HEFY - Belize #2 - Day 1

Let's get started. Humanitarian Experiences for Youth (HEFY) is NOT affiliated with the LDS church. However, all their directors are members, the trip leaders are usually returned missionaries, the adult coaches (parents) must have a current temple recommend, and the youth (at least on my group) are all members. The program is geared towards teenagers. In fact, you must be between 16-19 to go on an expedition. Adults (parents) are only allowed to go if their child goes with them. And on my expedition, there were only two parents. Our group consisted of two parents, two trip leaders, and 20 youth. We hailed from New York, Virginia, California, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, and Utah. We had never met before this trip but quickly formed a tight bond. Ready for the story? Here it comes.

Day one is a travel day. Fourteen of us met at the SLC airport at 4am to check in for our 6am flight. That was the first time most of us had met. We played some get-to-know-you games and went on our first leg of the trip, Dallas. At the Dallas airport, we met up with the rest of the group minus the trip leader that was already in Belize. More games to get to know everyone and then we were off. Next stop, Belize! The flights were not that long and we ended up the same time zone as Utah so for Kaitlyn and me, it was not a big deal.

In Belize, we met Peter and Herbie. Peter was the other trip leader and Herbie was our bus driver. Here we split our luggage and sent our big bags on to Corozal were we would stay the majority of the time and grabbed our smaller bags for our weekend venture to San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. From Belize City we took at a 1.5 hour taxi (boat) to San Pedro. Right off the boat, we ran into the church on San Pedro and met the missionaries. That was a surprise! A quick dinner and then we were off to our weekend resort, the Royal Caribbean Resort. Our first devotional and then off to bed. It almost 11 when we said good night, which made for a long day.

 Our first dinner. The first of many burritos. :)

 Go ahead and sing with me! Getting to know you. Getting to know all about you. Getting to like you. Getting to hope you like me.

Random tower in the middle of the ocean. Maybe a lighthouse? Maybe just a random tower in the middle of the ocean.