Drumbo’s youth camp back in 2005 was the only youth camp I have ever remembered, and though other camps have taken place, there is one thing most of us can agree on: no previous youth camp had as much young people involved from so many different locations as the one that took place after the 2016 Canadian Field Conference. With about thirty people who attended, the majority young people, there was no reason to believe it was not going to be the camp of the year! Seven cars filled with people left Bloor Street Church on Sunday July 31st for a journey that would take approximately three hours up north. Our destination: Killbear Campsite. Though the name itself can cause shivers to run through the body (and signs reading: “Active bears on Campsite,” and “Hit the brakes if snakes are crossing road”), we were ready for the three day adventure, far from the city lights. The sun had already gone down as we arrived, and rain welcomed us as we all struggled to put up our tents with the very little light coming from cellphones and flashlights. We all then came together, and as we ate a delicious soup around the fire, we listened to the youth leader inform us that we would be in different groups for the next few days. We knew this meant a lot of teamwork and points to gain. Each team chose a leader and the color that would represent them. With this thought in mind, some went to rest asking themselves, “What will we go through in order to win?”
The next day, we woke up to washrooms and showers out of service. Yes, this was starting to feel like real camping (not to mention the mosquito bites). However, we all found a way to wash up before morning worship and breakfast. A presentation was then lead out by Brother Jason Climaco, who spoke about being children of the heavenly kingdom. We witness God´s glory through the wonderful nature that surrounds us; nevertheless, God also wants to demonstrate His glory through each of us (Isaiah 43:7). The way He goes about doing this is through our relationship with ourselves, with others, and with God Himself. It is important that we improve in these three areas if we want to have God’s glory, manifested through us.
After this we separated into our groups and faced our first challenge: to build a castle out of various colors of Play-dough; yes, you read correctly, PLAY-DOUGH. Now just imagine teenagers and young adults desperately trying to revive the child within themselves as they try to make the best play-dough castle ever! Well, that was us. Time was up, and as we looked around us to see each group’s final product, smiles began to appear; it was obvious we all still had that creative child within. The day followed with a great lunch prepared by one of the teams (each team would prepare breakfast, lunch or dinner as part of the challenges as well), and activities like swimming at the beach, water football, and soccer on the warm beach sand took place. Our bodies had the physical exercise it needed; our minds were then prepared to receive the spiritual message at evening worship.
The second day was to be our busiest. During the morning, Pastor Pablo Hunger shared an important message about wearing the armour of God. As young people, we face many temptations and in order to be victorious in our spiritual battles against spiritual beings, we must fight on a spiritual level wearing spiritual armour (Ephesians 6:10–18). We then had an activity which allowed us to relate the message to reality. All teams would make a circle, while a chosen team would be in the centre. The teams on the outside then took a light ball and had to try to hit each member inside the circle until everyone was out. Daily, Satan’s snares bombard us, this gives us more of a reason to be a help to our fellowmen and not to be an obstacle.
For the rest of that day, each group had nineteen challenges to be complete by the end of the day. Just to mention some examples: taking pictures with things mentioned in specific Bible verses given, acting out different Bible stories while recording it, finding a real animal’s footprint, climbing trees, taking a picture with the Youth Department’s logo (this must have been the hardest challenge of all!), etc. it may sound very easy to do, but these were real challenges! With so little time and so much to do, teams had to stick together in order to get all these activities done. However, before having to go through the rush, everyone went on a pleasant walk through one of the campsite’s trails. Unfortunately we did not get a chance to see a bear; however, we were able to appreciate the presence of a mother deer with her fawn from a distance. In addition, though not so cute, it was interesting to see a few garden snakes as well. At the end of the day, after having heard a spiritual message, we had a great laugh, seeing the results of each group’s completed photos and videos. Though one group stood out as the winning group, we all had a great time working as a team through each challenge.
Our last day at Killbear arrived, and I still wondered if there would still be a chance to see a bear. After morning worship and breakfast we still felt the team spirit as we helped bring down the tents and clean up the place. Our last activity was an hour away at Six Miles Lake where we had the opportunity to go canoeing and swim for the last time. Certainly, we had a wonderful time, even those whose canoe flipped over. We all then said our goodbyes, as some returned to the USA and the rest to other parts of Canada. As I look back now, it feels like it was all a dream. However, one thing does stay impressed on my mind vividly: Sometimes we forget that in order to win, we must work together, be compassionate even to those not on our team, and do the best we can do. We are all in the same boat, some stronger than others, but the truth is, we are all in the same fight, struggling many times against Satan’s snares. Do we not all need someone to lift us up occasionally, and do we not have someone to lift up? No one said it better than the once wisest king ever to live, Solomon: “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9–12. On our Christian journey, there is no winning without having helped others get to the finish line as well. Amen.
Veronica Garcia