NewsNuggets Page 18

RMCNews – Gillette, Wyoming … The theme “Believe the Promise” was tested true at the 2024 International Pathfinder Camporee held at CAM-PLEX Multi-Event Center in Gillette, Wyoming, August 5-11. The “promise” was that of a personal and spiritual journey.

The first days of the program were seasonably warm and a bit windy for the 60,000 participants setting up their club campsites in their allocated union areas. Pathfinders were able to participate in around 300 honors activities, pin trading, community service projects, and a multitude of local activities, one being small rodeo demonstrations.

Jade Teal, RMC Youth assistant director, assisted in leading a climbing expedition at Wyoming’s Devils Tower National Monument in for Teen Leadership Training (TLT) program to climb one pitch of the monument. “So, we had prayer before we went up,” Jade reminisced. “I’m really scared of heights. But I’m tied into a rope so I know I’m okay, because I can trust my rope. And we can trust God, so we don’t have to be afraid.” There were supposed to be five sessions, but weather conditions only allowed for one session on Monday, August 5. There were four TLT’s that participated in that session: one from Nebraska and three siblings from Canada.

Several RMC Pathfinders received recognition during Camporee. The Flying Garuda Pathfinder Club from the Colorado Indonesian-American Seventh-day Adventist Church in Denver, Colorado, won first place for the basic marching category in the Drill Team & Drum Corps competition featuring the Mid-America, North, and North Pacific Union clubs, August 6. Two of the six $500 Adventist school scholarships for best modules built in the Great Ball Contraption challenge were awarded to RMC Pathfinders from the Littleton Lights Pathfinder Club, Nathan Matabi and Benjamin Pelley, from Littleton Seventh-day Adventist Church in Littleton, Colorado.

Activities at Camporee were put on hold when a severe storm passed through the region on Tuesday evening, August 6. Campers were evacuated into the facility buildings or their vehicles while heavy rain and winds tore through the camp. Many campsites throughout the CAM-PLEX sustained damage, leaving some clubs without shelter until equipment could be dried out or replaced. “What you can see is God’s guidance and his protection. Yes. A lot of camps were wiped out, but I’m not aware of anyone who was hurt,” remarked Axel, an instructor and counselor with the Riffle Seventh-day Adventist Church Pathfinder Club in Rifle, Colorado.

Personal reports from participants were given of local Gillette facilities opening up to provide housing for the night, residents bringing over camping supplies and sleeping bags, and one RMC employee recounted hearing about a local Gillette woman doing laundry at her home for a family with an infant. There were many that remarked the day after the storm how much the Pathfinder and local community came together during this moment of crisis.

Doug Inglish, RMC vice-president for administration, personally ordered and delivered food to take to the displaced Pathfinder clubs that were staying at the Gillette Seventh-day Adventist Church the night of the storm. “To carry, in both hands, 80 burritos was not an easy task,” he light-heartedly remarked. The recipients mentioned how appreciative they were for a warm meal.

Camporee activities and programs resumed at noon, August 7. By that afternoon, camps had been rebuilt and traces of the impact of the storm were not visible other than dumpsters full of mangled and torn camping equipment.

Several Pathfinders from RMC clubs joined the over 1,000 runners in Camporee’s 5k race, August 9, including the Denver South Hispanic, Littleton, and Cody churches. Michael Taylor, lead pastor at the Casper Seventh-day Adventist Church in Casper, Wyoming, was one such racer: “It was a beautiful day; fantastic weather. As a runner, I love the overcast and slightly breezy [days]. It made it just perfect running weather.”

After the race, the announcement had been made that Camporee would be closing down a day early, and that Friday, August 9, would be last full day of activities. It was also announced that the Saturday night baptisms would be joined with Friday night’s group and that they would run the remaining acts of the Moses production as well. The 16 RMC Pathfinders joined the 500 baptism candidates in the baptismal pools located in the evening program stage.

Ten-year-old Oscar from the Brighton Seventh-day Adventist Church Pathfinder Club in Brighton, Colorado, was baptized that night. When asked why he chose to be baptized at Camporee, he said, “Because there was going to be a lot of people here, and everyone could see me give my life to God.” His fellow club member, Josephine, decided during Camporee to be baptized after watching keynote speaker Damian Chandler: “I wasn’t going to do it at Camporee, but what he said last night in the [evening program] really hit me.”

