The Japan Union Conference (JUC) youth department has held a Pathfinder Camporee once every four years. This year, it took place at the National Institution for Youth Education Center in Fukushima Prefecture, from July 30 to August 3, 2018. This camporee, titled “Dedication,” was JUC’s 12th camporee. The first camporee was held in 1974.
JUC invited Pastor Ito Hiroshi from the Kamenokoyama Church to give the Pathfinders a series of eight sermons. Under the theme of “God’s Expedition Party,” Pastor Ito preached the fundamental beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in an easy way. After each sermon, the children were divided into small groups with an adult counselor and had discussion and prayer time. At the last sermon, twenty children answered the baptismal appeal.
The participants who were older than 3rd grade in elementary school participated in hiking the 5,580-feet tall Akazuka Mountain near the campsite. The hiking course had steep slopes with bumpy roads, and some participants complained about the difficulty, but in the end, everyone was able to reach the top of the mountain.
The camporee site allowed for the use of the indoor cafeteria. However, it was agreed that a camporee is not complete without an outdoor cooking experience, so the decision was made to cook outdoors. Regardless of who was used to helping cook at home or not, everybody worked together in small groups to cook curry and had a wonderful meal.
During the camporee, JUC offered three different optional program sessions. At the optional sessions, the children were able to choose from eight different programs. The eight programs included nature games, orienteering, rope tying, English conversations, emergency aid, paper airplane, bamboo toys, and grilling plate decorations.
Spending time in the natural environment of the National Institution for Youth Education Center together with friends from across the country for five days will surely hold precious memories for the children. Please pray especially for the children who made baptismal decisions, that they be able to follow through with their decision for the rest of their lives.
News Article by Yasuki Aoki