Newsletter
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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
I contacted our Tequisquiapan government official, Yoatzin Sprowls, to see if she could help organize a service project we could do for the City of Tequisquiapan. She was able to do so and arranged for painting projects as well as general cleanup in parks and next to public roads. After she gave me details of the projects, she asked me if it would be possible for some of the youth from the community to join our youth group. I said of course and so the plans were made for 20 youth from the American Heritage School and 170 youth from the Queretaro Stake and a few community youth to do a community service project during our trip in March. This was the first time youth from the community had joined with youth from the “Mormon” Church in this area. It was a great day of service and for all of the “non-member” citizens of Tequisquiapan, it was the first time they had been within the walls of the Church grounds near the church building. The project was a huge success and later in the evening I found out that not only were there 190 youth from the Church but 500 people from the community! All together almost 700 people participated in this project. The project was so successful; the government wants to participate again next year. What a great experience for everyone involved |
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BOARD MEMBER HIGHLIGHT |
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EXPEDITIONS 2 very awesome expeditions completed and 4 more to go for 2011! June 21-28 July 5-12 July 19-26 October 12-19 We would love to have more participants attend with us so that we can complete more service projects. GO to the website (ffhe.org) and sign up for an extraordinary experience! UPCOMING EVENTS 2012 FIESTA! Celebrate 10 years of Service! We want to celebrate with a FIESTA in 2012 to celebrate 10 years of successful service in Mexico. We need your help!
Please update your info…simply fill out your current information on our JOIN OUR CAUSE page or on facebook (Family to Family Humanitarian Expeditions, FFHE). Add your information whether you have been on a trip in the past, helped with donations or projects, or you would simply like to hear more about FFHE. This will let us know that we can add your name to our newsletter list. Thanks for wanting to be involved!  |
Valerie Butler is a wife and mother of five children and the Director of Aspen Academy of Learning - a small private school in Payson, UT. Here she has been able to teach children the blessing of service as they have participated in three expeditions to Mexico with FFHE. Valerie has volunteered in many projects over the years including the Centennial Wagon Train, Santaquin City Youth Court and the Santaquin Park playground. She was named volunteer of the year by the Utah League of Cities and Towns in 1996. Valerie is passionate about learning, family, faith, fulfilling dreams and the students of Aspen Academy.
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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
A New Year - Stand and be Counted!
from Kendon's Blog |
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TESTIMONIALS
KEMP FAMILY
Anytime Fitness, Highland, UT UPCOMING EVENTS 2012 FIESTA! Celebrate 10 years of Service! We want to celebrate with a FIESTA in 2012 to celebrate 10 years of successful service in Mexico. We need your help! Please update your info…simply fill out your current information on our JOIN OUR CAUSE page or on facebook (Family to Family Humanitarian Expeditions, FFHE). Whether you have been on a trip in the past, helped with donations or projects, or you would simply like to hear more about FFHE send us your current information such as Name, email address, phone number, home address. This will let us know that we can add your name to our newsletter list. Thanks for wanting to be involved! |
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JANUARY 2011 |
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Quite a change from our humble beginning 9 years ago. I remember the first expedition to Bermejillo, Mexico and the small group of participants who worked with us.I remember the anticipation Shaun Gogarty and I had to see if this idea of helping to make a difference in the lives of individuals and families would really work. What a remarkable journey these last nine years have been.
forget this experience; it was a wonderful opportunity to bond with the boys in my family, all with the same goal of serving others. Going on this expedition I thought that I was going to change other people’s life’s, however I soon found that I was changing the outlook on my life more than I would ever be able to change the life of others. I will always remember this experience with FFHE, and the amazing changes it made to my life.
humanitarian kits that we delivered to the people. It was great to step out of our comfort zone, visit new and amazing places and meet such grateful and humble people. We made some lifelong friendships with those we served and those we served with. We plan to participate in future expeditions and to continue the relationship we have made with the FFHE team. It was an experience that we will never forget as we fondly remember the people we met and the lives we touched.
