Snow Day for Kaitaia!
Over the weekend of 14–17 August, 19 members of the Far North Corps youth group, together with three leaders, travelled down to The Salvation Army’s Blue Mountain Adventure Centre (BMAC) in National Park.
Lieutenant Mosese Kava reports that the trip was a truly unforgettable experience, with 95 percent of the young people having never experienced snow or water rafting before.
‘This camp was a dream come true, and there were moments of adventure that brought overwhelming joy. Knowing the financial challenges many of these family’s face, this was a rare and precious opportunity that filled our young people with excitement, wonder and gratitude.’
Lieutenant Amelia Kava adds that a key facet of the camp was to affirm the journey with Christ that the young people have started.
‘It’s a big challenge for the young ones up here in the Far North. Many of them struggle with their faith when they step outside the church space. Even though it was only a weekend away, it was enough time for some of them to build their confidence in themselves and deepen their connection with others.’
There were plenty of moments of challenge where the young people had to dig deep to overcome their fears. One young man had a very real fear of death and had to be reassured that he would survive water rafting and that he could trust the BMAC staff to keep him safe. Amelia explains that when they returned to BMAC, the young man said he was so glad he joined the others because not only would he have missed the whole experience, but he was still here to tell the tale!
One young woman was afraid of heights. ‘I tried to explain it was safe, but the beautiful thing was that seeing the other girls doing it gave her the courage to try,’ explains Amelia. ‘When she agreed to do it, the girls just covered her with lots of love and support. Later that day, she shared that when she went on the high swing, she noticed a strength in herself that she didn’t know she had before. The experience also gave her confidence in her ability to cope and face things, even if it’s uncomfortable.’
Amelia and Mosese know that life is full of challenges for young people and wanted to create space for the youth to move forward in their journey with God.
‘Beyond the fun and adventure, this camp was also a time of deep spiritual growth,’ explains Mosese. ‘Our young people learned more about God’s creation, His love for them and the truth of their identity in Him. These seeds of faith and self-worth will continue to grow long after the camp has ended.’
Some of the young people shared their ‘God moments’, with Mosese reporting that one said the experience brought her closer to God, while another said the camp helped him grow spiritually and become more open-minded.
‘It is our prayer and hope for the present and future youth of Kaitaia, that they may grow up in Christ and become God’s soldiers, giving light and hope to their homes and the Far North community,’ says Mosese.
The couple were thrilled with the local support they received from donors.
‘Our youth were able to step into a world they had only imagined,’ says Mosese, who helped the young people write a message of gratitude to those who supported the trip:
‘Thank you for believing in us. Thank you for giving us this chance to grow, to explore, and to discover who we are. We’ll never forget this experience. Fa’afetai lava, vinaka vakalevu, meitaki ma’ata — thank you from the bottom of our hearts!’
