Today was our first full day volunteering at Le Bonheur- and what a day it was! Now that we are getting a grip on navigating the city and the hospital itself, I think everyone was definitely more at ease. Tuesday started with a tremendous amount of excitement despite our lack of sleep.
We all sat down after Day One and were in complete shock about how much responsibility and trust Le Bonheur instilled in us- I guess now we are finally understanding the lengthy application process from this past semester. We are now learning how respected and valued the volunteers at Le Bonheur are and feel so lucky to be a part of that joy. Volunteers are truly the heart and soul of this institution. The kids and families absolutely love all the things we get to do- anywhere from pushing around the beverage cart to just hanging out in a room with the patient and/or family. Regardless of the assignment, each of us left feeling like our day meant the world to the people we were serving.
Connection is a funny thing and most of us can say we have genuinely experienced it at Le Bonheur. At our reflection Tuesday night we started to talk about the different ways we were experiencing connection with anyone we had encountered. Some of us with patients, some with the families, and some even with the staff. Regardless of the person, our job as a volunteer was to communicate love by way of listening and learning the lives of these amazing humans.
Our days are pretty exhausting, but somehow we always find time for some fun. Someone at the hospital had recommended Jerry's Snow Cones (even though it was FREEEEEEZING COLD) on our way home. Let me be the first one to say that these snow cones were not from earth- and the color of our teeth after was enough to prove it. Then we came home and decided to have a friendly game of MABlimpics (Olympics- just MAB style). We put together childish relays and games to entertain ourselves all night. Creighton, Amanda, and Abby ended up taking home the gold (whatever). Everyone is a winner.. blah blah blah.
Thanks for reading! (and following us on Twitter- Big shoutout to Colin's parents)
-Kylee
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