The second trip to Little Rock, Arkansas was a great one. Gold 4 had the awesome opportunity to work in the CHildren's Hospital. All of us were split up into different departments of the hospital and assigned permanent positions there. Some worked in anesthetics, others in Kids First (a day care down the street), some in physical therapy, some in infection contril, and I worked in the classroom. I tutored kids from preschool through high school. It was awesome! My supervisors were all amazing and so sweet. It was hard work, averaging at least 50 hours a week, but it was worth every minute of it. To see these kids smile and get better and stronger in the short time that you're there is like seeing a million miracles a day. It constantly reminds you of how lucky you are. But, even though the patients are sick - cancer, cystic fibrosis, rehab from falling off a horse, recovering from an exploded appendiz - they are all just kids who want to play and have some kind of structure in this crazy part of thei life. And that's our job . . . to play with these kids and try to make their day a little more fun.

In addition to working at the hospital, G4 did many other volunteer jobs in the community. Some of the best were with the American Red Cross. We worked for 30 hours one weekend at a Blues Festval, and another 12 at a Chicken Festival in Jacksonville. Our job was to assist the mdeics in any situation. In the total 42 hours, we put on two bandaids and removed one splinter. But, the festivals were worth the time spent. Godd music and seeing Jesse and Vicky sumo wrestle in those big suits made it all worthwhile. :)

Our next project is in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, and we are going to be putting the finishing toughes on a shelter for homeless children. The goal is that it is completed by Thanksgiving so they can have Thanksgiving dinner there. That will be pretty cool. Plus it is one hour away from new orleans!!! Awesone!!! Then after that, we GRADUATE. Time does go by fast.