I will post The last 3 or 4 days of the trip later on this weekend or next week. We are getting ready to leave today (Thursday) for a family trip, We basically came home washed cloths and packed em again, so we can leave this afternoon.
We will have the Youth Service outside on the Patio behind the church on Sunday August 9th at 9:30. I think there is a pot-luck to follow, but I'm not positive of that.
Also the Stock-holders dinner will be Friday August 21st at 6:30.
Hors Devours at 5:30.
Slide Show and stories at 7:30.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Loading the bus (counting off)
Loading the bus (counting off)
Traveling with a group of 60 comprised of mainly teenagers can be a bit challenging. At any stop, it takes a long time to get them all back on the bus. If there is junk food available, they all need to get a candy bar, or the giant bottle of Mountain Dew. We’ve found that we even need to remind them to go to the bathroom. At almost every stop, 1 hour after we are on the road someone comes up and says when will we be at the next rest room. When I ask if they went when we stopped, they say “well I didn’t have to go then”.
One thing we do on bus trips is give everyone a bus number. You count off every time we have everyone on the bus to make sure no one is missing. Your number is the same throughout the trip. You’d think that after everyone gets the hang of it, it would take a minute or so to count off. It usually took 5 minutes to get through 60 numbers. It did get faster, because the kids that never seemed to remember their number would be reminded by those that were next to them in numerical order. It is a good system, because we don’t have to count heads, or ask if anyone is missing. It did work, because at one stop we would have left one of the kids in the bathroom, but his number didn’t come up, so we knew we needed to wait. So if you are in casual conversation with someone and your child is within ear-shot, and you happen to say the number that comes before your child’s bus number they just my shout their number out, because that’s what they were conditioned to do.
Traveling with a group of 60 comprised of mainly teenagers can be a bit challenging. At any stop, it takes a long time to get them all back on the bus. If there is junk food available, they all need to get a candy bar, or the giant bottle of Mountain Dew. We’ve found that we even need to remind them to go to the bathroom. At almost every stop, 1 hour after we are on the road someone comes up and says when will we be at the next rest room. When I ask if they went when we stopped, they say “well I didn’t have to go then”.
One thing we do on bus trips is give everyone a bus number. You count off every time we have everyone on the bus to make sure no one is missing. Your number is the same throughout the trip. You’d think that after everyone gets the hang of it, it would take a minute or so to count off. It usually took 5 minutes to get through 60 numbers. It did get faster, because the kids that never seemed to remember their number would be reminded by those that were next to them in numerical order. It is a good system, because we don’t have to count heads, or ask if anyone is missing. It did work, because at one stop we would have left one of the kids in the bathroom, but his number didn’t come up, so we knew we needed to wait. So if you are in casual conversation with someone and your child is within ear-shot, and you happen to say the number that comes before your child’s bus number they just my shout their number out, because that’s what they were conditioned to do.
Friday July 24th
Sleep in day! It was great for everyone to sleep in till 8:30 or so. Everyone needed it. Today we went to the learning center. The learning center has activities and projects designed to look at Faith an Service from a different perspective. Many of the activities were geared at showing the kids how one person could make big changes in the world, How they can make a difference. After the learning center, we decided to take the trolley on a sight seeing tour of the garden district of New Orleans. No one we talked to knew anything about the trolley. Could we buy passes somewhere? Do you have to have exact change? So many people had no clue, or gave us wrong information. Sheri finally found a person that knew that we could buy 22 tickets at once, and didn’t need to have $22 in Quarters for the $2.50 fair. We got to a stop, and waited for a trolley. Most o the times we waited for one they passed our stop by, because they were too full to take us. We saw one coming and as it stopped for us decided that we should walk to the next stop, so we wouldn’t miss and of the city on the tally route. While waiting at the next stop a local man drove up and told us thanks for being in he city, and informed us that we were at the wrong stop. The next trolley coming was packed and we wouldn’t get on. He told us to go back to the previous stop and wait there. He was right, and the next trolley came with enough room for us. It was a very hot wait, but finally out of the sun with a bit of a breeze, we felt a little cooler.
The garden district passed by many New Orleans mansions, that I would compare to Summit avenue in St. Paul. Once off the trolley we decided to walk to the dome for the evening mass gathering. On the way two of the girls informed us that their water bottles stunk, and they didn’t have any water with. They just waited till 4 o’clock in the afternoon, when they were next to heat exhaustion to tell us. Sheri and Cindy stopped at a grocery store while we walked to get a couple of gallons of water to replenish their bottles, and we were off to the dome.
As we waited at the front of the line in front of the only gate they let people in the night before, a police man told us that a gate around the building was open and we should go there. After 10 minutes or so of him yelling at us in a mega-phone, many from our group decided to do as he said and start that way. I noticed another man jumping up and checking the crowd, and he told the police man that they would indeed be opening the gate…too late we had to re-group behind 2 or 3 hundred that got in front of us when the change was made.
