1st gulf field camporee 2014!

Gulf Field of the Seventh-day Adventist Church held its very first Pathfinder Camporee at Sharjah Scout Mission in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE) from Thursday Night, November 27, 2014 until Sabbath evening, November 29, 2014.

While planning their club activities in early 2013, 4ever Faithful Pathfinder Club – Dubai, decided to invite Pr. Jonathan Tejel, then General Conference (GC) Pathfinder Director, to Dubai to be a guest in their retreat and officiate in their club investiture for the following year, 2014. When the Club Director, MG. Rina May Dungca, shared the idea with Pr. Noel Nadado, who was then the Gulf Field Youth Director, Pr. Nadado was very excited and proposed to the Dubai Club to consider a larger audience for the GC Pathfinder Director.

The Dubai Club agreed and the idea of organizing the First Gulf Field Pathfinder Camporee was born. Pr. Nadado, MG Dungca and many others started to work diligently to prepare for the event. During the Gulf Field Triennial Session, held June 5-7, 2014 in Ras Al Khaimah, the Field decided to expand the Youth work by creating a separate Pathfinder Ministries. Gureni and Lynn Lukwaro were elected to be the first Gulf Field Pathfinder Directors and they joined the efforts of organizing the camporee as it would now fall under Pathfinder Ministries.

Over 200 Pathfinders, Master-Guides-in-Training and their leaders gathered at the desert Camporee grounds for a weekend full of fun, activities, fellowship and worship. Pr. Jonatán Tejel Subirada, the seventh Pathfinder Director of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist Church was the Camporee guest speaker and he BLESSED the campers with inspiring messages using powerful illustration which made the messages alive and memorable. “The Bible says you are the light of the world and that no one lights a candle and hides it under the table,” Tejel said. “So we expect you to let your light shine everywhere you go so that when people see you, they will know that you are children of God.”

The Camporee, which was themed "Call to SERVE, Train to LEAD," saw over 150 Adventurers, Pathfinders and Master Guides receiving various certificates, awards, honors, class pins and ribbons for those who completed advanced requirements, during the investiture ceremony held on the Camporee Sabbath afternoon.

The region was also BLESSED to see 16 individuals invested to become Master Guides of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. This was a great achievement for the region as these were added into the workforce of leaders to help the regions young people find their path to the Lord.

As part of this first Gulf Field Camporee, a number of Adventurers and Pathfinders were invited to participate in the 43rd UAE National Day Parade organized by Sharjah Scout Mission on Saturday, November 29. It was a great honor and privilege for Gulf Field Pathfinders and Adventurers to be invited to be part of this auspicious event. And the leadership of the Sharjah Scout Mission was pleased with the Adventist Youth’s participation on their important national day parade.

May the Lord's name be glorified for this very successful First Gulf Field Pathfinder Camporee.