You know what’s always amazed me?
How something as simple as a college student saying “yes” to a summer can turn into something much bigger over time.
For years, we’ve had students come serve with us. They arrive not fully knowing what to expect but come willing. And somewhere along the way, something shifts. You see it in how they connect, how they listen, how they begin to care about people in a deeper way. And then, years later when you start hearing it in their stories.
Some of them have stepped into missions around the world. Others have built their lives around serving people. Every once in a while, someone gives their whole life to missions, quietly serving in places most of us will never see and where it's unsafe to even name. It’s humbling. And it makes you grateful for every small beginning.
This photo is one of those beginnings. That’s Savanna.
She spent several summers with us, and if you knew her, you’d understand right away. She never met a stranger. But what made her so special wasn’t just her personality. It was the way she built real relationships, especially with the kids. Darius and Marcel weren’t just names to her, they were her friends. She paid attention, made sure they had school supplies year after year, and showed up in ways that were steady and intentional.
She became known and trusted in the Roma communities we serve. And that kind of trust is built over time with consistency and care. When you look at her story, you realize it’s not just about one summer. It’s about the kind of life that grows out of those moments.
This summer, four young women from Azusa Pacific will step into similar moments like Savannah did. They will be serving with RTC at VBS and spending time at camp. These opportunities will give them time to show up for kids who simply need to be seen and known.
Right now, they may not realize how much this experience will shape them or others. And then, years from now, they will have a story too.
And on the other side of it, there will be kids like Darius and Marcel who remember the laughter, the attention, and the feeling they got when someone showed up for them.
It’s a simple thing, really. But it matters more than we often realize.
