Our family, minus Emily went to the Randolph Center. Our stake youth, 14 and up, were asked to go serve those living in the Randolph Center for the morning. The Randolph Center is a home for developmentally disabled people who cannot live by themselves. The majority of them have been there since they were children. It is located in Coolidge, about one hour southeast of Phoenix.
We met as a group in the Cultural Hall. There were couples assigned there as missionaries to train and take care of the 'friends' during church meetings. They informed us as to what was going to happen, and how we needed to act with our new friends. He reminded us that they had already secured themselves a place in the Celestial Kingdom and we were to treat them that way.
We went to pick up our friends from their room and bring them to the cultural hall where were asked to sing and interact with them. Angel and I shared a friend, so I helped Angela interact and help her friend. After we spend time with our friends, we were asked to take them to their rooms. Our friend took off and went to get some food. I was nervous until I found out that she is allowed to do that and she will be fine.
Afterwards, the youth in our stake had a sacrament meeting where the youth were asked to give their testimonies about this experience. If our stake didn't come today, those in the facility would stay in their rooms because there is not enough staff to care for all of them. They are doing service just like the Savior would serve them.
The youth had lunch and headed on back to catch the last hour of church. The youth were asked not to take pictures while they were there to protect the privacy of those living there. Danni and Jocelyn took a pic to remember the occasion.
.JPG)
