April 19, 2011 – Mexico City, Mexico…Libna Stevens/IAD
It’s being called a miracle. It’s also being called historic. But one thing is for certain: It’s definitely causing some excitement.
For the first time in the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Cuba, a large group of Pathfinders has arrived last night in Mexico City for the third division-wide camporee which officially begins tonight. Two separate delegations totaling 35 Pathfinders and leaders from 15 different clubs are now settling into their campground at Ciudad Deportiva, the site of the event. Only 11 made it from Cuba for the last such camporee in 1998 held in Puerto Rico.
“For us this is a miracle, a huge giant conquered,” said an emotional Pastor Ruber Alvarez, youth ministries director for the church in Cuba. “For our government to allow so many to travel outside of the country like this is practically unheard of.”
The Cuban government gave approval for the group to leave just just three days before their flight. Alvarez knows how this miracle happened.
“We had the entire church in Cuba praying for this,” he said. “Our leaders and church members throughout Inter-America were also praying, so we know God answered our prayers.”
“For months we have been working and praying for our delegation from Cuba and we are so thankful that God worked a miracle,” said Pastor Benjamin Carballo, youth ministries director for the church in Inter-America. “We are happy to welcome and embrace them as members of our extensive Inter-American family.”
Keila Arocha, a 12-year-old Pathfinder from Guanabacoa in the west part of Cuba is excited to visit a new country. She and 12 of her peers were among the delegation to arrive yesterday at Benito Juarez International airport after a six-hour journey from her home.
“I feel so happy to come here and learn better ways in which we can share the love of Jesus with others,” said Arocha. She said she is looking forward to making new friends and participating in the marches.
Samuel Sabater, age 14, was all smiles. He represents a Pathfinder Club of 20 in Matanzas in west Cuba.
“I’m thrilled to be able to finally make it,” he said. He said he wants to make new friends, participate in swimming events, and learn how to be a better Christian. “I want to be committed to God everyday, to be in a constant relationship with Him and in that way become a better person so I can help those in need.”
Sabater and the other Pathfinders from Cuba arriving in Mexico City were selected because of their outstanding missionary work and spiritual growth, said Pastor Alvarez.
Arocha and Sabater represent nearly 2,000 Pathfinders in Cuba. They are led by a group of youth leaders who work to keep young people active in church, stated Alvarez. Leaders like Daniel Cruz, age 50, who left Cuba for the first time to attend the event. Cruz, the Pathfinder director for the west conference of the church in Cuba, has been waiting all his life to participate in a large camporee, even before he was old enough to be a Pathfinder. He oversees dozens of clubs in five provinces in his region.
“I kept telling my wife to pinch me in the plane because it all seemed like a dream,” said Cruz, adding that he feels like a 15-year-old Pathfinder again. “I feel so blessed to be part of this wonderful Adventist Church.” He and his wife, who is 18 weeks pregnant with their second child, traveled with eight Pathfinders from his delegation.
“We don’t bring much, but we come here to represent our young pathfinders and take back what we learn,” Cruz said.
Thanks to the church in Inter-America, the Pathfinder and leaders from Cuba will have their campsite needs supplied. The church in Cuba, relatives, and the Inter-American Division (IAD) covered travel expenses.
“We are so thankful to our church in Inter-America for their support,” said Alvarez. Pastor Alvarez said he hopes his delegation can grasp the kind of loving and unified church that exists in the IAD.
“I want them to realize that they are not alone, that we are part of a large supportive church in Inter-America and around the world and that they have the opportunity to communicate this to the rest of the church in Cuba,” added Alvarez, who has spent eight of his 19 years of service in the church working with the youth.
Their visit to the camporee will also help to ignite the 128 Pathfinder clubs back in Cuba, said Alvarez. One of the main objectives of the youth ministries department in Cuba is to strengthen their Pathfinder clubs and create new ones, even while young people on the island are already required to participate in weekend government activities, he added.
“It’s a challenge but we continue to instill the love of God in our pathfinders and young people,” said Pastor Alvarez. “The church continues to do a great work for our children and youth.”
Nearly 20,000 campers will take part in Inter-America’s 3rd Pathfinder Camporee event in Ciudad Deportiva in Mexico City, set to officially open later at 7:30 p.m. Central Time or Mexico Time.
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