romania. the details.

so here's the deal. i'm a student at byu on an internship in romania. the city of iași, to be exact. [which is pronounced 'yah-sh.' in case you were wondering. ] a cute little (big) city in the northeastern corner of romania. the beautiful land filled with too many kids and not enough people to take care of them. and so, essentially, when it all comes down to it, that is what we do. we care. we play. but most of all, we love.

there are eight of us, and this is who we are:

the communication disorders majors : emily & kylee.

the human development majors : amanda, michael, & rebecca (graduate).

the school of family life major, interior design (graduate) : melissa.

the spanish major (graduate) : roslyn.

the therapeutic recreation major : breanne.

a few nitty gritty details:

monday through friday of each week while we are here, our schedule is a little something like this:
9am-12pm: section 2. (placement center). each of us in a room, playing and serving the children.
2pm-5pm: hospital. changing diapers. giving lots of love.
evenings: homework, branch activities, sleeping, movies, exploring iași, etc.

at section 2 we help care for the kids by playing with them and encouraging them to form healthy attachments. all of the children in this not-really-an-orphanage have disabilities of some sort, so we are here to serve. serve with all our might.
in the hospital, essentially: we play. just like in section 2. an important and healthy part of childhood.
on the weekends, we'll work on cultural proofs. and we'll attend church each sunday in a branch that we almost double the size of.



there are many aspects of life critical to healthy growth and development, some more required for survival than others. but one thing often overlooked as a powerful source of improved health, is happiness. that's right. pure and simple joy. and so, that is my goal. when it's all watered down, that's what i've decided i'm here to do.

sound out some smiles, if only for a moment.

bring a bit of happiness, if only for awhile.

because in the end, i'd say even the smallest ounce of happiness is of infinitely greater value than none at all. and as humans in this world together, regardless of if we're on one side of this earth or another, we all deserve happiness. indeed, i'd say it is an irrevocable right--a right i intend to support and defend forever. and that's the funny thing about rights. they seem to be so obvious, so second nature. and yet, they are the very things we spend our life defending.
with these kids-these kids that will become mine-i know it will take work. with some, even the smallest trace of a smile will take days or weeks to appear. and it will be hard. heart-wrenching to the very core. but, the longest awaited gifts are always the sweetest. and so, my friends. let the sounding begin.

sound [verb] : to cause to sound, pronounce; to put into words, voice; to make known, proclaim; to order, signal, or indicate by a sound; to make or convey an impression.

an impression of happiness, happiness put into words and actions. proclaim that happiness through smiles and laughter. in romanian, a verb for sound is sondă : to feel out, probe, sound.

i love that. probing out smiles from within. i know they're there. everyone has a smile. a beautiful one. and my job? is to find it. for a smile is only a small outward reflection of what's inside in that moment. the thing that is reflected and seen in a smile: pure joy.

my name:

emily.

my mission:

sounding smiles.

'too often we underestimate the power of

a touch, a smile, a kind word,

a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring,

all of which have the potential to turn a life around.'

leo buscaglia

'never doubt that a small group

of thoughtful, committed citizens

can change the world.

indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.'

margaret mead