Thank YOU for Sharing HOPE!Thanks to all who so generously donated to our "Share Hope for Christmas" service project. Your monetary gifts will help provide many families with concrete floors where now they only have dirt floors. We are continuing this cause in 2011 with our "Floors for Families" fundraising campaign which will be a year 'round effort.  A MESSAGE FROM KENDON President of FFHE A new beginning – the next 10 years! This year commemorates 10 years since the idea of FFHE was formulated, when the dream began. The beginning was a result of a life changing event which helped us, my wife and I, realize the importance of our family and of serving others. With the help of a good friend in 2001 we were able to organize and incorporate the purpose and goals of our organization which were to strengthen families through service, family to family. The first expedition in 2002 consisted of five people including my partner and myself! We built a bathroom floor for a sweet, humble lady named Mercedes.
From that beginning ten years ago, we have grown to the point where in 2011 we have nine expeditions planned, hopefully involving 200 plus participants. There have been some changes over these past ten years. We have learned It is exciting to see younger siblings and extended family members as well as 2nd time participants return after many years since their initial expedition. They have all reported that the initial experience had a profound effect on their lives. Each expedition we work together to provide concrete floors for families. This is a great way to build relationships and create love and trust between the FFHE participants, local families and community members. In 2011 we will concentrate on providing hope for families by constructing at least 100 floors for families! This will take many volunteers and also a lot of monetary donations. In Tequisquiapan, the average cost of materials for one concrete floor is $300.00. We invite you to join us in reaching our goals for 2011. Check our website for ways you can help make this happen! Thanks to all of you for supporting FFHE as we move forward in our tenth year of service! |
many lessons as we have partnered with friends, families and organizations in Mexico. The most important way we can help or serve others, is to help provide opportunities to educate children and families. We have added to our initial mission statement, which now reads “strengthening family and community through education, understanding and service”.
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INTRODUCING YOATZIN SPROWLS Yoatzin, or Yoa as a her friends call her, is our in-country partner in Tequisquiapan, Queretaro, Mexico. She is a remarkable woman whose life skills, abilities, and experiences make a perfect combination as our partner,friend and International adviser.
Yoa, a twice survivor of cancer, is the single mom of two children, 12 year old ?, and 8 year old Maria. They live in a small community, Fuentezuelas, just outside of the city to Tequisquiapan. Yoa is the assistant to the President of the Municipio (similar to our counties) and has a lot of influence and responsibilities within the 12 communities in the Municipio. Yoatzin shares in the vision of FFHE and has made a personal and professional commitment to strengthen families and community in this art of Mexico. Besides coordinating all of the projects including purchasing of materials and assigning government workers to help as well she has opened her home for us to stay in as well. as many as 15 participants have stayed in her home on an expedition! All of the participants eat all of the day meals at her home. As a member of FFHE's international advisory board Yoa brings many years of experience in administration and planning. She provides needed advice and council to FFHE which will assist us in our goal to help strengthen families, from both sides of the border, as we partner with our friends in Mexico. |
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IN MEMORY OF Mercedes Chavez Hernandez
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Mercedes passed away on the 11th of December 2011. Mercedes is a long time friend, and the recipient of the first floor project which FFHE completed in Mexico - in Bermejillo, Durango. Her children, Sam, Moni, and Alicia stated the following in the announcement we received of her passing: “ She remembered you fondly and was always grateful for the help you provided. We love you!” We will miss Mercedes, a special mother who raised three wonderful children and always smiled.|
TESTIMONIAL INGRID October 2010 participant
"After waiting four years the time was finally right for me to go to Mexico with Family to Family. In October I went to the Tequisquiapan area. I was able to see how hard Family Send info to info@ffhe.org
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to Family works with the government leaders to make a difference in the lives of the people of Mexico. Together we were able to make cement floors in the homes of some families, teach them about finances and hygiene, and most important share some time and love with them. Seeing the humble living conditions in this area was an eye opening experience but then as we spent time with them and talked to them I was even more amazed by their attitudes. How grateful they are for the simple things that I have always taken for granted and even expected at home. Going to Tequisquiapan was an experience I will never forget and one that I hope I can have again soon"
