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Back in December, a sweet girl named Valerie was having a tough day. Actually, a tough year. She had lost her mom to cancer and even though she's grown up in a loving, Christ filled home, she struggled with the loss. On December 14th, a Saturday, she was having a particularly bad day and decided to get on Facebook. A post popped up from one of her mom's friends advertising a performance at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints called "Savior of the World". She felt an overwhelming desire to be at this performance. She hopped in her car, drove to the Stake Center, sat in the back, because she didn't know anyone & watched the show. When it ended, she hurried out of the building. She was overcome with a feeling she couldn't explain. She went home & prayed and read and did whatever she could to try and figure out why she felt the way she did. The next day, she reached out to the woman who had posted the invite on Facebook, her mom's friend and told her that she had seen the show, she was overwhelmed and needed to talk to her and find out why.
Sister Norris, the Costume Director for SOTW, was Valerie's mom's friend. Sister Norris invited Valerie over for dinner, so that they could talk about how Valerie was feeling. After asking many questions and feeling so happy and full of the Spirit, the Norris family asked Valerie if she wanted to take the missionary discussions. Valerie accepted and started an amazing journey over the next 2 months learning about and growing closer to her Savior. All the while, feeling her mom's presence & KNOWING that it was her mom guiding her. She decided to be baptized, last night, Feb 29, 2020. She was ready. On Wednesday last week, she was having a difficult day. She was really missing her mom. She met Sister Norris for lunch, but didn't let her know that she was struggling. Sister Norris shared with Valerie that it was her mom who had taught her to sew. That struck Valerie so hard. Her mom taught this woman to sew! The woman who sewed all those beautiful costumes in SOTW, learned that skill from her mother! She knew again, her mother was guiding her and wanted her to continue this journey. Valerie was baptized last night by Brother Norris. Every member of our SOTW Committee was there to support her. I believe if all the work, time, sacrifice we put into SOTW, If it was just to bring Valerie into the church, it was worth it. Valerie's mother's birthday is this week. Valerie will be going to the temple on Thursday to start her mom's work. Valerie KNOWS now what she is here to do. She KNOWS she is a daughter of God. SHE KNOWS that she now possesses all of the strength and tools to forward the Lord's work on the Earth. I feel so grateful & blessed to have played a tiny little part in her conversion. And her experience has changed me for the better.
