Program director Mark Mickelson and his wife, Michelle, along with Caleb Janicich and Cody and Bobbi Kitts arrived from the United States the previous Tuesday, Aug. 10.

We had five relaxing days, including a wonderful Sabbath, to adjust to our surroundings before camp began. Caleb, who was in Nigeria for the first time, used this time to begin to explore the food, language and culture of the country; and we all quickly realized that with his adventurous spirit, he was going to fit into the program quite nicely.

On Sunday, Aug. 15, our work began in earnest. Sixteen campers and 14 staff members from the Benin City, Lagos and Owerri congregations, as well as the five Youth Corps participants, arrived at the Afobaje Hotel near Ayetoro, Ogun state, for a week of fun, fellowship and furthering relationships with God and each other.

Camp director Oludare Akinbo, assisted by his wife Tohun, had planned an exciting week for all of us. Activities included computer appreciation, crafts, dance, rock climbing, rope bridge traversing, softball and volleyball. After breakfast and a "Compass Check" to start each day off right, campers split into two teams of eight—the blue team and the green team—for the day's events.

Highlights for many campers were rock climbing and the rope bridge since such activities are quite rare in Nigeria. As you might imagine, both activities gave some campers the opportunity to face fears and grow more courageous!

Softball was a new activity this year. Most of the campers had never before picked up a bat, ball or glove. It was quite a challenge for the staff to explain and demonstrate the rules of this brand-new game, but by the end of the week the campers understood the basics and had begun to develop their fielding and hitting skills.

Throughout the week, anticipation had been building for Friday—the day of team challenges. After lunch that afternoon, the whole camp gathered at the softball field for the championship game. After five innings, the blue team emerged victorious.

Next, we gathered at the site of the rope bridge activity. The campers had practiced setting up a Tyrolean traverse between two 15-foot-high platforms that had been built around two trees some distance apart. Their goal was to set up the traverse and transport all the members of the team from one platform to the other—and to do it all faster and with fewer mistakes than the other team. In the end, the green team won this contest. The volleyball championship followed; and after three tough games, the green team again prevailed.

That evening brought the Sabbath, which gave us all a welcome chance to slow down a bit from the fast-paced week. Sabbath services the next day were followed by several hours of downtime during which campers reviewed their notes from the Bible studies given throughout the week in preparation for the Bible bowl that would take place during dinner that evening.

For our last meal together, the Akinbos and the Mickelsons had planned a cowboy-themed banquet. The Akinbos and the five Youth Corps members donned their best cowboy jeans and kerchiefs and served the meal to the campers and staff while music from the Bar J Wranglers played in the background. Each team created short videos during computer appreciation class to illustrate the camp experience, and they had the opportunity to show their work after the Bible bowl. To wrap up the evening, campers got to use their newly acquired line, waltz and swing dancing skills during a camp dance.

The next morning, it was time to say goodbye. Though there were a few tears, campers and staff reminded each other that they would be together again in a few short weeks at the Feast of Tabernacles. By 8 a.m., all the campers and most of the staff had begun their journeys home. Mr. Akinbo and several of the local staff then treated the Youth Corps participants to a trip to a secluded part of the beach on the Bight of Benin for an immensely enjoyable last day in Nigeria.

The following evening we boarded a plane to head for home, already missing our Nigerian family, but thankful for the opportunity we had had to spend time with them. UN

For more photos from the United Youth Corps project in Nigeria, go to the United News Facebook fanpage at www.facebook.com/UCGUnitedNews. For more information about the United Youth Corps, visit www.ucgyouthcorps.org.