Friday Speakers
The speakers again were all young people that were meant to show the kids one person could make a difference. All of the speakers had very powerful messages, on a seemingly small idea that grew into a growing ministry. Spencer West is a man who had no legs from the waist down, and talked about how he fought with God’s calling until he realized that instead of trying to fit in, he could do work BECAUSE he was different. Michael Chikawonie was abducted as a 5 year old boy into the Siere Leone conflict. He was drugged, had to shoot his best friend, and later escaped. He ran for 2 or three days straight, to get away from the rebels. Back with his family he became an advocate for peace. A powerful testimony of Hope against very tough odds.
Friday Night Life
After our long hot day, most of us decided to go home early, and try and hit the pool. We had skipped supper so I ordered Pizza for the kids. It was expensive, but good. Some did a bit of shopping before they came back to the Hotel.
Along our walks back to the French Quarter, there are lots of street musicians. Most are better than any others I've heard (on the street or in a club). Electric guitar blues and vocals, 3 person accapella groups. Acoustic (amplified) guitars, Brass Bands, Sax players. I still havn't seen any Zydaco (spelling?). Zydaco is the cajun, accordian players.
Sleep in day! It was great for everyone to sleep in till 8:30 or so. Everyone needed it. Today we went to the learning center. The learning center has activities and projects designed to look at Faith an Service from a different perspective. Many of the activities were geared at showing the kids how one person could make big changes in the world, How they can make a difference. After the learning center, we decided to take the trolley on a sight seeing tour of the garden district of New Orleans. No one we talked to knew anything about the trolley. Could we buy passes somewhere? Do you have to have exact change? So many people had no clue, or gave us wrong information. Sheri finally found a person that knew that we could buy 22 tickets at once, and didn’t need to have $22 in Quarters for the $2.50 fair. We got to a stop, and waited for a trolley. Most o the times we waited for one they passed our stop by, because they were too full to take us. We saw one coming and as it stopped for us decided that we should walk to the next stop, so we wouldn’t miss and of the city on the tally route. While waiting at the next stop a local man drove up and told us thanks for being in he city, and informed us that we were at the wrong stop. The next trolley coming was packed and we wouldn’t get on. He told us to go back to the previous stop and wait there. He was right, and the next trolley came with enough room for us. It was a very hot wait, but finally out of the sun with a bit of a breeze, we felt a little cooler.
The garden district passed by many New Orleans mansions, that I would compare to Summit avenue in St. Paul. Once off the trolley we decided to walk to the dome for the evening mass gathering. On the way two of the girls informed us that their water bottles stunk, and they didn’t have any water with. They just waited till 4 o’clock in the afternoon, when they were next to heat exhaustion to tell us. Sheri and Cindy stopped at a grocery store while we walked to get a couple of gallons of water to replenish their bottles, and we were off to the dome.
As we waited at the front of the line in front of the only gate they let people in the night before, a police man told us that a gate around the building was open and we should go there. After 10 minutes or so of him yelling at us in a mega-phone, many from our group decided to do as he said and start that way. I noticed another man jumping up and checking the crowd, and he told the police man that they would indeed be opening the gate…too late we had to re-group behind 2 or 3 hundred that got in front of us when the change was made.
Friday Speakers
The speakers again were all young people that were meant to show the kids one person could make a difference. All of the speakers had very powerful messages, on a seemingly small idea that grew into a growing ministry. Spencer West is a man who had no legs from the waist down, and talked about how he fought with God’s calling until he realized that instead of trying to fit in, he could do work BECAUSE he was different. Michael Chikawonie was abducted as a 5 year old boy into the Siere Leone conflict. He was drugged, had to shoot his best friend, and later escaped. He ran for 2 or three days straight, to get away from the rebels. Back with his family he became an advocate for peace. A powerful testimony of Hope against very tough odds.
Friday Night Life
After our long hot day, most of us decided to go home early, and try and hit the pool. We had skipped supper so I ordered Pizza for the kids. It was expensive, but good. Some did a bit of shopping before they came back to the Hotel.
Along our walks back to the French Quarter, there are lots of street musicians. Most are better than any others I've heard (on the street or in a club). Electric guitar blues and vocals, 3 person accapella groups. Acoustic (amplified) guitars, Brass Bands, Sax players. I still havn't seen any Zydaco (spelling?). Zydaco is the cajun, accordian players.
Thursday Work Project The Ladybug Lady (Cindy)
Thursday Work Project The Ladybug Lady
We never got her name, but the Ladybug Lady came out of her shop offering the kids candy from the pink plastic basket she was carrying. The Ladybug Gift Shop was in a small strip mall in St. Bernard’s Parish where we were busy picking up litter in the hot sun. There was an apparently closed up gun shop next door and we had found handfuls of empty gun shell casings on the boulevard. I had been wondering about the neighborhood we were cleaning.
The Ladybug Lady thanked us over and over, saying that they appreciated all the volunteers more than they could say. She started her story with “before the storm.” She told us that St. Bernard’s had been like a big family. It took you 2 hours to get milk at the store because you ran into so many people to talk to. Many families had lived there for generations and everyone knew each other. “After the storm” many families left, because they were not able to rebuild in the Parish. “Before the storm” the Ladybug Lady and her husband lived in the 3000 sq. ft. home where they had raised their children. When the levee broke with Hurricane Katrina, their house was flooded by 8 feet of water. When Hurricane Rita hit just a few weeks later, they were left with 13 feet of water in their home.
