It's a long, long way from Chinle, Arizona, to the islands of Hawaii—and a trip Chinle teacher Rebecca Billy never considered for her class.

It all started after a semester of studying the ocean and sea life in the spring of 2006, when the Chinle students made a field trip to San Diego. This was the first time most of the students had ever left the security of the Navajo Reservation. The ocean was intimidating at first, but a few at a time jumped into the water, screaming and laughing. One boy suggested that their next field trip should be to Hawaii. "Pleeease, Ms. Rebecca," he said, as he smiled and wrapped his arms around her.

"Students think their teachers can make anything happen, " says Rebecca Billy.

The subject of Hawaii next came up in July when Ed and Vicki Perry, who had lived on the reservation for several years, told Billy that they would be moving to Hawaii. Vickie, who would teach in Hawaii, suggested that the Chinle students should come over and share a science camp with the Hilo students. Both teachers laughed at the idea, knowing what a great adventure it would be, but also knowing what an impossible dream it was.

When Billy met a fellow-teacher, Julia, during the Adventist Teacher's Conference in Atlanta, she was thrilled to find out that Julia was from Mauna Loa Adventist School, and that Vicki Perry was the new principal at their school. Billy marveled at all these "hints" and wondered if the Lord was opening some doors for them. She approached the Holbrook School Board, who approved the plan, and then some very serious fundraising began.

Chinle students corresponded with Hilo students for several months before they left, so it was a happy meeting for the students and a happy reunion for Julia, Vicki and Rebecca, when they arrived in Hawaii. They were welcomed with a pizza supper on the beach, provided by Kona School head teacher, Joey Freitas. On Sabbath they sang in Navajo for the congregation.

The remainder of the trip was spent in Volcano National Park, camping with the Kona and Hilo students and studying the geology of Hawaii. They hiked the volcanoes, explored the rain forest, played on the beaches of Hilo and Kona, swam with sea turtles, learned to use a compass and made many new friends. For Chinle school students, their classroom—and their world—was expanded by this impossible dream trip to Hawaii, and they thanked God for blessing them with so many supporters and imaginative teachers.