Flooded Pathfinders give to flood victims

Campers at the Australian Pathfinder Camporee in Toowomba gave more than $4000 to support Queensland flood survivors on January 8. Having experienced some of the extreme weather for themselves during the camporee, many of the young people wanted to make a contribution to those for whom the continuing rainfall is not just an adventure of a few days.

“Most of us can simply go home with some muddy clothes and mostly good memories,” says camporee director, Tony Knight, “but for thousands of Queenslanders, this is an ongoing crisis.

“While we don’t presume that we have been affected to any degree like that of many Queenslanders, I think many of our young people were given a glimpse of what it might be like to have to leave your home due to rising floodwaters,” he says. “We received a number of requests that we do something as a group for these communities.”

The funds raised will be given to the Adventist Development and Relief Agency’s Queensland Flood Appeal. ADRA is working in a number of Queensland communities to support families coping with the flood crisis.

To donate to ADRA's flood appeal, visit www.adra.org.au or call 1800 242 372.

Camporee officially closed

The Australian Pathfinder Camporee in Toowoomba reached a spectacular conclusion on Saturday night.

The camporee-long drama production climaxed with the return of the Ark of the Covenant to the temple under the leadership of the boy king Josiah.

In the Bible story, this was followed by the celebration of the Passover and Rabbi Hirsch presnted the significance of the elements of the Passover celebration.
After the conclusion of the dramatic story, the program transformed into a closing ceremony and the camporee flag was lowered.

Pastor Tony Knight paid tribute to the camporee staff and the resilience of the camporee participants.
And the camporee concluded with a fireworks display over the Toowoomba showgrounds, accompanied by the "Hallelujah Chorus."

Pathfinders "give that strength to God"

“I have seen your strength this week,” Pastor James Black told the Pathfinders from around Australia. “You have shown strength that doesn’t run away from mud but endures it. You have show strength that doesn’t run away from rain but plays and sings in it. Now give that strength to God.”

And more than 1200 camporee participants said yes—making or renewing a commitment to Jesus—with 446 of them requesting baptism.

“These numbers represent the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of young people and the power of God working through the lives of hundreds of Pathfinder leaders, volunteers, pastors and youth directors,” says Pastor Steve Kane, who has led the chaplaincy team at camporee. “For all those involved in the ‘Under Oath’ Camporee, it’s a special honour and privilege to see God at work and to watch from close up.”

Photo highlights from Sabbath worship

Young leaders see results

The baptism of Madison Barron and Connor Pugh, both from Springwood club, as part of the Sabbath morning program at camporee was another highlight of an event they describe as the pinnacle of the past Pathfinder year. Director Warren Barron says it began with a prayer meeting with the clubs young leaders in late 2009.

This past year the clubs 21 young leaders—aged between 16 and 23—have played a major role in the club and, in particular, two leaders Marty and Katrina conducted Bible studies with the two young people who were baptised at camporee.

“Our young leaders interact better than some older people and gives the younger Pathfinders a vision of what they can be,” says Mr Barron. “And these young leaders are fearless—they are more willing to give it a go.

“My role now as an older person is to support and encourage our young people. But with such enthusiastic leaders, it has been a great year for our club.”

The big picture

About 2500 people gathered for worship this morning at the Australian Pathfinder Camporee. There were many muddy feet but the sun was shining outside and the Pathfinders were resplendent in their colourful club shirts.

Hundreds stand like Josiah

Hundreds of young people stood to "give their 'stuff' to God" at the climax of the Friday evening worship program at the Australian Pathfinder Camporee. Speaker Pastor James Black challenged young people to take the stand as Josiah did—the boy-king of the Old Testament story, who chose to put things right in his own life and to lead his people to do that as well.

Three camporees in three weeks

Pastor Nick Kross, youth director for the South Pacific region, is now a veteran of three camporees in three weeks.

His journey began in Vanuatu on December 19, where more than 2000 Pathfinders camped at the Blue Water Resort, Port Vila. Clubs from around the Pacific came together, with the biggest representations from Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. The smallest country represented was one Pathfinder and their Youth leader from Kiribati and 25 from Tuvalu. As the camporee was held by the ocean, most of the activities were water and swimming based.

During the camporee, the Pathfinders had the opportunity to live out the theme, “Courage to Tell” by marching through the town, and also cleaning up the entire town zone. On the Sabbath afternoon, 142 Pathfinders and older young people were baptised.

The Cook Islands hosted the next camporee with 900 Pathfinders at the Papaaroa Adventist Primary School from December 28 to January 2. The Cook Islands prime minister attended the opening ceremony, where he recited the pledge and law he had learned as a Pathfinder.

Then . . . —well, you know what happened next in “sunny” Toowoomba with 2600 Pathfinders from across Australia.

“It has been fantastic to get an overview of Pathfinder ministry across the South Pacific,” says Pastor Kross. “Three places in three weeks has been frantic but we’ve learnt some great things we’d like to apply to the next camporee.”

The joy of hosting

The Taupo club (pronounced Toe-paw) is among our three international visitors at the Australian Camporee. The eight young people and five adults from across the ditch were hosted by the Mackay Central Club. Director Rochelle Rielly would recommend the experience. Mackay provided tents and food for their guests, even organising some of the touring activities before camporee, including a trip to Australia Zoo.

“Mackay were hosted by another club at OshKosh, USA. They decided to pay the favour forward and host us!” says Mrs Rielly. “I think we will definitely be hosting a club in the future. It is so beneficial for the kids and everyone.”

Taupo fundraised for 18 months to get here, selling everything they could find, holding bake sales and selling kiwi fruit. So was it worth the work and the trip? “The integration with the other kids has been great. They’ve made many good friends, especially with the Mackay club,” says Mrs Rielly. They say they definitely will be back.

Clubs keep spirits up

The Wantirna club (Vic) made their own fun amid the rain on Thursday, with a two-hour arm-wrestling competition and sing-alongs that included new, creative verses to the “Pathfinder Song.” They even claim to have invented a new honour in “mud rugby” and created their own river, known—appropriately enough—as the “Wantirna River.”

Meanwhile, Park Ridge Pathfinders (Qld) have been noticed for their helping hands. While many clubs struggled in the heavy rain, Park Ridge’s tents stayed fairly dry so they looked for how they could help other camps and began helping to feed other clubs in their sub-camp. “That’s what Pathfindering’s about,” says club director, Gwen Ward. “Maybe that’s why we had the rain. God has got us all pulling together.”

The Park Ridge kids have been making friends in the process. “In 20 years, we’ll all look back and remember Toowoomba,” says Ms Ward.