USY on Wheels,
Mission: Mitzvah

*The pictures below are links; clicking on them will take you to a larger version of that picture.

Sunday, July 11th:
Bus H had an enjoyable Shabbat complete with singing, davening, discussions and plenty of time to rest and hang out. In the morning the group began the trip to Phoenix. When they arrived they volunteered at the Jewish Council for Special Needs by holding a carnival for the residents and helping them prepare gift packages for Rosh HaShana. The wheelniks then headed over to their hotel to check in. Mission mitzvah finished off the day by doing their laundry before getting to bed early ahead of their trip to the Grand Canyon.

  

  

    

    

    

    

    

    

Monday, July 12th:
Today Mission Mitzvah made their way from the Phoenix area to the Grand Canyon. In the morning the wheelniks visited the Stuffington Bear Factory where they learned about the company and got to build their very own teddy bears. The group then boarded the bus and did some karaoke on the ride. When they arrived they davened mincha outdoors and had dinner. In the evening the wheelniks had an evening program outdoors, and then they headed to bed early ahead of tomorrow’s sunrise wake up.

Tuesday, July 13th:
Today Bus H woke up at 4 AM and headed to the edge of the Grand Canyon to daven Shacharit as the sun rose over the stunningly beautiful canyon. Following Shacharit the wheelniks ate breakfast and then put on their hiking boots and trekked down into the canyon for a morning hike. The group then had some free time to rest from the hike and the early wake up. After lunch, Mission Mitzvah went to see the Grand Canyon IMAX which taught them about the history of the canyon and its formation and gave them some majestic views of this natural wonder. In the evening Bus H had dinner and then did an evening program under the stars.

    

    

    

Wednesday, July 14th:
This morning Bus H said goodbye to Arizona and made their way to Las Vegas, NV. As they made their way through Nevada the group stopped off to volunteer at St. Jude’s Children’s Ranch, an organization which serves abused children. When they arrived in Las Vegas the wheelniks headed to a restaurant for an Israeli style dinner and then went on a drive down the Strip. In the evening they returned to their hotel for a program about special needs and then went to bed.

    

    

Thursday, July 15th:
Today Bus H began the day with two volunteering opportunitiues. First the wheelniks stopped at Opportunity Village, a group that assists adults with disabilities, where they worked with the clients. Then the group went to the local food bank where they helped package over 9,000 pounds of meat. The group then returned to the city and had free time to explore the various hotels on the strip. After dinner they headed out to the strip again where they had free time in the New York New York hotel to play games in the arcade.

    





    

    

    

Friday, July 16th:
Today Bus H left Las Vegas and drove to San Diego, California. On the way the wheelniks began preparations for Shabbat and many of them worked on their readings from Aicha. Once in San Diego the group went to a nearby supermarket where they picked up food and goodies as well as decorations for their Israel themed Shabbat. The wheelniks are looking forward to catching up on some rest after a busy but exciting week! Shabbat Shalom!