Blog Post

Sending My Daughters to HOPE Youth Corps Has Changed the Way They See Their Faith and the World

HOPE Youth Corps/ HOPE worldwide Singles Corps • Sep 16, 2017

Michelle Charon shares about the impact HYC has had on her family.

My name is Michelle Charon. My husband and I have a full house with four teenage daughters.
Our older three girls are disciples of Christ, and the youngest one is on her way to making the
same decision to have her own relationship with God, and become a disciple herself. We are a
busy household, and love serving in the Kingdom of God. My husband is a deacon and
together we lead our local Chapter which helps serve with HOPE worldwide in our local
community, as well as helping to lead our Youth and Family Ministry. We have strived to raise
our girls to love serving, and pray that they are drawn to those in need. We also pray they
continue to use their lives to serve those less fortunate than themselves, to show Jesus’ love
where hearts are hurting and in need of the truth, to show people that God loves them, is
paying attention, and will give them comfort through disciples who are willing to show His love.
We have been so fortunate to have made the decision to send our girls to HOPE Youth Corps
every year. Our older three have been on a total of seven trips between them, and our
youngest cannot wait until it is her turn to go and serve when she is old enough.

In sending our girls on these trips to Denver, Philadelphia (twice), Mexico, Vancouver, Dallas,
and Bolivia so far, we have seen changes in them that only God can provide. Once their eyes
were opened to serving in such a deep and powerful way, and how much good it does for their
hearts and characters, they were hooked on serving with HOPE worldwide !

They have seen things that we could not possibly have shown them while we live in the suburbs
of Massachusetts in our comfortable home with our easy lives. They so look forward to
traveling each summer to a place where they learn something new and challenging about the
people they serve, as well as the spiritual lessons they find, as they give their hearts to the
people and each other, rely on God, work harder than they thought possible, give more of
themselves than they knew they had, and gain so much more as they exhaust themselves to
meet all of the needs.

My girls have come back from HOPE Youth Corps completely different from these experiences.
They love how spiritual the whole crew can be, the new friends they make that love God as
much as they do, the discipleship groups they attend where they can be real, learn to be more
giving, open up about how much it hurts to know they can’t do it all or make everything better
in one trip.


The bond they form with the people they serve alongside is a very powerful thing. They make
friends that become best friends, closer than they could ever imagine, by having gone through
the same serving experiences. They meet future college roommates, learn to love people they
never would have thought would be a good friend, laugh until it hurts about the memories they
make, Skype with their new 20 best friends after the trip is long over, cry because they miss the
bond they made in that new place, fly across the country to visit those new best friends, and
thank God every day for these experiences.

We will forever be grateful for the experiences that HOPE Youth Corps brings and the blessings
that come from serving and bonding, as well as hard work. We have seen our girls cry about
the people they meet that are so in need. They have kept in touch with the children they
mentored, sent packages to the orphanages they’ve left behind, prayed for the families and the
lives they’ve touched, and smiled from so many good memories of times that only they can
understand.

If there is one major thing that we think has been the most powerful in helping shape our
daughters into the strong, faithful women they are today, outside of our family, hands down it
would be the spiritual growth they gain from serving and the amazing job that HOPE Youth
Corps has done in making these trips possible.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to all of the volunteers and leaders who work with
HOPE Youth Corps. Your work is not in vain, and your sacrifice is changing the lives of the other
volunteers like my girls, as well as changing lives all over the world of those who benefit from
these service trips.

We cannot wait to see our lives change once again as we look forward to joining in as a family
on one of the many opportunities to serve on one of the Volunteer Corps open to families.



