Second Visit to Limburg

Monday some of the other senior missionary sisters drove to the refugee recreation center and volunteered their time.  They LOVED it.  This was Sister Hacking's report: 

Dear Sisters,

First, let me say “Thank you” for your generous donations for Refugee aid.  Wow!  I was overcome with gratitude for your willingness to contribute for items to help the people of Limburg.  I bought tons of yarn, C-hooks, K-needles, scissors, elastic, etc.  Thank you so very much.  We went well prepared!

What a marvelous experience we had yesterday at the Limburg Refugee Camp Rec Hall.  I drove and Sister’s Johnson, Matheson, and Edmunds accompanied me.  We did not know exactly what awaited us, but we just decided to see what we could do and learn and go from there.

We learned so much.  And we learned that it is a great place with much opportunity for meaningful service.  We left at nine am, started immediately after arrival with projects that we took with us, ended at noon, then drove home.  It takes just under an hour to get there.  We had an enjoyable drive, visiting all the way there and back.  On our return trip, we had a great discussion on what activities and projects we felt would be the best for the men, women, and children there.  We came up with some ideas that we think will be fun, educational, physical, and meaningful for the men, women, and children that we served yesterday.  We realize that the size for the groups, their needs, likes, etc., will be different from week to week.  We realize, also, that we need to plan and prepare carefully, so that when we arrive we are “ready to go”.  The children swarmed around us and we immediately went to work with what we brought with us.  I started by handing out crochet hooks and yarn, then teaching crocheting fingerless gloves (about the only thing I know how to make).  Sis. Johnson brought Cheerios and yarn for the children to make necklaces.  That was a BIG hit.  There were a lot of children, more than we expected, so Sister’s Matheson and Edmunds were kept extremely busy the entire time entertaining, organizing activities, and keeping them entertained.  When we returned home, Sister’s Matheson and Edmunds, and I went to the Tedi store and the Euro Store for more yarn and supplies.  We came away with some wonderful, inexpensive things to take the next few times we go.  Here are a few of the things we purchased:  small children’s puzzles, bubbles, jump ropes, play dough (just a little because we can make Salt Dough), Sand Dough, little packages of colorful rubber bands to make braclets, cotton yarn to make wash clothes and Friendship Bracelets (the women really wanted a wash cloth), small, but nice, backpacks (again, the women really would like a backpack), colored pencils (we couldn’t find crayons), and a few coloring books that we can separate and hand out.  We are going to make small Bean Bags for toss games.  Sister Edmunds will help the children make paper chains, that they will color and add stickers.  We have so many ideas!  If you have any ideas, or would like to sew Bean Bags, or backpacks, let us know.  Sister Matheson will come up with a pattern.  We realize that we need group, fun, and inexpensive activities.  And, we need to plan ahead and plan well.  So many of our friends and family members back home have asked, “What can we do?”,  that we are also going to send the message home to them, that if anyone would like to send money, (like a cashier’s check through the POUCH), we would love to have their donations.  That would be a separate donation from their Humanitarian donation on their tithing slip.  We would buy more supplies to use when we go to the Rec Hall—things like I’ve mentioned above. 

So, who else would like to go and when is a good day for you?  Let’s communicate through this group email.  I can’t go on Tuesday, but I will go on Thursday’s and Monday’s.  We have several that are willing to drive.  Please be in touch. 

Here is another opportunity that will present itself in the near future:  From Sister Stay:  Here is an opportunity to serve: Katrin at Caritas up in Oberursel (where you sorted and gave out clothes) will need women willing to go into apartments of newly arrived refugees and show them how to use the appliances.  Lots of pantomime involved!  See if anyone else thinks that would be fun.  End of February is when they arrive. This is being coordinated by the Friedrichdorf Stake Relief Society President.  She has a lot of women in her stake who also want to serve.