Nearly all of my audience at the Bratya Youth Camp were in their twenties. That is, they were old enough to take life’s questions seriously, and young enough still to be looking for answers in all kinds of places. Spending five days on the picturesque shores of Lake Baikal—the deepest lake on the planet—was a perfect setting to explore in depth their quest for spiritual truth and the foundation of their faith.
It took me nearly three days to get there from Minnesota. My journey took me by air, bus, train, and boat, but it was more than worth it. The evening sessions often lasted far beyond the scheduled time, under the stars or around the campfire. During the daytime classes, I had to search for a shaded spot for the presentations. I carefully chose the hours when the camp’s electrical power was not being fully used for essential utilities. All these and other natural elements (wind, rain, thunder, and so on) created a very special atmosphere and rhythm at the camp. We were constantly praying for favorable circumstances and praising God as He faithfully granted us everything we wanted and needed in His perfect timing.
I am already on my way to my next destination—Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan. I am receiving a steady flow of feedback from the Baikal campers. It seems the time we spent together left a significant impact on many of them. It was also very inspiring for me to see them enjoying hiking, swimming, sunbathing, sports, and other fun activities. It was even more inspiring to see them making a serious effort to learn, to test, and to experience some of the most profound spiritual truths for themselves.
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