The Camporee-wide Sabbath service on Saturday, August 10, had been canceled, but many conferences offered the option for their clubs to stay for a conference-wide service. RMC conducted an impromptu conference-wide Sabbath service that was well attended. Leandro Bizama, Campion Church associate pastor, led the praise music during the open-air service with RMC president, Mic Thurber, giving the sermon and Doug Inglish, RMC vice president for administration, giving the prayer.

Special music was provided by members of the Louisville and Indonesian Seventh-day Adventist churches, and the Camporee theme song was sung. The service also featured special recognition of last night’s baptism participants and a love offering collection for a couple from Brazil who assisted RMC at Camporee until serious health issues put the wife into the hospital.

Following the Sabbath service, a special ceremony was held at the RMC camp area for the seven RMC Master Guide candidates: David Hopkins, Lacinda Hopkins, Roger Beckermeyer, Jen Beckermeyer, Brent Learned, Natalie Lerma, and Joel Hernandez. The Camporee-wide ceremony had been canceled.

Many RMC Pathfinder clubs had departed by late afternoon with only a few partial clubs staying around to enjoy time together and do last pin trades. “I was so impressed driving through the camping areas after most clubs had left at how clean everything looked,” commented Inglish. “No litter! Just a few overflowing dumpsters, which is to be expected.”

While the weather conditions and cancellations may have created difficulties for Pathfinder and Camporee leaders, the resounding feedback from the young Pathfinders was that it was a wonderful experience. Nancy, a 17-year-old first-year Pathfinder from the Montrose Seventh-day Adventist Church in Montrose, Colorado, remarked on her experience: “I think my favorite thing has been all the friends we made along the way. Also, [I liked] the concert last night. I really felt the Holy Spirit, and it was honestly such a good feeling.”

But the Camporee experience did not end in RMC once clubs left the CAM-PLEX. Other national and international Pathfinder clubs had flown into Denver International Airport to leave on Sunday flights and needed to find lodging for Saturday. It was reported to RMCNews that several Adventist schools and churches hosted these pathfinder groups from Denver to as far north as Casper, Wyoming.

Rajmund Dabrowski, RMC Communication director, was an RMC representative and involved in assisting the North American Division (NAD) of Seventh-day Adventists media relations. “Our involvement yielded 16 articles in the local Gillette and Wyoming state media. We were not just involved for ourselves, but for the benefit of others.”

RMC Communication Department would also like to acknowledge Nathan Cranson, lead pastor for the Montrose, Gunnison, and Paonia Seventh-day Adventist Churches on the Western Slope of Colorado, for his videography support at Camporee. His video of the morning after the storm has had a staggering reach of 100,000 to date, and his works received accolades from fellow North American Division (NAD) media reporters. His videos can be viewed on the official RMC Camporee webpage and Facebook site.

Mic Thurber, RMC president, was present for the entirety of the 2024 International Pathfinder Camporee and remarked, “Words seem inadequate to summarize the camporee. Maybe simple declarations are enough. Some will think: heat, lightening, downpours, crowds, and mud. But others will think: new friendships, learning, singing, pins and pin trading—you’d have had to have been there to fully get that!—adventure, baptisms, Moses, meeting other cultures, and lots and lots and lots of fun and joy!”

“Kudos to our youth and Pathfinder leaders for their incredible work and leadership in helping it to be a memorable experience for all,” he continued. “I can’t help but think our heavenly Father looked down and thought, ‘Well done, My good and faithful servants.’”

—RMCNews. Photos supplied.

MHANews – Highlands Ranch, Colorado … Last week, Mile High Academy (MHA) in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, had the privilege of participating in the 2024 International Pathfinder Camporee held in Gillette, Wyoming, August 5-11. Their teachers and students eagerly joined thousands of other Pathfinders from across the globe in this unique spiritual experience. However, the event took an unexpected turn when severe weather warnings forced the early cancellation of the Camporee, creating a logistical crisis for the nearly 60,000 attendees.

As Wyoming’s weather took a turn for the worse, the MHA team, along with many other schools and churches in the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC), were called upon to provide urgent assistance. Starting at 7:00 a.m. on Friday morning, August 9, the phones began ringing as stranded Pathfinders and their leaders reached out for help. Within hours, MHA and the local Adventist churches came together to do the impossible.

