Or at least riding back to church from San Jose Airport. What a trip! What great kids! It all worked out great. You’ll hear more about it on Sunday!

But it’s a dry heat!

We are all at the New Orleans airport almost ready to board. We’ve been inspired by Bp Hanson and the witness we have seen. Communion was a sight to see for 37,000! We are excited to be heading home!

We’re gathering in the dome one last time, and this time for worship. Bishop Hanson will be preaching, and Holy Communion will be celebrated in the midst of 37,000. What a week! What a blessing!

The gathering opened a thank you delivered to us by Mayor Ray Nagin. Then a letter to us from President Obama was read by Presiding Bishop Hanson thanking us for our service to this community! VERY cool! Watch the gathering online by following the instructions in the last blog.

Live webcast of Superdome Gathering: http://www.ELCA.org/Growing-In-Faith/Ministry/Youth-Ministry/Youth-Gathering.aspx

We arrived early for the last night gathering at the Superdome. It’s fascinating to watch the place fill up! Everyone is starting to slow down some, but there’s still a lot of energy. Thanks for all of your prayers and thoughts. It’s been a blessing to us and to many to be here!

Our last evening in town involves dinner at the Cajun Cabin. We are having a challenge negotiating the menu, but it’s all good! Then on to the Superdome.

Between activities there can often be a brief pause. Our youth have been remarkable for a number of reasons. However, I have been very impressed with their ability to, not just get along, but actively engage withone another and to have fun as a group!

So, day one was the interaction center with FEMA trailer and house framing . . . games and other activities. Yesterday was our service day, bused out to work in the harder hit communities that still had Katrina markings on their doors from the National Guard. Today is workshops, self-guided learning and larger group activities. [...]

After the main gathering in the evening. We flood the streets around the Superdome and head to a number of different night life events. There are concerts, dances, inflatable events (think crazy bounce houses for teens and you’re part way there), and a number of other options. These take place at various hotels on our [...]

WOW!? We’re in the top section . . . !?unfortunately we left our supplemental oxygen in the room but everyone seems to adjusting all right. . It’s a different perspective on 37,000 Lutherans. It warms my heart when We start these sessions with prayer. The leader begins with, ‘The Lord be with you’. And 37,000 [...]

A local pizza dinner poolside before our second walk to the Superdome of the day. Showered and fresh, morale is high with just the right mix of activity and rest. More to come!

The view from the rooftop pool. Almost looks like an old European city from here.

We are now heading back to the dome! We worked for several hours along side a road near the river. It was amazing to see the number of people who honked as they went by in support. One woman stopped and wanted some way to bring food somewhere. Astounding!

Finding large and small items along the road in St Bernard Parish!?

Our service project today is to clean up the banks of the Mississippi. We’re on the bus now. Went through the Lower 9th Ward on our way to St Bernard Parish.

Simply amazing.

Here we are, 15 minutes early for the launch. AMAZING logistics!? Left the hotel at 7am with water, gloves and obligatory gathering t-shirt to walk to the Superdome for bus #23. We are ready to make a difference in New Orleans. Go in peace. Serve the Lord!

We happened to run across Presiding Bishop Hanson between sessions. Very cool!

Well, we’re turning in a little early tonight. We leave the hotel at 7am for the 40 minute walk to the bus at the superdome for our work project. It’s only 12,000 of us or so a day . . . . I’m curious to see how many buses there are!? Thank you for your [...]

So we are heading to dinner shortly. Today was our main opportunity to use the Interaction Center. One of the workers claimed it was a mile long! Zip lines, bumper cars were alongside Habitat for Humanity wall framing projects and other opportunities to serve. The colleges and seminaries of the church were represented as well. [...]

WOW!? 37,000 of us in one place. We walked just over a mile to get there. Every step of the way the groups came together from side streets gathering into a huge crowd. I thought we were towards the end of the line, but, in fact, we were only the mid point. It was an [...]

Amazing! We will definitely come back for more of this. The history is rich and deep. Look for pictures!

Well, we’ve gotten through registration and are about to hit the French Quarter in earnest. We have been told that this is the largest group/event to come to New Orleans since Katrina. VERY cool. Tonight is the first gathering in the Super Dome. Not too hot yet . . . but THICK!? Will report later [...]

Well, we made it just fine to New Orleans! We’re hoping for a good night’s sleep and then a good first day walking around the French Quarter. Things start in earnest tomorrow evening with the first big opening session in the Superdome (40,000 people!?). Our flight from Phoenix to New Orleans was full of youth [...]

I think the whole plane from Pheonix to New Orleans is heading to the gathering!

We leave tomorrow…

This is a new Youth Page on the Grace Lutheran Church Website! We will use it to follow the progress of the 2009 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans, LA.  Subscribe to this weblog to receive e-mails about updates, or just check into the website periodically to see what’s been happening.