TAPIOCA RETREAT 2023

You are expected to be as kind, patient and fair as possible to everyone else across the retreat weekend.

You are to make every effort to participate in all events planned for you and to aid when needed.

You will not abuse your free time by:

Sticking only with your friend or expecting them to stick only with you

Heading off into restricted areas or dark corners with anyone

You are expected to exercise social etiquette

You will not use expletives, including words like "damn" and others in that category. These are strictly prohibited and you will try to avoid them.

You are not to take inappropriate material, offensive music or video on any digital equipment such as laptops, mp3 players, cameras, tablets, kindles, IPAD, smartphones or flash-drives with you through-out the weekend that may cause isolation from the other retreaters.

As a retreater, you will agree that the retreat director and retreat counsel committee decisions are final. Before any decision is made a counsellor or a director will speak with you one to one.

You agree that you will clean up after yourself and as a mature young person try to help others do the same which includes assisting with kitchen duty.

1 Only persons aged 18 years or above on the day of the Events may register and take part in the event.

2 Entries are personal to the applicant and entry fees are non-deferrable.

3 No refund can be given if the Retreat has to be cancelled or postponed due to circumstances outside the Retreat Director’s control.

The Youth Retreat Counsellor is usually in-charge of a small number of individuals of the same sex (usually 3 – 6 persons) organised into units. In step with Jesus he/she is expected to emulate the following principles of leadership:

1. Be a person of God. The person who presumes to lead a unit must walk with God, must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and should be touched by God’s Holy Spirit.

2. Communicate. Listening and communicating properly can lead to greater influence and faster problem solving especially with your dorm unit members.

3. Be Reasonable. If you listen to exactly what the youth in your unit are saying then you will know how to reason with them – not at them – allow your unit members some room to reason with you and then trust them to do what they say they will.

4. Be Available. A personal one-on-one relationship with your unit-members is important. Spend time getting to know them. Get ready to talk with them when-ever possible.

5. Exhibit Integrity. A retreat counsellor needs to be trustworthy and honest. A leader who displays integrity will be respected and have tremendous influence over those they lead.

6. Demonstrate Humility. The counsellor must be humble before God and before others.

7. Be Enthusiastic. Finding a way to motivate your unit members is not always easy but we’ve found this one works really well. Show the retreaters that you really believe in what we are doing and they’ll follow you.

8. Use Prayer. This has to be the core element in your leadership as a counsellor. And during this weekend we want you and your unit to discover the ultimate counsellor – Jesus.

We see in the Bible that Jesus prayed many times, although only a few of these prayers were actually recorded. Jesus prayed every morning and every night. He also prayed often during the day. Jesus was in constant contact with His heavenly Father through prayer, just like we should be today. The secret of Jesus’ success was prayer (see Mark 1:35; Mark 6:46; John 8:26, 28)

As we seek to fellowship with each other and have a grand time in the presence of the Holy Spirit, Let us choose ye this day whom we will serve.

Bible, Hymnal and quarterly

Notebook and pen

Plate, cup and utensils

Iron (if needed)

Hand Sanitizer

Toiletries (Tissue, soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, rags, towels, lotion, deodorant, comb, brush, shampoo and conditioner)

Necessary hair products

Sheet, comforter, pillow

Appropriate sleepwear

Appropriate swimwear (MUST NOT BE REVEALING- females: no two piece, or one piece with portions of it cut out. Must wear shorts over your bathsuits. Males: must have on an appropriate top with their trunks)

Adequate clothes for the weekend, including sweater, socks and jeans

Appropriate clothes and shoes for Church (skirts for females, pants for males and NO SLEEVELESS)

Appropriate clothes for corporate worship (skirts for females, pants for males) (no sleeveless, belly skin or marina will be allowed)

T-shirt or polo shirt, appropriate shorts and sneakers

Flashlight and batteries

Banking Info is as follows:

Bank: Scotiabank

Business Name: Hellshire Park Seventh Day Adventist

Branch: Portmore

Branch Code: 95505

Account number: 000300952

Recipient/Account Type: Business/Chequing

Currency: JMD

The retreater will make all the necessary preparation for the DEADLINE for PAYMENT DATE on OCTOBER 7, 2023. This includes the payment of outstanding fees. If you are unable to meet the deadline, contact the following members of the planning committee: 

Anika Stephenson 

Ginnel Peart

Shahira Morgan

Leshaun Mcleod

Najay Tomlinson

Fabian Miller

Roldane Arnett 

Pre-Retreat payment: Payment instructions:

Fees can be paid at and tickets retrieved from any of the 3 churches within the district. (Hellshire SDA, Greater Portmore SDA, Clifton SDA)

Online Payment can be made to the HSDA church's bank account. Please indicate your name and reason for transfer. Once payment is made please submit your online receipt to youth.hellshiresda@gmail.com with the subject as Retreat 2023 Receipt.

Fees can be paid at and tickets retrieved from any of the 3 churches within the district. (Hellshire SDA, Greater Portmore SDA, Clifton SDA)

Online Payment can be made to the HSDA church's bank account. Please indicate your name and reason for transfer. Once payment is made please submit your online receipt to youth.hellshiresda@gmail.com with the subject as youth retreat 2023.

Thank you for signing up to support our efforts in fundraising for our youth.

Please kindly see the following information:

VENUE: TAPIOKA VILAGE ST MARY

GENRAL ADMISSION : $ 10,000 JMD or $65 USD

PAYMENT DEADLINE OCTOBER 7 2023

YOUTH RETREAT 2023

The Directors reserves the right to refuse or cancel applications, including duplicate applications, or alter the date, time and/or venue and format of the Events, including but not limited to the room and boarding or distance, in whole or in part, without notice or liability to the Participant.

Alcohol, weed, illegal substances, performance enhancing substances or intoxicants of any kind are strictly forbidden.

A professional photographer will be taking pictures during the day. You and your family members may be included, either intentionally or unintentionally, in posed and background shots. Please be aware that photographs taken of the Event by the photographer may feature you and your children.

These photographs may be kept in event archives or for publicity purposes.

If a potential Participant considers himself or herself to have a disability please contact the number and/or email above to discuss the entry prior to application.

With the exception of the needs of disabled no wheeled vehicles (bicycles, prams, etc.) or dogs are permitted without the prior permission of the Event Director.

In the event of any dispute the decision of the Event Director shall be final

For Further information please call: (876)849-7772 or e-mail: youth.hellshiresda@gmail.com

LESHAUN MCLEOD | AY LEADER HELLSHIRE SDA 876-8532912

FABIAN MILLER | AY LEADER GREATER PORTMORE SDA 876-8532912

GINEL PEART | AY LEADER CLIFTON SDA 876-8532912