News From Around the World

• Caribbean Young Adults/Singles Share Weekend
• Six Countries Represented at British Isles Summer Camp
• Tlachtli Camp in Mexico Serves 57 Campers

Caribbean Young Adults/Singles Share Weekend

by Ken Thomas, Jamaica

In my three years of Church experience, I have found there is nothing like camp. As one person said, "Miracles happen at camp."

While the Caribbean Singles/Young Adults weekend was not a camp by name, it certainly had many elements of camp. This year 14 singles met at the Ocean Front Resort in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, for the weekend, which ran from Aug. 7 to 10. Most were Jamaicans as increasing travel expenses prevented some from other islands from attending. There were two from the Bahamas and three from Barbados.

The first full day, Friday, featured a Leadership Seminar by Kingsley Mather. After breakfast, we all gathered to have a session on a chosen topic. The subject was "Glorifying God," and we singles proved to have the power to steer conversation, much to the elders' delight. The seminar also focused on the issue of the small population of youth in the Caribbean Church areas, and how to help work against the outflow that has been occurring.

Later, the group went out searching for souvenirs. This was a fun experience in itself as our Caribbean brethren got a better taste of Jamaica. One in particular (Myrlande Pierre from the Bahamas ) intended that to be quite literal, buying spices to take home.

Sabbath was the sweetest experience. Being one of the singles with no family members in the Church, I can say there are few pleasures greater than spending a Sabbath with a household of people who share the same reverence for the Creator's Holy Day.

The singles proved very prepared for the Bible study that Sabbath (Friday) night. Discussing the issue of marrying outside the faith, we picked it apart from various angles including practicality and the examples of the Church from as far back as the days of King Solomon.

That night, a group of singles gathered by the pool enjoying the evening while singing praises to God. Who knew such a simple act as singing could have such impact? Feeling spiritually enriched, I slept more soundly that night than I had in a while.

The next morning's Leadership Seminar dealt with the building of strong relationships. We looked at biblical examples of strong family bonds, and singles were put in teams and given scenarios to discuss and present the biblical ways to handle each situation.

The Sabbath service was held on compound with Bajan Michael Lowe playing the keyboard and Jamaican Shane Panton leading the song service. Todd Carey and Leeford Burke gave us the split sermons for the afternoon focusing on true love and relationships among brethren.

We later took photos and read our Sabbath notes. Then, sunset came and Sabbath was over.

But the weekend had one final bang for us. To music that varied from reggae to American oldies, singles and elders alike celebrated our last night together with a pool party. The pool lent itself to a "keep away" game that proved quite fun.

We celebrated well into the night. And as we parted ways the next morning, many could not help but shed tears.

We realized that these bonds—formed and strengthened on this special weekend—are bonds that will last forever. This weekend proved to be the inspiration needed to revitalize zeal and rekindle our hope for the future.

Truly, miracles happen at camp. UN

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Six Countries Represented at British Isles Summer Camp

As in 2007, the United Youth Camp 2008 in Britain was held at the Buxton Field Centre on the outskirts of the famous spa town. Campers, staff and occasional visitors, either for Sabbath services or for an activity, resulted in upwards of 40 people attending or passing through camp during the nine days. The youngest camper was just 8 years old and the oldest was 20.

Campers and staff hailed from Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Ireland and Colombia, as well as those living in the United Kingdom. It was a multilingual as well as multicultural camp.

Activities included archery, visits to local caverns and museums, swimming and half a day learning rock climbing, with an indoor cave, outdoor low ropes course and team building exercises thrown in. Encaustic art (painting with hot wax) was another favorite, along with finger knitting, glass painting and braiding friendship bracelets.

Some of the older campers, not put off by last year's exertions, experienced "Go Ape" (a high-wire forest adventure course of rope bridges, tarzan swings and zip slides all set high up in the tree tops). Thai dancing was demonstrated by the young ladies of the Karen community in the Sheffield congregation.

Initiative training and problem solving stretched the thinking skills of the campers. Sports and games took place on the paddock and, of course, there was the required and much-anticipated shopping expedition. Pictionary and a beetle drive also proved popular—although the former sometimes proved to be a challenge with the language differences!

Everyone was delighted to welcome former campers Laura Payne and Hannah Ellams, who gave a joint talk on the legacy of summer camps in their lives and encouraged campers to get the most they could out of these few days together. One evening older teens and young adults watched and discussed Pam Stenzel's presentation Sex Has a Price Tag.

David Payne and David Fenney gave split sermons at the first Sabbath service. The final Sabbath David Fenney and Peter Hawkins covered the plan of God in their messages.

The weather was dry most of the time, although heavy thunderstorms on consecutive nights played havoc with the power supply for a while. We also had a fire alert when a piece of bread left in the toaster caught fire! In accordance with fire alarm instructions, the building was evacuated but no harm was done, not even to the toaster (although the slice of bread responsible was not fit to eat).

Most evenings there was a forum to discuss topics of interest raised by the young people, and each day ended with a hymn and prayer. Unusually there were two final dinners: Thursday night and the last Saturday night. This was because the German contingent had to leave on Friday.

—David and Barbara Fenney

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Tlachtli Camp in Mexico Serves 57 Campers

Fifty-seven campers and seven staff members gathered at Tlachtli camp site near San Luis Potosi City, Mexico, for the annual United Youth Camp.

We stayed in Tlachtli from July 22 to 25. The last two days of the camp, July 26 and 27, took place in San Luis Potosi City.

The theme of this year's camp was "Catching the Vision of Your Destiny." Tlachtli is an ecological camp where campers learn to practice a very moderate use of water and to behave in a respectful manner toward God's creation, endeavoring not to misuse, mistreat and or cause any damage to the environment.

All the physical activities (which include mountain hiking, rappelling, Tyrolean or zip wire crossing, cave exploration and different games) were directed by the professional Tlachtli camp staff. They have been trained in working with young people and have a very friendly and respectful attitude toward our young people as well as toward the Church staff members.

The activities also included a trip to the Media Luna (Half Moon), a recreation center with swimming pools that is about a two hours' drive from Tlachtli.

Right after breakfast we provided our young people with morning lectures, imparted by the attending ministers Adán Langarica (camp director and San Luis Potosi City pastor), Enrique Granados (Mexico City pastor), Alberto Gonzalez (Tepic City local elder) and Pablo Dimakis (visiting pastor in northern and southeast regions in Mexico), and also by André Delgado (a Church member in Monterrey City who owns and manages an advertising agency).

The topics covered included:

• What is your vision of your future?

• How can you be a true friend?

• What is your final destination?

• Using teamwork to achieve our supreme goal.

• Learning to take off your masks.

The campers were encouraged to participate during the lectures, especially in the mask-making activity, where they had to describe each other's mask first and then what they saw in each other's face.

This year's camp was characterized by the very friendly, participatory and respectful attitude of all the campers, which shows that our young people have been growing in God's way of life. The resulting environment was very encouraging and inspiring.

The camp concluded with Sabbath services in San Luis Potosi City and a closing dance Saturday night. Certificates for best campers were given to Silvia Barcenas (Queretaro), Polette Delgado (Monterrey), Gustavo Elizondo (Leon) and Alan Rosales (Mexico City).

—Pablo Dimakis

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