They spent the first months after the storm in a FEMA trailer. She said they would go back to the house and look, but couldn’t seem to do anything when they were there. She said it wasn’t until the volunteers came and started working that she realized they had been so depressed that they couldn’t get started. She said that all she could do was to cook big pots of food in that little trailer to feed the volunteers. She tearfully told me how they had helped her literally sift through the remains of her home looking for anything valuable or sentimental that could be salvaged.
We mentioned all the shell casings we had picked up and she told us that “things happened” after the storm. They had friends who were firefighters, EMTs and police officers. She said they had stacked up wrecked cars to make a wall between St. Bernard’s Parish and the hard hit 9th Ward, but that there was still a lot of looting. She told us that their friends still would not talk about the things they had to do after the storm. Many chose to find a new line of work after the storm.
We asked about the spray painted markings we saw on so many damaged homes. The Ladybug Lady explained that the National Guard went through every home. They made coded marks to tell officials which Guard group had checked the homes. They spray painted numbers representing the numbers of bodies, of both people and pets, found in the homes. She said her daughter has tried everything, but couldn’t remove the spray paint from the brick on her home. She has decided to keep it “as a souvenir.”
The Ladybug Lady and her husband are still not back in their home. They are living with one of their sons and his family. Their house has just gotten running water and a bathroom that works and they hope to get back in it soon, even though there are still no walls. She said her husband is looking forward to two things: sleeping in his own bed and being able to change channels on the TV remote without asking anyone else.
The Ladybug Lady came offering much more than candy to share. She shared part of herself and her story with us.
We never got her name, but the Ladybug Lady came out of her shop offering the kids candy from the pink plastic basket she was carrying. The Ladybug Gift Shop was in a small strip mall in St. Bernard’s Parish where we were busy picking up litter in the hot sun. There was an apparently closed up gun shop next door and we had found handfuls of empty gun shell casings on the boulevard. I had been wondering about the neighborhood we were cleaning.
The Ladybug Lady thanked us over and over, saying that they appreciated all the volunteers more than they could say. She started her story with “before the storm.” She told us that St. Bernard’s had been like a big family. It took you 2 hours to get milk at the store because you ran into so many people to talk to. Many families had lived there for generations and everyone knew each other. “After the storm” many families left, because they were not able to rebuild in the Parish. “Before the storm” the Ladybug Lady and her husband lived in the 3000 sq. ft. home where they had raised their children. When the levee broke with Hurricane Katrina, their house was flooded by 8 feet of water. When Hurricane Rita hit just a few weeks later, they were left with 13 feet of water in their home.
They spent the first months after the storm in a FEMA trailer. She said they would go back to the house and look, but couldn’t seem to do anything when they were there. She said it wasn’t until the volunteers came and started working that she realized they had been so depressed that they couldn’t get started. She said that all she could do was to cook big pots of food in that little trailer to feed the volunteers. She tearfully told me how they had helped her literally sift through the remains of her home looking for anything valuable or sentimental that could be salvaged.
We mentioned all the shell casings we had picked up and she told us that “things happened” after the storm. They had friends who were firefighters, EMTs and police officers. She said they had stacked up wrecked cars to make a wall between St. Bernard’s Parish and the hard hit 9th Ward, but that there was still a lot of looting. She told us that their friends still would not talk about the things they had to do after the storm. Many chose to find a new line of work after the storm.
We asked about the spray painted markings we saw on so many damaged homes. The Ladybug Lady explained that the National Guard went through every home. They made coded marks to tell officials which Guard group had checked the homes. They spray painted numbers representing the numbers of bodies, of both people and pets, found in the homes. She said her daughter has tried everything, but couldn’t remove the spray paint from the brick on her home. She has decided to keep it “as a souvenir.”
The Ladybug Lady and her husband are still not back in their home. They are living with one of their sons and his family. Their house has just gotten running water and a bathroom that works and they hope to get back in it soon, even though there are still no walls. She said her husband is looking forward to two things: sleeping in his own bed and being able to change channels on the TV remote without asking anyone else.
The Ladybug Lady came offering much more than candy to share. She shared part of herself and her story with us.
Thursday July 23rd (New Orleans)
Thursday July 23rd
We struggled to get up at 6 am. We had to walk to the dome a mile?? away to get on a bus for our work project. One or two people could walk the distance in 25 minutes, but with 22 people we left the hotel at 7 am to get there by 7:45. As we walked, we noticed people walking toward a pick-up point near our hotel and I wondered if The Gathering hotel people had talked to the people scheduling work projects.
