Mindanao Vision Youth Camp
HIS story in the lives of Mindanao campers.
April 19, 2004
In the 19th year of mission work on the island of Mindanao, Philippines the first ever Mindanao Vision Youth Camp is no longer potential, but has become reality!
When registration began at Hope Mountain for the Mindanao Vision Youth Camp 2004 at 1:00 p.m. Sunday, April 11th, there were nearly 50 campers already in line to complete the registration process, and by 10:00 p.m. that evening 102 campers had registered; 60 girls and 42 boys ranging in ages from 12 to 18.
In addition to the campers we had 30 adults involved in the camp. Rick Morrell was the Camp Director. Rev. Ric Webb from the Bible Doctrine Church in Little Rock, Arkansas, Rev. Robert Rio from Grace Christian Church in Tagbilaran, Bohol, Philippines, and Pastor Lui de Castro from Faith Baptist Church, Bacaca, Davao City were the teachers. There were four counselors for the males, eight counselors for the females, three who provided security and helped in other areas, and eleven who handled the dietary needs of all in attendance.
The "churched" campers came from 34 different churches. The church breakdown is:
6 campers from Alliance churches
27 campers from Baptist churches
15 campers from Roman Catholic churches
1 camper from the Church of Christ
1 camper from the Seventh Day Adventist church
52 campers from churches where sound doctrine is being taught
The campers came from the Malita area in Davao del Sur, the Midsayap area in North Cotabato, the Polomolok area of South Cotabato, Davao del Norte and Davao City proper.
Except for about 15 minutes of rain late Thursday afternoon, we were blessed with absolutely beautiful weather all five days. No serious injuries, no illnesses, no major disturbances that would tend to take our attention off of what we were there for. God was truly glorified in all that went on!
Nearly all of the campers left the camp vowing to return again for the 2005 camp. Now the preparation for that camp begins.
Sa Dios ang himaya !!!!
HIS story in the lives of Mindanao campers.
April 18, 2005
The second annual Mindanao Vision Youth Camp, MVYC 2005, is now a memory. And what a magnificent memory it is!
By the time registration ended as we all arrived at the Philippines National Girl Scout Camp, Camp Alano, on Sunday, April 10th, we had registered 39 adults, 16 counselors, 21 youth (ages 6 to 12), 77 teens (ages 13 to 19), and 9 staff members, for a total of 162 registered campers. We also had 4 toddlers ages 3 to 5, but since they slept with their mothers we did not require registration for them.
We had campers in attendance from 22 different churches and Christian ministries from across the island of Mindanao, from America and from the island of Cebu. Less than 25% of those who attended camp this year attended MVYC 2004. There were many who were presented with an ACCURATE gospel message for the first time this week.
The camp was blessed this year by the presence of Rev. Ric Webb, the Pastor/Teacher of the Bible Doctrine Church in Little Rock, Arkansas, Rev. Bryan Elmore, the Associate Director and Public Relations director of Glenhaven Youth Ranch in Plainview, Arkansas, and Mr. Brian Brettell, the son of Rev. Dr. James Brettell, the youth Pastor/Teacher of the Bible Doctrine Church in Little Rock, and the founder of James A. Brettell Bible Ministries.
The adults were taught each morning this year by Rev. Darryl Anderson. Pastor/Teacher Lui de Castro provided the spiritual instruction for the teens each morning while Rev. Ric and Rev. Bryan taught the teens each afternoon. Mrs. Esther Gamo and Mrs. Rhoda Pedres shared the teaching responsibilities for the youth campers, and Mrs. Mary Ann de Castro and Mrs. Bebeth Gallo provided instruction for the nursery children. Each evening we were all blessed as Rev. Bryan Elmore led the camp in 30 to 40 minutes of celebration in song preceding Rev. Ric’s message for all in attendance. Everyone at the camp indicated they would all be back again next year!
We were blessed with absolutely beautiful weather during camp so the outdoor activities and games were really fun. On Tuesday and Thursday afternoon the “game” time was spent at the beach, only a 5 minute walk from the camp. Thursday evening we had a fantastic “farewell” gathering around a huge bonfire. Following cleanup and lunch on Friday everyone headed home.
The members of the team from America were given opportunity to teach in Pastor Carlito Dadula’s church, Spring Baptist Church, and in Pastor Eser Pedres’ church, the Bible Doctrine Church of Davao City on both Sunday’s they were in Davao.
This year marked the 20th anniversary of Rev. Dr. James Brettell’s first visit to Davao City. That year Pastor Dadula and Dr. Jim ministered to the Dacanay family in Catalunan Pequino. Mr. and Mrs. Dacanay and their 9 children were saved that year, and the following year Mr. Dacanay had a church built near their house where regular teaching of sound doctrine began to take place. Each time Dr. Jim would visit Davao City that little church, the Bible Doctrine Church of Catalunan Pequino became the venue for the final gathering for worship on the last Sunday evening before returning to the U.S.
It has been six years since Dr. Jim’s last visit, so in recognition of his son Brian’s presence in Davao this year we arranged to have our final celebration feast and worship service at that little church in Catalunan Pequino once again. Possibly 60 or more believers from seven different churches gathered there on Sunday afternoon to feast on two “lechon baboy,” (roast pig), and one “lechon ganding,” (roast goat). And of course the ladies provided all of the fixin’s, including “dinugu-an,” (blood pudding). There were several in attendance who were there 20 years ago when Dr. Jim first set foot in the Catalunan Pequino barangay.
Please spend some time enjoying the nearly 900 pictures of this year's memorable camp.
Our prayers of thanksgiving are invading God’s throne room for all who have faithfully supported all that took place during this year’s camp in both prayer and financial ways.