Following on from the success of the UYC camp held in 2016 the 2017 camp was planned. The 2016 camp combined preteens and teens into one camp allowing parents of preteens to attend with their young children. This also raised the idea of an Ambassador Bible College sampler being done in conjunction with the 2017 camp, allowing the parents to be occupied during camp activities as well as any other adult members wishing to attend.

No one could have anticipated the success of both a combined camp (preteen and teen) and ABC sampler all in one. Yet the week went off highly successfully.

The 2017 UYC camp and ABC sampler was held at the Amanzi Private Game Reserve just 13 kilometers north of Brandfort in the Free State in South Africa. We had 84 registered in total, made up of 20 campers, six staff, 57 ABC attendees and one bus driver. Ten of the ABC attendees were Portuguese-speaking brethren, two from Brazil and eight from Angola.

The UYC activities and the ABC sampler were run in parallel with breaks and meals coordinated.

ABC sampler attendees enjoyed eight hours a day of ABC presentations on the book of Acts and the epistles, presented by Darris McNeely and Steve Myers. Simultaneously the UYC campers enjoyed eight hours of activities comprised of dancing, Christian living, soccer, volleyball, French cricket, art, swimming, horse riding, archery, a trail walk and game drives.

The ABC sampler attendees were also able to go on one game drive during the week while the presenters alternated the same class at those times, as only half of the ABC attendees could go on the game drive at one time. Therefore the group was sent on two separate game drives on alternate days.

Question-and-answer sessions also formed part of the ABC presentations, allowing the attendees to ask questions on the specific topics of difficult scriptures to benefit all who attended.

As we had 10 Portuguese-speaking brethren at the ABC sampler, Jorge de Campos was translating the presentations in real time via a short-range FM transmitter for the Portuguese-speaking members. The same was done on the Sabbath for the sermons. As a result, Jorge de Campos spent 42 hours live translating the presentations, question-and-answer sessions and sermons during the week.

A Bible study was included on the Thursday evening by Darris McNeely as a request from the attendees wanting to have a better understanding of prophecy and current world events.

The mix of preteens and teens for the camp does create a challenge for the activities. However, the camp resulted in a huge success as those young and old were able to engage very well. The younger children challenged the older ones, while the older teens encouraged and helped the younger children.

The children truly showed what it is to be “childlike,” to get along and to be able to enjoy everything. The variety of activities meant each child was able to express their characteristics, strengths and abilities. The children ranged in age from 1 year old to 19 years old.

With the time of the year that the camp is held it meant that on the night of Dec. 25 we had to braai our own meat and serve our own dinner. This turned into a good serving opportunity as we had an African-American braai with Darris McNeely and Neil Wallis, who did the braai. Dinner this evening was followed by marshmallows on the fire, which was something that our Portuguese visitors had not experienced before.

The Christian living sessions were held next to the leopard, caracal, meerkat and monkey enclosures. Before the Christian living session, we would get into detailed discussion. Interesting facts of each of the animals were discussed with the children as an appreciation of some of God’s beautiful creation.

The Christian living sessions focused on three basic points. Session one focused on Luke 6:31: Treat others as you like to be treated, even if they are not treating you as you wish to be treated. The second session focused on 1 Thessalonians 5:18: In everything give thanks, as even the negative situations give us lessons to learn and grow from in which we can become stronger and learn. Session three focussed on 1 Corinthians 10:13: God is faithful to not allow you to be tested beyond what you are able to bear. As we learn in dance class or the progression of grades at school so God helps us through life to be able to graduate through the tests of life as we get stronger and more able.

Kathy de Campos planned and prepared the art classes, and with the help of Kathe Myers and Debbie McNeely graciously gave art classes for the campers. The campers completed four art projects—silhouette savannah scene, giraffe stationery holder, “alcohol paint” coasters and bead bracelets. All of which was beautifully displayed for their parents and other ABC attendees on the last day.

On the Friday evening at the end of the camp and sampler, everyone went up to the viewing deck that overlooks the watering holes. We enjoyed a drink and snack with fellowship and a view of the variety of God’s creation at the start of the weekly Sabbath.

On the Sabbath, the service and song leading were conducted by one of the senior boy campers, Jesse Schuller. The sermons were given by Darris McNeely and Steve Myers. Four visitors from Klerksdorp also joined us for services.

One highlight of the Sabbath fellowship and treats were two cakes prepared by Mariana Simons especially for the camp. The one cake had the Ten Commandments on it that was printed on rice paper in both English and Portuguese. The other cake had a wildlife scene on it with animals and two campers wearing the camper shirt colors of this camp. Definitely a lot of thought went into both.

Mariana had also been delegated the role of organizing biscuits and rusks for the duration of the camp. She did this so well that there was an excess of biscuits and rusks at the end of the camp, which were then donated to the various areas to take back for services the next Sabbath.

As an added highlight to the Sabbath, the baptism of Calvin Enslin occurred in the afternoon, with the elder from Gauteng, Arthur Fisher, conducting the baptism.

Feedback from those attending the camp has been positive with constructive suggestions for the next camp to be incorporated where possible.