Walking with the kids and keeping them together, I compare to herding cats. We walked for a while and had to stop and wait for the dawdlers to catch up. Sheri realized that the gloves for the work project (and all our cash) was left back at the hotel, so she and I ran back to the hotel to get them while the others went on. While I waited for Sheri, I talked to the doorman. It was the first of many encounters we would have with the New Orleans residents. He told me how he was happy we were in the city helping out. I was going to call and check on Sheri’s progress finding the gloves and mumbled, I had better not call…..that will just create problems. He said “how long you been married? must be a long time to know her that well.” We talked about how important it was to work hard on marriage and it takes a lot of work. I thought it was interesting that he was happy that we came to New Orleans even though the tips for him this week would be much less than when a normal clientele would be at the hotel. Sheri and I decided to take a cab so we could catch up to the group instead of running to try to catch up. We found the gloves caught a taxi, and boarded the bus at 7:45. It took a while to get going and once we got to the staging area in St. Bernard Parish, The Gathering person informed us she had no idea what we were going to do, and that the people in charge were not there yet. So we “hurry up and waited” until 9:30 when they decided we could pick up trash.
I wanted to do some “substantial” work like build homes, etc, so I was grumbling at first about it. Nick said, “This is a job no one wants to do and we are able, so it needs to be done and it’s a good moral booster for the residents. We spread out on a relatively busy street to go to work. We had a wheelbarrow full of water follow us to replenish our water bottles. Many people would drive by and wave, honk their horns, say thank you and give us the thumbs up. Three or four people stopped to thank us personally for our work. Two of them came and gave us ice cream, popsicles, and cold water to drink. It was obvious they genuinely appreciated our help. At the end of the day as we waited for the bus to pick us up by a snow cone stand, I ordered snow cones to let the kids share. I noticed that they were living in the stand and I wondered about their Katrina story. The lady did not speak very good English, so I didn’t attempt to talk to her much.
It was a hard day picking up trash, but we could really tell we did make a positive impact on the community. We were dreading the 45-minute walk to the hotel and Sheri was talking to the driver and talked him into dropping us near the hotel, so our 45-minute walk turned into a 10-minute walk. We decided to go late to the Superdome and not sit on the floor, so we could have more time to relax.
Thursday Speakers
Thursday speakers were Jay Baker, son of Tammy Faye who talked to the kids about God’s grace. Viola Vaughn who started an education program for girls called 10,000 Girls, completely self-funded and run by kids. She commented that she is still the only adult. Becca Stevens started a ministry for women on the streets, called Women of Thistle Farms. All the speakers started with an idea that blossomed into a growing ministry. What struck me is that Viola wasn’t really interested in starting a ministry. God kept calling her further and further into ministry. All God inspired projects that were meant to enlighten the kids that one person can make a big difference in the lives of others.
Thursday Night Life
Thursday after The Gathering, we decided to check out some of the planned evening activities at the Sheraton. People were elbow to elbow and it took 10 minutes to get into the door to meet. We sent the kids off and waited. For the second time, someone decided I looked hungry and gave us a whole pizza. It ended up being a mistake for the kids because there were so many people, they couldn’t do anything
We struggled to get up at 6 am. We had to walk to the dome a mile?? away to get on a bus for our work project. One or two people could walk the distance in 25 minutes, but with 22 people we left the hotel at 7 am to get there by 7:45. As we walked, we noticed people walking toward a pick-up point near our hotel and I wondered if The Gathering hotel people had talked to the people scheduling work projects.
Walking with the kids and keeping them together, I compare to herding cats. We walked for a while and had to stop and wait for the dawdlers to catch up. Sheri realized that the gloves for the work project (and all our cash) was left back at the hotel, so she and I ran back to the hotel to get them while the others went on. While I waited for Sheri, I talked to the doorman. It was the first of many encounters we would have with the New Orleans residents. He told me how he was happy we were in the city helping out. I was going to call and check on Sheri’s progress finding the gloves and mumbled, I had better not call…..that will just create problems. He said “how long you been married? must be a long time to know her that well.” We talked about how important it was to work hard on marriage and it takes a lot of work. I thought it was interesting that he was happy that we came to New Orleans even though the tips for him this week would be much less than when a normal clientele would be at the hotel. Sheri and I decided to take a cab so we could catch up to the group instead of running to try to catch up. We found the gloves caught a taxi, and boarded the bus at 7:45. It took a while to get going and once we got to the staging area in St. Bernard Parish, The Gathering person informed us she had no idea what we were going to do, and that the people in charge were not there yet. So we “hurry up and waited” until 9:30 when they decided we could pick up trash.
I wanted to do some “substantial” work like build homes, etc, so I was grumbling at first about it. Nick said, “This is a job no one wants to do and we are able, so it needs to be done and it’s a good moral booster for the residents. We spread out on a relatively busy street to go to work. We had a wheelbarrow full of water follow us to replenish our water bottles. Many people would drive by and wave, honk their horns, say thank you and give us the thumbs up. Three or four people stopped to thank us personally for our work. Two of them came and gave us ice cream, popsicles, and cold water to drink. It was obvious they genuinely appreciated our help. At the end of the day as we waited for the bus to pick us up by a snow cone stand, I ordered snow cones to let the kids share. I noticed that they were living in the stand and I wondered about their Katrina story. The lady did not speak very good English, so I didn’t attempt to talk to her much.
