E-Camporee and its other buddies like the E-Club, E-honours, E-Awards, E-Banquet were amazing innovative ideas we enjoyed in the last two years, but nothing compares with the real deal we enjoyed when the Scottish Mission joined the South England Conference (SEC), Pathfinder Camporee, in Phasels Wood. Finally, nearly 60 of us could attend in person with new and a few older Pathfinders.
After several hours of trying to get sleep on the coach (with some noisy aunties and uncles), a very warm SEC staff welcome awaited us as we arrived safe and early at the Hemel Hempstead based campsite. We soon began to setup our campsite as we planted our sleeping, kitchen and dinner tents.
Soon, myself and chef Oy'nissh set up beautiful lentil soup and homemade bread for our hungry campers. Once bellies were filled, the socialising and fellowship increased as we prepared for the opening ceremony. Campers were welcomed to the first service with a lot of applause for the eight Ukrainian campers from the Scottish Mission that one of the Scottish Mission Sponsors, Pastor Njabulo Ndlovu, aka NJay, referred to in the opening message. The smiles on their faces were heart-warming. Pastor Clifford Herman, SEC Pathfinder Director, a former Scottish Mission pastor, also extended his welcome to all campers and to the dynamic camp speaker, Pastor Eugene Carolus.
As the week continued many enjoyed different activities such as kayaking, paint balling, abseiling, rifle shooting, archery and many more. We were also blessed with honours like alternative fuels, climate science, edible water plants, rocks and minerals and so many others. The Pathfinders learnt to keep time for different activities and honours. Between the meetings, meals, and classes everybody had plenty of fun getting to know and speak to different people. Many were great at looking after themselves and the environment while camping.
At the Mission campsite, and in-line with the 2021-2023 Scottish Mission vision for celebrating its diverse membership, our leaders introduced the idea of having different cultural side-dishes from countries represented by campers. This was a hit. Pathfinders and counsellors helped prepare Jamaican, Ukrainian, Latvian, Zimbabwean, Zambian, Indian, Malawian, Kenyan, Filipino and, of course, vegetarian haggis for the Scottish dish. All the children and adults thoroughly enjoyed these dishes as they tasted something out of the norm.
I was hugely blessed to attend for the first time as a junior counsellor. This afforded me more responsibility to help Pathfinders through the week. I was particularly touched by Pastor Eugene's sermons as they were very encouraging. I felt drawn to God's word and was able to see the Bible highlighted in different ways. It was also nice to have someone from the Scottish Mission Pathfinders perform a special item each day.
Covid has been a big thing for ages, and it prevented us from meeting as a big group and conversing with others face to face, so it was a big joy and blessing to be able to have this camp and see God moving through so many people and overcoming the virus and remembering God has not forgotten about us, His children.
Several of the 800 or so campers chose to give their lives to Jesus Christ and to be baptised. According to Pastors Herman, the number was over 60. Equally heart-warming was the packaged food we all donated to a local foodbank, and the overall Camporee experience for the Ukrainian families that were part of our group. I was touched to hear that one said, "It's great that we didn’t think about the war in Ukraine for at least one week". I am proud to be part of a Church that plans such fun activities, shares the love of Jesus and touches people’s hearts.
Our Mission Pathfinder sponsors tell us that there are some exciting upcoming events. We now focus on the upcoming World Pathfinder Day that the Scottish Mission will celebrate in an all-day programme in Dundee on the 17th of September. Also, upcoming is the Mission-wide Pathfinder Banquet on the 26th of November and TED Camporee in the new host country, Hungary, 2023.
The sponsors wish to thank all parents, leaders, churches, and the Mission for your support for this Camporee.
