AUSTRALIA—Seventy members of the Brisbane congregation of the Philadelphia Church of God arrived at the Bornhoffen campsite in the Numinbah Valley on July 15 for their annual Brisbane family camp.

After Sabbath-morning brunch, Preaching Elder Aaron Hudson gave a teen Bible study based on the books of Chronicles. The number of attendees swelled on Saturday afternoon as many members arrived from Brisbane for Sabbath services. Local Elder Brian Sherwood spoke about not showing partiality. Mr. Hudson spoke about how God uses trials to prepare His people for a future in His Family.

After the Sabbath, Mr. and Mrs. Brian Sherwood judged entries for the annual dessert competition. Member Alayna Wood won the award in the taste category for her strawberry-chocolate lace cake, and the Bullock family won the award for creativity with their hedgehogs-on-a-log cake.

Saturday night was spent playing cards and Boggle, while member Mark Constantine used his guitar to lead a fireside sing-along.

“Bornhoffen was great for getting to know the brethren on a deeper level,” Wood said. “I think Saturday night, with the games, sing-along and dessert competition, was the highlight for me.”

Sunday morning was dedicated to decorating shields for display at the Scottish Highland Games a few weeks after the camp. Member Colin Morris provided pre-cut shields, stencils and spray paint, and many families researched their family name shields or simply made one up. That afternoon, member Shane Smithies led a bush walk up the mountain behind the Bornhoffen campsite. That night, campers went on an excursion a short distance up the road to the local glow-worm caves at the Natural Arch waterfalls.

Everyone pitched in for Monday morning breakfast and cleanup before heading back to Brisbane.

Member Shery Smedley said, “I enjoyed being together with everyone in a mini-millennium setting with great winter weather.”