Kenya LYP Camp December 2023
The Living Youth Camp in Kenya 2023 was held from December 24 to 30, with 154 campers and around ten volunteer staff members. Campers from twelve different congregations across Kenya came together at the Church property in Kendu Bay, Western Kenya. Each day began with an early morning jog and camp clean-up, followed by a hearty breakfast. The mornings continued with singing and spiritual messages focusing on this year’s camp theme, “Choose Life.” Both campers and staff enjoyed the various activities, as well as many encouraging and motivating messages throughout the week.
A standout activity was a cooking competition that rallied teams of campers together to prepare Kenyan foods according to the traditional method of cooking over an open fire. Each team made chapatis (a flatbread), popcorn, and even a delicious cake!
Campers took part in games, a nature hike to Lake Victoria, and a bus trip to a nearby waterfall and reservoir. One clear highlight was the sports day held at a nearby school, where the campers enjoyed a walking race, volleyball, football (soccer), and other field sports. Even the spectators had a wonderful time, providing music and encouragement for the participants.
Another notable event was the Spokesman Club, which campers either participated in or observed. Young men had the opportunity to hone their public-speaking skills, while the audience learned what Spokesman Club is all about. There was also lots of singing. Campers from each congregation had memorized and practiced two new hymns from the Church hymnal before attending camp. At camp, they sang those hymns throughout the week—and, on the final day, a panel of adjudicators provided feedback and encouragement.
Camp concluded on the Sabbath after services, but there was still one more momentous event on Sunday morning. After a brief hike to a nearby river, eight young people were baptized. Everyone traveled home physically tired but spiritually energized, eagerly anticipating next year’s camp.
—Dinah Winnail
LYP Camp 2023 in Benin
At the end of last year, 35 enthusiastic campers participated in the LYP Teen Camp in Porto-Novo, Benin. A total of 44 attendees, including staff and family members, gathered on Sunday, December 24, coming from Benin, Togo, Nigeria, and Belgium. Campers spoke seven different languages, with French serving as the common language used in all activities.
Camp started off with an energetic game of Molkky, a popular throwing game, followed by orientation, dinner, and quiet time. The first day came to a close with the group singing our favorite camp song, “By This Shall All Men Know.”
As with other camps, we followed the theme set by Mr. Weston and Mr. Nathan: “Choose Life.” Our days began early, which allowed us the unique opportunity to share some classes live online with our sister camps in South Africa and Kenya. The focus and determination to excel were evident across all activities, especially swimming: Hermann Loko Aikpe, an experienced secondary school teacher, encouraged some teens who could not yet swim, and they steadily gained confidence as they learned the breaststroke. The nature class left everyone amazed at the wonders of the animal kingdom.
The campers displayed great enthusiasm and engagement in all the classes, actively participating in discussions about the music we listen to, the clothes we wear, and the attitudes we need to adopt as we make responsible, godly choices in life. Everyone clearly valued the privilege of attending camp this year!
—Rees and Fanny Ellis
LYP Teen and Preteen Camp in South Africa 2023
The Living Youth Teen and Preteen Camp in South Africa kicked off at the end of December 2023 with vibrant energy, welcoming 70 enthusiastic campers and staff from South Africa, Zambia, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Benin, and the UK.
This year’s camp theme, “Choose Life,” was the focus of our daily Christian Living classes, where we explored this profound topic in depth. The classes were presented by Mr. Peter Nathan, Mr. Lawdi Ferreira, Mr. Ryan van der Watt, Dr. Scott Winnail, and Mr. Gerald Weston, who joined us online, and these sessions were a highlight for everyone.
To challenge the campers and help them develop new skills, we introduced several new activities to the schedule, including handball and basic bricklaying skills, tailored specifically for the boys. These fresh additions complemented longtime camp favorites such as netball, volleyball, swimming, dance, tag rugby, soccer, a formal dinner-dance, etiquette class, water polo, life-skills classes, arts and crafts, obstacle courses, and horseback riding, as well as leadership and team-building games.
One of the most anticipated parts of each day was Evening Reflections, where campers and staff gathered to share their personal highlights and lessons learned. These reflections fostered a deep sense of unity and love among everyone present.
Staff members noted how the camp experience exceeded their expectations, commenting on the seamless teamwork and the extra efforts made to ensure everyone felt at home. Beyond the activities, camp serves a greater purpose—nurturing relationships among young people while deepening their personal connection with God. Reflecting on his own experience as a camper decades ago, one adult highlighted the profound impact that Christian Living classes had on his spiritual foundation, emphasizing the lasting influence these experiences have on campers.
We are deeply grateful for God’s protection and blessings, which made yet another camp a resounding success!
—Lawdi Ferreira