Opposite Way

Days #75-77 (Fri-Sun)

This extended weekend was Urban Voice's youth group, Summit's, Summer Camp! And it promised to be a good one!

I love a good youth camp and glad i got the chance to enjoy one South African style... There's a few differences which just wouldn't happen back home, one especially was how the leaders shared rooms with the campers, especially after having lots of child protection meetings with Christians in Sport for a whole weekend it was a surprise but a good surprise! It was needed as well especially with the Boys who come from the townships, they get up to all sorts!

The evening worship sessions and talks, like any youth camp, were extra special! Especially the worship, the volume was intense and there was lots of clapping, singing and lots of dancing which was good to see! I was the equivalent of Tecky Boy for the weekend so I was in charge of the computer side which was great fun!

Saturday promised to be an even better day! Morning started with the loved early wake up and leaders meeting, i then took our dorm through a bible study to start the day, then off course the most important meal of the day... Breakfast!

The morning we had various sessions. The whole weekend was called "Opposite Way" how as young people we need to be pushing to live in an Opposite way to which the world lives! Some really challenging talks and messages, especially from a couple who came to deliver a talk on sexual purity.

Afternoon was our time to shine as the Helderberg Academy with our Activities. All the activities I sorted out had to follow the theme of Romans 5:3-4

³ Not only so, but we^[a] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope.


The Activities;
Ultimate Frisbee... This is just a classic game and great fun! We pushed to make the games more intense so it was tough for the young people and they had to persevere and push on!
Tug Tug... This firstly involved a Tug of War competition going with the idea how the world is trying to pull us one way but we need to strive to go the Opposite Way and with any Tug of War its tough, there's times we want to pack it all in but we must endure and this will develop character! Then just to make it interesting we then moved on to pulling cars! Had to make a bit more extreme! The other team would all pile in to the car then the other team were against the clock to pull the car a considerable distance in the fastest time!
River Dash... First up the Teams had to build a river crossing, a way of getting from one side to the other. Then they were both shown the bible verse for 60s each. Each team was then handed the verse all cut up into single words. It was then a relay to get the words across the river to the other side. Once all the words were across it was time to get the words in the right order (see how much attention they were paying).
River Dash... First up the Teams had to build a river crossing, a way of getting from one side to the other. Then they were both shown the bible verse for 60s each. Each team was then handed the verse all cut up into single words. It was then a relay to get the words across the river to the other side. Once all the words were across it was time to get the words in the right order (see how much attention they were paying).
Obstacle Course... This was the event I was running and as always I have to take it to the next level. There was a narrow trail running through the woods with bridges and logs (think it was a mountain biking trail or something). Before the camp i went to the farm i stayed at and got all the rope i could get my hands on. This rope made up lots and lots of spider webs between the trees! Also, got a few logs and fallen trees and made various obstacles. We also had the classic cargo net and they had to do the obstacle course dressed up. It was a great activity to take part in and watch! Idea about this one is simple, through the course and in life there are things which try to trip us up and slow us down, things which get in our way. Also, it tough! It was a long course and it was very tiring! This is the same in life, through the pain, through the hardships, past the obstacle we must continue to push on and persevere! 
Rest of the weekend was just a fantastic camp! Had great time with the young people! There was lots of laughs and just a general energetic buzz for camp! Saturday night ended with a huge party/disco which I was allocated responsibility over... So the disco music was AMAZING we had Ben Howard, Jack Johnson, John Mayer... All the legends! Haha joking I left those guys behind and got some good songs going! The favourite had to be South Africa's own Waka Waka, it was sooo loud as they all sang along and danced there socks off (African Style!).
Great weekend, challenging for me a leader as well!
Hope to get some photos of the camp soon :)
God Bless.




The idea behind this activity is taking God’s word (the bible verse) overseas (across the stream) to different cultures and societies. It’s tough, there are obstacles and you may have to keep going back and forth until the message is understood. It requires perseverance, patience and determination. Also, once you are over there with the word it’s not easy to get across the message clearly to people who have never heard of Jesus before. Emphasis on taking Jesus’ word overseas. And emphasis on the bible verse and how it applies to this activity.