Language Camp at Kamp Kipa
Adeline Moll | The Voice of Zion September 2026 - Camp Matters article --
The LLC Language Camp was held at Kamp Kipa in Arizona July 7–13. The camp welcomed a group of 53 youth and leaders from Finland, along with North American participants, directors, teachers, and counselors, for a total attendance of 73. The Finnish group was accompanied by Mauno and Heli Soronen and Hannu and Kaisa Kinnunen as group leaders.
Following participation in LLC Summer Services in Minnesota, Language Camp formed one part of the group’s month-long visit, which also included visiting several North American congregations. This was the first time the camp was held at Kamp Kipa, allowing the group to experience the well-loved camp setting in the Arizona mountains while building friendships, strengthening language skills, and, above all, gathering around God’s Word.
Camp days included language lessons, presentations, devotions, and fellowship. Campers hiked to the fire tower overlooking the surrounding mountains, where one evening ended with singing and a devotion. The group also traveled to Sedona and the Grand Canyon, giving many participants their first opportunity to experience some of Arizona’s remarkable landscapes. Language lessons and small-group activities gave participants daily opportunities to practice one another’s languages, with Finnish participants learning English and North American participants learning Finnish, while building friendships across cultures.
Liina Heilimo of Oulu, Finland, had long hoped to attend Summer Services in North America and saw Language Camp as the perfect opportunity. She looked forward to making new believing friends, being strengthened in faith, and experiencing places she had heard so much about. Visiting the Grand Canyon was “like living in a dream!” she said, but some of her favorite memories came through conversations with new friends. “I’ve had such nice discussions with Americans, and those have been one of the best things here.” She encouraged other young people to attend if given the opportunity. “It’s so lovely to get to know people around the world. Here you can learn about both Finnish and American culture, and it was wonderful to come here and meet people who have the same faith as we have.”
Those same friendships left a lasting impression on participants from North America as well. For Allie Johnson of the Alaska Congregation, the camp was an opportunity to prepare for a future year at Opisto while meeting Finnish believers. “The biggest impression is how faith surpasses language differences and different continents,” she shared. “Even when we didn’t speak the same language, there was still that connection we all shared.” She encouraged others not to let language differences discourage them. “Be prepared for the language barrier, but it doesn’t always matter if you’re not fluent in each other’s languages. Fellowship with believers doesn’t always look the same, and you’re often still able to connect in different ways.”
Watching those friendships develop was especially meaningful for the Finnish group leaders Mauno and Heli Soronen. Mauno, who serves as rector of the Haapavesi parish and is a member of the board of the Reisjärvi Opisto, has participated in previous Language Camp trips. Reflecting on the purpose of the camp, Mauno said, “The purpose of this trip has been to grow stronger in our shared faith, in love, and in language. These goals have been achieved exceptionally well.” He was especially encouraged by how naturally the young people connected. “Perhaps the biggest impression has been the warm welcome we have received and how quickly believing young people from different countries connected with one another. Despite their different cultures, they found unity through their shared faith and values.”
Soronen also shared the experience of one young person who had hesitated before making the trip because of the cost and uncertainty about making friends. Looking back, that participant now speaks of the friendships formed and the blessing of spending a month with believers in North America. Soronen’s advice to future participants is simple: “Come with an open mind, without prejudices. The trip is a great adventure, and the perspective of faith is a valuable part of it.” Above all, he encouraged young people to pray that God would grant them the opportunity to participate with a believing heart.
As Language Camp came to a close, participants left with greater confidence in using another language, new friendships, and memories of Arizona’s mountains and canyons. Yet, as many reflected throughout the week, the greatest blessing was experiencing how the fellowship of faith reaches across languages, cultures, and continents.