Passport Youth Camp Reflection by Bill Campbell

Last week, I was fortunate enough to accompany more than thirty youth to Passport camp in Macon, GA.  We participated in group devotions, worship, individual devotions, and lots of fun activities. A central part of the camp was mission work.  We divided into groups of youth from various churches. Some went to a day center for kids, and the rest of us worked on houses and sites around Macon.

My group went to the home of Ms. Spivey.  Her home was in serious need of repair.  Other groups before us had already been there, but there was still so much to do.  Many of the homes in the area had already fallen in on themselves. Ms. Spivey’s home appeared to be structurally sound, but in significant need of help.  We scraped, and painted, and painted, and painted. It was hard (and sometimes tedious) work in the July heat of Macon, GA.

On the last day, we were getting ready to leave.  Next on the schedule was free time and volleyball. Two of our youth saw with eyes different than mine.  These two youth gathered some oranges and apples left in our cooler.  They carried them to the porch, and knocked on the door. At first, there was no answer.  But the youth remained. Then an 84-year old woman slowly emerged—Ms. Spivey.  “We brought these for you,” they said. Ms. Spivey could scarcely believe her eyes.  She was beaming.  Our youth had deviated from the scheduled “mission.”  They didn’t see a house.  They saw a person. They saw Ms. Spivey.  While the rest of us were ready to “git done and git gone,” these two youth stood in an open doorway and showed Ms. Spivey in a personal way that she was loved.  Ms. Spivey was overcome.  She took a couple of oranges and an apple.  “No,” the youth insisted. “These are all for you.”

God approaches us.  Sometimes we can’t believe it.  Sometimes we just take a little—maybe we don’t understand, maybe we don’t feel worthy.  But God approaches us in abundance.  This is my love for you—yes, for you.  Receive it, and take it all.