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Day 1: Registration and making of the mascots
Slowly but surely, the church auditorium is filled with youth full of expectation to be shaken up.... A video clip, from last year’s camp is shown and, listening to all the testimonies, we realise that this camp, just as all the previous ones, will mean a radical transformation in many young people’s lives. On arrival in this “furnace” called Belle Mare, we are immediately thrown into the life of the camp. The making of the mascots as well as the proud flag that marks the H.Q. of each team displayed an avalanche of colours, of creativity, and ingenuity. We can admire the boat ready to set sail, a buzzing bee, a smiling frog displaying all its… teeth? A pig that everyone is dying to adopt; and many other works of art.
Day 2: End Times. What is our identity?
Our brains, especially the cells involved with memorisation were put to use during the activities! Be careful, as the points count for the final treasure hunt. We needed to know the name and surname, the town (or the country), age, as well as the colour and favourite meal of each member of our team (that is to say 20 people!) And all this in only 8 minutes, otherwise it would have been too easy! For the second game, the Marshall asked for the mascot.... Oops! What was the first rule? Never give your mascot or banner to anyone outside of your team. Almost everyone fell into this trap. The poor little “trophies” were sometimes taken hostage. Well done to only two teams who stood firm and kept safe that which symbolised their “Christian identity!”
In the afternoons, the workshops all seemed extremely fascinating...
“I made sure that my name was amongst those numerous participants at the workshop held by Sisters Brigitte, Kamla, and Dane about our responsibilities in the home. We were so privileged to hear the heart of God for our homes through these women of the spirit who spoke truth to us!” confides Elzabé (19, South Africa)
Day 3: End Times. Travel to share the gospel
Today everyone is preparing to travel to “different continents”. The area has been divided into four sections: Africa, America, Asia and Europe. Passport in our pockets, we built our country, set up borders with picks and pieces of string, before visiting churches in ‘other’ countries (while doing corresponding activities). Certain evangelists were even put into ‘prison’. Hand-cuffed, they needed to find the right key to open the various locks...The countdown started. Beware of “Customs” overseen by Bernard, who was in charge of baggage control and identity checking: the perseverance of the teams was put to the test!
In the afternoon, we weren't sure which workshop to choose, from theatre, sign language, the geo-politics, health...
I did the workshop on the camera. Coula showed us how to be a CTMI cameraman, not only do we need to know how to use all the equipment, but we need to share the vision of those ahead of us”, says Sandy (24, Mauritius).
Liezl (19, South Africa) was thrilled! “I took part in the workshop with Brother Eugene on songwriting. He didn't give us a technique, but showed us that composing a song is an expression of a given life. We can be expectant for great songs to arise from our hearts”.
Day 4: End Times. Put oil in your lamps!
Off to Mauritius for the treasure hunt: The whole site was transformed by sign-posts indicating the different towns... The teams who had earned the least points left last and had to take the most difficult route. It wasn't easy to decipher the blue compass and the red clues in such extreme heat, worthy of the tribulation! But it all adds to the ‘End Times’atmosphere. After passing through Port Louis, Trou aux Cerfs, Mahébourg and Cap Malheureux, we eventually had the four passwords. This was enough just to “remove the “bébé” (B.B = baby in English) from the Bible to have the password “Ile” (Island) which opened the door to the valley of the prophets... This clue was based on a French play of words. Thereafter, we had to find, as indicated in the trip notebook, the “True Elder” the true prophet to obtain the final message. Lets see if you can solve the final puzzle: “Buy from me gold, tested by fire so that you can become... Strong? Wise? Rich? Unshakable? Pure? Humble? Spiritual?” The elders, disguised as prophets, played their roles admirably... What is the answer? You will surely find it in Revelations 3:18. Well done to Team 15, who were not taken in by appearances; their members received as a gift a wonderful bilingual Bible.
The afternoon was dedicated, as all the previous afternoons, to the workshops, times of sharing with the elders, and paddling in the turquoise waters.
It's always a dilemma to choose a workshop! “I chose the geo-politics. It was amazing! I understand the situations and relationships between countries a lot better. It’s like a great machine that is working towards the return of Jesus!” explains Gabriella (20, Mauritius).
Day 5: Baptisms and Testimonies
So many people wanted to be baptised, that they came two by two, whilst the crowd gave glory to the Lord! We see the living fruits of the gospel. Each one with an extraordinary story such as Edna, a Mexican living in Paris, who was baptised in Mauritius! Or David from Reunion Island who was lost in a gothic lifestyle... It was only the Lord who brought him here!
What more can we say? This camp was amazing!
You can order the DVD or audio CD of the Youth Camp : contact media@ctminetwork.org
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