Sunday, July 26

(Katrina Damage & Alligator)

So, today, being Sunday, we all got to wake up at the crack of 7(AM) to go to the Church service at the Superdome. Fortunately, however, we had waffles for breakfast, which made the early rising much more tolerable. After a quick bite to eat, we started our trek to the Superdome. Once out of the typical "hot and humid" weather, we entered the cool, refreshing air that one can feel from a good distance away from the entrances. Ah, how relieving the cool air felt on our skin!

We took our seats up in the nose bleeds once we were in the Superdome, because we decided to sleep in instead of getting good seats by waking up even earlier. The Worship service started as the preceding assemblages had, with praise songs and the DJ stopping the whole program to say, "NO CROWD SURFING!" The processional then began, with people walking around with umbrellas and bird-like objects swinging about. But then, when we least expected it, the "Big Bish"(Mark Hanson) walked out and proceeded to walk down the aisles to the alter, which was assembled on spot with old doors and saw horses. As the service ran its course, we sang songs, clapped, and participated in "the largest wave in Lutheran history" during the sermon. As the "Big Bish" preached, we were all impressed at the sermon he gave about the power of one person, and the amazing power of over 35,000 people in the city of New Orleans. He noted that the work that everyone had done at the youth gathering was about equal to one person working for four hours every day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, for 98.6 years. With this statement, we all realized that the impact we all had on New Orleans was truly incredible, in vice-versa. The service ended, and we headed to a bus tour of the damage that hurricane Katrina caused.

But first, lunch. We headed to the Riverwalk for lunch, and arrived with only 7 minutes to stand in line at the food court, order, wait for our food to be prepared, get our food, go to the table, go back to the food court to get more ketchup, go back to the table again, eat our food, throw away our trash, leave the Riverwalk, and go down to the trolley stop. Sounds easy, right? We finished our food and headed down to the trolley stop, just in time to see the trolley pull away just as we headed over to it. By this time it was about 12:35, and the bus tour left at 1:05. After another 10 minutes of waiting, Jeremy's blood pressure began to rise, and he decided to call and tell them that we were running late. With no sympathy from the tour company, we decided that "we would get there when we get there." The trolley came to the stop at 12:45, and we got on in a hurry. The other people getting on, however, decided to take their time, only increasing our fretting. But fortunately we got to the bus tour station at 12:59, give or take 30 seconds. We registered and got on the bus with less than minutes to spare.

The tour was very alarming. We learned all kinds of things about the history of New Orleans, the actual damage from hurricane Katrina, and the prevention systems recently implemented in the city. We also got a refreshing downpour, or rather a side-pour while on the bus tour. Since we all have to wake up at 5:20AM tomorrow, and it is already 10:30, I will attempt to sum things up for the rest of the day.

We then ended the tour and shopped in the French Quarter for a while. We then headed back to the trolley to go shop in the Riverwalk, and to go find dinner. We stopped at a nice restaurant and Brett, Steven and I played imaginary jump rope with some people we met while waiting for our deep fried alligator to be ready. We got the alligator, and we thought it tasted surprisingly like chicken strips. We had Domino's pizza for dinner, played some cards, and headed up to the rooms to discuss the day and reflect upon our experiences and the great sermon given by Bishop Mark Hanson. We were then debriefed on our plans for tomorrow and then I was sent to blog about our day; which leaves me here, finishing my blog, while everyone else is sleeping.

