Hi, my name is Maluhola, and this was my first year at Tongan Camp!
Before coming to camp, I had great expectations for everything, and I was definitely not disappointed. The food was great, and the services were even better! I had also heard so many good things about camp from my fellow churchgoers and YAYA, so coming out to “big camp” was just so exciting; not only for myself, but I’m sure for the other first-timers as well.
One of my favorite memories was the annual volleyball tournament because it was so fun to see all ages come together, from security to our youngest YAYA members. I was also able to meet and connect with a bunch of other people around my age. That was probably one of the most significant parts of my camp experience because it felt really nice to socialize with other Tongan youth for a whole week.
Something that really stuck with me was not necessarily the sermons, but seeing God’s work in real time. The love He gives through the people I met there was so moving. The bond, the brotherhood, and the sisterhood, it was just so interesting to watch it all happen in real time.
It’s been a week or two since camp, and I’m still reminiscing as if it was yesterday. I definitely miss camp, the people, and the overall lessons I learned there.
Something else that stuck with me was during one of our youth talks with Pastor Joe, where we learned about HOPE, or HOPA, a guide to breaking down a Bible verse.
I would definitely come back next year and hopefully for many more years after that! And for other youth, or anyone really, who hasn’t come to camp yet, I’d say it really is worth overcoming the obstacles to get there.
Ree Pahulu also attended camp with her family for the first time and shares her testimony and the blessings they received throughout. their journey.
God doesn’t bless us to keep His goodness to ourselves, but to share it with others.
Tongan Camp was never on my radar. I always thought I wouldn’t fit in, and being shy and awkward didn’t help! But with our move coming up, I felt a nudge in my heart to go to camp, which I now know was the Holy Spirit.
The move scares me because I’m leaving everything I know, so a week of fellowship and time with the Lord sounded exactly like what I needed.
When I told my husband, he was all for it. I reminded him that we had to figure out how to afford it because, realistically, we couldn’t. I prayed, “Lord, if You want us to go, You have to pay for it because You know what my bank account looks like.”
And He did.
Our Tongan church community paid for our rooms. Then our church treasurer told us someone had anonymously donated money for our family to attend camp. After receiving that check, she told me another donation for the same amount was coming the following week.
Only God!
We were planning to drive our own car, but Grandma covered our rental car. Then, as we were leaving, Mom gave us money for the trip. I was overwhelmed by the love and generosity shown to our family.
Even our journey to camp became a testimony.
We stopped at Taco Bell in Oregon to feed our kids. What should have been a 20 minute stop turned into more than an hour. As we finished eating, I noticed an older gentleman sitting alone. I felt impressed to give him $20 and tell him God loves him.
When I approached him, he asked if I was an angel and why I would give him money. I told him I was simply a servant of the Lord. He invited us to sit and talk, and we discovered he was a successful Muslim man from a wealthy family. He told us he believed God had brought us together.
At first, I worried about the extra time because we still had hours to drive. But God reminded me that this was a divine appointment. What is an extra hour if it gives someone an opportunity to hear about Jesus?
He had everything money could buy, but God used $20 to open the door to something money could never buy: the love and salvation found in Jesus.
He tried to give the money back, but I told him, “This isn’t my money. It’s from Jesus. You’ll always remember the $20 you got from Jesus.”
He smiled and accepted it.
This is a week I will never forget. God provided for us, surrounded us with love, and reminded me that sometimes His blessings are meant to be shared.
Now go share your testimony, too. You never know who God may be trying to reach through you.