Today is another wonderful day at the National Youth Gathering! Last night we had the priveledge of participating in the mass event at the SuperDome and we had a great time. After a couple hours of rehearsal, we filed into our floor seats and watched the masses flood the arena. We danced with the crowd and ran around, then enjoyed the beginning of the mass event from our seats. A video played that showed some of our upperclassmen talking about their life story, then we filed through the arena holding candles while 25,000 youth honored those we've lost since the last gathering. After an emotional parade, we rushed to the elevators to go up to the abandoned 5th floor for the 2nd part of our participance. When the guest speaker spoke of baptism, we used water bottles to spray the audience below us. We really enjoyed being involved in the mass event, and hope you enjoyed watching it.
This morning we were able to head over to the French Quarter for a yummy breakfastat Cafe Du Monde. The teens were covered in powdered sugar as we wandered back to the convention center for a Bible study with Lawton , and since then they've been exploring the convention center for their last full day at the Gathering. We've all experienced a lot here at the NYG, and we can't wait to explore the city tomorrow and head back to Baton Rouge for a night of a Navy destroyer.
But these are written that you may BELIEVE that Jesus us the Christ, the Son of God, and that by BELIEVING you may have life in His name.
John 20:31
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
We are in New Orleans! After so much planning and anticipation, St. Luke's Senior Youth is enjoying the company of 25,000 other Lutheran teens at the National Youth Gathering here in Louisiana. We've been so busy since we got here that we haven't had a chance to slow down yet, but here's a quick update on our activities here thus far:
We left Baton Rouge on Saturday, and arrived in New Orleans mid-afternoon. After some games in the lobby as we waited for rooming assignments, the youth quickly settled into their rooms before heading out for dinner with their family groups. After dinner we all met up to go to the first mass event of the gathering. Mass events are held nightly in the SuperDome, and it is an incredible sight to see. 25,000 LCMS teenagers together in one arena, praising the Lord and being enveloped in the excited, inspired atmosphere created by speakers, songs, pyrotechnics, and the sheer fact that they are surrounded by people just like them, people who love them. (I encourage anyone who is reading this to check out the livestream of the mass events the next two nights.) After leaving the SuperDome with an overwhelming amount of people sporting the same neon green backpacks, our youth split into groups to enjoy some NYG-sponsored nighttime activities at local hotels. The teens had a blast, but after a long day, lights-out was not resisted.
On Sunday, we awoke early in order to be at the convention center to catch a couple buses to take us to servant events in town. One half of the group was transported to an older building where a couple from South Africa were opening a college prep school for underpriveledged New Orleans children. Our teens helped paint, move furniture, and complete other tasks to help this cause. The other half of our group experienced some unexpected trouble organizing transportation, so they stayed in the convention center to work on on-site servant work, such as making quilts for a homeless shelter. Upon finishing their servant work, the youth qickly explored the convention center before heading back to the hotel to get ready for family group dinners. Most family groups chose local restaurants with traditional New Orleans fare,and the teens were excited to eat authentic gumbo and po'boys. Finishing dinner meant the beginning of another mass event over at the SuperDome, where we had great seats thanks to some crafty seat-saving. The night's mass event really touched our group, as we heard a touching story from a woman about her troubles in her realtionship with Christ after losing her daughter, and watched a video about how Hurricane Katrina negatively affected a few local teens, but brought them closer to God. 25,000 youth gave both a standing ovation and a few tears, then all joined together to to sing:
Greater things are yet to come,
Greater things are still to be done in this city!
As I write this, our 69 youth are exploring the convention center, making friends, playing games, and living their faith. I am proud of every single one of our teens, and parents, get ready for the stories.
-Danica
We left Baton Rouge on Saturday, and arrived in New Orleans mid-afternoon. After some games in the lobby as we waited for rooming assignments, the youth quickly settled into their rooms before heading out for dinner with their family groups. After dinner we all met up to go to the first mass event of the gathering. Mass events are held nightly in the SuperDome, and it is an incredible sight to see. 25,000 LCMS teenagers together in one arena, praising the Lord and being enveloped in the excited, inspired atmosphere created by speakers, songs, pyrotechnics, and the sheer fact that they are surrounded by people just like them, people who love them. (I encourage anyone who is reading this to check out the livestream of the mass events the next two nights.) After leaving the SuperDome with an overwhelming amount of people sporting the same neon green backpacks, our youth split into groups to enjoy some NYG-sponsored nighttime activities at local hotels. The teens had a blast, but after a long day, lights-out was not resisted.
On Sunday, we awoke early in order to be at the convention center to catch a couple buses to take us to servant events in town. One half of the group was transported to an older building where a couple from South Africa were opening a college prep school for underpriveledged New Orleans children. Our teens helped paint, move furniture, and complete other tasks to help this cause. The other half of our group experienced some unexpected trouble organizing transportation, so they stayed in the convention center to work on on-site servant work, such as making quilts for a homeless shelter. Upon finishing their servant work, the youth qickly explored the convention center before heading back to the hotel to get ready for family group dinners. Most family groups chose local restaurants with traditional New Orleans fare,and the teens were excited to eat authentic gumbo and po'boys. Finishing dinner meant the beginning of another mass event over at the SuperDome, where we had great seats thanks to some crafty seat-saving. The night's mass event really touched our group, as we heard a touching story from a woman about her troubles in her realtionship with Christ after losing her daughter, and watched a video about how Hurricane Katrina negatively affected a few local teens, but brought them closer to God. 25,000 youth gave both a standing ovation and a few tears, then all joined together to to sing:
Greater things are yet to come,
Greater things are still to be done in this city!
