By Tonya Duncan, Mountain States Regional Administrator
Exchange students really are woven into the fabric of this country. Every community across the nation, big and small, has had the opportunity to experience a different culture from the comfort of their own home, community or school. That's really what makes this program so special. This week we're visiting with the Telford family from Idaho.
Tyler grew up on a farm in a small town in Idaho and was one of 14 students in his graduating class. Because of their location, Tyler's family did not have the opportunity to travel much but they had an understanding of the importance of access to other cultures and so hosted 2 students from Japan. Tyler even accompanied a Bulgarian exchange student in his high school to his prom. Little did he know then how much cultural exchange would become a part of his whole life.
At the age of 18, Tyler decided to serve a mission for the LDS church and was called to go to Brazil! In preparation to spend the next 2 years of his life 5,000+ miles away from home, he had to learn a new language – and he had 6 weeks to accomplish that before being dropped into small town Brazil! Because his family had traveled very little, he had never even been on a plane. Needless to say, it was a life changing experience for him, one that he reports he would not trade for the world. He fell in love with the people and the culture of Brazil.
20+ years ago in the State of Paraiba, Brazil
Tyler returned home to Idaho where he became a teacher, married a wonderful woman named Lain, started a family and eventually became the principal of the local High School.
Through his work at the High School, Tyler found himself involved in cultural exchange once again as the school welcomed exchange students into their student body. He loved how much the foreign students bring to small town Idaho- sharing new ideas, culture, diversity, and so much more. He spent the first few years of his job watching the local American students grow from their interactions with the exchange students, in class as well as in the community.
Through this involvement, Tyler and Lain have become a wonderful part of the SHARE! team. Lain became the local SHARE! coordinator and began placing and supervising students in their local area. The Telford’s now have 7 kids of their own and at first the idea of welcoming a student into their home seemed like it would just be one too many. However, they enjoyed working with and getting to know the students so much they decided to take the plunge! Now after experiencing first-hand what the kids bring to a family, they are so glad they opened their Hearts AND Home and have hosted multiple students from different countries.
Recently, they had the opportunity to host a sweet girl from – you guessed it – Brazil! Tyler was so excited to revisit the culture, but this time in his own home. Without a beat missed, they now had a Brazilian daughter! She brought so much love and joy to their home, building personal relationships with each of their 7 kids, who ranged in age from teens to toddlers at the time.
The Telford Family with their Brazilian daughter Jasmin
The following year, it just so happened that SHARE!’s incentive trip was to Brazil! Lain and Tyler worked hard to be able to be a part of it and even though they were not able to meet up with their beloved Brazilian daughter because of distance and time constraints, they were overjoyed to be able to go. Tyler NEVER thought he would set foot in Brazil again after leaving from his mission. This time, he experienced a very different area, but was able to immerse in the culture and speak the beautiful language again (he became the trip's personal translator). He was grateful to be back in the country he fell in love with so many years ago.
On Ilhabela, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Approximately 1,500 miles from where Tyler served his mission. That’s the mother of 7 being held upside down there. WOW! I’m speechless!
The SHARE! program is lucky to work with the Telford family as they are a shining example of how hosting an exchange student can truly change your life. We look forward to seeing how their own children's lives are influenced by the cultural differences they've been exposed to because of their parent's dedication to the exchange program.