Natalie Negrete – Ward, Colorado … The Rocky Mountain Conference’s (RMC) Vine + Branches (V+B), a rotating vespers group for college students and young professionals, held its campout at Pathfinder Village at Glacier View Ranch (GVR) in Ward, Colorado, August 21–23. The weekend marked the group’s 23rd gathering and brought together 24 young adults from across RMC.
For almost two years, V+B has provided opportunities for young adults in the Denver metro area to connect with God and one another. The campout extended that opportunity beyond the group’s single-evening monthly gatherings into a full weekend.
The event began on Friday evening with a vespers service and icebreakers. Saturday morning brought more time together before a Sabbath worship service, followed by an afternoon hike around GVR.
Saturday evening, after returning from the hike and beginning dinner preparations, the skies opened into a sudden downpour. Campers secured tents, kept gear dry, and continued preparing dinner beneath a kitchen tent loaned by Denver South Seventh-day Adventist Church. The gas fire pits GVR loaned for the weekend saved the day by keeping everyone warm.
For Ashley Humphries, a campout attendee, the unexpected turn of events became one of her favorite parts of the weekend. “We were all running around and Reuben kept saying, ‘This is just the best, these are the parts you remember,’” Humphries recalled.
Beyond the weekend’s activities, campers had an opportunity to deepen friendships.
“Camping friends are friends on a whole new level,” attendee Caleb Cook shared. “I feel like I came away with deep friendships that I would have just counted as acquaintances before.”
V+B will gather again on September 26 for an outdoor gathering commemorating two years since the group began meeting. More information will be shared through the V+B Instagram account at @vbvespers. Churches can contact [email protected] for updates and announcements.
As attendee Asa Acevedo of Pecos Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church put it, “It was a cool weekend with cool people who love and praise God.”
—Natalie Negrete is part of the Vine + Branches leadership team. Photos supplied.