As I write this, our 69 youth are exploring the convention center, making friends, playing games, and living their faith. I am proud of every single one of our teens, and parents, get ready for the stories.
-Danica
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Testimony
Good morning everyone from Baton Rouge, Louisiana! We are just a few minutes away from leaving to head to New Orleans. Yesterday we had the great opportunity to work at some awesome work sights. We had groups who went to the food bank, St. Elizabeth's adoption center, Salvation Army, and Habitat for Humanity.
The youth at the food bank opened pre-packaged food boxes and organized stock. It took a lot of work but the team effort was amazing. They worked their way through four pallets of pre-packaged boxes. At St. Elizabeth's adoption center, our students learned how only 1 percent of pregnant teens choose adoption, and became very engaged in the cause. They helped out by doing paperwork and cleaning up around the facility, and learned a lot about the adoption process. The group at the Salvation Army worked throughout three large warehouses of donations keeping themselves busy sorting, organizing and cleaning. We also had students paint a house in record time, working together to accomplish as much as possible. All the work that was done, whether is was obvious or seemed to be unnoticed, was much appreciated by the people of Baton Rouge.
The students encountered many Baton Rouge residents with astounding stories. Some youth were inspired and entertained by a man named Jolly, who worked hard and prayed harder. The daughter of a woman whose house was painted was in school obtaining her doctorate degree, despite her less fortunate upbringing. At the Salvation Army, Christina led our youth in cleaning a food warehouse. Christina was 22 years old, with two children, volunteering at the Salvation Army in between 12 hour shifts as a nurse at the local hospital. Their testimonies truly affected our youth in a positive way.
All students worked hard, and the mentors are extremely proud. Thank you for your continued support, and now we're off to New Orleans!
-Bailey and Danica
The youth at the food bank opened pre-packaged food boxes and organized stock. It took a lot of work but the team effort was amazing. They worked their way through four pallets of pre-packaged boxes. At St. Elizabeth's adoption center, our students learned how only 1 percent of pregnant teens choose adoption, and became very engaged in the cause. They helped out by doing paperwork and cleaning up around the facility, and learned a lot about the adoption process. The group at the Salvation Army worked throughout three large warehouses of donations keeping themselves busy sorting, organizing and cleaning. We also had students paint a house in record time, working together to accomplish as much as possible. All the work that was done, whether is was obvious or seemed to be unnoticed, was much appreciated by the people of Baton Rouge.
The students encountered many Baton Rouge residents with astounding stories. Some youth were inspired and entertained by a man named Jolly, who worked hard and prayed harder. The daughter of a woman whose house was painted was in school obtaining her doctorate degree, despite her less fortunate upbringing. At the Salvation Army, Christina led our youth in cleaning a food warehouse. Christina was 22 years old, with two children, volunteering at the Salvation Army in between 12 hour shifts as a nurse at the local hospital. Their testimonies truly affected our youth in a positive way.
All students worked hard, and the mentors are extremely proud. Thank you for your continued support, and now we're off to New Orleans!
-Bailey and Danica
Friday, July 16, 2010
Thursday, July 15th - Travel
We've made it to Louisiana! After leaving St. Luke's at a dark and early 6 am, our 8 brightly decorated vans headed out for the long journey to Baton Rouge. Along the way there were pitstops, sing-alongs, and welcome centers, and, get this, we got here early! With an estimated arrival time of 9 pm, we arrived in Baton Rouge by 6. We had a nice hour and a half of dinner time at the local Mall of Louisiana, before finding Trinity Lutheran Church and getting settled for the evening. Some games were played and devotions were led, then we crawled into our prospective classrooms to curl up and get some much-needed sleep. This morning we were able to sleep in until 6:30 am, quite exciting compared to yesterday, and now we are ushering our 69 youth towards the cafeteria for a pancake breakfast prepared by a few of our early-risers. Soon we will head off for various servant events around Baton Rouge, then enjoy some time at a pool. Thank you for all your support and we shall report again soon!
Thursday Pictures are available on Picasaweb.
Thursday Pictures are available on Picasaweb.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
On the way!
Wow! What organization and what a group! The youth checked in starting at 5 am. The vans were loaded. Prayer was said. And the eight vans with 69 youth and 11 adults were pulling out of the parking lot at 5:55 a.m. Keep them in your prayers as they grow in the Lord this week.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Tomorrow's the day
Make sure to be at church at 5 am. We will get our vans packed, double-check our supplies and get together for prayer. Please don't be late!
We should arrive at our first destination about 9 p.m. tomorrow evening. Lights out will be at 11 p.m.
Friday is our servant event day. No traveling again until Saturday!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
National Youth Gathering
The time is almost here. Make sure you are packed and ready to leave at 5:30 a.m. on Thursday to leave for the adventure of a lifetime! Don't be late.
LCMS National Youth Gathering website
LCMS National Youth Gathering website
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