Yes....we would love you all to meet Kira!! She is a most capable and beautiful daughter of God and a miracle of our mission here in London.
We first met her on May 24th, 2016 when she came into the Visitors Center. As she came in we stood to greet her and when we looked at each other she could not speak. Tears were flowing from both of us. She said "I don't know why I am crying" I explained that if she had a little bit of time we could share with her why she was feeling this way.
The Spirit is an incredible teacher. We find that day in and day out here on our mission.
We spent the next hour and a half with her in the Visitors Center. She shared with us that she had walked past the Visitors Center several times before getting the courage to walk up those steps and come in. I will be forever grateful that she came when we were on shift. We have a bond now that we know will last forever.
Kira is a dancer and choreographer who has built her own dance instruction/choreography business from scratch. She is very capable and consequently very successful. She had first learned about the Church from a young man she had met while on a cruise ship. He was in a performing group on the ship and they hit it off instantly. He suggested that she inquire about our Church and beliefs. She contacted Mormon.org and had had several lessons with missionaries online. So when she came to the Visitors Center she was so very prepared. I was privileged to sit in on lessons while she was being taught by Sisters Griffeth and Hannig. During the second lesson the sisters had prayed previously and felt inspired to challenge her to a baptismal date in early July. Her response was.."Do I have to wait that long?" Wow. WOW!! They told her she did not but that she would need to attend church three weeks in a row. That would not be a problem for Kira. In fact, the first Sunday she came she had gone out and bought new clothes to wear to church because she had always seen the sisters wearing cardigans so she thought she would need to have a cardigan for church. Oh she just makes my heart soar.
Three weeks later on Sunday June 12th Kira was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I thought I would share my journal entry from that day with you. She asked Michael to baptize her which was such a tender connection for all of us.
On the day of her baptism I wrote:
I remember Christopher writing home from his mission about a day he had baptized an entire family. It was so sweet. Today we did not baptize an entire family but we did baptize a family for the future. We have been teaching Kira for the past three weeks and today she was baptized. Michael had the privilege of baptizing her and she had asked me to speak at her baptism. She was nervous when she came to the VC prior to the meeting block but by the time the block was over she was great. We had made a chicken salad for her to tide her over. So we went to the kitchen and talked while we ate our salad.
Once Kira finished eating we were off to get changed into her baptismal clothes. I showed her the room and waited outside the door. When she opened the door standing there in white I was taken back and she was brought to tears. We stepped inside the ladies restroom, she took a look at herself in the mirror and said "I look so Biblical". And indeed she did. She glowed. We took some pictures in front of the font. Then we went upstairs to the institute room where the service was being held. The room was filled to overflowing. Such a sweet thing to watch these young people support each other on their journeys. And President and Sister Stevens joined us as well. I gave my talk, nervous as usual. And a YSA spoke on the atonement. The moment was here. We went downstairs to the baptistry. We made certain that her mom Gloria had a Front row seat. Michael did a wonderful job and as Kira came out of the waters of baptism she was glowing. I went back to see if she needed anything. She was in tears. Tears of joy. I just love her.
We went back to the room and heard a special musical number and the Relief Society and Elders Quorum presidents welcomed her and Jetnar, another young adult who was also baptized, to the ward. We closed with There is Sunshine in my Soul. Indeed there was sunshine beautiful sunshine. I spent the next hour with Kira and her mom. I love her mom. It was a sweet sacred day for sure!
We first met her on May 24th, 2016 when she came into the Visitors Center. As she came in we stood to greet her and when we looked at each other she could not speak. Tears were flowing from both of us. She said "I don't know why I am crying" I explained that if she had a little bit of time we could share with her why she was feeling this way.
The Spirit is an incredible teacher. We find that day in and day out here on our mission.
Kira is a dancer and choreographer who has built her own dance instruction/choreography business from scratch. She is very capable and consequently very successful. She had first learned about the Church from a young man she had met while on a cruise ship. He was in a performing group on the ship and they hit it off instantly. He suggested that she inquire about our Church and beliefs. She contacted Mormon.org and had had several lessons with missionaries online. So when she came to the Visitors Center she was so very prepared. I was privileged to sit in on lessons while she was being taught by Sisters Griffeth and Hannig. During the second lesson the sisters had prayed previously and felt inspired to challenge her to a baptismal date in early July. Her response was.."Do I have to wait that long?" Wow. WOW!! They told her she did not but that she would need to attend church three weeks in a row. That would not be a problem for Kira. In fact, the first Sunday she came she had gone out and bought new clothes to wear to church because she had always seen the sisters wearing cardigans so she thought she would need to have a cardigan for church. Oh she just makes my heart soar.
Three weeks later on Sunday June 12th Kira was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I thought I would share my journal entry from that day with you. She asked Michael to baptize her which was such a tender connection for all of us.
On the day of her baptism I wrote:
I remember Christopher writing home from his mission about a day he had baptized an entire family. It was so sweet. Today we did not baptize an entire family but we did baptize a family for the future. We have been teaching Kira for the past three weeks and today she was baptized. Michael had the privilege of baptizing her and she had asked me to speak at her baptism. She was nervous when she came to the VC prior to the meeting block but by the time the block was over she was great. We had made a chicken salad for her to tide her over. So we went to the kitchen and talked while we ate our salad.
Once Kira finished eating we were off to get changed into her baptismal clothes. I showed her the room and waited outside the door. When she opened the door standing there in white I was taken back and she was brought to tears. We stepped inside the ladies restroom, she took a look at herself in the mirror and said "I look so Biblical". And indeed she did. She glowed. We took some pictures in front of the font. Then we went upstairs to the institute room where the service was being held. The room was filled to overflowing. Such a sweet thing to watch these young people support each other on their journeys. And President and Sister Stevens joined us as well. I gave my talk, nervous as usual. And a YSA spoke on the atonement. The moment was here. We went downstairs to the baptistry. We made certain that her mom Gloria had a Front row seat. Michael did a wonderful job and as Kira came out of the waters of baptism she was glowing. I went back to see if she needed anything. She was in tears. Tears of joy. I just love her.
We went back to the room and heard a special musical number and the Relief Society and Elders Quorum presidents welcomed her and Jetnar, another young adult who was also baptized, to the ward. We closed with There is Sunshine in my Soul. Indeed there was sunshine beautiful sunshine. I spent the next hour with Kira and her mom. I love her mom. It was a sweet sacred day for sure!
She was literally GLOWING!!
Sisters Hannig and Griffeth taught Kira the Gospel
So grateful for the loving support of Kira's mom!!
We have remained close with Kira ever since her baptism. We love her so very much. How grateful we are to our Father in Heaven that she came into our lives. We will be forever grateful.
What a beautiful treasured experience.
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Gordon & Janet Orchard
Incredible! The Spirit testifies and the receptive are motivated to make covenants; it's all so beautiful. What a gift to be part the process! Love to you both!
ReplyDeleteLove this so much ❤️
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