Greetings to you, Willowdale family! I am back from the International Pathfinder Camporee. There were 60,000 thousand Pathfinders and their families gathered together at Campflex in Gillette, Wyoming. 45 Willowdale members who are members of the Willowdale Warriors Pathfinder Club and their family members attended the camporee from August 5 to 11. What is so great is that three Pathfinders of our club, Alyzah DelMundo, Zoe Dzitkowski, and Annalise Smith, were baptized there on August 7. We had a great time there.
However, this camporee was quite tough, particularly in terms of weather. We had many rains and experienced two thunderstorms. We even had to escape into a building once to keep us safe in the thunderstorm. Many tents were not solid enough in such weather conditions, and the sleeping bags and clothes were wet. Most days were cloudy, and the temperature was relatively low. I had a cold (and am still coughing). It was never easy camping, but we survived by the grace of our God.
However, this challenging circumstance made the Camporee’s theme clearer. The theme is “Believe the Promise!” Based on the story of Exodus, every night, we listened to the messages of the keynote speaker and watched the musical act of the story of Moses. When things were most difficult, Moses still believed in God’s promise and encouraged his people to believe that promise. When the promise was almost forgotten and seemed difficult to come true, God called and met Moses at the bush, and He sent him to Egypt. God delivered the people of Israel and finally kept His promise.
Even though the weather was not good, and the toilets and showers were inconvenient as well, rather in such difficulties, we could believe better that God’s promise for us never changes and have more confidence in the truth that God always keeps His promises. Best of all, our Pathfinders enjoyed the camporee in such bad weather doing a lot of activities, trading pins, and eagerly attending evening events, and the parents who supported them provided great meals, safety, and convenience as much as they could. I appreciate all the attendees for their faith, hard work, and positive attitudes throughout the week.
Our church greatly supported us for the trip to the international camporee this year. The church made a huge investment in the young people in the Pathfinder Club. I don’t know how to thank you enough. If someone were to ask me if this support from the church is worth it, I would say absolutely. The experience of meeting, fellowshipping, working together, worshiping God, and sharing His Word with 60,000 Pathfinders from across North America and around the world would have made them proud to be a part of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and would have given them more love and pride in their Adventist faith and the Church.
Moreover, I believe they will grow as future church leaders through the Pathfinder ministry. I am so grateful that our Pathfinders could be there. To be honest, this camporee was too hard for me. Personally, I was sick, and at the end of the week, I was exhausted. I felt I did not want to attend the camporee again on the last day. Then, I asked my second son Taeshin, “Would you like to attend the next international camporee?” He said without hesitation, “Yes.” I believe it was not only Taeshin’s answer but also every Pathfinder there. I think I may have to go to Gillette, Wyoming in 2029 with my family due to the answer of my son.
Willowdale Warriors will soon begin to prepare for the next international Pathfinder camporee in 2029. We need to do a lot, including buying new tents that are solid in the storms and camping equipment. I appreciate your support and prayers for the Pathfinder ministry and ask for your help. You will hear more stories and testimonies in this Sabbath’s worship service at church. I will also share the message of the promise of God, highlighting the theme of the camporee. I will meet you at church. Believe the promise!
