The second day of our journey was hectic, but our ability to manage our time wisely and keep up with our busy schedule continues to improve as we grow as a team.
Preparing lunches took half the time it did this yesterday because we pooled our efforts: Katie volunteered to make all the sandwiches, various people helped bag the fruits and veggies, and Steven kept things organized for when it was time to unpack and eat.
Some of our group spent time working with the Hospitality Cart, which travels around the hospital and provides basic amenities like toothbrushes and shampoo to families in need of them. You often don't think about the unfortunate circumstances that uproot families and land them in a hospital setting, and this cart makes these transitions easier and more convenient.
Mikko helped a little kid complete a word search, which, in the mother's own words, made him happier than she and seen him in quite awhile. The experience helped Emilie realize how great an impact volunteers can have in comforting children who are spending their first days and weeks in the hospital. It requires a bravery that we cannot take for granted.
Another group spent time working with the crafts cart and in the Arts & Crafts room, which involves going room to room and providing fun activities for children to distract them from the stresses of the day-to-day. Medical treatment is a necessary inconvenience, but it is our responsibility to alleviate the pessimism and dullness that can come in such an environment so that patients remain optimistic and do not miss out on the basic joys of childhood. This was a brand new experience for some of us, and had just as great an impact on us volunteers as it did in brightening the day of these brave patients.
Erin, aside from helping Family Resources organized their files and library, had an opportunity to interact with a grandmother who was inspired by the selflessness of Mizzou Alternative Breaks and who is eager to share our mission with her family and with her Church. Everyone at Le Bonheur has been extremely grateful for our help, and this is just one of many examples.
This afternoon, some of us were lucky enough to work in the FedEx Family House, which operates in partnership with the Children's Hospital and provides free housing to up to 96 family members of patients who do not have the resources, or simply haven't had the time, to work out all of the details for where they're going to stay. For some families, they have only enough money to fill their gas tank to get them there. Le Bonheur prides itself in never turning away patients who are unable to pay, and the FedEx Family House makes this feasible for an even greater number of people who desperately need these services.
To say the trip has been perfect would be unrealistic. Like with any group, there have been problems. Some have struggled to become comfortable in this unfamiliar environment, be it in the cabin or in the hospital. Nonetheless, we can walk away from today confident in two things: That every day sees us grow stronger and more efficient as a team, and that this week of service is not only having a positive impact on the children we're serving, but on us as caring, responsible citizens as well. We can walk away from today confident in two things: That every day sees us grow stronger and more effective as a team that can better fulfill our goals, and that this week of service is not only having a positive impact on the children we're serving, but on us as caring, responsible volunteers as well.