April 20, 2011 – Mexico City, Mexico…. Raul Lozano/IAD Staff
The Inter-American Pathfinders Camporee is more than a platform to showcase the work of youth organizations. It is also an introduction to the work and mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. This was the goal of an interesting rally called Grand Prix.
Booths were set up in a circle to represent a raceway, like the one that is actually located within the Ciudad Deportiva, the Rodriguez Brothers Raceway. Each booth is sponsored by one of the departments from the Inter-American Division (IAD). The department leaders are there to greet the children and tell them about the church’s ministries.
“We expect children to visit each booth and be told about the work each department does,” says Juan José García, who is responsible for organizing the Grand Prix. “We want children to understand the whole mission of the church and the way that mission can be carried out at the local church.”
According to Pastor Benjamin Carballo, youth ministries director and organizer of the camporee said he was especially excited to have the Grand Prix exhibits to guide pathfinders in their daily life and stages.
“We have booths that tells when a pathfinder falls in love [family ministries]; goes to Adventist school [education]; lives a healthy life; grows up in Jesus [children’s ministries]; manages his life wisely [stewardship]; is a friend of humanity [ADRA]; eats healthy foods [health food company]; and belongs to a to a pastoral families [ministerial],” commented Carballo.
Pathfinders at all booths were given small gifts that portrayed the work of each department. Other souvenirs were given away when children participated in games or after completing some crafts. This was especially true at the children ministries booth, where the director, Dinorah Rivera, eagerly engaged with the kids and directed the games.
“In our booth, children will listen to a puppet show in three scenes,” said Pastor Javier Mejía, stewardship director for the church in Inter-America. “A group of puppet Pathfinders will talk about how children can save money, spend wisely, and share with joy what they have.”
Pathfinders will visit the Grand Prix all day Wednesday and Thursday during the camporee.
For other stories on Inter-America’s Pathfinder Camporee, visit us at www.interamerica.org
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