BYG Update Camping Edition: Junior High Camp 2024
Finding Your True Self
By Kai Yamamoto
Those with sound thoughts you will keep in peace, in peace because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord is a rock for all ages.
–Isaiah 26: 3-4
The theme for Junior High Camp this year was “Trust”. We followed Isaiah 26: 3-4, a song about Trusting in God. But what does it look like to trust in God?
During camp, the Rev. Keith Inouye presented his sermon on how Peter trusted the Lord – when he stepped off the boat and walked on water. The water was turbulent, and he had many fears, yet he trusted in the Lord and the Lord took care of him. After listening to his sermon, I reflected on the journey that took me back to JHC this year.
I had not attended Junior High Camp or Asian Camp for several years prior, and this was my first year back. As a camper, JHC was not for me. I did not enjoy attending JHC; it was hard to make friends at camp. But like Peter, I stepped off the boat. I decided that I would make the trip alongside Aidan Lew, who also had not attended JHC or Asian Camp for a few years. Aidan decided that this year he would counsel JHC, even though he had not seen many of his fellow counselors in a while. But we trusted that the Lord would take care of us for the week and allow us to have a great time –and we did!
“Counseling JHC was honestly one of the best experiences of my life! I felt my connection with God grew through experiences that both my campers and fellow counselors taught me. Being able to spend time with and learn from my campers in my growth group was an incredible experience. JHC has been so important in how I’ve developed as a Christian for years. Even though camp is transitioning into a new era, the same values and traditions that have made it special for people of so many generations are still very strong. I got to witness camp magic firsthand…I encourage everyone to keep supporting camping ministries as a whole so we can grow our camp community even more. I look forward to counseling and creating more memories in the future!”
-Aiden Lew
Although there were many familiar faces, there were also many new ones, too, and I had a great time. Connecting with the fellow adult staff, campers, counselors, and directors was a great experience! I was able to feel the camp magic for the first time, although from a different perspective. I saw our youth, Jordan and Tyler, connect with friends they had not seen since last year and have so much fun! I was also able to see a bond between Aidan and the other counselors, and how tight knit the entire group was! It was hard for everyone to say goodbye at the end of the week. But in trusting God, I know They will bring us all back together next year!
Now going back to the question, what does it look like to trust in God? Pastor Yoshi Kuramoto discussed how we must know that “God wants goodness for you and to find your truest self—not just for you, but for the person next to you, and the person next to that”.
To Trust in God is to find ourselves and to be ourselves. We are going to be loved and cared for, no matter who we are and our past experiences.
Kai Yamamoto serves as a co-director of the Blaine Youth Group.
Upcoming Events
- August 24, 2024: Asian Camp 50th Anniversary Basketball Tournament
BYG will not meet on Sunday mornings throughout the summer. We encourage youth and families to attend worship together at 10:00am in-person and via live stream!
Blaine Youth Group (BYG) is a place where youth (6th-12th grade) are invited into a loving community and celebrated as they are. BYG provides a safe environment for youth to build lasting friendships, grow spiritually, learn acceptance of self and others, express compassion for the world and develop a love for God. BYG has a space for any person who is interested and all are welcome.
Contact Information
Director of Youth Ministry (Outgoing)
Associate Directors of Youth Ministry
Kai Yamamoto and Kaylee Yokoyama
Announcements
Prayers and Coffee on Zoom • Wednesdays at 9am
Join Rev. Karen for prayer and community on Wednesdays at 9:00 AM on Zoom. Our time together consists of brief check-ins, devotionals, and prayers. This is a great way to start your morning, clear and center your mind, all while connecting with God and your prayer community. Feel free to bring a cup of coffee, tea, and a bite to eat. Hope to see you on Wednesday.
The Beacon is now available!
Read more:
- Spiritual Summer: A Time for Spiritual Strength
- Walk for Rice: BMUMC raises $11,500 for low-income families!
- Blaine Memorial 120th Anniversary Aprons!
