Through a remarkable chain of events, I was led to VFI and my new pal, Vade Bolton.  I also was led to ask my best friend, Charlie Smarr, to volunteer also, and he did almost immediately.  On July 1^st of this year we traveled to Israel for our volunteer assignment.  As I thought about what few skills I had to offer, I knew that I was old, extroverted, and had a love for Israel and her people.  I told Charlie that perhaps I could encourage the young soldiers wherever we ended up as one of our goals.  (Our primary goal was to please Vade, VFI, and base where we would be assigned). 

We were assigned to a base outside of Beersheba.  Our second night there, after supper, we were leaving the mess-hall and there were about a dozen soldiers at a gazebo chatting and enjoying the evening.  I said to Charlie, "Let’s go and chat with them."

I asked if someone could interpret what I had to say to the other soldiers and one of them said yes.  I told them we had paid our way to come to Israel.  We supported Israel, her people, and especially the soldiers.  I told them we loved them, were proud of them, and were there to encourage and support them.  I told them we knew they had a tough job and that we cared. I told them each one of them were our heroes. The young soldiers responded immediately with “high fives,” “fist knocks” and were cheering and smiling and we were hugging.  I am an emotional person and easily get teary and this seemed to go over pretty well. 

We then went to another gazebo outside of their small refreshment PX where more soldiers were.  Charlie and I went and sat with them and just told them the same story and I shared stories of my experiences during my time in the US Army as a draftee in 1967-69.  It was just overwhelming the emotional and affectionate response the soldiers gave us back.  I quickly became their “grandfather” and no grandfather was more proud of his grandkids that I was and am of these young terrific soldiers.  We can all be proud of them in every way.  I told them many times they were our heroes.  (Charlie and I always let the soldiers go ahead of us in line for chow.  Small gestures like this cemented our relationships with them.)   

I must give a tremendous amount of credit to my best pal, Charlie Smarr.  Charlie is a wonderfully gifted “people person.”  He makes friends easily and loves people and meeting them.  He is naturally gifted in making friends out of strangers.  The other volunteers also picked up on this and pretty soon it was a group effort all the way.  We invited the soldiers to our recreation room and watched the world soccer matches, had pizza and pop brought in and pretty soon we had standing room only.  (All of this we did on our own time after our day’s work.)

It is very difficult to put into words how these relationships with the soldiers brought such joy to our hearts.  It was the most meaningful part of our experience.  All we brought were our hearts to do our best in our day’s work and then to encourage the soldiers and our fellow volunteers. 

I have learned many things as I have pondered these events.  Perhaps the best is that real joy comes from giving all you have for a cause that is greater than any self-interest.   There is no better blessing than to have a heart full of joy.  I realize we gave very little really but just identifying with Israel and her people and showing our love has been returned to our hearts beyond measure. 

Perhaps the best way to end is a quote from Albert Schweitzer; “I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve. ” 

Albert had it right. 

 Frosty Chapman, a Christian, and a pal.