Family Vacations with Heart: Humanitarian Travel part 1

[blainebullman]

Family Vacations with Heart: Humanitarian Travel

by Lisa Macomber

Family-friendly humanitarian expeditions offer the perfect blend of cultural experiences and meaningful service opportunities that will not only touch the lives of those in need but help draw your family closer together. 

Recently I joined Family to Family Humanitarian Expeditions (FFHE) on a trip to Ensenada, Mexico, to experience first-hand how a trip filled with service rather than entertainment could impact someone. I believe I speak for all of us who participated when I say the experience was nothing less than life-changing, and one we will never forget.

The Ensenada Expedition

For our week-long expedition, fifteen people from all walks of life came together for one common goal: to make life a little better for two struggling LDS families. Grandparents and teenagers alike worked side by side on two construction projects—both of which were meant to significantly improve living conditions for these families.

Among our group was the Lamoreaux family—James, Margo, and their four youngest children: Ryan, age eighteen; Aubrey, age fifteen; Jamie, age fourteen; and Corrie, age twelve. This was the first expedition for Jamie and Corrie, but Ryan and Aubrey had traveled with James and Margo on similar expeditions before.

“These trips have been a great vehicle to teach values to our kids,” says Margo. “It’s a way to teach them to look outside themselves, serve others, and put the needs of others before their own. This is what you have to do to have a successful marriage, to be an effective parent, and to just contribute to the world.”

The Torres Family

One of the families we served was the Torres family, who live on the outskirts of Ensenada in a dry, dusty shanty town. The rows of make-shift houses are small—about the size of an average bedroom—and constructed mostly of wooden crates, scrap plywood, and sheets of plastic. And while there were webs of tangled wires hanging above each home—everyone at least enjoyed the luxury of electricity—the stench confirmed there was no plumbing or sewage system.

As we stepped out of the van, Braulio Torres cheerfully greeted us from the roof of his house, waving his hammer and cracking a joke in Spanish. The red clay dust that permeated the air immediately covered us, sticking to our skin, hair, and clothes. For health reasons, we quickly donned dust masks, gloves, and head coverings.

We quickly helped his wife Elia carry the family’s few belongings out of their home so we could demolish it, pour a cement floor, and rebuild a stronger, slightly larger structure. I couldn’t help but smile when I saw that the cardboard that served as wall coverings inside the home was decorated with cheerful doodles and crayon drawings by the couple’s two young sons.

Working together with Braulio, Elia, and a few local ward members, we dismantled the roof and pulled the house down one wall at a time. Neighborhood children gathered to watch us work; some lying contentedly in the dust that we made every effort not to touch or breathe. At least half a dozen dogs wandered by, all starved for food and attention.

After the house was demolished, we spent the rest of our time clearing debris, sorting building materials, removing rocks, raking dirt, and leveling the ground in preparation for the cement floor.

“You’re helping me build my dream home,” Braulio said. A dream home that was no larger than my master bathroom, I noted.

The Hernandez Family

At just twenty-eight years old, Omar Hernandez is serving as the new bishop of his ward. A young husband and father, he was struggling to finish the construction of his family’s house. In the meantime, Omar, his wife, and their infant son were living with his parents. With the demands of a full-time job, family life, and his heavy responsibilities as bishop, it seemed there was no hope of finishing their small home. While the basic structure was complete, Omar did not have the skills or the time to hang or mud the drywall.

It is no coincidence that James Lamoreaux hung drywall to help put himself through medical school. With Family to Family Humanitarian Expeditions, guides assess the special talents and skills of participants and seek out projects where they can best be utilized. Even with James’s expertise, however, it seemed we would not be able to finish the project in the time allotted. But every chance he got, James worked feverishly to finish the job. He got up before sunrise and worked late into the night, and we all grew accustomed to seeing him with white dust in his hair. Thanks to his efforts, the house was completed before we left Ensenada, and a tearful young bishop expressed his heartfelt gratitude. It made me wonder how often leaders who devote so much of their time to serving others could use some service themselves.

