A few words from Tonga 1

Here's a letter I received from Jaynie, our Tonga 1 Trip leader today:

Hi Mary, the group is in good health and doing awesome!! We had a great weekend of snorkeling. We tried to go out and see whales but there weren't any. However, we enjoyed the boat out there and had a great time dancing on the boat! We went to the temple on Thursday and did baptisms for the dead, that was probably the highlight of last week. The work project is going awesome. We have been busy renovating Fanga Priamary School as well as building the foundation for the learning resource center. This group works super hard and super fast, they are awesome. So far we have helped to re-roof the school, built tables and benches for the classroom, cleaned up and renovated 2 classrooms, and are building a vegetable garden for the primary kids to grow food. Attached are some pics of our work.

  

Peru 1 Friendships and Adventures

Our Peru 1 expedition will be returning home this Saturday. It's hard to believe by looking at these pictures that this group of 23 participants didn't know each other at all before they all got together just 2 weeks ago. That's one of the greatest parts about service, when you come together for one cause and one purpose friendships are quickly made and the group starts to feel like family.  I am sure it wont be easy for them all to say goodbye on Saturday, especially to the wonderful friends they have made in Peru. 

 I remember returning home from New Zealand on an HEFY (then it was called AYS) expedition in 2003. I remember how much my heart longed for the people I had met and the friendships I had made. It's similar to the way I felt after returning home from a full-time mission. It was harder then to keep in contact with people so far away. Lucky for us we have technology and Facebook to more easily keep us connected. Nonetheless, I am sure each one of our participants will keep a place in their hearts for the wonderful people they met and served with this summer. 

 

Belize 1 is Staying Busy

It's crazy to think our first expeditions are already coming to an end and getting ready to come home. Belize 1 will be retuning home this Saturday and I'm sure they have a lot of good stories to tell. Here are a few pictures of some of their adventures.

 

                      

An update from Tonga 1

We have received word from Tonga 1 and finally a few 
photos we can share with you all!

 Tonga 1 has been working hard this week doing some maintenance at the local school. The group has really enjoyed painting, and believe it or not they have a hard time only getting it on the walls. I hope you packed your kids with extra soap, I think they're going to need it. 

From Fundraising to Fiji

One of the greatest parts of working for HEFY is seeing the youth from the very beginning of the registration process and then actually out on an expedition.

I recall one youth in particular, Alec Barney. He visited our office often for help with the registration process and fundraising. He would stop by every couple weeks and drop off donations he had received for his trip. 

He was always so amazed at how willing and wanting people were to donate to his Fiji expedition.  Just this week his trip leader sent us a few photos of the group and I was pleased to see a picture of Alec working hard building toilets.  It's fun to see his fundraising efforts paying off and actually see Alec (and the rest of the youth) 

changing lives through service. 

Here are a few more pictures of our Fiji 1 group and the fun things they 

have been doing this past week. 

 

 

Our 2012 Trips are underway and having a great time! Our trip leaders will be updating us from their countries and we will post any news we get right here! 
So, to stay up to date on the 2012 expeditions, this is the place to be. 

Here are a few group shots of the expeditions that are currently taking place. 

Fiji 1

Peru 1

 

Tonga 1

 

Belize 1

A Letter from a 2010 participant...

Tessa went to Peru with HEFY in 2010. She enjoyed here time serving the wonderful people of Peru. Since returning home to Boston she has continued to help those she met at the El Girasol orphanage. She is now a senior in high school and we recently received this letter updating us on her continued service. 

Here's a little bit about my work after I came home from Perú...

My expedition to Perú with Humanitarian Experience for Youth was

absolutely amazing. I fell in love with the country and the people I met

there, especially the kids at the orphanage. I realized how privileged

and blessed I am in my life, and I wanted to continue my service to the

great kids there. After I got home, I contacted the teacher administrator

associated with my school's spanish club and asked her if she was willing

to help me with my fundraising ideas, and she willingly accepted.

For the past two years now, I've been running the spanish club at my

school with the focus on fundraising for "El Girasol". We did a variety

of fundraisers ranging from leaf raking, bake sales, sales of specially

designed, "El Girasol" t-shirts among other things. 

I was so grateful for

the experience that I was able to have on the trip and its success in

motivating me to continue serving from my home in Boston. I hope that the

money I was able to  raise, with the help of the members of my club, will

be able to make a difference in the lives of the children of Perú.

Thanks again so much for all of your help! I really appreciate it!

Thanks,

Tessa