"Financial giants, peer pressure, sickness, depression, anger, abandonment, abuse, addictions, fear, intimidation, temptations and hanging with the wrong crowd. These are the problems that young people have to face out in the world. It doesn't matter where they live; they all face the same problems."-Pastor Baraka G Muganda, former youth director of the General Conference, addressing the 2011 Inter-American Division Pathfinder camporee. You had to be in the Deportiva Ciudad's massive recreation ground to hear the 23,000 conquering giants sing the theme song in order to experience the thrill, the high, the electricity of the 3rd Pathfinder Camporee which ended on Easter Saturday, April 23. For those who may not know, the Pathfinder Club is an extraordinary organisation, designed by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, to empower junior youth in the age range 10-15. This institution teaches strong spiritual values, motivates youth to become loyal to Jesus Christ and encourages them to make a difference in the community. The chorus of the theme song reveals the perspection of this mega event: "I am conquering giants; I am fighting the good battle. I know for sure, God will never fail me. "I am conquering giants, and like David defeated Goliath, God will give me the victory."
The prophetic philosophy of the Pathfinder Club is continued in the theme song: "Oh, we are the Pathfinders strong, the servants of God are we, faithful as we march along, in truth and purity. A message to tell to the world, a truth that will set us free. King Jesus the Saviour's coming back-for you and me." Youth came from several countries in what can only be described as a cross-cultural, spiritual development extravaganza. They came from Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Jamaica, Bahamas, Suriname, T&T, St Vincent, Antigua, St Kitts and Nevis, Tortola, St Lucia, Cuba, Haiti, Santo Domingo. Yes, Cuba was also in Mexico. Let us hasten to congratulate Nicoyann Blackett from Nevis, before we expose the Cuban miracle. She is an outstanding Path-finder, just 14 years old but she represented the Youth Ministries department of the Caribbean Union Conference with intelligence, class, respect and dignity. She placed second, in the first Latin American hi-tech Bible Bowl Contest which focused on the Old Testament inspirational book, 1st Samuel. This was a scintillating affair, witnessed by millions around the world with the big screen giving the results as the young people engaged in this computerised Bible contest.
So again, congratulations to Nicoyann Blackett. But let us move to the mega miracle, Cuba. Libna Stevens gave an exciting account of the Cuba journey in the Winner's Journal: "Many have called it a miracle, others believe it to be historic, but one thing is for certain: it's definitely causing some excitement. For the first time in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, a large group of Cuban Pathfinders arrived in Mexico City for the 3rd Pathfinders camporee which officially began April 19. Two separate delegations totaling 35 Pathfinders and leaders from 15 different clubs are now setting their campground in Ciudad Deportiva. The previous camporee, held in Puerto, in 1998, only 11 made it from Cuba." Pastor Ruber Alvarez, youth director of Cuba, captured the significance of the event:"For our government to allow so many to travel outside the country, is practically unheard of." Please note that the Cuban Government gave approval for the group to travel just three days before their flight. There are nearly 2,000 Path-finders in Cuba. The Pathfinders who arrived in Mexico City were selected because of their outstanding missionary work and spiritual growth. Thanks to the church in Inter-America, the Pathfinders and leaders from Cuba had their campsite needs supplied.
Miracles! Miracles! Miracles! On the campsite, there were amazing miracles. Youth were healed and youth were transformed. Thousands of youth were engaged in community projects as they promoted the drug-free lifestyle. They and their leaders were not afraid to witness on the streets of densely-populated Mexico City. The Mexican Drama Group gave a spectacular portrayal of the battle between Israel and the Philis-tines with the pivotal point being the encounter between David and Goliath. Every night 23,000 youth and their leaders were inspired as this soul-stirring presentation focused on David, the stellar giant conqueror. This was a pulsating, dynamic and extraordinary dramatic musical performance. The grand climax came when Goliath emerged on the stage with his shining silver sword and booming voice. The stage was filled with soldiers singing their threats. Goliath stopped the music and boldly and callously expressed his disappointment when he realised that an untrained shepherd boy would be his challenger.
He hurled insults, but David displayed quintessential courage as he confronted the giant. When he quoted the text from 1 Samuel 17:45, the crowd went wild. Each of the 23,000 conquering giants shouted victory as they interna-lised the values of courage, loyalty, sacrifice, perseverance and patience.
The Caribbean Union excelled in the knot-tying relay as the Pathfinders constructed a solid Roman chariot. But the region shocked the opposition as the Pathfinders displayed enormous skill and knowledge in the first aid and rescue mission events. Congratulations to Pastor Benjamin carballo and Louise Nocandy, youth directors of the Inter-American Division. The next Pathfinder camporee will be in Santo Domingo in 2017. Let us empower our teenagers to be conquering giants! Remember the response of David to Goliath in 1 Samuel 17:45-47: 45. Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the god of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philis-tines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with the sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands.