Solomon Islands Mission (SIM) of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church is set to host the Trans Pacific Union (TPU) regional Pathfinder camporee at the end of this year.
The event will be held from 16th to 21st December 2019 at a newly transformed camp site at Betikama Adventist College (BAC) just behind the SIM head office in Lungga.
SIM Youth Director Pr. Steve Aquila and Trans Pacific Union Youth Director Pr. Charlie Jimmy during a press conference at the SIM headquarter conference room yesterday confirmed the event.
Pr. Steve Aquila said the church’s youth department in Solomon Islands and the pathfinder committee are thrilled to announce that the TPU Pathfinder camporee will be staged here in December.
“The TPU Pathfinder camporee will host more than 6000 children ages between 10-15 years from regional countries across the pacific.
“It’s going to be a one week program that will feature worship, presentations from international speakers, fun outdoor and recreational activities, marching, community service and other activities,” he said.
The theme for the TPU 2019 Pathfinder camporee is ‘HEAR THE CALL’ a challenge for every boy, girl, counselors, instructors and any pathfinder to hear the call of Jesus the master Pathfinder to be disciples, he explained.
It is expected that 3100 international Pathfinders from around the Pacific will join an estimated 4000 local pathfinders for this grand camporee event.
“We are excited and looking forward to welcoming these young children to the camporee come December,” said Pr. Aquila
He appeals to Honiara residents, business houses and other entities in Honiara to provide the best hospitable environment for the visitors and all the participants.
The TPU Pathfinder camporee is a camp event that is held every 8 years in different member countries and this would be the third.
The first TPU Pathfinder Camporee was hosted by Fiji in 2003 and then Vanuatu in 2010 and this would be the first time for Solomon Islands to host the event.
A local pathfinder organizing committee made up of volunteers and ex-pathfinders are working round the clock to prepare for the major and exciting event.
Pr. Aquila said that the ground work on the camp site is progressing well and hopefully everything should be in place by September.
“Access roads have been cleared with bore holes for water being done. Now we are working on the ablution blocks as hygiene is very important in this big gatherings,” he said.
There are six sub camps within the camp site and each sub camps are allocated to the churches in Honiara to do the clean up, he explained.
Lightings for the site will also be constructed.
Currently Ropiko Civil Engineering Enterprise is doing the civil works while Advance Quality Supplies is supply the hardware supplies.
Anina Harry Construction has been engaged for construction of the Ablution blocks.
The new camp site is located at the former Betikama paddock area which was used to keep cattle. This area has now been transformed into a new look camp ground.
The new camp ground was designed in a way so that will be used as a camp ground or park in the future.
Many who have visited the camp ground have expressed satisfaction about the new look site.
Most of the pathfinder clubs are preparing for the event and are looking forward for the program.
The Trans Pacific Union Youth Director Pr. Charlie Jimmy who is currently in the country to conduct an evangelical program also visited the site and is satisfied with the progress of work being done so far.
By BRYAN LUVENA
