Josh with us. My blog was mentioned on Mormon Channel and they talked about Josh's story. Unfortunately I deleted my old blog and started a new one. HERE is the Mormon Channel episode. Below is the post they were talking about.
Who our ancestors are and where they came from can impact our
life and who we become. If they decided to get on a ship and come to a new
world, we have a completely different life, because of that decision. We have
that same affect on ourselves as well as our children. The things that we go
through in life and experience can change things.
My family went through a life changing experience when I was
only seven years old, when my older brother Josh was ten. We witnessed a
miracle twenty-four years ago, it changed who I am . I have shared this
experience a lot, but never really told it from my side.
First picture taken of
Josh after his experience
It was fall of 1986. We had just moved into our new home in
Kearns. I was in bed early one morning and woke my mom to me screaming. My mom
ran in my room. She woke me up and told me I was having a dream and everything
was okay. I was still crying and described the dream to my mom. "But Josh
is stuck in a hole in the mountains. He can't get out! Angels were crying."
My mom continued to comfort me and I was able to calm down.
September 22, 1989 I remember looking out the screen door as my
dad and my brother were laying all their stuff out on the lawn. They were going
on a Boy Scout camp out. Josh wasn't old enough, but the leaders allowed him to
go since my dad was there. They had bags, sleeping bags and a tent. Josh teased
me a lot, we didn't hang out together, but I was sad. Maybe it was because I
wanted to do something fun, maybe I knew what lie ahead, I am not sure. They
left and my mom surprised us with a sleepover at my grandma's house. I felt so
much better.
The next afternoon my mom had left to go shopping and we were
still at my grandma's house with my older cousins, who were babysitting. We got
a phone call and my cousin answered. It was a neighbor Joan Venema. She was
searching for my mom, and looked up my grandparents number. (Of course this was
before the days of pagers and cell phones.) My cousin Tawnya hung up the phone
and I remember her saying that was strange, that she was a little frantic on
the other end.
My mom went home to put her groceries away and a neighbor came
in the garage to talk to her. She learned that as the Boy Scouts were on their
trip, they explored an abandoned mine. My mom was told that the night before
Josh went in and never came out. They haven't found him since. I didn't see my
mom for another five days.
Along with my younger sister Terra, and brother Jake we were
picked up and taken to a neighbors house to stay. My grandparents had been out
of town at our family cabin and weren't home yet. I don't remember exactly who
told me, but I remember that my friends would talk about it and say that he
probably died. I didn't cry, but I really wanted to know what was going on.
On Monday we
were taken back to my grandparents, they were home and heard the news. My
grandma was the best during that time. She wanted us to be happy and not worry
about what was going on. I was still sad. I was the oldest after Josh and I
knew a lot more than my sister and brother who were four, and two. My grandma
and grandpa Budd wouldn't even watch the news until we were in bed at night.
I remember when we finally heard the news about my brother. It
was a Wednesday afternoon on September 27, 1989. We were finished with lunch,
and I asked my grandma if we could pray one more time. We were sitting in the
kitchen at the counter, we prayed for Josh. I told my grandma if we could make
him cards for when we saw him again. So we folded white paper and started
coloring. We drew so many pictures. Suddenly the doorbell rang several
times in a row. My grandma went into the living room and there were screams,
cries. I got off the stool and it was my grandma's neighbor. They were hugging
and crying. She screamed, "He's alive. They found Josh!" I remember
that I started to cry. I was happy, but I didn't say a word.
The next day we were taken to Primary Children's Medical Center to
see him. He was surrounded by balloons, gifts, cards. Josh was smiling We
were a family again! I was so happy.
Joshua was with a group of boys, along with my dad. One of the
boys was legally blind and was having a difficult time. My dad said he would
take him out and told Josh to follow. Josh begged him to stay in the mine with
the other leaders and boys. My dad and the boys turned to leave and Josh turned
the other way. The lights ahead disapeared around a corner. He ran ahead to
catch up, but just couldn't seem to keep up with the lights. Josh didn't have a
light of his own. He decided to turn the other way to go with my dad out. He
put his hand against the wall to lead him back out. It seemed to be taking a
lot longer than it did coming in. It was also a lot steeper. He decided to
stop where he was and wait. Surely they will come back and find him. Josh had
followed a wall that lead him the wrong way. He waited and waited. Josh prayed,
sang, and slept. He finally heard voices and yelled for help. They found him!
He didn't recognize the three men that pulled him out. One of the men said,
"It's okay Josh, we will take you to your mom and dad." Josh
responded, "Just my dad is here, my mom is home." Josh was blessed
with losing time. He thought he was only in the mine over night. He didn't
realize he was in the mine for five days and nights. Josh had faith and was not
scared. He knew that he would be found.
“Faithless is he that says farewell
when the road darkens.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the
Ring
We don't celebrate every year as a family, but separately we
celebrate in our own homes. I have told my kids the story about Josh,
taught them about faith, prayer and miracles. I think any experience good or
bad you learn from. It can make you stronger or weaker. Luckily it has made us
stronger. I learned at such a young age the principles of our church and used
them in my life.
I asked my mom, Janeen Dennis, how she feels every year on this
day. This is what she said. . .
"I always have two reactions when September 27th comes
around each year---> The first thing that comes to mind is GRATITUDE! I will
always be forever grateful for all the prayers, support and love that came from
EVERYWHERE! So thankful to those who searched for Josh, the rescue, and that he
was found A LIVE!
Next comes the memory of living through such an ordeal. Reliving
those days with the concern for Josh---> Is he hurt? Is he scared? Would we
ever see him again? The NOT KNOWING was the worst. I still remember the
feelings of loss, heartache, yet feeling such a peace."
There are dozens of stories and experiences that people had
related to Josh, dreams, and feelings. There was even a death in a different
state that we believe the man to be a guardian angel. So many things
experienced in life can change a lot of lives. Just like I read about my
ancestors, this will be a story that we can pass on for a long time to learn
from.
Josh telling the kids his experience.
The family with our balloons!
I believe in miracles!
I remember one day, September 27th, that we thought it was a great idea to make Josh cards to give him when he was found. I was smiling. I was excited to give them to him. Sitting at my grandma's counter we were coloring and the doorbell rang. When it wasn't answered immediately they started knocking. My grandma answered the door and I couldn't understand what words were spoken, but within seconds there were screams of joy. 
I feel that through this experience that my family went through I always remembered the blessings we received. My personal testimony grew and continues to grow when I remember that we are important to Him. After 5 days, and nights in a mine Joshua survived. He was there with my brother, He protected Josh and He was with our family. 
We will feel darkness at different times in our lives. When Josh was found the searchers put a hard hat on his head, they had a flashlight and they warmed him up. We too can feel protection from our Heavenly Father, we will see his light and feel warmth from His love. 