It was a hard day picking up trash, but we could really tell we did make a positive impact on the community. We were dreading the 45-minute walk to the hotel and Sheri was talking to the driver and talked him into dropping us near the hotel, so our 45-minute walk turned into a 10-minute walk. We decided to go late to the Superdome and not sit on the floor, so we could have more time to relax.
Thursday Speakers
Thursday speakers were Jay Baker, son of Tammy Faye who talked to the kids about God’s grace. Viola Vaughn who started an education program for girls called 10,000 Girls, completely self-funded and run by kids. She commented that she is still the only adult. Becca Stevens started a ministry for women on the streets, called Women of Thistle Farms. All the speakers started with an idea that blossomed into a growing ministry. What struck me is that Viola wasn’t really interested in starting a ministry. God kept calling her further and further into ministry. All God inspired projects that were meant to enlighten the kids that one person can make a big difference in the lives of others.
Thursday Night Life
Thursday after The Gathering, we decided to check out some of the planned evening activities at the Sheraton. People were elbow to elbow and it took 10 minutes to get into the door to meet. We sent the kids off and waited. For the second time, someone decided I looked hungry and gave us a whole pizza. It ended up being a mistake for the kids because there were so many people, they couldn’t do anything
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Tuesday We're On our way Home!
We found Internet at a rest area in IOWA. we will be back in the cities sometime after 5. We will call when we are closer. We have several stories that will be posted in the next day or so. As well we will post some pictures. It's been an exhausting trip, but everyone is doing well.
The 3 churches got along just fine, and the kids are all excited to tell their stories...I'd just give them a day or so to get their energy back.
Greg.
P.S. the St. Mark Stock Holders meeting will be on Friday August 7th. With the Trip Service on the back patio on Sunday the 9th at 9:30.
The 3 churches got along just fine, and the kids are all excited to tell their stories...I'd just give them a day or so to get their energy back.
Greg.
P.S. the St. Mark Stock Holders meeting will be on Friday August 7th. With the Trip Service on the back patio on Sunday the 9th at 9:30.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Wednesday July 22nd New Orleans
Wednesday starte out well. We had the bus loaded by 8 am, and took a walk along the levy to see where it had broke, and had been repaired. We also saw the large bulge in the dike that had it given way, would have flooded Metriare instead of Orleans.
A note: Pastor Todd will be coming to Minnesota next summer, and we offered him a place to stay in Circle Pines. St. mark and Our Saviors will have to "fight" over who gets to host his family.
As we walked back Sheri spotted a fish market, we were told by Pastor Todd to buy Gator sausage. the fish market wasn't open, but Sheri talked to a man in the back. We found out that the owners were St. mark members, and had donated the beverages for our stay. Sheri wrote them a note of Thank you, and we were on our way to the Gathering.
I insisted on being dropped off at the convention center to register while everyone else got dropped off at the hotels. This was because my greatest pet peave is standing in line. My Plan worked well, because we got to the convention center, found our booth (synod 3) and proceded to register. In the ELCA's infinite wsidome they divided the registration into the 6 synods of the church. The only problem is that 90% of the Elca members are in region 3. Not to worry We were first in line. The first thing the girls at the desk told us was that we didn't have the correct paper work. I protested that I had followed the directions and printed it out before we left. No problem, we got out of line went to another room and printed the "correct" form. It was the same as the other form with the words "final" at the top. Back in line (they're getting bigger now) and to the front, to find out they can't find us in their book. After some discussion we find out there is another room for churches with a balance due, so out of line and into the next one. At the front of the line again, we try to pay, and they don't accept anything but a check. No problem, I have checks, but they are back at the hotel with the kids. By this time the Convention Center is really filling up. I get a call from Cindy that the Hotel doesn't have our reservation, and they changed all the rooms from doubles to singles. Also they only had 17 of the 22 names I sent them, and had adults in kids rooms. I only sent the rooming list 4 times, maybe they would have kept one of the copies. While Cindy was sorting all that out, I decided it would be faster to go back to the hotel myself and get the check. I asked a cop where the Orleans was. He said two blocks that way (east). I decide I could run that far and back. After I had jogged 3 or 4 blocks I looked at a street sign and realized that the hotel was at least a half mile farther. Mean while, Sheri had called Cindy, and arranged for Rich to drop off the check at the convention center (she always has a better idea). By the time I had jogged walked back to the convention center the check had arrived. Back in line again, and we finally get our wrist bands so we can pick up all our gathering materials and back-packs.
The back packs had full size bibles, which is cool, but 22 were too heavy for three people to carry. We decided to take a cab back to the hotel.
Back at the Hotel I went to the desk to straighten out the snafoo. They informed me that the gathering had set up the rooms, and that's what they were told to give us (single bed rooms). By this time I was hot sweaty, and had a bit of road rash from my jogging. I tried to tell the desk clerk that I had changed the rooms by calling Omni, and had conformation numbers. He told me that my mistake was calling the hotel, making reservations and getting conformation numbers. I then remembered people saying that things are just a bit different in the south as far as service. I will be reminded of that "phrase" several times on this trip.
