As told by: Cassandre
“And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”
Mark 4:37-39 (KJV)
Everyone was excited about the 2024 Pathfinder Camporee being held in Gillette, Wyoming, for the first time. The camporee takes place every five years, typically in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, but this year, it would be on the plains of Wyoming. Over 60,000 people from all over the world come together to pitch their tents, meet up with old friends, make new friends, and spend a spiritual, fun-filled week with like-minded Christians.
The weather prediction was sunny and hot during the day, but much cooler at night. The campers were ready. However, the weather prediction turned out to be incorrect. The first night, Sunday, was extremely windy. The wind blew tents and knocked over items, making it an eventful first night. Then, on Tuesday, prayer requests were sent out to pray for the camporee attendees due to a tornado watch.
Cassandre saw the people panicking and full of fear. She was there with her three children, and she prayed that God would give her a testimony. Cassandre was praying as everyone was frantically preparing to evacuate to the provided shelters. She prayed that more people would believe that God was in control, that God was in their midst. Cassandre prayed that the tornado would not find its way to their campsite and that the rest of the week would be one of worship, laughter, joy, and peace. She prayed that the people would have an encounter with Jesus Christ, their Savior, who was able to calm the weather. By the time she said, "Amen," the wind had ceased, the rain had stopped, and a rainbow came out. Cassandre smiled because she knew the Lord had heard and answered her prayer.
The weather remained unpredictable for the remainder of the camporee week, but the local community rallied together, providing much-needed support to the attendees. Over 400 rooms at various hotels opened their doors free of charge, free tents were given to those who had lost theirs, and, most importantly, no one got injured.
Though they had to break camp on Friday instead of Sunday due to the weather, the memories will surely last a lifetime until the next encounter in 2029. The theme for the next camporee, STAND STRONG, is already set, sparking anticipation and excitement for the future.
Call to Action
Remember, God is in your midst, no matter where you find yourself in life. He has the power to calm the storm.
