The Joy of Service

A DREAM IN THE MAKING -- QUILTS: Ron and I were looking for a worthwhile service project for our Young Single Adults. And we thought we could take it a step further and spread the joy of service to those in Relief Society, and to the people in our English Club. We wanted our service to be more than cleaning the city parks (although worthwhile). We envisioned those who participated to feel the joy one receives when they assist another person and give of themselves, helping that person to also feel loved. Sister Baker who lives in a town about 2 1/2 hours from Yekaterinburg is passionate about serving the children in several orphanages in towns around her home. I got in touch with her and she was excited about the prospect of our service.

I was never alone -- Ron was always with me -- cheering me on, setting up the frame, carrying the supplies, remaining patient while I took up all the floor space in our little apartment, and quietly giving of his time while I marked the quilts (which took a lot of time!).


When we first started the quilt project we did not know what the YSA budget would be for service, so we purchased only a few supplies. Ron and I went to OBI (a store similar to Home Depot) and bought wood and clamps for the quilting frame. Getting them home on the bus is another story -- do you know how much we take our cars for granted at home? I bought material for two quilts. The first people kind enough to help us with our 'orphan project' were those who attended our English Club. A quilt was stretched on the frame before the start of English and we invited those who were interested to join us -- it was the first time many had ever tied a quilt. It was a wonderful opportunity for us to visit and get to know one another while we worked. I also asked some in other cities if they might like to prepare a quilt to give to the orphans. Sister Palmer in Tymen readily agreed to buy material, and assigned the sisters in her branch to create a quilt block. She even enlisted the help of some of the missionaries, and all worked together to come up with a beautiful gift that will warm not only the body, but also the heart of one of these less fortunate youth. A quilt was also created by the youth in a neighboring mission, the Novosibirsk Mission. They brought their gift with them all the way across Siberia by train and proudly donated it to our cause.

When we received the generous donations from kind folks at home we went to work in earnest purchasing material, thread, yarn, and batting. It was not an easy task -- we do not have a JoAnn's nearby. It must have been a funny sight to see me and one of our sweet YSA carrying 20 yards of rolled batting through the streets of Yekat --too much to try to stuff on public transportation. Without a car we had to make many trips back and forth, exhausting the quality (Yekaterinburg does not have a lot of good quilting supplies) material in one shop and then moving on to another. I was able to enlist the help of those youth who had sewing machines to take a quilt at a time and sew the pieces together. I also was able to borrow a machine from the branch RS and I sewed daily. By the end of July one corner of our apartment was filled with 20 'ready to tie' quilts and we were prepared to move to the next step. We bagged each quilt individually, threaded needles, and put the yarn, needles, scissors, and a card to be signed by each of the service participants in each bag. YOUNG SINGLE ADULT CAMP - CELEN 2009:

While we were at the camp it rained every day and was chilly so we needed to revise the plan to be outdoors. Initially we were going to spread the quilts across picnic tables or on the grass where they could be stretched and the YSA's could navigate the tying process. In the end, we used whatever space in the buildings that would accommodate several quilts, plus the participants -- but we did not have the luxury of a lot of room. We had to crowd into an area that was too small for the stretching of material, working elbow to elbow and with few chairs. We were given 1 1/2 hours to complete the 20 quilts and assigned 8 youth to each quilt. It was remarkable that the quilts turned out so well -- I only had to make corrections on a few. Please notice the happy faces and intense concentration as the youth worked together, laughing, chatting, threading -- needles down, needles up, clip and tie. (I had taken pictures of all the quilts and those who joyously worked together to complete them, but unfortunately, I lost my camera the last hour of the last day. I want to thank many friends and acknowledge their kindness as my email box filled with the following lovely pictures)

Back home in Yekat we surveyed the service that had been accomplished and we were thrilled with the results!

SEWING AND HYGIENE KITS: We had limited places to lay out our supplies and assemble our kits. The young people chose the floor at the end of two halls to set up their assembly lines and were excited to get to work. Each sewing kit contained 4 different colors of thread, needles, pins, a pin cushion, a measuring tape, scissors, buttons, post it notes, and a pen. Each hygiene kit contained soap and dish, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, band aides, shampoo, razors, Q-tips, tissues, a brush and a comb.

Sister Baker donated beautiful silk bags that she had purchased while visiting China. Each bag was filled to the top, and all of the sewing supplies were put into cute little bags purchased on sale at IKEA. (Yes, we have one in Yekat).

SHIRT DECORATION:

We had 75 shirts to decorate. We divided the youth into groups -- paint, applique, and buttons. They were given the assignment to make the shirts for boys, girls, or either, and for the different age groups at the orphanages. They could use their creativity and make a work of art. I was amazed at the beautiful artwork that came from these talented youth -- the shirts were impressive! I am posting just pictures because I think the pictures speak well for themselves. Please notice how seriously they took their assignment, and also the joy on their faces as they worked together.

This Post comes with a huge "THANK YOU" to all who contributed so generously to this dream. We hope you can see the wonderful things your gift has given, but it doesn't end here - this is the gift to those serving. Next post will show the joy of those receiving. Serving brings joy to the giver and to the receiver - may we all look for ways to serve.