‘We love the heat’
TRELAWNY, Jamaica – Having benefitted from pop-up visits from the likes of sprint legend Usain Bolt, minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange and opposition senator Gabriela Morris, thousands of Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) pathfinders from the Inter-American Division say they are enjoying their time at Camporee 2023.
The four-day event is being held at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium and is scheduled to end on Saturday.
Twenty-year-old Martinican Mike Migaré said he was warmly welcomed to the island and encourages Jamaicans to continue this positive attitude.
“I love this camporee adventure. It’s my first time in Jamaica and I love your hospitality. Honestly, continue like that because it is a good team, a good ambience. It’s superb,” he told OBSERVER ONLINE during the event.
For 19-year-old singer Jhoan Sosa, who hails from the Dominican Republic, he is happy with the balance between the worship experience and the rich social and cultural engagements.
“I am so excited to be here because this is a big event… It’s my first time here, but I really love this place [and] these people. I like the attitude… I really appreciate the opportunity to be here because it’s a big experience for worship(ing) God. Today is here, but tomorrow may be in the sky with Jesus. I am going to sing and it’s so exciting. Jamaican people, I really love your culture. I get to practise my English with my Jamaican friends,” he shared with great excitement.
Similarly, 12-year-old Michelle Ramirez from the same country expressed contentment at being at the event.
“I am happy in this camporee. I am happy to represent the Dominican Republic. I like that I get to meet friends from other countries,” she noted.
Twenty-one-year-old Dev-Samuel Civil from Port-of-Prince, Haiti also appreciates the intercultural encounters.
“I am doing very well here in Jamaica with everyone. It’s a huge event that I really like. The opening ceremony was very really extraordinary. Everyone was there despite our different cultures, but we are all SDAs… We display our different clothing. We exchange our cultures. We visit the campsites of the others. We take pictures. It’s such a delight being in Jamaica. It’s a beautiful country; I really like it. I’d really like to visit Kingston,” he stated.
The event is being celebrated under the theme ‘Pathfinders in mission’ with a focus on the story of Gideon found in Judges 6.
The daily activities include devotion and civics sessions, physical activity and sports, honours classes, and pop-up visits from distinguished public figures.
Attendees, both local and international, also get to learn more about different products and services that are offered in Jamaica and regionally, through on-the-ground recruiting universities and training institutions, as well as different companies.
– Oneil Madden
