On Saturday, 14th February 2009 was a very special day for the patients at the Leratong Hospital near Kagiso in Mogale City. They definitely experienced love on their Valentine's Day from the many volunteers.

One of the pillars of the 1in1out is to care for the sick and hospital visitations is the mechanism through which we are able fulfil this.

We set out from Rhema on the bright and sunny Saturday morning of the 14th February. The response to the outreach by Urban Oak (the youth ministry at Rhema Bible Church) was overwhelming - approximately 150 volunteers. When the bus that was hired to transport the volunteers to the hospital was full to capacity, we had to resort to transporting the additional volunteers in several private vehicles.

We also travelled with 3 bakkies heavy laden with fruit, sweet hampers, biscuits and books. The youth were excited and enthusiastic to get started and once we arrived at Leratong Hospital, we proceeded to unload the contents of the bakkies and to divide the food and books for distribution. The youth were divided into 3 teams - one to go to the male ward, one to the female ward and one to the children's ward.

The hospital was abuzz with the sound of cheerful laughter and squeals of excitement (on receiving the parcels). The volunteers spent time with the sick patients talking to them and counselling them.

One of the nursing sisters, Yvonne Molopo said the hospital was filled with so much happiness as the youth moved from bed to bed and ward to ward. The patients loved it and said this was the best Valentine gift. They wanted to know who these 'angels' were. They felt so good and excited that people cared enough about them to spend so much time with them. They loved the biscuits and all the lovely goodies. "Thank you for the what you have done - I wish you could come to the hospital more often. " she said.

It is better to give than to receive - this was the message that echoed from some many of the volunteers on the day. For the patients and staff at Leratong Hospital, this was a Valentine's Day that will stay etched in their memories for many years to come!