04/14/2023
Texas Camporee 2023, Stand Out, was one for the books... We started out with rain on Thursday afternoon until the evening, which created a mud situation all over camp. Busses were getting stuck, cars and golf carts were either getting stuck or sliding around and it was potentially a very dangerous situation. We had to stop cars from coming in to camp and send golf carts to help carry equipment into the field for the clubs while they left their trailers out in a makeshift parking area. It was supposed to rain all night long and through the middle of the next afternoon. But God had a different plan in store and the rain stopped Thursday night and the reliable, steady, Lake Whitney Ranch wind dried a lot of the muddy situation. In fact, there wasn't a drop of rain the entire day on Friday.
The Events on Friday were superb and we felt like a real team as we finished each one, working together with our strengths, even though this was the first time we had every Pathfinder there - even our brand new club members that has just joined two weeks before!
On Friday night, while all of the 4,000+ Pathfinders were at Worship in the big tent, pastor Milton was making his appeal to those that wanted to commit their lives to Jesus. Pathfinders we're standing all over the place in support of friends or to make their way down front. But suddenly the atmosphere changed dramatically when some of the Pathfinders noticed a high flash and that a fire had started out in the camp area. Of course they wanted to see what was going on but we had to keep them safe so we asked them all to sit back down. Pastor Milton didn't know what was happening outside the tent, but he just began praying for whatever the situation was and kept the kids calm. Within a few, short minutes the fire was out and no one was seriously hurt. We then understood how important our required fire extinguishers and emergency fire buckets at each campsite were. It had taken six of those fire extinguishers to put the fire out.
Sabbath morning began with a light sprinkle of rain - just enough to soften everything and potentially create a new mud situation. But by the time we finished uniform inspections and had the color guard, drum corps, and Area Coordinators march past the Pathfinders and the review stand (instead of 4,000 Pathfinders parading in the mud) the rain was letting up as we entered the big tent for church.
Sabbath afternoon was sunny and beautiful - a perfect time for 23 Pathfinders to be baptized in the Lake Whitney Ranch pond!
Saturday night after worship there was a terrific fireworks show to kick off an evening of basketball, soccer, visiting, and pin trading.
Sunday morning was exciting with awards ceremony right after a quick breakfast. We brought home a ribbon for FIRST PLACE Overall! Our practice and study had paid off!
We will miss not having a Texas Camporee next spring, but instead we will finish our preparation and fundraising for the International Camporee, Believe the Promise, just 4 months later! See you all in Gillette, WY, August 2024!
