Our daughter is living in Jerusalem this University semester. Her University classes are in Middle Eastern Studies and the Bible; history and doctrine. I have always been proud of her. She is a wonderful person and a great daughter. I wanted to share a paragraph from her blog.
"I joined Jaquel and her group in going to Ein Karem to volunteer at St.Vincent's. Miriam, a girl in our ward, is volunteering for six months at this Catholic mission. From what I gathered, this place is for severely handicapped children and it's run by nuns. In essence, they are extremely understaffed and the children do not get the amount of attention and physical care they need. This was probably the coolest thing I have done since I got here, because for the first time here, I felt like I was doing something for someone besides myself. I was put in charge of Abdullah, a six or seven year old blind boy.
Sophia, the volunteer supervisor, said that she was told he is also deaf but that she thinks he responds to sound but hasn't had the time to really sit down and see if he is. Compared to all the kids there, he had fewer physical disabilities, but he would have muscle spasms that looked really painful. I just sat with him in the grass and massaged him and rubbed his arms, which made him smile a lot. The volunteers kept saying how great it was that each child there had someone to hold them or be with them. Sitting in the grass, holding Abdullah I felt the Spirit so strongly. How did I get so lucky to have a healthy mind and body, parents who love me, and medical care that I need? The world really isn't fair. Here is this sweet little boy, who can't even have someone sit with him for half an hour and stroke his hair when he is in pain. It really was heart-wrenching. But sitting there with Abdullah, watching him smile just because he felt his arm being stroked and his hands getting a massage, felt like in this little corner of the world, I was making a difference. It hit me that the world needs The Savior, and I am so glad to know that we have Him, and that Christ has atoned for all of our pains."
Thank you Rachel, for reminding me to count my blessings every day and to do my best to be a blessing to those around me.
"I joined Jaquel and her group in going to Ein Karem to volunteer at St.Vincent's. Miriam, a girl in our ward, is volunteering for six months at this Catholic mission. From what I gathered, this place is for severely handicapped children and it's run by nuns. In essence, they are extremely understaffed and the children do not get the amount of attention and physical care they need. This was probably the coolest thing I have done since I got here, because for the first time here, I felt like I was doing something for someone besides myself. I was put in charge of Abdullah, a six or seven year old blind boy.
Sophia, the volunteer supervisor, said that she was told he is also deaf but that she thinks he responds to sound but hasn't had the time to really sit down and see if he is. Compared to all the kids there, he had fewer physical disabilities, but he would have muscle spasms that looked really painful. I just sat with him in the grass and massaged him and rubbed his arms, which made him smile a lot. The volunteers kept saying how great it was that each child there had someone to hold them or be with them. Sitting in the grass, holding Abdullah I felt the Spirit so strongly. How did I get so lucky to have a healthy mind and body, parents who love me, and medical care that I need? The world really isn't fair. Here is this sweet little boy, who can't even have someone sit with him for half an hour and stroke his hair when he is in pain. It really was heart-wrenching. But sitting there with Abdullah, watching him smile just because he felt his arm being stroked and his hands getting a massage, felt like in this little corner of the world, I was making a difference. It hit me that the world needs The Savior, and I am so glad to know that we have Him, and that Christ has atoned for all of our pains."
Thank you Rachel, for reminding me to count my blessings every day and to do my best to be a blessing to those around me.
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What a sweet post. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteLoved your post about your sweet daughter! Thanks for sharing...I was moved by her generosity of spirit...what a life-changing experience!
ReplyDeleteA child to be proud of. What she is doing will guide her the rest of her life.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this with us, Bonnie... I so needed it...
ReplyDeleteAnd I weep..
ReplyDeleteYes, you should be proud.
Wow Bonnie, that made me cry. Your Rachel is wonderful and you definitely should be so proud!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful opportunity to get to be at the Jerusalem Center for a semester. This post made me weep too. He looks so much like my sister's son who was born 11 weeks early and developed cerebral palsy while in NICU and became blind there too. He lived forn17 1/2 years and just passed away last Feb. I did a post about him. The difference is that he was allowed to live in his home and be loved by all of his familynfor those 17 1/2 years and he smiled and smiled and brought the Spirit to their home and transformed them. How wonderful Rachel could feel that and share her love.
ReplyDeleteSuch a tender and touching post. What a blessing and privilege for your daughter to experience something so precious. I appreciate her beautiful testimony.
ReplyDeleteThat photo shows an angel doing work on earth.
ReplyDelete