A small group from Utah Valley won't be eating traditional Thanksgiving turkey this year, and they're looking for others who want to do the same. Brent Whiting, of Mapleton, and founder of YUDA Foundation, is heading up a group to perform several humanitarian service projects in Guatemala over the Thanksgiving holidays. Whiting, who travels to Guatemala several times a year, says there's no better way to spend the holiday season. "This kind of experience is truly life changing," Whiting says, "there's nothing quite like visiting a third world country to make you grateful for what you have. It's hard to describe the impact a trip like this can have on you."

In August, Whiting took two groups to Guatemala who, among other things, poured a concrete floor for a family in the town of San Martin Jilotepeque, about an hour outside of Guatemala City. Several young men participated in this project, which involved mixing the cement by hand since the small home couldn't be accessed by a concrete truck. "It was hard work," said Cody Dalton, 18 of Tooele, "But it felt good to help. When they thanked us they were crying."

Over Thanksgiving, Whiting plans to do a "food and clothing" project, along with some smaller projects, one will likely involve an orphanage. "We've been doing the food and clothing project for several years," Whiting said, "and it's always one of the most touching experiences we have." The food and clothing project consists of filling large boxes full of a month's supply of food and clothes for a family. These boxes are personally delivered, with group members seeing for themselves the day to day lives of Guatemalan families and becoming friends, an extremely impactful and memorable experience.

While the focus of these humanitarian trips is service, Whiting and his groups also take time to see some of the amazing things Guatemala has to offer the tourist, such as the ancient Mayan ruins of Tikal, and the exhilarating climb up Pacaya, a live volcano.

Families, couples, or singles, are invited to participate this Thanksgiving. For more information about the service project and the costs involved, contact Brent Whiting at 801-623-0229, or visit, www.yudafoundation.org.