It Made a Difference to That One

Most of you have probably heard of the starfish story, about a boy who goes down to the beach after a storm and finds thousands of starfish washed ashore and struggling for life. He takes the starfish  one by one and throws them back into the ocean, saving them individually. The narrator of the story observes this boy, and comments on how many hundreds of starfish are left untouched on the sandy shore. The boy’s efforts are unnoticeable, and there is no way he can save all of them. The narrator asks, “How can you ever hope to make a difference?” The boy picks up a starfish, and throws it out into the ocean, remarking, “It made a difference to that one.”

                This  cliché but inspirational story is the namesake of The Starfish Foster Home, where Meilina and I will be working for the next five weeks. It’s basically an orphanage for kids with birth defects and special needs, like spina bifida, cerebral palsy, and cleft palate. Fortunately, it is quite well-funded and very well run. Right now there are 35 kids, ranging from 5 months to 3 years. Meilina and I get to play with the kids for four to six hours every day. We also help with cleaning and laundry.

I’m only going to be here for a short period of time, and the nannies do a fine job taking care of the kids without me. How can I ever hope to make a difference? I would love to be the hero and save ALL the orphans!! But I can’t. However, if one child’s life is truly better because of me, then this trip is worth it. As Elder Richards L Evans said, “We can’t do everything for everyone everywhere, but we can do something for someone somewhere.”

Yesterday I was holding Ava, who recently had corrective surgery for her cleft palate. Her dark eyes stared directly into my green ones, and the thought struck me that I was not holding a baby; I was holding a soul. Souls are immortal and divine. I felt honored to have this person, this body and spirit, in my own two hands.   

I have already fallen in love with all the babies. Too bad taking one home with me would violate international law. Darn.