Sabbath @ Camp Yavapines

Saturday morning, we woke up bright and got our pathfinders ready for their morning inspection.
Abby was down at the camp with her friends, but don't the boys look great?  Marshall is SOOO
proud of his uniform.  I have no doubt that part of the reason he takes it so seriously is him seeing
Jeremy going to work with his patches and badges. 

My big boy!

Between the inspection and the Church Service, the Pathfinder director, Sid held the investiture, promoting the kids to the next rank.

Lots of love for these kids!

Abby after being promoted to Explorer.

Jeremy decided that while he was attending Pathfinders with the kids, he might as well complete the few things he needed to so he could become a Master Guide.

Since Marshall isn't old enough to actually be a Pathfinder (He's considered an adventurer), he didn't get invested with the other kids.  We didn't know this ahead of time, so weren't able to warn him.  He was so eager to participate, that when they called our club, he and his friend Israel hopped right on up there, straight up on the stage.  Having to come back down without any recognition was disappointing for him and I caught this moment of Jeremy explaining to him what had happened and assuring him that his time would come.  My kids are so blessed to have the dad that they have.

The mood lifted greatly when the guest speaker, Elden Ramirez, the director of Youth Ministries for the Central California Conference and his buddy Dusty arrived.  Dusty helped to "open" for the pastor.  He would tell some jokes and make the kids laugh, then "go to sleep" for the sermon.  He was on stage for about 10 minutes the first night, when Amelia leaned over and said "Mom, that's a puppet.  RIGHT?"  ;)  Friday evenings sermon was about David and Goliath.  Sabbath morning, he told the story of Zaccheaus from a perspective I had never considered before.  That of Zaccheaus observing all the miracles Jesus was performing and heading off for himself to meet this wonderful Man.  

Marshall LOVED Dusty on Friday night, and it was no different Saturday morning.

These two love each other so much!   I'm so glad they get to share their time in Pathfinders with each other.

After the church service, we headed back to our cabin for some lunch.
Abby went back to the campsite with the rest of the Pathfinders.

These two love each other tons too!  One is usually lost without the other.

After lunch, we took a little hike up to the end of the zip line, then up to the beginning.   The kids had fun finding desert flowers to carry along.  And no hike is complete without a good hiking stick, right? 

Abby with parts of Prescott behind her.  We were told that you used to not be able to see any houses from the campground, but as the city has spread, development has crept in where it wasn't before.

After our hike, we wandered over to the Pathfinders camp.  Marshall and Amelia had fun running and playing with their friends.  Abby went with some of the bigger kids to hike up to some petroglyphs that were nearby.

One of the counselors made this homage to Psalms 119:176 which says:
I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.

The theme for the Camporee was "Seek His Presence"

See the little sheep made out of pinecones?  :D

After dinner, we went back to the dome for a vespers service where Pastor Ramirez told yet another fascinating sermon, this time complete with pictures of himself climbing Half Dome in Yosemite National Park.  I think it's safe to say you won't find me doing that anytime soon!