23 Feb, 2024
For the past two years, HOPE worldwide has been actively involved in providing aid and support to the people of Ukraine amidst the ongoing humanitarian disaster where thousands of our brothers and sisters faced an unprecedented crisis. The situation has demanded urgent action, and with the help of generous donors and dedicated volunteers, many lives have been saved and significant milestones have been achieved. Let's take a look back at the journey:
01 Feb, 2024
Inspiring Sunday Suppers hosted by our family of volunteers:
18 Dec, 2023
As the year draws to a close, HOPE worldwide would like to honor and acknowledge many years of leadership provided by Nadine Templer, Senior Director of International Volunteer Programs.
29 Nov, 2023
A Higher Calling: Dr. Marc Aguirre's Mission to Serve the Marginalized and Vulnerable
08 Nov, 2023
USAID Administrator Samantha Power Visits HOPE worldwide's Clinic in Papua New Guinea During Her First Official Visit
12 Sep, 2023
Maui Fires Disaster Response Update: September 12, 2023
31 Jul, 2023
Dear HOPE worldwide Community, First and foremost, let me express my heartfelt gratitude for the warm welcome you have extended to me as the new CEO of HOPE worldwide . It is both an honor and a privilege to be entrusted with this leadership role, and I am excited to embark on this journey with each and every one of you. As I reflect on my life's journey, I am reminded of a pivotal moment that shaped the very essence of who I am today. Losing my mother tragically at the tender age of four taught me the harsh reality of impermanence, of how someone could be there one moment and gone the next. At such a young age, I did not fully understand the concept of death, but what I did understand was the importance of living. James 4:13-15 holds a profound truth that resonates deeply within me: “ Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.’” Our time on this earth is fleeting, and the realization of this truth was the spark that awakened a desire in me to truly live and embrace every moment with purpose and passion. I have found my purpose, my calling, in the mission of HOPE worldwide. The work we do here, touching lives and making an impact by loving our neighbors, allows me to live my passion.
24 Jul, 2023
The HOPE worldwide Board of Directors is excited to announce the appointment of Dr. Ben Barnett to the role of CEO and President of HOPE worldwide
27 Jun, 2023
PRESS RELEASE June 27, 2023 HOPE worldwide , a leading non-profit organization dedicated to providing sustainable, high-impact, community-based services, including critical healthcare services, disaster relief, and education, to underserved communities globally, is proud to announce the recognition received by the Lawes Road Clinic in Papua New Guinea during a recent visit by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken . This visit highlighted the impactful work carried out by HOPE worldwide global network member, HOPE worldwide Papua New Guinea (PNG), in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as part of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the U.S. government’s largest effort to combat HIV. During his visit to Papua New Guinea, Secretary Blinken had the opportunity to tour HOPE worldwide PNG’s Lawes Road Clinic, which is led by HOPE worldwide PNG Country Director Priscilla Sine Mal, and witness firsthand the incredible efforts undertaken by the dedicated team. The clinic's commitment to improving the lives of the local community in various areas, including HIV prevention and treatment, and treatment for victims of violence against women deeply impressed Secretary Blinken. In his remarks, Secretary Blinken expressed his admiration for the clinic's work, stating, "This was a real privilege to be here at the Lawes Road clinic where quite literally our partners are saving lives, changing lives, every single day." The visit showcased the significant impact of HOPE worldwide Papua New Guinea’s clinic on the region, highlighting its vital role in providing essential healthcare services to those most in need and who often have the most difficult time getting treatment, in part due to the social stigma often associated with their conditions. The Lawes Road Clinic operates under the auspices of the Presidential Emergency Plan For HIV/AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), funded through USAID and implemented in collaboration with FHI 360 and HOPE worldwide . The clinic has been instrumental in providing critical care, support, and testing for HIV/AIDS patients in Papua New Guinea, contributing to the nationwide efforts to combat the disease. This year, PEPFAR celebrates its 20th anniversary, and its 17th year of implementation in Papua New Guinea. HOPE worldwide is honored by the recognition bestowed upon HOPE worldwide Papua New Guinea and the Lawes Road Clinic by Secretary Blinken and remains committed to its mission of transforming communities and improving lives through local, volunteer-based initiatives. With the continuous support of partners like USAID and the unwavering dedication of its teams on the ground, HOPE worldwide and its global network of members like HOPE worldwide PNG strive to create a healthier, more resilient future for all.
UKRAINE RELIEF
By HOPE worldwide 14 Mar, 2023
HOPE worldwide is actively assessing the situation to prepare aid and recovery assistance for the many families affected by the current crisis in Ukraine.
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