Quotes from Youth at the National Gathing

Thank you all for supporting your youth on this trip here is just some of what they are saying:

"I wasn't sure God was really active in the world, because I mean all of that could just be chance, but after this how can I deny that God really does come into the world."

"This makes me want to talk with my friends about God."

"I wish I would have found this a long time ago. . . I would have made different choices."

"Talking with her (staff at the interaction center) let me know others have like the exact same story as I do."

God's work truely is happening in this place.

Synod day!

We had an awesome day with our synod.  Over 250 people from montana came together to practice Inviting, worship, service, encouraging, study prayer and giving!  Bishop Jessica presided at the eucharist and afterward she came out to lunch with our group.   We found an awesome swanky (but cheap place) just two blocks away from the convention center just as it started raining so we had a lazy lunch waiting out the storm with the Bishop.  Here's a picture of the synod assembled.

The Foam Finger Guys

All ready on the First full day of the gathering our group (well some of our boys) are getting a reputation as the "foam finger guys".

And they are enthusiastic high fivers.  Giving out high fives to everyone they see, literally, everyone.  Just one more way they are helping to spread God's love one simple step at a time.

Bringing Adults Together

What some people don't know is that the youth gathering is not just the largest gathering of youth in the ELCA but also the largest gathering of Adults in the ELCA.  One of our Chaperones Heidi while waiting in line for some food while tailgating outside the super dome ran into her cousin who she hasn't seen in over a decade.   Just one more way God uses this gathering to bring people together!  Here's a picture of the smiling cousins.

Pictures from sitting out the storm

Tornado Warning

As we were getting ready to leave the superdome a tornado warning came in for Downtown New Orleans!  Yikes.  Everyone is safe and no tornado materialism! Here's a picture from the national weather service of what we did, stay tuned for picture from how we survived.

reflections from cameron

After a arrival in New Orleans and wandering a round for half an hour looking for a restaurant, we went to a Mexican and Cuban restaurant and we had friend plantains and yucca and tacos then as we were leaving a cockroach scuttles by. There are street performers everywhere. Our hotel is the Holiday Inn French Quarter.    

Whenever you leave the air conditioned hotel it smells like a carnival and is hot and humid.

Group picture with fred at Charlotte airpot

Getting to the airport

Aldin made the decision to walk to the airport from first English. In case anyone wants to try it it takes a half hour with being stopped by the police. Yes I was stopped by the police looking for someone matching my description. At the time I was carrying a giant stuffed chicken. So be warned the police r looking for a white male walking to the airport carrying a giant stuffed chicken!

As we get ready to leave way to early tomorrow morning we want to take a moment to thank all you who commissioned us last Sunday, those who will pray for us as we go forward, and those who financially sponsered this blog including: Armand and Arle Lohof, Bill and Thuy Singer, Bret Jody, Jacob, and Justin Pierce, Curtis Johnson, Dick and Paula Reich, Earl and Ann Barsness, Eddy and Linda Popp, Edie Evans, Gary and susan fink, Glen and Celeste Salveson, Janet Stevenson, Jill and Brian Mathis, Joan and Mike Brown, John and Carlene GoodHeart, Julie Donald, Kathy Barnes, Kayla Heidner, Keith and Moly Johnson, Lew Hammermeister, Louis and Mancy Taylor, Lydia Cohn, Rhonda Heidner, Rich Robbins, Rod and Holli Miller, Ron Conboy, Shanan Allard.  And everyone else.


God Bless Aldin

Second Pre Trip Gathering

We had our second pre-trip gathering last Sunday and wrote prayers for how God will use our hands and change our hearts on the trip.  Please pray for our youths hearts and hands.