All About Expeditions

Who Can Go?

At FFHE we hope to give everyone, especially youth, an opportunity to work hard in a meaningful manner. In fact, one of the main reasons we started FFHE was for the benefit of our children.  I have personally taken my teenagers on several trips. Having teenagers help construct the first bathroom in a town of 300 people is an unequaled worthwhile experience.

Whatever the age, 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.

Before planning an expedition there are three questions worth considering:

1. Am I or my child physically able to travel and serve in a country that often times presents certain mild health risks? Safety from a health standpoint for someone really young (i.e. diarrhea in a 2 year-old is very different than diarrhea in an 8 year-old). So far, there haven't been any serious health issues. However, it is Mexico and the risk of traveler’s diarrhea is present although we take every precaution to avoid it.
   
2. Can I participate in a manner that I will feel my trip was worthwhile?
   
3. Can I participate in a manner that will be meaningful to me or will I be supervising my children too much?

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Where do expeditions go?

FFHE Expeditions are held in three cities in Mexico: Bermejillo, Monterrey and Zihuatanejo (see map).

Bermejillo is a small town in the state of Durango.  There are about 8000 people in the town and several thousand more in  “ranchos” surrounding the town.  It is a relatively modern town with gas stations, small grocery stores and other businesses.  However, many of the people living on the edge of town and in the ranchos are very poor.  They build their own homes from a weak adobe brick.  Often there’s no indoor plumbing.  Many of the homes have dirt floors and only consist of 2 or three rooms for several family members.  Many of the people work in nearby Torreon at garment factories and some work for large farms or ranches in the area.

About 30 minutes from Bermejillo is the large tri-city of Gomez Palacio, Torreon and Ciudad Lerdo.  The tri-city has every modern convenience found in any other industrialized nation. If ever an unexpected need arises, we can always go to the city to satisfy it.

The area is dry high desert.  Although it can be cool during the winter, it is generally quite warm.  In the summer daytime temperatures in the 100’s are expected with the nights dropping to the 70’s. In general, plan for dust storms, not rain showers.  Surrounding the area are high mountains.  These are not tree covered like the mountains of the USA, but are otherwise quite beautiful and offer a cooler retreat. 

Monterrey is the capital city of the northeastern Mexican state of Nuevo León. Also known as the "City of the Mountains" as the city is surrounded on all sides by Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range. The city has a modern industrial and business center. It is the third most populated metropolitan area in the country and the second biggest metropolitan area after Mexico City.

Monterrey has a humid subtropical climate. Its weather, though reasonably pleasant in spring and autumn, is hot in the summer; the average high reaches 35 °C (95 °F) in August, with an average low of 23 °C (74 °F). Winters are cool but not cold. Though rain is not frequent, it is not uncommon to be caught in a torrential downpour.

Both of our expeditions to Monterrey have been to the Estanzuela region. It is a much poorer section of the city and is located at the outskirts and up on the mountainside. The poorer you are, the higher you live up on the mountainside. Most of our projects in Estanzuela have been cement construction projects. Building materials are expensive many of the poorer residents have to rely on construction with found objects such as large pieces of discarded wood or metal. Because of the torrential nature of their rainstorms, this type of construction does little to protect them.

Since Estanzuela is located near the end of the city and towards the countryside, we like to spend at least part of a day exploring the beautiful Cola de Caballo (Horse Tail) falls region. October is the season of butterfly migrations and it is beautiful to be right in the midst of all the butterflies flying south. In 2005 we arrived at the height of the Monarch Butterfly migration.

Zihuatanejo was once known as a small picturesque fishing village on Mexico's southern Pacific coast. Due to the recent tourism boom in another beach town just five miles north, Zihuatanejo has also been able to take part in the growth. However, rapid population changes due to the new tourism-driven economy has proven quite the zoning problem and many families that have moved there to work have only been able to build provisional shelters to keep out the elements. Most of the projects that need doing in Zihua are related to weather-proofing the homes with cement flooring and sturdy roofing. Also, projects that aid the simple local schools are of much benefit.

Summer temperatures are generally in the low 90's during the day and in the high 60's during the night. During Autumn and Winter one can expect days in the low 80's and nights in the high 50's. Due to its convienient location on Zihuatanejo Bay, after working on FFHE projects, afternoons and evenings are most commonly spent enjoying the beach or lounging in hammocks in the shade.

Casas Grandes
Torreon
Ensenada
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What do we do?

The purpose of the expedition is to complete construction, education and medical/dental projects. Each planned expedition has a pre-determined group of projects. Accordingly the majority of each day will be spent working on these projects. We will work around the weather by working in the early part of the day and again in the late afternoon.  The mid-day will often times be a late lunch and siesta. However, there will be much more then just work involved in ones' stay. In the evening we will organize classes for the local citizens and socialize.  Educational classes will be determined based on participants’ backgrounds and experiences.  We will also take a few trips to explore the area.

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Where do we stay?

During an expedition in Bermejillo or Monterrey we will be housed with a local family.  In general these will be homes of people that are somewhat better off then those that we will be helping.  The accommodations will be comfortable but in no way luxurious.  Generally speaking, an individual will stay in one room of the home with his/her own family members.  There will usually be indoor plumbing allthough most commonly cold showers.

In Zihuatanejo we will stay at a small town hostel (a simple traveler's hotel) named Angela's. Although spartan in accomodation, it is none the less comfortable and safe. Depending upon the group, most individuals will sleep on one of a few bunks set up in a private room. Families can request to stay together in one room. Due to the humble living conditions of most people living in Zihua, we are unfortunately not able to be housed with local families. However, the location of Angela's Hostel is ideal, as it is situated in the very middle of the small downtown area nestled among everyday Mexican city dwellings and businesses.

Very few people in these cities speak English.  However, we have not found this to be a problem. (In fact, it helps people get acquainted rather quickly when everyone is pantomiming everything!)  The people are extremely friendly and warm. They often will be trying equally as hard to speak English, as you will be trying to speak Spanish. 

We will share most of our meals with the host family (or in Zihuatanejo's case, we will eat at the hostel or in small inexpensive restaurants). All cooks use bottled water.  They also know what to avoid when cooking to help us stay healthy. Lunch will ordinarily be eaten with the group at the work site.  We will also have our own medical kit and supplies for the usual ailments.

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Expenses?

FFHE is a non-profit organization. One hundred percent of the expedition charge is dedicated to travel, lodging, food, and project materials. We have done everything possible to minimize the cost of the expedition.  We have personally explored multiple ways of travel and housing to find the cheapest, yet safest and most efficient way of taking people to Mexico. 

The people in Bermejillo and Monterrey have been wonderful to open their homes and provide food for those who are participating in the expeditions.  This not only helps save money, it also provides an unparalleled opportunity to truly “live” in the country with the people.  Of additional benefit is the income for the host family. Hopefully we will soon be able to discover host homes in Zihuatanejo as well. Until then we assure the expedition group member the most affordable of prices when considering housing options.

The cost depends on the city of departure and the time of the year. For example, if your departure city is Salt Lake City, the entire expedition cost to Bermejillo would be approximately $800 USD. Once again, the $800 would include airfare, project materials, housing, food, and in-country transportation.

All exact expedition costs will be posted a few months prior to departure.

Payment Timeline:

No less than 3 months prior to departure:
A non-refundable $100 USD deposit to hold position.

Two months prior to departure:
Pay remainder of trip costs to FFHE to participate and purchase airfare.