More than 120 community members here were recognized for the combined 9,000-plus hours of volunteer service they provided to the Religious Support Office over the last year. The RSO thanked the nearly 150 volunteers and their family members by hosting an appreciation dinner for them Sept. 27 at the Camp Zama Community Club.
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CAMP ZAMA, Japan – More than 120 community members here were recognized for the combined 9,000-plus hours of volunteer service they provided to the Religious Support Office over the last year.
The RSO thanked the nearly 150 volunteers and their family members by hosting an appreciation dinner for them Sept. 27 at the Camp Zama Community Club.
U.S. Army Garrison Japan Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Damon Saxton lauded the volunteers, saying they supported the RSO in several ways, including playing music at events, providing audiovisual support, teaching youth classes, hosting adult and bilingual Bible study sessions, and supporting the annual Vacation Bible School program.
“There is no way that the RSO could take care of our congregation and do everything we do with just the staff we have,” Saxton said. “We need volunteers, and we want them to know how much we appreciate all they do for us.”
Saxton also praised what Col. Marcus Hunter, USAG Japan commander and speaker at the dinner, said about volunteerism and the philosophy known as the “Law of Love” during his remarks: “It’s not that you love the people who do things for you. You love the people you do things for.”
“We want our communities to be connected,” Saxton said. “As people do things for other people, it connects them, and there are so many positive things come out of that.”
Attendees dine at an appreciate event Sept. 27 at the Camp Zama Community, during which several community members were recognized for the combined 9,000-plus hours of volunteer service they provided to the Religious Support Office over the last year.
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Patty Flick-Hill, who served as one of the directors for this summer’s Vacation Bible School program and has supported both children’s and women’s ministry, said it was an honor for her and the other volunteers to be recognized for their work with the chapel.
“I am happy to give my time, and it’s a very gratifying thing to be a part of,” Flick-Hill said. “I want our community to flourish and want others to grow in their walk with God, and I think everything the RSO is doing here is positive and benefits the community.”
Matthew Rojas, assigned to USAG Japan’s Internal Review and Audit Compliance Office, regularly leads a church group for sixth through 12th graders, provides audiovisual support when needed, and even took time off from work to support the Vacation Bible School program.
When Rojas arrived at Camp Zama, he learned the previous youth leader had recently left. Seeing an immediate need and not wanting that resource to be lost, he jumped at the chance to get involved.
Being recognized at the dinner was nice, but Rojas said that is not the reason he or the other volunteers do what they do.
“It’s an opportunity for me [and for us] to serve others, contributing to something bigger than me and my family,” he said.
