3rd camporee 2020

The 3rd Gulf Field International Pathfinder Camporee was held at the Sharjah Scout Mission campgrounds in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE) from Thursday, February 20, 2020 until Saturday, February 22, 2020. A total 455 people attended this camporee. These attendees came from seven different countries, four countries from the Gulf Field area namely Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and United Arab Emirates; as well as three countries from outside Gulf Field area namely South Korea, United Kingdom and United States of America. The Gulf Field participants represented 12 pathfinder clubs from the region.

The theme for the camporee was “CONNECTED” and attendees were challenged to get connected and stay connected with Jesus Christ.

Pr. Ronald Whitehead, Executive Director for the Centre of Youth Evangelism and Lake Union Youth Director, was the camporee guest speaker and he BLESSED the campers with inspiring messages using powerful illustrations, which made the messages alive and memorable. Together with him were Pr. Alan Hush, the Executive Secretary of the North England Conference (NEC) of the Seventh-day Adventist and Pr. Ikwisa Mwasumbi, Pathfinder and AMR Director of NEC, who assisted in the archery honour, morning and in between worships as well as running inspiring campfire programs on both nights.

Attendees participated in 10 different honours namely: Archery, Bible Marking, Felt Craft, Glass Painting, Heart and Circulation, Kites, Paper Quilling, Seeds, Soap Craft and String Art. A total of 726 honours were awarded to people who completed some of the honours offered at the camporee.

In addition to these exciting honours, participants also enjoyed other activities such as Pioneers Row, Creation Week, Play for Fun, Prayer Garden and Bouncing Castle for younger kids.

On Saturday, February 22, 2020 the Camporee celebrated an investiture ceremony where five candidates were invested; three individuals received their certificates and class pins for the Master Guide Course and one individual received her certificate and pin for Pathfinder Leadership Award (PLA) Course and one more individual received his certificate and pin for Advanced Pathfinder Leadership Award (APLA) Course.

Heavens and all camporee attendees rejoiced together when one child of God gave his life to Jesus through baptism which was done at the camp ground. A make-shift baptismal pool had to be made in the middle of the desert to ensure that the candidate who requested for baptism gets baptised.

The hand of God in making this camporee a success was clearly visible every step of the way. Just a short while before the camporee was to start, the owner of the camping site informed the organizers that they will need the area for another event during the camporee dates and asked the organizers to consider changing the camporee dates.

Changing the dates was not possible as many attendees, including the camporee speaker and other guests, had already confirmed travel arrangements and it would be difficult for them to change. The organizers after consulting the Gulf Field administration, decided to bring the matter to the Lord in prayer and continue the preparations in faith that God will intervene. And God indeed intervened as after a few weeks the venue owners contacted the organizers informing them that they, the venue owners, have decided to change the dates of their event and the camporee can continue on the original planned dates.

Just after that roadblock was cleared, then Covid-19 was declared as a global pandemic requiring numerous protective measures including mask wearing and social distancing. But the Lord stayed the wave of Covid-19 and participants both international and local, were able to convene at the camporee venue, had a fantastic Bedouin-style desert camporee, and returned to their respective homes safely. It was hardly a month after the camporee that the UAE government announced strict measures which included the cancellation of all public events and lockdowns. Praise the Lord for staying that decision until after the camporee was safely and successfully held.

The dedication showed by the camporee organizing team and local clubs was something that was exemplary. Each one worked as if the whole camporee depended on them. The biggest BLESSING of the camporee was when 20 souls responded to the altar call made by Pr. Ronald Whitehead during the Sabbath divine service message and surrendered their lives to the Lord. Pr. Whitehed had the privilege of baptizing two of these young people a week later in Dubai Central Seventh-day Adventist Church. The rest of these souls will continue to be nurtured until their baptism, hopefully soon.

May the Lord's name be glorified for this very successful 3rd Gulf Field International Pathfinder Camporee.