African Service

As some of you know, I am second counselor in the primary presidency in our ward.  Yesterday I got to participate in the first primary activity I helped to plan, other than the program practice.  We decided to make blankets for children in Kenya.  You may be thinking, "why not make blankets for children in the U.S.?"  The reason we did these for Africa is that a couple of members of our ward are going to Kenya to train the people in a hospital how to use some of the high-tech equipment that other hospitals have given them.  It seems that a lot of medical equipment is donated to underdeveloped countries, but no one shows them how to use it.  Therefore, it gathers dust in the corner while people could be receiving much better treatment.  Anyway, the family going to Kenya asked for donations of blankets to take to the OB ward and an orphanage there.  We decided to use this opportunity to teach our primary the importance of service to others.  The kids decorated five flannels receiving blankets with fabric markers, and the older ones tied two bigger fleece blankets.  Then they all decorated wrapping paper and wrapped up most of the blankets themselves.  I think everyone had a great time, and I hope that the blankets will get a lot of use.  We are planning on sending pictures of our project to the Friend as a present of service for President Monson's birthday (this last year that was his birthday request--to have you to something for someone else).  It was a good day!

All of the kids with our finished product

Our older kids with the fleece blankets.  They look so proud!

The sunbeams' blanket.  Their teachers should be as pleased as they look.  They helped ten (one not in picture) three year olds make this masterpiece without any marker getting on their clothes.

Kellon's group at the blanket decorating table.

Kellon's group's completed blanket