Jake Schmit

Saturday, July 25

On this fine Saturday morning we got to sleep in to a late time of seven thirty! After we all had finished our breakfast and went back up to our rooms to finish getting ready whether it was putting on our shoes or brushing our teeth we met down in the lobby, as we do everyday, before heading out. Today was our day to start off in the convention center, and after our informational meeting we all started off by going to the change for change donation center. After we all got our "Be the Change" stamps on our hands we moved along to hammer nails into pink boards for Habitat for Humanity. They were framing a house for families in New Orleans. We experienced a relaxing labyrinth, which was a silent exercise where we walked along the path and prayed and reflected amongst ourselves. We continued on to the giant human board game which we had to act as Pterodactyl by making hand motions and screeching noises. It taught us about the hardships of migration and how there were many obstacles in which animals had to overcome.
We all decided that all these activities had made us hungry, so we took the trolley down to a restaurant in search of some alligator. Some of us were excited for this new experience. However, they did not serve alligator, so instead we ordered a monstrous platter of craw-fish. Over all, I think only Brett and Jeremy were glad that we ordered the platter, and the rest of us were disgusted and horrified, especially Kelsey. After the plate of the empty shells had been cleared from the table, the main courses started to come and we were all glad to eat the delectable food.
We made our way back to the convention center, via trolley, and then we broke up into two main groups, the Youth (except Marisa) went to go play on the volleyball court we had reserved to play on. Jeremy and Anne accompanied Marisa to the blood donation center where Marisa gave a unit of her blood, which will either help three adults or sixty infants. After the Youth finished their matches, they went to the bumper cars which were bike-powered rafts and Brett ended up breaking a pedal. Then, we had a disappointing trip to Starbucks. After finding out they had no more frappuccinoes, Shirley and I went shopping for ELCA shirts. After getting our souvenirs, we all went to go meet our awesome blood donor, Marisa, who was still drinking her pineapple juice to help recover. To avoid her from passing out in the heat, she was sent her back to the hotel with her mom in a cab to relax and recover. In the mean time, the rest of us took a cab to the Super-dome for the final meeting. Anne and Marisa made their way over to the Super-dome as well. After all of the fabulous speakers and songs, we were all hungry again, so we went to the liquor store down the street and bought our own foods, which we took to the dining area in the hotel and ate. Jeremy then announced that our devotion was going to start at 10:45, so we made our way up there. We debriefed our days and planned when we were going to wake up tomorrow. And because I am not as great of a writer as either Marisa or Shirley, I have been typing this ever since devotion. Well i think I'm finally done, and i apologize for all of the grammar mistakes, Anne wasn't awake long enough to proof read it for me. Well its time for me to go. Talk to everyone later. Goodnight.

-Steven

Friday, July 24

Hello all! We have almost finished our third day in New Orleans. We kicked off the day at the less insane time of 7 o'clock. After a quick hotel breakfast, we marched along the streets to the Convention Center. By the time we got there, everyone was happy to enter the air-conditioned Learning Center.

On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, one third of 38,000 Lutherans spend the day in the Learning Center. Here, we got to experience workshops, learning centers and integrators. Marisa, Kelsey, and I learned about and drew political cartoons dealing with the church. Personally, I enjoyed the Dare to Be Different workshop where we learned to be courageous in our everyday lives and found examples of courageous people in the Bible. All of us made Mardi Gras masks while talking about whale hunting with a group of Alaskans.

It never ceases to amaze me all the types of people we meet here. We talked about accents from people from Minnesota, learned the difference between city and country in Texas, and got cheese tatoos from people from Wisconsin. It truly is an awesome experience to meet all these new people.

We later went back into the Interaction Center where we decided to challenge ourselves. We made our way over to the "Team Pole" and took it on with full force. While four people held a wooden pole with ropes, one person had the task of climbing up the pole, completely trusting the others to keep it steady, and stand on a small platform at the very top. Brett, Jake, and I were the only climbers. It was a great personal accomplishment for me to trust this wobbling pull. But, while trusting them and God, I conquered that pole like it was child's play.

We had a very powerful evening in the Super Dome. The theme was Faith and Hope. The speakers told us their powerful stories of overcoming. The first man was held back by societies standards, but not his own. While he was happy with his life, he was relentlessly teased about having no legs and being in a wheelchair. From cruel practical jokes to constant whispering, he has dealt with it all and helps with an organization in Africa. He was truly an inspiration. The second speaker, was born in Africa. At the age of five, he and his best friend were forced into an army in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. With a blindfold on and "Brown Brown" in his system, he was unknowingly forced to kill his best friend. Two weeks later, when he got away, he dedicated him self to helping with the big issue of children soldiers. Both speakers were very eye opening.