We decided to take a trolly to a flea market to eat and do some sight seeing. After we showered, and got everyone together, we found a trolly. Nick asked a street vendor for information on where the Trolly was. They guy wouldn't tell him until he gave hime a dollar. Nick obliged, and the pointed to a spot 200 feet away... Money well spent. we went to wait for the trolly, and 30 minutes later realized that it would be too long of a wait and decided to take the trolly tomorrow(Thursday). We went up to a food court to wait in long lines to eat. By the time many got to the front of the line the food kiosks were out of what ever it was they would eat. Luckly someone from another church spotted me, I must have looked like I could use a meal), and gave us a pizza they couldn't eat. We gave it to the kids, and some of them had a piece.
By the time we all got done eating it was time to head to the Dome to the first mass gathering, we decided to wander that way. It was a 25 minute walk (really 45 with all the dawdlers), and the stopping to make sure we hadn't lost anyone. we got in line at the dome at the only gate they were going to let 37000 people in. As we waited in the hot sun, the crowd got closer and closer. After an hour wait, the doors opened and just like a rock concert, people forget they are individuals, and elbows pushing and shoving to get in drained us all. we got on to the floor for the first gathering.
Once we had sat for a few minutes, collected our senses, got some water, we got to enjoy the only good part of the day for me. The mass gathering has flashing lights, good Christian music and great speakers. The kids all conga danced around the auditorium, while the house band was playing. There is so much energy at a mass gathering that you can't describe it. You must witness it for your-self. All the conga lines running around, people high-fiving each other when they pass, and the pure energy of that many Lutheran Teenagers is awe-inspiring.
After the gathering, we headed back to our hotel in the french quarter, and got our first taste of the street musicians in New Orleans. The musicians were great. We heard a brass band, with a tuba player that could play louder that I could have imagined, and a trumpet play that was Phiminominal (fabulous). Swimming (for 10 minutes) Devos, and we were all in our rooms by 12:30 or so.
Tomorrow is our work project.
A note: Pastor Todd will be coming to Minnesota next summer, and we offered him a place to stay in Circle Pines. St. mark and Our Saviors will have to "fight" over who gets to host his family.
As we walked back Sheri spotted a fish market, we were told by Pastor Todd to buy Gator sausage. the fish market wasn't open, but Sheri talked to a man in the back. We found out that the owners were St. mark members, and had donated the beverages for our stay. Sheri wrote them a note of Thank you, and we were on our way to the Gathering.
I insisted on being dropped off at the convention center to register while everyone else got dropped off at the hotels. This was because my greatest pet peave is standing in line. My Plan worked well, because we got to the convention center, found our booth (synod 3) and proceded to register. In the ELCA's infinite wsidome they divided the registration into the 6 synods of the church. The only problem is that 90% of the Elca members are in region 3. Not to worry We were first in line. The first thing the girls at the desk told us was that we didn't have the correct paper work. I protested that I had followed the directions and printed it out before we left. No problem, we got out of line went to another room and printed the "correct" form. It was the same as the other form with the words "final" at the top. Back in line (they're getting bigger now) and to the front, to find out they can't find us in their book. After some discussion we find out there is another room for churches with a balance due, so out of line and into the next one. At the front of the line again, we try to pay, and they don't accept anything but a check. No problem, I have checks, but they are back at the hotel with the kids. By this time the Convention Center is really filling up. I get a call from Cindy that the Hotel doesn't have our reservation, and they changed all the rooms from doubles to singles. Also they only had 17 of the 22 names I sent them, and had adults in kids rooms. I only sent the rooming list 4 times, maybe they would have kept one of the copies. While Cindy was sorting all that out, I decided it would be faster to go back to the hotel myself and get the check. I asked a cop where the Orleans was. He said two blocks that way (east). I decide I could run that far and back. After I had jogged 3 or 4 blocks I looked at a street sign and realized that the hotel was at least a half mile farther. Mean while, Sheri had called Cindy, and arranged for Rich to drop off the check at the convention center (she always has a better idea). By the time I had jogged walked back to the convention center the check had arrived. Back in line again, and we finally get our wrist bands so we can pick up all our gathering materials and back-packs.
The back packs had full size bibles, which is cool, but 22 were too heavy for three people to carry. We decided to take a cab back to the hotel.
Back at the Hotel I went to the desk to straighten out the snafoo. They informed me that the gathering had set up the rooms, and that's what they were told to give us (single bed rooms). By this time I was hot sweaty, and had a bit of road rash from my jogging. I tried to tell the desk clerk that I had changed the rooms by calling Omni, and had conformation numbers. He told me that my mistake was calling the hotel, making reservations and getting conformation numbers. I then remembered people saying that things are just a bit different in the south as far as service. I will be reminded of that "phrase" several times on this trip.
