Yuki and Yuya’s Family, Japan (FVP Story 2021.)
Traveling and camping with family are special, but volunteering together is even more special. Yuki, Yuya, mom and dad created many special memories this summer volunteering as a family.
With online classes and extended breaks, Yuki and Yuya’s summer was long. Mom and dad decided to make the summer special by camping and volunteering together.
In July the family joined other families to build a mountain trail in Montana. After lifting rocks, cutting tree branches, and cutting grass in the scorching sun, they got to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and experience the pride of building something together.
In August they made a beautiful origami scene for a local senior center. This was Yuki and Yuya’s favorite. Dad created autumn flowers, Mom challenged flowers, cranes and butterflies, Yuki made a difficult but awesome piece and Yuya made simple butterflies and leaves. Each person added their own part to the masterpiece.
In September, they began a giving box coin collection to support mothers and families in nations like Uganda, Philippines and Nepal. Yuya cut out the paper giving box, constructed it and colored it. Mom, Dad, and Yuki filled the box, because Yuya had too many toys he wanted to buy, so he was short of pocket money.
In the beginning, Yuki and Yuya wondered why they had to keep volunteering. But as Mom and Dad continued to explain and as they served, they learned about each other and grew closer as a family. “Creating special memories through these family volunteer activities requires the efforts and inputs of both parents and children. I think that the growth of the family and the change of the community through volunteering are the outcomes of these inputs,” says Mom. It was a wonderful summer of service.
How about taking on “family volunteers for peace” to make extra special memories on your family vacation?