Oh! How the weeks go by!
Cool experience this week.
We have been volunteering at the local senior citizen center. Once or twice a week, we have the opportunity to go play games with the residents... and it's wonderful and hilarious. Their favorite game is dominoes, and though most of them don't know how to play, or are not aware enough to know what they're doing, they somehow still seem to beat us every time! We've had some good laughs and some tender moments.
One time, I was sitting next to this 90-something year old lady in a wheel chair. She was trying to read my nametag, so she got up as close as she could to it and yelled, "Sister??.....Are you a nun?!" I tried not to laugh and explained the best I could that I was a missionary...NOT a nun. ha.
The majority of the residents have lost their memories and deal with all the trials that old age brings. One of them, Jan, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's a few years ago. She tries to communicate with us, and although we rarely understand her, there's always a message that she's trying to tell us, and she knows exactly what it is. She doesn't remember anything, and her sentences hardly make sense. Her husband visits her hours and hours a day. It is so sweet.
Last week, we attended an activity with these sweet residents. There was a man who came, guitar in hand, to play some gospel songs and try to liven things up a bit. I sat their watching these senior citizens...as the music started, their countenances brightened and many started dancing and clapping--moving their canes and wheelchairs to the beat. As I watched closely, I saw many of them singing along...including my friend Jan....I was amazed to see that although the years had taken their memories, one of the few memories that did remain were the lyrics and melodies of their favorite hymns and gospel songs. The music that had once touched them was instilled in their hearts, and they were able to recall the happiness and joy that singing those hymns brings...even though they may not even remember who they are. I was reminded that music makes us feel things that nothing else in the world can.
I thought this again during sacrament meeting yesterday. A family got up to sing the song, "I Know That My Savior Loves Me." The four kids (with the youngest being only 4 years old), accompanied by their mom, stood at the pulpit and sang out with all the energy they could, declaring that they truly did know their Savior loves them. Somewhere between their tender voices and sweet smiles, I was overcome with the spirit...and was once again reminded of how important music is to helping us feel the spirit and how wonderful it can be to help us feel happiness and joy.
How grateful I am to have grown up in a home where music was so abundant and that I was taught that Music is a gift from our Heavenly Father. Although I sometimes complained about all the piano students (haha) I am grateful that there was always music in my home. (Thanks, Mom! :D )
I love you all!
Sister Hyer