MHA opened its doors to house and feed 400 Pathfinders, including 350 from the Dallas Conference. The community’s response was nothing short of remarkable. Kevin Waller, an alumnus and dedicated member of the MHA community, drove up to Gillette on Saturday to bring a group back to the Denver International Airport. Additionally, two other MHA vehicles were used by another group to transport their club home.

Local Adventist churches also stepped up and provided aid:

• Littleton Seventh-day Adventist Church in Littleton, Colorado, hosted over 100 Pathfinders, providing them with shelter and care.
• Lifesource Adventist Fellowship in Denver, Colorado, housed and fed more than 150 Pathfinders.
• Denver West Seventh-day Adventist Church in Denver, Colorado, opened its doors to another group in need of a place to stay.
• Denver South Seventh-day Adventist Church in Denver, Colorado, opened its doors for a group from Spencerville, Maryland.
• Newday Adventist Church in Parker, Colorado, prepared sack lunches for the groups.

“This collective effort demonstrated the power of the shared mission and the strength of the local Adventist community,” said Jocelyn Aalborg, MHA vice principal of finance and development. “It was truly inspiring to witness how quickly and effectively our churches and schools responded to the crisis, providing refuge and assistance to so many.”

This touching story highlights the strong sense of community within the MHA family, exemplified by Dawn Bookhardt, a dedicated alumna from the class of 1977. When severe weather forced the evacuation of over 400 Pathfinders from the Camporee in Gillette, leaving them stranded, Dawn stepped in to connect them with Mile High Academy.

She rallied her classmates, ensuring the Pathfinders were warmly welcomed with food and care. Reflecting on the experience, Dawn shared on Facebook: “I AM SO PROUD OF MILE HIGH ACADEMY! Yesterday, MHA hosted over 400 Pathfinders who were evacuated from the Camporee in Gillette, Wyoming, due to severe weather. Because all travel arrangements were scheduled to depart Gillette today, these young souls were basically stranded. But in true Mustang spirit, the Pathfinders were offered refuge at MHA. They were fed, loved, and sheltered on Sabbath, and believe me, they felt the love! Special thanks to Jocelyn and Principal Andrew who stepped up in a big way to illustrate the love of Jesus. Jocelyn fielded what must have been 100 panicked phone calls and texts, made appropriate arrangements, and welcomed our guests with open arms. Thank you so much for all of your help. May God’s richest blessings be yours.”

This incredible effort was not only about providing shelter but also about living out the school’s and Adventists’ mission to help others in need. Principal Andrew Carpenter captured this sentiment perfectly in a message to the MHA staff, emphasizing the importance of MHA’s extended family and the global Adventist community. He wrote, “Our Mile High Academy family extends beyond these walls and this community. If ever in need, we have a worldwide family that will come to our aid simply because we share the name Adventist. This weekend, our Adventist brothers and sisters are asking for help.”

In the end, over 400 young people cycled through the MHA campus in just 48 hours.

“It was a monumental task, one that showcased the best of who we are as a community—united in mission, generous in spirit, and willing to go above and beyond to help others in need,” said Aalborg.

As the community reflects on this experience, it is reminded of the incredible blessings that come from working together.

Aalborg commented, “We are deeply grateful to everyone who played a role in this massive undertaking, and we are proud to be part of a community that truly embodies the spirit of service and love. Thank you to all the churches, schools, and individuals who opened their doors, provided meals, and extended a helping hand. This past weekend was a testament to the power of community and the love of Christ in action. Together, we accomplished something truly remarkable.”

—MHANews. Photos supplied.

The Mid-America Union (MAUC) has been made aware of circulating social media posts, specifically on Facebook, alleging that there has been an accident involving Pathfinders from a club within the Rocky Mountain Conference. After thorough investigation and verification with the North American Division, the Rocky Mountain Conference, and the Wyoming and Colorado state police, we can confirm that no such accident has occurred in our territory at this time.

We understand the concern and alarm that such reports can cause, especially within our Pathfinder community and among the families of those involved. It is important to note that the safety and well-being of our Pathfinders is our utmost priority, and any reports of incidents are taken seriously and thoroughly investigated.

We urge the public to refrain from sharing unverified information on social media platforms, as doing so can lead to unnecessary panic and distress.

We appreciate the prompt response from the North American Division, the Rocky Mountain Conference, and the state police in confirming that no such accident as described on social media has taken place.

The Mid-America Union remains committed to transparency and will continue to provide accurate information to our community. We encourage everyone to stay connected to our official channels for updates and verified information.

