🌍 Stories from Camps Around the World

🔥 “One camp changed everything.”

Celebrating Luis Fernando “Archi” Sequeira and a Camp Ministry with the Bribris, Cabecar and the Guaimies; Indigenous Territory, Talamanca, Costa Rica

When Archi was four years old, his mother came to faith in Christ, and he attended church. Later, the family moved from the coast to the capital of Costa Rica and lost contact with the church. As a teenager, he was drawn toward the communist movement.

At age 17 (1979), a friend invited him to a camp at Roblealto and meetings with “Movimiento Cristiano Juventud Nueva.” He heard Joe Pent present the Gospel. Archi initially responded with arguments. But within a week, he gave his life to Christ.

Soon he was serving as a camp counselor and became active in the youth program of “MOVI.” In 1983, Rolando Ruiz invited him to his first Christian Camping Costa Rica convention. The following year, he attended a Christian camp Latin America convention in Honduras.

Though Archi held a full-time job and raised a family, he committed himself to a parallel calling in Christian camping. He completed the full curriculum of courses offered by CCI Latin America and, in 2007, graduated as an instructor. For several years, he has served as an active member of the CCI Costa Rica board.

In 2005, Archi initiated visits to Talamanca, working among the Bribris, Cabecar, and Guaimies tribes. This Indigenous region faces significant social challenges, including drug addiction, prostitution, alcoholism, and one of the highest youth suicide rates in Costa Rica.

He began visiting schools and offering to organize youth camps. He supports pastors and church leaders, leads medical brigades, assists in temple construction, provides teaching materials to schools, and carries the gospel into the mountains.

“When I decided to program camps in Talamanca, I asked permission to use school property. The churches had never held camps and the pastors showed reluctance, especially toward overnight camps.”

Fifteen years ago, Archi met Don Aurelio Selles, who shared his vision. Don Aurelio donated property to develop a camp site. Today, that property hosts five-day camps for 120 to 150 youth, with participation growing each year. The team continues improving facilities under the covering of Pastor Arturo Londoño Marmolejo of the “Community of Love” church and the ministry Kyrios (Campamento Kyrios).

A year ago, Archi retired from his professional career and now dedicates major blocks of his time to programming camps and building the infrastructure of Campamento Kyrios.

What began with one teenage invitation has become a lifetime devoted to Christian camping and Indigenous ministry in the mountains of Costa Rica.