"Youth" Camp

Being involved in our local church, Masaka Full Gospel, is one of the things we love about living here. Because the Timothy Centre isn't up and running yet, we don't have the chance to interact with Ugandans on a daily basis (aside from Paul and his workers, but many of them don't speak English). So we have embraced the opportunity to be committed and involved at our church, whether teaching Sunday school, joining the worship team now and then, or bringing visitors - and we are always well received!

Recently our pastor asked if we (Paul, Lizabee and I) would be on the committee for planning a 5-day youth camp, to take place in January. We agreed, but soon found out that planning a youth camp in Uganda is very different than planning a youth camp at home...for several reasons...

1. "Youth" refers to anyone age 15-30 who is not married.

2. Covering the cost of a 5 day experience for 200 people is a challenge when you can't charge the youth themselves very much money, because otherwise they can't afford to come.

3. When planning food, you have to consider that matooke and posho can't be eaten together in the same meal. (Who knew? Not I.)

4. When planning seminar topics, Paul is to be the key speaker for anything related to marriage and dating. Apparently he is an expert.

5. Girls will sleep 2 to a single mattress to save space.

Those are just a few (among many) things that have come up in our "youth camp committee meetings." Very formal. Very official.

The youth camp itself will take place at Lake Nabugabo, where our church actually owns a camp that hasn't been used in years and is looking slightly rundown - we went to visit it and check it out a few weeks ago.

So, it's no fancy place, and we won't be spending the whole time there with the youth, but we will be helping in all the organization and showing up to teach some workshops and seminars. The best part is how excited these "youth" already are! So stay tuned in January for a full "youth camp" report!