What I learned working at HXP
I love HXP, also called Humanitarian Experience. It’s an organization that brings teenagers together to focus on God and to serve people in impoverished communities around the world. My three older kids have gone on 8 trips over the past few years, to Hawaii, Georgia, Tennessee, Panama, North Carolina, Texas, and Cambodia. They came back each time changed—more aware of who they are and who they want to become. They’ve met new best friends, gone on temple trips, explored different cultures, had adventures, built classrooms and houses and wheelchair ramps, and grown closer to God. It’s awesome.
I love HXP so much that I asked how I could get involved. They said I could come do an internship. So I applied and was welcomed for three months last fall. What I learned working there gave me an insight into how they help their teen builders (8,000 this summer) have a life-changing experience. Some of the lessons I came away with I plan to apply to the rest of my life. Here are just a few:
What’s the Big Picture? Every day at HXP the office asks one person to share 5-10 minutes about why they are there. I heard so many beautiful experiences from the people who work there along with their testimonies of God and of the work they are all doing. It was so beautiful. It helped me recognize that every day should start with my why. Why is what I’m doing today important? What matters most? And home I actually instigated a weekly 10-minute devotional on Tuesday mornings at my house where each family member takes a turn teaching the rest of us about something they’ve learned about recently that is important to them. It’s so fun to hear our kids teach us. It doesn’t take a lot of time, but it does make a difference to hear each other’s testimonies.
Truly known and deeply loved. This is a core concept at HXP. This is how they treat their trip leaders, who they hire to lead groups of 15 or so teenagers in places around the world. The builders have to feel known and loved. The leaders are the ones who help make that happen, so HXP wants them to feel known and loved. After going through a super rigorous hiring process, HXP staff members take 30 minutes on the phone getting to know each trip leader, then picking out a small, inexpensive gift that is individualized for each leader. What a better way to feel known and loved than by having someone get to know you and then show that they know you and care about you? I felt this phenomenon while I was working there—that I too was known and loved. Even though I was just a bottom-of-the-totem-pole intern, I was welcomed onto a team where people treated me as a friend. They got to know me and invited me to lunches and helped me have projects I was interested in. I want to take this concept and use it in my life so that the people I care about know that I know and love them.
Trusted. This was the theme of the office this year, inspired by the book The Speed of Trust. Every year HXP picks a book to study, discuss, and absorb. I loved reading The Speed of Trust and discussing the principles of what it means to trust others and become trusted too. I came to appreciate how this is the most important aspect of any relationship, whether with a friend, myself, a spouse, or God. I want to be someone who is trusted by showing up, doing what I say, having integrity, and being accountable.
Miracles. This is one of my favorite parts of HXP. Their tagline is “we believe in miracles,” and they do. They have a wall covered in sticky notes of miracles people have experienced at the office or on trips. They talk about miracles. They pray for miracles. Someone had misplaced their passport on a trip and a message went out to the whole office asking everyone to pray for her. In our team meetings, we prayed regularly, including occasionally on our knees. This is the only office space where I have seen this done! I love that they truly believe in and seek miracles. Now I try to look for miracles too, and we’ve even started our own miracle wall of sticky notes. It’s fun to see how if you look for God’s hand, you find it.
These are just a few of the things I learned and want to remember. I’m so grateful for my experience working with a group of people that are truly aiming to “strengthen the roots of covenant Israel,” as their stated mission. Thank you HXP—I’m better today because of my time with you. Can’t wait to send my cute daughter to Belize with you this summer!
