By Becky Brooks / Photos: Geoff Starr

The McDonald Road Hawks Pathfinder Club traveled to Oshkosh, Wisconsin for the International Pathfinder Camporee, held Aug. 12-17, 2019. More than 55,000 Pathfinders and staff from 100 countries around the world attended this year’s camporee.

With the theme “Chosen” the camporee focused on the life of David. “It dealt with how God chose King Saul and King David, but emphasized how David had a different response to God than Saul did,” shared Andrew Myaing, leader of the McDonald Road Pathfinders. “It also talked about how God has chosen every single one of us. The example of David was given so we can choose God in return.”

Myaing shared several statistics about the camporee, noting that McDonald Road sent 114 people, including 68 Pathfinders to Oshkosh. The Hawks also sponsored 14 members from Kenya to attend. From McDonald Road Church to Oshkosh, it was a sixteen-hour drive on the bus, with three drivers taking turns. Nine minivans were also filled with food to feed the club. A world record was also broken with 13,309 people grouping together to form the largest human cross.

At the camporee, more than 1,300 people were baptized, including Blake Miller of the McDonald Road Hawks. Myaing shared that several more Pathfinders are also interested in starting Bible studies.

“I want to thank the McDonald Road Church family for your support, your prayer and your petitions for our club,” said Myaing. “It does a heart good. It’s a great ministry. If you can be a part of it, you would feel how we as staff feel in making an impact in our young people’s lives.”
Pathfinders is for anyone age 10-15 and encourages mental, physical, and spiritual growth in weekly meetings. Club meetings generally consist of group worship and class work for honors, which develops new skills and hobbies. The McDonald Road Hawks are still accepting registrations for the coming year.

The next International Camporee will be in 2024 with the theme, “Believe the Promise” focusing on Moses.