For those of you who aren't familiar with the program, SN Mutual is for those with special needs to come together with the buddy (the youth counselors) and participate in activity. The SN program combines 21 stakes and there are around 70-80 SN kids that come every Thursday night. We as the youth counselors are buddied up at (usually) a 1:1 ratio and come every week to be with our buddies during those activities. We also hold a special sacrament meeting program every month for one of the wards in any one of the 21 stakes. We don't replace their home mutual, we just provide a place for them to come where they can feel completely safe and have fun.
I was called at the beginning of this school year to be one of the SN Youth Counselors. Since you normally have to be at least a Jr. to be a counselor, I was shocked and ecstatic. I first learned about the program when the SN Mutual came to my ward for their special sacrament program. The spirit was so strong in that room, and I was determined from that point on to become one of the counselors once I was a Jr. I guess my dream came true a year early.
At one of the first activities I went to I was paired up with my buddy, Rita. She is such a sweet heart. She loves singing, dancing, Justin Bieber, bearing her testimony, her friends, Jesus Christ, chocolate and giving hugs. She has become one of my best friends and I feel privileged to be her youth counselor.
As we were told time and time again, "We are here to help the physically, but they are here to help us spiritually." I have learned so much from Rita, her older sister Becca, Becca's buddies Hanna and Cheiko, our leaders, and all my other friends from SN mutual. Rita especially has taught me so much about unconditional love, friendship, happiness, and faith. I couldn't tell you how many times I would go to SN Mutual stressed about something then leave feeling incredibly happy.
It didn't really hit me how fast this school year is coming to a close until I went to the SN M testimony meeting with the other youth counselors and leaders today. As I listened to others bear their testimony about their experience about this year, I began to think about all the amazing times Rita and I have had together.
Some of these would include;
Watching her dance with the Polynesian dancers, The Living Legends, that can to perform one Thursday night.
Making homemade ice cream as we helped out in a service project.
The prom that my home ward happened to be the visiting ward for. Rita loved being able to dance, wear a pretty dress, and dance with her "cute boy" (McKay Waters).
Rita being able to sing into a microphone whenever she could get her hands on one.
Class lessons we would have with our gold class. She would always want to say the closing prayer, and whenever she did she would bear her testimony and would always get emotional.
The talent show, (her and Becca sand/danced to I Am a Child of God). After the talent show we made picture frames and looked at the prom pictures with her new friend Talina Morris.
These are just a few of the many amazing Thursday night activities I was able to participate in. I'm going to miss my SN Mutual family over the summer, and I can't wait to serve again for the next two years to come.
