April 17, 2011 – Mexico City, Mexico…Libna Stevens/IAD
After a three-day journey which included a two-day stop in Miami, a group of pathfinders and leaders from Guadeloupe in the French Antilles arrived in Mexico City to be part of the largest Pathfinder camporee to be organized by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Inter-America this week.
Fifty-three would-be campers with more than 100 pieces of luggage all dressed in aqua polo shirts made their way out of Benito Juarez International airport with giggles, smiles and expectations of a memorable experience.
Olivier Montauban, age 15, was all smiles as he waited for the group to make their way out of the customs terminal before noon today. Montauban was one member from his church in San Martin to make it. “I am so excited to come here,” says Montauban. This is the first such large territory-wide camporee he will attend thanks to his church who helped sponsor him for the five-day event.
He is looking forward to making new friendships and experiencing life on Mexican soil. A high school student, Montauban has always enjoyed being part of the Pathfinder club and is a leader in his group. “Having a club to belong to like this is definitely a way for young people to keep away from attractions in the world today.”
Pastor Frank Voltaire, youth ministries leader for the church in Guadeloupe, led the group and helped them settle into their long stretch of campground that will be home to some 50 others from Martinique this week who are scheduled to arrive tomorrow.
“We really had a smooth travel here,” said Voltaire, who says their stop in Miami included a visit to the Miami Springs Church in Miami where they fellowshipped with other Pathfinders during the Sabbath.
French-speaking groups from the French Antilles Guiana region and those of Haiti will get to listen in to the entire program in French as they tune in their provided radio frequencies every day. English-speaking campers will also be able to listen in during through their radios throughout the five-day event.
Hundreds more arrived before dawn from the Dominican Republic and other Caribbean islands. Dozens of buses made their way to the campgrounds at the Ciudad Deportiva and were welcomed with some brief thundering rains this afternoon, as many set up tents for the week.
Thousands are expected to arrive tomorrow and Tuesday.
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