I just want to thank all of the clubs that made it to the Texas Conference Camporee, and kept their spirits up during the wind, rain and mud. Sometimes it seems the Devil is conspiring against us, trying his hardest to engender gumbling and discontent, but it is a blessing to see the Spirit of Pathfinders constantly prevail, and trample down the Devil's discord.
It may have seemed unreasonable sometimes with the differing instructions on Sunday morning, but I assure you there was a whole team of behind-the-scenes volunteers working to ensure your safety and the safety of the youth, and at the same time to facilitate your prompt departure to allow you safe driving. We were no less eager to see you go (no offense) as we had to finish cleaning the site and tearing down before we could leave, but we are all, you and the Camporee volunteers and staff, doing this to provide a spiritually uplifting, safe, enjoyable and memorable experience for the youth, to instill in them strong principles, strong faith, and a sense of their responsibility and capability as children of God.
Central Texas, you are a wonderful bunch of folks, and your campsites were exceptionally clean, at times I was even hard pressed to find one or two small scraps missed. This is a testament to your training as leaders, and to the sense of responsibility in your young people that we are all working to instill. Respect for others was also shown in the (mostly) prompt shutting off of generators on time, and in ensuring that your youth were promptly at the flag ceremonies and the main tent programs. The examples you set in your actions (generators, on-time participation, good relations with neighboring clubs, clean and orderly campsites, kind words to Master Guide volunteers) has a greater impact on the youth than your words or commands to them. They look to you to see if you are living by the Pathfinder Pledge and Law, and by what you profess to believe.
We will update the CTX site soon with pictures and stories from Camporee, and I encourage you all to send some of your own in - I would love to have pictures from all 19 clubs present (and from clubs that weren't able to attend, but perhaps did their own activities this past weekend).
I would like to leave you with one of the thoughts from Pastor Blanchard that has continued to echo in my mind since this weekend's program. Please, let us all live as if we serve a RISEN Savior, let us be confident in our salvation, in the strength of the Lord, and let us be bold in sharing what we know, and in helping those around us, that we may show Jesus' love through our actions and words daily.
It may have seemed unreasonable sometimes with the differing instructions on Sunday morning, but I assure you there was a whole team of behind-the-scenes volunteers working to ensure your safety and the safety of the youth, and at the same time to facilitate your prompt departure to allow you safe driving. We were no less eager to see you go (no offense) as we had to finish cleaning the site and tearing down before we could leave, but we are all, you and the Camporee volunteers and staff, doing this to provide a spiritually uplifting, safe, enjoyable and memorable experience for the youth, to instill in them strong principles, strong faith, and a sense of their responsibility and capability as children of God.
Central Texas, you are a wonderful bunch of folks, and your campsites were exceptionally clean, at times I was even hard pressed to find one or two small scraps missed. This is a testament to your training as leaders, and to the sense of responsibility in your young people that we are all working to instill. Respect for others was also shown in the (mostly) prompt shutting off of generators on time, and in ensuring that your youth were promptly at the flag ceremonies and the main tent programs. The examples you set in your actions (generators, on-time participation, good relations with neighboring clubs, clean and orderly campsites, kind words to Master Guide volunteers) has a greater impact on the youth than your words or commands to them. They look to you to see if you are living by the Pathfinder Pledge and Law, and by what you profess to believe.
We will update the CTX site soon with pictures and stories from Camporee, and I encourage you all to send some of your own in - I would love to have pictures from all 19 clubs present (and from clubs that weren't able to attend, but perhaps did their own activities this past weekend).
I would like to leave you with one of the thoughts from Pastor Blanchard that has continued to echo in my mind since this weekend's program. Please, let us all live as if we serve a RISEN Savior, let us be confident in our salvation, in the strength of the Lord, and let us be bold in sharing what we know, and in helping those around us, that we may show Jesus' love through our actions and words daily.