By Libby & Katie Gear
It has always been much more than just hunting in the Gear Household. For us, hunting is about answering the divine call from God to tend to His Garden –to put others first above all else. For most hunters, how we take care of others is through eating the meat that we have harvested, providing clothing materials when we can, and being conservationists. The SCIF Bell Family Blue Bag Program provides hunters the opportunity to take care of God’s Garden in a whole new way.
I, Libby, and my sister Katie, have had the honor and blessing to grow up in a household where serving God’s creation comes naturally. So, it felt only right to give Blue Bags to the Holpan Skool, where 230 students received hygienic supplies like toothbrushes, toothpaste, socks, and more. When we arrived at the school, we were welcomed with songs of praise through hymns from the students. The students sang hymns, we got to pray over them, and we all got to play outside. God’s presence was deeply felt in that courtyard.
Katie, as a teacher who has taught around 230 students in her three years of teaching, knows that there is nothing she wouldn’t do to love and protect her students. When hunters participate in the SCIF Bell Family Blue Bag Program, we become much more than just hunters- we become advocates and care givers of God’s people. We become Garden Tenders. We become the hands and feet of Jesus. And that is why hunting will always be much more to us. I, Libby, as the younger sister, learned early that while harvesting an animal can be memorable, the true reward lies in using that experience to give back. The SCIF Bell Family Blue Bag program has helped us understand the deeper purpose behind the hunt: to positively impact lives and leave a lasting legacy of love and generosity.
The Bell Family Blue Bag Program allows hunters to make their safaris more than the pursuit of game. It offers a powerful opportunity to step into local communities, meet real needs, especially among children, and represent who we truly are as hunters. It shows that we as hunters care about more than just shooting trophies, we care about impacting lives.
We’ve always leapt at the chance to carry a Blue Bag. In fact, the drop-off is often the most anticipated part of safaris. Meeting the children, teachers, and administrators, and hearing their stories, has deepened our appreciation for the connection between hunting, conservation, and compassion.
God has entrusted us with a profound responsibility: to care for both the people and places we cherish. The laughter, songs, prayers, soccer games, and unforgettable moments experienced through this program will remain with us forever.
Because in the end, it’s never been just about the hunt. It’s always been about the people.
