Primary Children's

Eric and I live about 5 minutes away from Primary Children's Medical Center. I love living so close to this hospital because I volunteer there. I am a member of kids crew, which basically means I do everything that I can to make a child's day better. This could happen many different ways. I could go play with them in their room. Many of the kids can't leave their rooms for whatever reason and it can get pretty boring for them. So I will take some games, toys, or books and play with them for as long as I can. This is also a great help to parents who can't be at the hospital with their child, or who need a break. I can stay in the playroom and play with kids who come by while their parents do some research, its some much fun for me watch what they will want to do and to see their imaginations run wild. I can also help with crafts by making an example, getting supplies ready, or helping a child who is working on a craft. Helping with crafts is my second favorite thing to do while volunteering. My favorite thing to do is go hold babies. The first time I went to go hold a baby I thought It would be said so sad. I walked in and he was hooked up to so many machines and had so many wires connected to him it made me sad that such a small child was in a hospital. Then I started to play with him. I had to where a mask while I was in the room, but sometimes I would make silly faces or noises because I would forget that the baby couldn't see my face. He would start laughing and smiling and smiling anyway. It made me so happy to know that I could make a sick baby happy enough to smile and laugh.

Last week the hospital was so busy, so I had the chance to help with a very special project. One of the girls at the hospital had missed her senior prom so the hospital organized a prom especially for her. Her mom brought her prom dress and they had people come do her hair and make up. They brought in music, food, and some sort of entertainment. I got to help set up the decorations. I helped make a banner that said "Wish Upon a Star", and we decorated the room with stars and hung streamers from the door way. It was a lot of work and we barely got it done in time, but it was so much fun. I didn't get to see the prom but I heard that it was a success.

I love volunteering at the hospital. I love thinking that I am helping to make some one's stay at the hospital just a little bit better. Until very recently I love going to the hospital because I thought I was making a difference in others lives, I didn't realize that they were making a much greater difference in mine.

The Primary Children's branch is a part of our stake. So every six months our ward get the chance to go to the hospital and help provide church services. We go and have a sacrament meeting. After the sacrament meeting Eric help take the sacrament to those who couldn't come, and I get to help give primary/young men/young women lessons. Eric and I got the chance to help on a fast Sunday and it was amazing. The testimonies of those who are there are amazingly strong and the spirit that they had with them was so special and so strong. Its so hard for me to describe what I felt and how it effected me. I was amazed by the faith and trust that they had in their Heavenly Father. I was amazed by their eternal perspectives. I was amazed by their humility and the gratitude that they showed toward. I wish that I could tell each one how much they blessed my life, and strengthened my testimony. I wish that I could tell them that it was a privilege to be with them and to serve them. At the end of that sacrament meeting we sang "When He Comes Again" form the Children's Song Book. I have always loved that song, but singing it at the hospital brought a new meaning to it for me. These are the words:

I wonder, when he comes again,

Will herald angels sing?

Will earth be white with drifted now,

Or will the world now spring?

I wonder if one star will shine

Far brighter than the rest;

Will daylight stay the whole night through?

Will song birds leave their nests?

I'm sure he'll call his little ones

Together 'round his knee,

Because he said in days gone by,

"Suffer them to come to me."

I wonder when he come again,

Will I be ready there

To look upon his loving face

And join with him in prayer?

Each day I'll try to do his will

And let my light so shine

That others seeing me may seek

For greater light divine.

then, when that blessed day is here,

He'll love me and he'll say,

"You've served me well, my little child:

Come unto my arms to stay."

I love this song so much more now. The second verse is the one the effected me the most. I couldn't even sing I just listened and thought about how much The Lord love little children and about the atonement. I started thinking about how he suffered for them and knew exactly what these children felt. I also thought about the children who would be returning to our Heavenly Father before Christ comes again, and I thought about how he would do the exact same thing.

I am so thankful to be living so close to this wonderful facility and the I have the opportunity to serve there and for those that I have been able to serve. I am so thankful for the wonderful lessons that I have learned and for thoses who have strengthened me and my testimony.