We decided to take a trolly to a flea market to eat and do some sight seeing. After we showered, and got everyone together, we found a trolly. Nick asked a street vendor for information on where the Trolly was. They guy wouldn't tell him until he gave hime a dollar. Nick obliged, and the pointed to a spot 200 feet away... Money well spent. we went to wait for the trolly, and 30 minutes later realized that it would be too long of a wait and decided to take the trolly tomorrow(Thursday). We went up to a food court to wait in long lines to eat. By the time many got to the front of the line the food kiosks were out of what ever it was they would eat. Luckly someone from another church spotted me, I must have looked like I could use a meal), and gave us a pizza they couldn't eat. We gave it to the kids, and some of them had a piece.
By the time we all got done eating it was time to head to the Dome to the first mass gathering, we decided to wander that way. It was a 25 minute walk (really 45 with all the dawdlers), and the stopping to make sure we hadn't lost anyone. we got in line at the dome at the only gate they were going to let 37000 people in. As we waited in the hot sun, the crowd got closer and closer. After an hour wait, the doors opened and just like a rock concert, people forget they are individuals, and elbows pushing and shoving to get in drained us all. we got on to the floor for the first gathering.
Once we had sat for a few minutes, collected our senses, got some water, we got to enjoy the only good part of the day for me. The mass gathering has flashing lights, good Christian music and great speakers. The kids all conga danced around the auditorium, while the house band was playing. There is so much energy at a mass gathering that you can't describe it. You must witness it for your-self. All the conga lines running around, people high-fiving each other when they pass, and the pure energy of that many Lutheran Teenagers is awe-inspiring.
After the gathering, we headed back to our hotel in the french quarter, and got our first taste of the street musicians in New Orleans. The musicians were great. We heard a brass band, with a tuba player that could play louder that I could have imagined, and a trumpet play that was Phiminominal (fabulous). Swimming (for 10 minutes) Devos, and we were all in our rooms by 12:30 or so.
Tomorrow is our work project.
Tuesday July 21st.
Tuesday was mostly a driving day. Many of the kids slept most of the day, or watched movies. I was against them sleeping, because then they get the energy to stay up a night as well. We stopped at a state park for lunch, as we got everything under a picnic shelter, it started to pour. St. Mark is still the rain makers. At least this time the rain didn't do anything but soak many of the kids. By the time the adults ate we had hotdogs, and no buns. We made do, because many of us could skip a meal anyway. I got a call from our Hotel that our credit card was denied (the first of many Hotel agrivations to come). Two or three calls with dawn later we upped our credit limit, and the hotel was happy.
As we got closer to New Orleans, the ground was flat, and we crossed a 25 mile strech of elevated hiway. Along the strech of cannels connected to Lake Ponchatrain ( you can look up the spelling) we saw shacks, small boats and large (19 or 20 foot) fishing boats. It looked as though many people lived on the water year round.
Bertha sent on us on a detour or we would have been at St. Mark in Metreaire earlier, but we finally arrived around 7 pm. We were met by Pastor Todd, a New Orleans native, and proceded to unload the bus. The church was tiny. we speculated on how we would fit 60 people in the available floor space. We had to tell some to not use air matttresses. This caused a bit of a problem, because some were allowed to set theirs up. The kids were a bit grouchy from all the lated nights, so we had a bit of a "domestic" to take care of. After the turf wars were settled, we got an introduction to the area and St. Mark from Pastor Todd.
St. Mark is an elderly congregation, and they worship 30 on a Sunday. They were all real excited to have us stay at the church. The itenerary said St. Paul Lutheran. I think that when Pastor Karn set up the itenerary she left the church name out to be a surprise for the St. Markers. It was a pleseant surprise, because we had a connection with St. Mark just after Katrina. I have some pictures of the church that I will post (probably after we get home). It's a beautiful older church that survived Katrina well. They "only" had around 3 feet of water in this part of the city. This is two or three blocks from where the levy failed. If it had failed on the metriare side of the levy, they would have had several feet of water in the area.
Pastor Todd also told his Katrina story. His house had 4 inches of water in it, but the water was standing for so long the mold grew 4 feet up the side of the walls, and they had to tear everything out for four feet around. He told us that everyone including the children tell stories "before the storm", and after the storm. His 8? yar old son was affected greatly from the storm, and he told us that for many the emotions are still very great and just below the surface. He reminded us to wait for people to offer their Katrina stories, and not ask them directly, because many still can't talk about the storm.
We ate pizza, had our evening devos, and sent em to bed. They were still talking till around 1 am.
As we got closer to New Orleans, the ground was flat, and we crossed a 25 mile strech of elevated hiway. Along the strech of cannels connected to Lake Ponchatrain ( you can look up the spelling) we saw shacks, small boats and large (19 or 20 foot) fishing boats. It looked as though many people lived on the water year round.
Bertha sent on us on a detour or we would have been at St. Mark in Metreaire earlier, but we finally arrived around 7 pm. We were met by Pastor Todd, a New Orleans native, and proceded to unload the bus. The church was tiny. we speculated on how we would fit 60 people in the available floor space. We had to tell some to not use air matttresses. This caused a bit of a problem, because some were allowed to set theirs up. The kids were a bit grouchy from all the lated nights, so we had a bit of a "domestic" to take care of. After the turf wars were settled, we got an introduction to the area and St. Mark from Pastor Todd.
