The Iowa-Missouri Pathfinder Camporee is always a special time, and this year was no exception. The entire weekend was filled with inspirational singing led by the Ankeny, Iowa’s Son Seekers. Other Pathfinders shared various presentations in the form of song, sign, skits and poems.
On Friday evening retired pastor Dale Rosette presented the story of Desmond Doss, a Seventh-day Adventist conscientious objector who served in WWII. Rosette made the account come to life with battle sounds, lights programmed to simulate gun flash, and fireworks. Elder Rosette, who was also a conscientious objector in Vietnam, spoke of the difficulties of war and the necessity of trusting God. He showed the Pathfinders that by putting their faith and trust in God they can make it through any situation.
On Sabbath morning the Independence Samoan-English Church group brought us The Passion Play. Over 350 people walked the journey of Christ’s last moments, living the pain and anguish of seeing our Lord and Savior go from being loved and adored to being hated and despised. It was during this powerful display that one Pathfinder told his director, “I want to be baptized and I want it to happen today.” Pastor Mark Tagaloa, from the Samoan-English Church, performed the baptism on Sabbath afternoon.
Afterward Pastor Tagaloa asked if anyone else was feeling the Holy Spirit tug at their hearts. With tears rolling down their faces and shoulders shaking, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was evident as 26 young people came forward and declared that they wanted to take a public stand for God. Later that evening another girl let Pastor Tagaloa know she too wanted to be baptized, and her baptism closed out the weekend on Sunday morning.
Alicia Spaid is the Pathfinder area coordinator for the Iowa-Missouri Conference.
