Give Kids the World (GKTW)

I wish I could put into words how amazing Give Kids the World is. For those of you who need a brief reminder, GKTW is the village/resort where I am volunteering this summer. The village is for children with life-threatening illnesses who wish to come to Orlando. Everything is free at the village, from ice cream to carousel rides to air brush tattoos to nails and make-up to meals and everything inbetween. Half of our group went on a tour on Tuesday, and we all fell in love with the place. There is so much for the children to do. For pictures, check out the Melanie is Going to Orlando group on Facebook. On Wednesday, Leandra (the other summer missionary at GKTW) and I went to orientation and Friday they sent us an e-mail saying that we could call or come by to sign up for some shifts. We went and as soon as people found out we were the “GOBA (Greater Orlando Baptist Association) girls” they went nuts. They were so excited to have us and told us all about the volunteers they’d had in the past. We were worked out a schedule for the upcoming week, and we even got to volunteer that very night. We ran the carousel from 5-9. I wish I could explain to you the joy that I get from being there. One little girl and her mom were talking to another mother and daughter while they were on the carousel and the little girl asked the other mom why her daughter had decided to come here. The other mom explained that her daughter had always wanted to go to Disney World. The little girl said she had too. The she looked over to her own mother, with the biggest smile on her face, and said, “Mommy, my wish is coming true.” It took all I could do to keep from bursting into tears right there. One little girl rode the carousel for at least an hour. She changed animals every time. Toward the end of the night, a little girl named Bailey and her sister Brooke came over to ride. Bailey is four and is the “wish child.” Brooke is one and a half. Friday was their first night at GKTW. Bailey stole my heart, and Leandra’s, from the second she walked in the gate. She is the sweetest, most precious child. They rode twice then left to go to a party in the village, but came back to visit us and ride again before we closed. Today (Saturday) we worked in the La-Ti-Da Spa. Girls can have their fingernails and make-up done. And both girls and boys can get airbrush tattoos and their face painted. We met a lot of really sweet children tonight too. We met Karly, Kaylee, and Kylie, three sisters. Kylie is three or four and is the wish child in the family. They were all so sweet. We saw a lot of the same children from the night before, so it was great to start building relationships with them. About five minutes before we were about to close, Bailey and her family walked by. Leandra ran to the door and told Bailey to come get her nails done and get a tattoo. She came and was so excited. Her mom talked to us the whole time we were with Bailey. They had gone to Magic Kingdom, so Bailey filled us in on all the characters she got to meet. After Bailey finished getting her nails painted blue (because her mom will never paint them blue) and getting a flower tattoo, we closed up and headed back to camp. I absolutely LOVE being at GKTW. One of our supervisors, Tiffany, was a summer missionary with GOBA in 2005 and 2006, and now she is on staff at GKTW. Speaking of staff, there are only 145 people on staff at GKTW. They have over 10,000 registered volunteers, and 5,500 active volunteers. It’s amazing. In the castle, there are stars all over the ceiling with the name of every wish child that has come to GKTW. There are over 95,000 stars on the ceiling. Each child gets to make their star and then they can come back the next day, and a volunteer can show them the exact spot on the ceiling where their star is at. Isn’t that just awesome?
Also, to the WFBC Guatemala team that is heading out on Wednesday, you’ll be in my prayers! I know God is going to do great things through you!