St. Mark is an elderly congregation, and they worship 30 on a Sunday. They were all real excited to have us stay at the church. The itenerary said St. Paul Lutheran. I think that when Pastor Karn set up the itenerary she left the church name out to be a surprise for the St. Markers. It was a pleseant surprise, because we had a connection with St. Mark just after Katrina. I have some pictures of the church that I will post (probably after we get home). It's a beautiful older church that survived Katrina well. They "only" had around 3 feet of water in this part of the city. This is two or three blocks from where the levy failed. If it had failed on the metriare side of the levy, they would have had several feet of water in the area.
Pastor Todd also told his Katrina story. His house had 4 inches of water in it, but the water was standing for so long the mold grew 4 feet up the side of the walls, and they had to tear everything out for four feet around. He told us that everyone including the children tell stories "before the storm", and after the storm. His 8? yar old son was affected greatly from the storm, and he told us that for many the emotions are still very great and just below the surface. He reminded us to wait for people to offer their Katrina stories, and not ask them directly, because many still can't talk about the storm.
We ate pizza, had our evening devos, and sent em to bed. They were still talking till around 1 am.
Saturday July 25th (New Orleans)
Short note to say we are still all doing well. I have a few minutes before "Nap Time" in the adult oasis. The oasis is a place with soft lights, no kids allowed, free coffee, and couches. The sounds of snoring usually drown out the sounds of the mini-waterfall they have in the room. With all the walking, the long days, and the heat, this year I will use it, if only for a few minutes today.
Friday, July 24, 2009
July 20th St. Andrew Cape Girardeau Mo (Greg from St. Mark)
July 20th St. Andrew Cape Girardeau Mo (Greg from St. Mark)
Reveille at 6:30 am. Many adults were up at 5:30. The kids got up packed up, ate and we had finished our morning devotion were ready to go before 8. Ryan(OSLC) decided to delay us a bit by losing breakfast. He later recovered by sitting in the front of the bus with the adults. We arrived at the YMCA camp at 10 am. The Lunch was buffet style, so great for the kids. It was a beautiful day, we had swimming, kayaks, canoes, paddle boats, mini golf. Sheri and I proved that we knew nothing about sailing. We had to get rescued from across the lake, and then had to be rescued again when we tipped the boat over. Several went on the zip line, but it was too short a ride for the amount of time you had to wait to go. We ate dinner in downtown Cape Girardeau near the Mississippi river. Our first taste of Cajun food. Another Gym to sleep in. The group of kids along on the trip are all great. We are getting along well as a group. As always there are moments when the love of Christ these kids show is awesome. We had showers tonight as well. The kids didn't get to sleep till after 12:30. Forest met a guy on the Mississippi water front that was from New Orleans. He owned a restaurant that was wiped out by Katrina, he was glad to see we were going down to learn about N'Orlans. He also said he lost his wife and son in Katrina. But then immediately said that many had lost so much more.
July 19th Hope Lutheran St. Charles Mo. (Greg from St. Mark)
July 19th Hope Lutheran St. Charles Mo. (Greg from St. Mark)
Finally on the Road! I don't like all the last minute planning for trips like this so for me the first high point of a trip is the moment the doors close. Then it doesn't matter what you forgot, because the trip has begun. For those of you that got an itinerary from us we really aren't gong to san Antonio, that was 2006. Mostly a road trip today. We had a pleasant surprise when we loaded at Our Saviors, the driver (Rich) was with us when we went to san Antonio in 2006. He's a great guy and good driver so I knew we'd be in good hands. Rich uses a GPS he calls Bertha. The problem with using a GPS, is that you tend to ignore road signs and believe the GPS. Bertha sent us on a few wrong turns. None so far cost us too much, except the tree branches and funny stares from people as we drive through a residential area. We stopped at a park for our first lunch, but we drove through a campground first (bertha). We discovered that Hope had a service at 6:00, so we decided to make it in time to worship with them, but taking 60 people to a rest area, and one "emergency" bathroom break caused us to get to Hope just before 7. Chris (OSLC) had a friend make taco in a bag for us. It was fabulous. Our sleeping quarters were a gym floor. We finished the evening devo and lights were out at 11:30.
Three or four of the boys from OSLC are musicians, and led the music. Lots of fun for me to backup some good players.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Thursday July 23rd. New Orleans!
First off we are all alive and well. We havn't had internet access or time to even post anything.
I've been averageing 4 1/2 to 5 hours of sleep a night, but tomorrow we get to sleep in.
Our days are susposed to start at 6:00 am (earlier if you can' sleep), and end at midnight, or later.
there are lots of stories to tell, and I will try and catch up tomorrow, because tomorrow is an "easy" day.
Greg
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Almost time to GO
We are in the final stages of preparations for our trip to the ELCA National Youth gathering in New Orleans Louisianna. We have three churches St. Mark, Our Saviors, and Christiannia Lutheran traveling together on this adventure.
We hope to post our progress each day on our trip.
Please keep us in your prayers during this time of spiritual growth!
We hope to post our progress each day on our trip.
Please keep us in your prayers during this time of spiritual growth!
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