A Summer of Service

Two Coeur d’Alene High School juniors, Matt Averett and Braydon Butler, have more than a typical summer ahead of them. In late July, these boys will fly to Cochabamba, Bolivia to participate in a two week humanitarian service expedition.

Matt and Braydon have joined a group called Humanitarian Experience for Youth (HEFY). HEFY is a service organization dedicated to “changing lives through service” and engaging youth ages 16 to 19. Each year HEFY volunteers participate in service expeditions in over 15 different countries where they complete a character building service project for those living in extreme poverty. This summer, Matt and Braydon will join an expedition to build classrooms in Bolivia. The goal of HEFY is that each volunteer will not only provide much needed service, but will also learn to embrace the culture and love the people they serve. Matt and Braydon are eager to do this!

The classrooms these boys build during their time in Bolivia will provide a place where impoverished, and sometimes abandoned, Bolivian children can learn skills to transition out of life in a public shelter. Matt and Braydon will also spend time serving and interacting with the community as they work in the local health clinic and schools to teach children hygiene and serve them lunch. Additionally, the boys will help locals learn and improve their English. I asked Matt and Braydon how they feel about these lofty service goals. Both boys confessed feeling a little nervous, but assured me they’re mostly excited. Matt said, “I’m just excited to lose myself in service.” For Matt and Braydon, it’s an extra perk to be able to mingle with the Bolivian people they’re serving. They look forward to playing a lot of soccer and trying out the Spanish they’ve learned in school.

Being involved in a HEFY expedition takes work even before leaving home. Matt and Braydon are collecting school supplies, soccer balls, baby books and other items to donate to Bolivian children. The boys are also working to earn nearly $3,000 each to pay for their expedition. These funds are used to cover the cost of their travel, local transportation, building supplies, training and food.

Realizing all the effort required to participate in a HEFY expedition, I began wondering why this costly service experience would interest two 17-year-old boys. Matt and Braydon appear to be average teenagers in many ways. During our short interview, I gained a sense of their fun personalities as I watched them play soccer, talk about their track meets and baseball games, and tease each other while they messed around as only teenagers can. Yet, I also sensed something far above average about both of them. When I asked why they wanted to spend so much time and money serving people they don’t even know, Braydon responded, “We just have a desire to serve. It will be a pretty unique experience to help people and see results. It’s going to be pretty cool. Besides,” he added with a smirk, “who wouldn’t want to travel with this weirdo?” He nudged Matt for emphasis. After a little banter, Matt turned serious and added, “When you hear stories about people who are so poor and in such poor countries, their struggles seem so far away. I just feel blessed with this opportunity that I can actually do something to help.”

I asked if either of the boys have traveled outside the United States. They hesitantly looked at each other and said, “Uh…Canada?” Despite having limited international travel experience, both Matt and Braydon have extensive experience giving service. From leading their own service projects while working to attain the rank of Eagle within the Boy Scouts of America organization to working on community and church sponsored projects, they have already learned the benefits of service. Matt explained, “When I serve others, it builds me.” He went on to say he’s hoping his time in Bolivia will teach him more about how to serve and be a better person. Both boys expressed anticipating that this experience will be the highlight of their summer.

Learning to embrace Bolivia and its people will require a little play time, too. With their HEFY expedition, Matt and Braydon will be able to take a tour down the Amazon River, hike through the jungle, fish for piranhas, and zipline in the rainforest. I asked if they’re nervous about any of these plans. They exchanged a look of adventurous enthusiasm and assured me, “No. This will put all our campouts to shame!”

Matt and Braydon are eager to embrace the Bolivian people as well. I asked why, of all the countries available for a service expedition, they chose Bolivia. Matt explained, “When I watched the videos showing service projects and people in different countries, I just felt like Bolivia was where I needed to go. It just felt right.”

Both boys admit that fundraising and working to earn $3,000 each has been a long, difficult endeavor. If you’re interested in donating to the boys’ fundraising efforts toward their humanitarian service in Bolivia, please visit HEFY.org. There you can provide the names Matt Averett and Braydon Butler with your donation, and they will receive your contribution directly.

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