The Orphanage

While the majority of our time was devoted to the construction of these new homes, we were able to spend a day at a local orphanage for girls. We played games, danced, and made bracelets together. Some of the girls wouldn’t interact with us, and I can’t say that I blame them. We were, after all, only there for the day. Why bother to build bonds and grow attached? But the girls who chose to join us were happy to receive the love and attention we had to offer.

At the orphanage, we were joined by the Stoddard family—an LDS family who happened to be vacationing nearby. They were also seeking to incorporate some service into their trip.

“It’s wonderful to have fun together, but I firmly believe in the adage of ‘the family who works together stays together,’” says Cheryl Stoddard. “I wanted more than just fun to bind us as a family.”

Bringing Children on Expeditions

So, are you beginning to catch the vision of a humanitarian vacation? But what if you have young kids? The ages of your children will play a major role when deciding if they are ready to handle this type of trip. Most organizations allow children as young as twelve years old if they are accompanied by an adult. However, there are some that will allow children much younger.

“One of the main reasons we started Family to Family was for the benefit of our children,” says co-founder Shaun Gogarty. “I have personally taken my kids on several trips. Whatever their ages, if you are comfortable traveling to a third-world country with your children, then you should most likely be comfortable taking them on an expedition.”

Charity Anywhere Foundation is another nonprofit organization that allows young children to participate in expeditions. “As long as parents come along, we don’t have any age restrictions,” says Gordon Carter, president.

Personal Progress and Duty to God

If you have children in the Young Women or Young Men programs, humanitarian trips present unique opportunities to fulfill requirements for the Personal Progress or Duty to God programs with a little planning. “We’ve had girls collect and bring clothing. Several Eagle Scout projects have also been completed on trips like these,” says Shaun. “To see an adolescent boy take more than one hundred birthing kits to an undersupplied clinic was worth the entire trip.”

Youth can also gain valuable leadership skills on humanitarian expeditions. Ascend Alliance, for example, offers opportunities for high school and college students to be trained as youth team leaders. They are paired with an adult leader for a unique leadership experience.

While teens can accomplish goals and build leadership skills, younger children can simply enjoy making new friends. “One of the highlights for me was watching Aaron, our four-year-old grandson, interact with [the son of the orphanage director],” says Cheryl. “They played for hours with very few actual toys and no ability to understand the other’s language, but with complete abandon as they laughed, played, and shared dinner together.”

Alliance for Youth Service

One humanitarian program that specializes in providing service opportunities for LDS youth ages sixteen to nineteen is Alliance for Youth Service (AYS).

“We want to provide an opportunity where kids can see the world and provide service opportunities while making friends with other LDS youth around the world,” says executive director Mike Riding. “This isn’t a rehabilitation program. The kids who go on these trips are very mature and have a spirit of service around them. They come back with a stronger testimony of service and are ready to go out and serve the world.”

While AYS doesn’t offer family expeditions per se, they do offer opportunities for parents to travel as adult coaches on expeditions. Last summer Sandy Folkman served as an adult coach and had a once-in-a-lifetime service vacation with her daughter Rachel in Bolivia.

“It was a wonderful experience to work side by side with my daughter,” says Sandy. “It adds a whole new dimension to your relationship with your child. I got to see my daughter in a different light, and it was really great to observe her reaching out and going beyond what she was asked. On these trips, you can enjoy all the great things about traveling while enjoying the satisfaction of improving people’s lives. And one of the unexpected joys of being a chaperone was getting to know the other youth. Many of them made great sacrifices to be there.”

[Maya]

I really wish we here could build a house to a family ... they bought a house and it looked ok, but it was completely rotten and full of fungus!! They had very neetly that a nice wooden wall to hide the reality. It irritates me that they been living there now for maybe 4 years and nobody does a thing... They are living there with 2 kids one of them allergic! On winters they have to live in a smal trailor.. I dont know what to do... I feel like I should go to talk to some who sell houses if they could donate a samall easy house... would love to get everyone in the church to get to gether to put it up... and ask for donations for furniture and stuff... Do it like the house demolishers do...