Day Three Highlights • 2012 ELCA National Youth Gathering

 –        New Orleans is HOT!

–        New Orleans is HUMID!

–        New Orleans is FUN!

–        We started the day at the Audubon Zoo followed by an unexpected bus ride through the French Quarter and a quick stop at the Aquarium.

–        Lunch at the Zoo

–        Supper at Champions Square outside of the Superdome (aka Lutherdome this week)

–        Opening night of the Gathering in the dome.

–        The gathering band rocks!

–        AGAPE is a great rapper

–        Rachel Kurtz’s song “Make a Difference” works for the music on our videos and as the theme song for the gathering. Cool, right?!

–        Bishop Mark Hanson got us ready to go

–        Pastor Yehiel Curry stirred the pot of gumbo that includes all of God’s children

–        Bishop Michael Rinehart welcomed us to the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod of the ELCA – our host synod

–        Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber helped us remember what being a Lutheran is all about

–        It rained and rained and we couldn’t leave the Lutherdome for a while

–        Eventually we left, even though it was still raining, and sang all the way to the hotel

–        We ordered pizza for a bedtime snack

–        We shared a time of devotion and Centering Prayer. Check out this link if you’d like to join us in devotion time http://www.elca.org/ELCA/Youth-Gathering/Questions-Answers-Resources/Downloads.aspx. The devotions begin on page 44 of the guidebook and we will be doing them each night at 11:00 p.m.

–        Tomorrow is “Practice Justice” day

Click here to see a short video highlighting our day – http://youtu.be/xB2sozYQ8f0

Day Two Highlights • 2012 ELCA National Youth Gathering

 –        St. Louis to Memphis to Jackson to New Orleans – almost all of it in the dark.

–        Great day at Six Flags Over St. Louis yesterday!

–        Brunch at iHop – a New Orleans original.

–        Swamp Tour in Slidell, Louisiana with Brutus – our new alligator friend

–        Training for Mike, Kjersti, and Pastor Craig at the New Orleans Convention Center

–        Registration done, let the gathering begin!

–        Supper at Emeril’s New Orleans – Emeril Lagasse’s original restaurant – one word “AMAZING!”

–        First “official” team meeting in Mike’s room to set the stage for the beginning of the gathering tomorrow afternoon.

–        We sleep in on Wednesday and head to the zoo and aquarium about 10:00 a.m.

–        Good night y’all!

Click here for a short video hightlight of our day –

http://youtu.be/U5S67yClV7A