- Innovation Hub Update: Lynne to attend Claremont Seminary!
- Asian Camp 2024: Why AC is important for the future
Bookmark blaineonline.org for more infomation!
Vacation Bible School 2024 Continues!
- August 18
Theme: Operation Restoration – Mending God’s World Time: 10am to 12pm, including lunch
Location: BMUMC Church School Classrooms
Registration: $20 per Sunday per child, Additional Campers from same family $15. We will register your kiddo on the day of VBS. If you have not registered it is still not too late. We will continue to accept new registrations all the way up to the last day of VBS Sunday! Visit blaineonline.org for registration!
Email: blainevbs@gmail.com to enroll now!
2024 Guatemala Mission Trip
From August 16 through August 24, a Blaine mission team (20 from Blaine Memorial and 3 from Mt. Vernon First UMC) will be going on a trip to Guatemala in Central America. We will be working mostly with the indigenous Mayan people near the town of Panajachel by Lake Atitlan with a UMC related organization, Mission Guatemala (www.missionguatemala.com). Mission Guatemala is “a faith-based 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a mission to help meet the basic needs and improve the quality of life of under-served and impoverished Guatemalan peoples through health, education and nutrition initiatives and missionary service”. We will have a Vacation Bible School with crafts, games, lots of laughter and fun.
Our construction crew will help build a kitchen at the junior high school in Godinez. Our dental team will be serving Mission Guatemala’s scholarship children at the medical clinic in San Andres, Semetabaj. Most of all, we will be building friendships with the missionaries and staff at Mission Guatemala, with the local families living in the area, and with our team members. We are excited about the opportunity to share and receive God’s love with people of a different culture.
We ask Blaine church members to please pray for safe travels, building relationships with those we meet and showing Christ’s love through our actions and words. Thank you for your prayers and support!
Team Members: Anne Arakaki-Lock, Joshua Akiyama, Milo Choe, Nina Choe, Judy Kuo, Laura Gilbert, Kenji Guess, Alice Ikeda, Howard Nakase, Jill Nishi, Katelyn Nakase, Zachary Nakase, Janet Sekijima, Margaret Sekijima, Bob Sekijima, Donna Sekijima, Lourdes Tifre, Pastor Zulma Tifre, Stacy Lopez, Martin Yagi, Teresa Yagi, Pearl Yamamoto, Rev. Karen Yokota Love
Tsuru for Solidarity Presents: Liberation Obon!
September 1, 2024, 1:00pm to Dusk
Outside the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC) 1623 E J Street, Tacoma, WA 98421
Shut down NWDC! Liberation Obon will celebrate ancestors and resilience to end immigrant detention! Join La Resistencia and Tsuru for Solidarity as we protest wrongful imprisonment.
Activities will include:
- Traditional circle and street folk dancing
- Children’s art making
- Giant Daruma!
- Community food trucks Healing ceremonies
- Speakers from inside NWDC
Wear your heritage clothing! Blaine will organize a group to go to the obon after worship! Please contact Rev. Karen is you’re interested in participating!
Afghanistan and Ukrainian Refugee Donation Ministry
Items being collected: At this time, we have an abundance of some items and so we are NOT in need of clothing or children’s toys. Especially needed items include women’s products, toothpaste, personal care items, rice cookers, blenders, mixing bowls, microwave ovens, toasters, mixers, irons, dish sets, towels, and blankets.
Blaine Memorial UMC Collection Hours: Collection items can be dropped off at the Blaine Memorial Social Hall from Tuesday-Friday between 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Please call the Church Office at (206) 723-1536 prior to dropping off your items.
South King County Response Center Collection Volunteer Hours: The Donation Center is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, same time as the Tukwila Pantry at 3118 S. 140th St. Seattle. Please text Kim Parks at (206) 683-1707 when you would like to help. Please wear a mask and bring a marking pen and measuring tape if possible. Other Questions? Please contact Donna Sekijima or Anne Arakaki-Lock.