We are off to play some cards! So, until next time,
Shirley

Thursday, July 23

Today, we had the privilege of waking up at five thirty in the morning. We were at breakfast at six, and it was just as good as yesterday. At six thirty, we left for the Convention Center in order to make our seven o'clock training session. There we learned what we were doing with the kids at the elementary schools we were going to. We then had to wait until nine to be launched. Our bus went to an elementary school called Westwego. There were around forty of us, so half of us went to work with the kids, the other half went to ready textbooks for the school year, which begins in three weeks.
I was in the group that went to work with the kids. Our task was simple. We were assigned to a child, and we read them a story called The Important Book. Then we were to discuss with the child what they believed to be important, and we helped them start their own Important Book. We then were to repeat the process with another child.
We had been told that many kids were at least two years behind in their literacy levels, but I did not fully grasp what that meant until I worked with the kids. My first child was a third grader, and she couldn't even tell me what the correct letters were. Literacy in Louisiana is truly a serious problem.
However, it was a lot of fun. Once they finished coloring, we read them stories of their choice and interacted with the kids in general.
The group that helped sort books for the school year played a crucial role as well. The school up to that point had been unable to find volunteers for that one tedious task, and it would have cost them money they did not have otherwise. It also helped to maximize the kids' learning time.
We finished about midday, and our entire bus enjoyed Subway sandwiches by the Mississippi River. Our bus took us back to the convention center, and from there we walked back to our hotel, and for the first time, had a little down time.
Later, we walked the the Riverside walk (on the way Jeremy almost died when a car nearly hit him! It was intense!) and took in the sights and looked into the shops near by and enjoyed some dinner.
Then we headed for the last mandatory event, which was worship at the Superdome. Like yesterday, we heard some really inspiring speakers, including one all the way from Africa! When that was over, we headed to the Community Life at the Sheraton and partook in a crazy Christian dance. It was AWESOME.
We get to sleep in about two more hours tonight. Stay tuned for tomorrow- we're doing workshops!
-Marisa

Tuesday-Jesus, Justice, Jazz

So today was our first full day in Nawlens. We got to sleep in today-- until eight! We then met up on the fourth floor of our hotel for breakfast. Then it was back to the ninth floor for our backpack and down to the lobby to set off for the convention center. It was about a mile away in very humid weather, but there was plenty to see along the way. While Jeremy, Brett, and Anne went to register our group, the rest of us found a place to sit in the ballroom. We met groups from Maryland, Pennsylvania, Nebraska, South Carolina, Ohio, Alaska, and Texas. When we got our free bibles and cool bags, we went to get lunch at Subway!
After lunch, We went into the interaction center, which is one of the coolest places ever. They had everything from zip lining, donating blood, and building lego houses. I myself waited over an hour to go zip lining- which was amazing. We all met Jake's aunt, who is working in the convention center, and she gave us tons and tons of bracelets.
On the way to the hotel, our group got ambushed by a torrent of rain. We saw a wall of water down the street, and then it was upon us. Needless to say, we got soaked. We dried off at the hotel and had Domino's for dinner, and then we left for the Superdome (which is shown above).
We heard some really good music, and listened to three speakers, all of whom were amazing. We've been inspired to try and find a tour of the remaining wreckage of Katrina and bring awareness back to L.A.! I never realized how big of a problem it was until now.
To wrap up our day, we went to CVS to stock up on extra snacks and had a food party on the fourth floor, and then did our nightly devotion. And now, we're all going to bed, because we've got an even longer day ahead of us--our service project!
-Marisa

NEW ORLEANS MEETING

Let's have a meeting about the Youth Gathering on Wednesday 4.29.09 @ 7pm...Let's do it at the Church.

_jeremy

A New Purpose

If you want the weekly update and the newest information about the CYFM, then go to the CYFM page on the LCIF website.

http://www.lcifoothills.org/Ministries/cyfm.htm

This blog is going to stay open for the New Orleans Gathering.