1 August 2019 | Ardingly, UK [Victor Hulbert]
If you think it is tough being pharaoh, try being pharaoh’s wife! That was the mantle Melissa Myklebust assumed for the second of her talks to the 4,000 Pathfinders attending the TED camporee at the South of England Showground in Ardingly, West Sussex on Wednesday, 31 July.
Carefully leading the campers through the various plagues of Egypt, and using visual aids, she argued with Pharaoh that he should listen to Moses and let the Israelites go. However, the more she argued the more stubborn Pharaoh became, right until the moment they lost their first-born son.
Melissa’s skill is in visualising the Bible story to make it understandable to children. “I think back to what I remembered of sermons and talks when I was a ten-year-old at such events,” she said. “I try to use visual aids so they will remember something.” She sees this as even more important as, for many campers, English is their second language.
Melissa leads Teen’s ministry in Norway, and she believes this has helped her in preparation. She prays that her preparation pays off. “I hope they are going to go home and think God is cool,” she says. More importantly, “that God cares for His people whoever they are and whatever they are going through, and that Jesus can save them.”
Language is no barrier for the vibrant singing, for the exchange of ‘country beads’ in a friendship game that captivated youth during the afternoon, and in spontaneous football matches and other activities across the site. Pioneering also progressed a pace as various clubs constructed tables, seating areas and various creative structures using pine poles and rope lashings.
Pathfinders also united in a significant ADRA project, committing themselves to join in the fight for education for ‘EVERY CHILD. EVERYWHERE. IN SCHOOL’. ADRA Europe’s Maja Ahac pointed out to the children that 262 million children across the world miss out on education due to war, famine, early marriage or poverty. Over the next few days the Pathfinders will be adding their signatures to a petition that will help pressure governments to take more positive action. The camporee may be a fun school holiday experience for them, but the camp also aims to develop their social awareness – with the active ADRA presence being an important part of the strategy.
To see more photos, visit TED Facebook page.
tedNEWS Staff: Victor Hulbert, editor; Deana Stojković, associate editor
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