The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Cassandra O. during the 2008-2009 League.
Mission: Action - Volunteer for a Community/Non-profit Organization
Youth Haven is a camp for disadvantaged kids, many who not only lack material comforts, but also a family to love them and care for them. The goal of Youth Haven is to offer the kids a safe, fun, Christian environment where there are people who love them. Volunteering there has been one of the most life changing experiences I have had. To fully explain the experience of being there and the way it transforms your life is almost impossible. During the time I spent at Youth Haven, I was able to witness true contentment, joy, patience, unconditional love, and sacrifice in a way I never had before.
Contentment & Joy: As a "volunteer," you are assigned to a team of kids with a "team leader" who works there full time. During the time you are there, you spend every single minute with them. You get to know the kids, spend time with them, and sometimes listen to stories about their life. Right away, they will open up to you. Looking at them, and watching them as they tell you what they are going through, and still seeing a smile on their face is mind boggling. Most of the girls that I came in contact with came from broken families and awful situations, but they were so happy. They love everyone to the fullest extent and are so happy that you take the time to care about them. For Christians, the concept of contentment is not a new one. Philippians 4:12-13 says, "I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." I realized during my trip that although I do not truly know what it is to be brought low, I am often discontent. This was a huge thing that I learned from the girls on my team; I should be content in all situations and thankful for everything that I have.
Patience & Unconditional Love: I was told ahead of time that I was going to need a lot of patience with these kids, something that I generally lack. I mean, my siblings are generally bad enough as it is, but kids who are running wild at camp are way worse. My first day there, my patience was stretched beyond belief. Some of my girls were really shy and wouldn't talk. Others would talk and talk and talk and I couldn’t pay attention to the less talkative girls. Some of the girls would try to draw negative attention to themselves. It was all very frustrating and at times these girls were not easy to love. John 13:34-35 says, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." Watching how God worked in all of us volunteers and gave us HIS love for these kids was amazing. He helped us love those campers more than we ever could have by ourselves. And with that love, came a patience that I never knew I was able to have.
Sacrifice: Many could say us volunteers "sacrificed" our time off to be there, but the real sacrifice came from all of the Youth Haven employees. Not only do they spend nearly all year in a cabin with really hyper kids, but they also do it for little pay. After the little time we volunteers spent there, we were exhausted and emotionally drained. However, the workers stay at Youth Haven to clean, and the day after we leave, they get to start all over again with a new group of children. 1 John 3:17-18 says, "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." The kids who come to Youth Haven may not all necessarily be lacking material possessions, but many of them lack love. The Youth Haven employees sacrifice a lot simply to be there and to love the campers. I feel so blessed to have been able to work with these people and be around these kids.
