Day 3:
One of the sweetest parts of this year’s trip has been delivering special gifts to each of our patients, hospital stay kits donated and assembled by children in Washington state.
Several months ago, children ages 3-11 from Gig Harbor and Olalla, Washington participated in a service project to create recovery kits for surgical patients to use during their hospital stay. The kits include a blanket, pen and notebook, non-slip socks, wet wipes, toothbrush and toothpaste, hand sanitizer, a water bottle, tissues, and most exciting of all, a stuffed animal.
The idea for these kits first began from a conversation between two volunteers, Leslie Bennion and Melissa Holmes, on a previous trip in June 2025. After noticing some patients didn’t seem to have basic items that could make their hospital stay much more comfortable, they decided to organize an effort to provide supplies for future patients recovering from surgery.
At the time, Leslie and Melissa were both serving in their church congregations as Primary Presidents, a role that oversees Sunday gospel instruction for children ages 3-11 each Sunday.
“We thought it would be wonderful if our Primary children could participate in assembling kits for us to bring to Guatemala. We spend time with these sweet children each week, teaching them to follow the example of Jesus Christ. We sing songs about Jesus and read scriptures about Him and try to provide opportunities for them to follow His example through serving in simple ways.”
Melissa’s 7 year old daughter, Charli, provided the inspiration to include what would be the most loved item in the kits. One night while getting ready for bed, Charli handed her mother a stuffed animal and said, “You can give this to someone sick in Guatemala. My stuffies always make me feel better.”
Children were asked to donate new or gently used small stuffed animals, and adults were asked to donate the other supplies needed. After donations were collected, 36 children along with their parents and Primary teachers gathered together and helped assemble 72 kits, each one including a “stuffie”, of course.
Each patient has eagerly received their new “amigos pequeños” (little friends), no matter the age. From our pediatric patients to our most elderly, each one is delighted to have a soft little friend to hold while they begin the recovery process. And they keep their stuffed animals close by their whole hospital stay. When rounds are made in the morning or Physical Therapists go to work with patients in the wards, they are often still holding on to their little friends.
“It has been so sweet sharing the love of children back home with our patients here in Guatemala this week,” says Melissa. Each kit also includes a picture colored by the child who assembled it and selected the stuffed animal. Melissa says her unexpected favorite part of this trip has been sending a photo of patients with their new little friends to the children back home in Washington and allowing them see the happiness their act of service has brought.
One touching exchange involved 7 year old Jean. After a volunteer sent her family a message that said, “This is our patient who received Jean’s recovery kit. He LOVES the puppy she picked out for him!” Jean immediately wanted to know more. Her mother responded and said, “Jean wants to know if he gave the puppy a name?” As it turns out, he had. The patient shared that he had named his new stuffed puppy after his beloved German Shepherd who had recently passed away. His name was Bobby.
This project is a beautiful reminder that our team extends beyond the volunteers who traveled to Guatemala and are serving in-country. Family members, friends, co-workers, and church members make this work possible by covering responsibilities at home, caring for children, and supporting our team’s efforts. And through their generosity, dozens of children became part of the mission as well, bringing comfort and happiness to patients they will never meet, but whose lives they have touched.