—Hugh Davis is the associate director of communication for the Mid-America Union Conference. Republished with permission from MAUC.

RMCNews – Gillette, Wyoming … A severe thunderstorm tore through the Gillette area in Wyoming last night, August 6, putting activities at the 2024 International Pathfinder Camporee to a halt. Around 6:00 p.m. (MT), a severe storm watch was put into effect, and Camporee leadership took all precautions to keep people safe by moving them from the camp sites into CAM-PLEX facilities buildings as the storm passed through the area.

All activities have been suspended until noon, August 7, for clubs to rebuild their campsites and obtain new supplies and gear. No injuries from the storm have been reported as of now.

“The storm has passed, praise the Lord. Thank you for all your prayers! And we even have a rainbow here reminding us that God will take care of us,” commented Hugh Davis, Mid-America Union Conference associate director of communication.

Many Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) Pathfinder club camp sites sustained damage from strong wind gusts and flooding. Brent Learned, RMC Youth assistant director and RMC Camporee operations manager, reported the camp site for the Cheyenne Seventh-day Adventist Church Pathfinders Club from Cheyenne, Wyoming, was completely flooded out with 4 inches of standing water. The Casper Seventh-day Adventist Church Pathfinders Club from Casper, Wyoming, had most of their tents collapse from tent poles snapping and had to return to Casper for the evening to regroup.

The Cody Seventh-day Adventist Church Pathfinders Club from Cody, Wyoming, and the Brixton Jays Pathfinder Club, an international club from the U.K. sponsored by the Denver South Seventh-day Adventist Church Pathfinders Club from Denver, Colorado, were also flooded and were moved to the Gillette Seventh-day Adventist Church, the local church in Gillette, Wyoming, while their gear dries out and equipment replacements acquired.

“Cody, Denver South, and Cheyenne got it the worst,” remarked Learned. “It’s dried up a lot. They dug a trench to drain it, but it was, at one point, almost halfway up to the knee.” He wanted those affected by the storm to remember that the same God that saw us through the storm is going to help us rebuild what we lost.

Other local churches in Gillette opened their doors to house Pathfinder clubs displaced by the storms. Extra attention has been given to the international clubs as they do not have the option to head home early. In an article released by the NAD, “Storms Interrupts International Pathfinders Camporee, Displaces Some Campers,” it was also reported that a Gillette resident drove to the CAM-PLEX with a car full of sleeping bags, blankets, and camping supplies.

“Well, it is a mess,” reported Daniele Fantoni, lead pastor at the Alamosa Seventh-day Adventist Church in Alamosa, Colorado. “We will manage, [and] we will rearrange everything because we still have the canopy and the trailers. We also brought enough extra things, so we were pretty good. Other clubs are in a worse situation than us for sure. Someone came here asking for 20 sleeping bags, and some others drove two hours from here to get everything that was needed. Praise the Lord that we had big buildings that we could use.”

While this information has not been confirmed, several participant sources at Camporee did comment that the local Walmart in Gillette was cleaned out of supplies necessary to replace what was lost in the storm. It was reported that people were driving a few hours to other towns for supplies.

“Overall, for the spirit at Camporee is a plus,” remarked Eli Gonzales, co-executive coordinator of the RMC Club Ministries. “We’ve been blessed with the leadership that we have here at the Rocky Mountain Conference. Pastor Mic [Thurber] and his team provided us with transportation and buying some supplies from Walmart to take to the local church where some clubs were moved to.”

“It’s been rough after that storm. It damaged a lot of our tents and our belongings. But the spirit is really positive. We have never seen so many people come together to help each other,” Gonzales continued.

Mic Thurber, RMC president, has been at Camporee since before the event welcomed the first Pathfinder club. He commented, “I saw lots of smiling, happy faces as RMC’s ‘tent city’ was set up on Monday. After a night of a powerful storm in our path on Tuesday night, I wondered what I would see today on their faces. Guess what?! The same smiles and sense of joy!” 

“Our Pathfinders and their leaders are the best, and our youth leadership are beyond incredible,” Thurber continued. “Their leadership in the aftermath of the storm was wonderful! And it was great to see the Gillette community rally to help our kids in so many ways! God is surely working here in Gillette. Please pray that every soul here will be touched for eternity.” 

—RMCNews. Photos by Rajmund Dabrowski and Ryan McCoy.