Today we went and did interactive learning. Interactive learning is different fun activities . My favorite part of that was the hammock village. The hammock village is a relaxing place.
After, we went to the mass cast practice for tonight’s show. We got to help with one of the songs. Some of us were holding mirrors and some of us were waves. I just liked the speakers at tonight’s mass gathering . They all inspired me in different ways. One of the speakers was 19 years old and inspired me to have more self confidence. - Megan F.
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Today in Houston we started our day early by going to the community life center. This center had a lot of cool activities to participate in, the first one I did was donate my hair. Something I was quite nervous but also very excited for. I ended up loving the result and am happy that I could help someone in need.
After I had finished that, some of my friends and I went to the ball pit, which was a flamingo floatie filled with little balls you sat in and there was a ball with questions on it that you could throw around to the people in there, which let us make some new friends. After that we did bumper cars and saw some cool stuff about racial equality and LGBTQ pride. Throughout the day we also saw some friends from synod events, which is always fun and it was all in all a great morning. -Karen K. After a long day of travel that ended this morning local time, we arose at varying hours and levels of consciousness this morning. Some popular morning activities included using the pool and gym, as well as watching the final round of group matches for the World Cup. The reigning champions, Germany, was knocked out of the tournament, much to the chagrin of the Williams boys. We also finished work on our mini crosses we are clipping to fellow participants and field tested them at the mass gathering in the evening. However, before the Gathering officially began, we attended an Astros game against the Toronto Blue Jays, which was explosive in the first inning, then slowed, and finished with a bang. After the game, we took the train from the ballpark to NRG Stadium, the home of the Houston Texans. In the stadium we enjoyed a combination of live music, pyrotechnics, and thoughtful speakers. The program wrapped up around 10 P.M., upon which we tried to get back to the hotel via train, but ended up taking a bus instead. we now look forward to our first full day of the gathering and the fun it will bring.
-Eric W. Yesterday we got into Houston around 2:00 in the morning. The flight was really nice and calming for me because I had a window seat and I watched lightning outside my window. Going to the hotel I was lucky enough to have Wade in the same car as me and have him sing every song on his playlist on our 30 minute drive to the hotel.
When we got to the hotel it was really big. The elevators have glass idols to look out into the hotel or out onto the garden across the street. Surprisingly me and everyone in my room slept really well, but when we woke up in the morning we realized our door doesn't like to close, but thankfully someone in our room decided to turn the lock on the door. I think around 2:30-3:00 everyone was hopefully asleep. -Emily V It's hard to believe that this is the day. The day we have been waiting for since we left Detroit three years ago. The day we have been working toward all year with extra team building, extra service learning and over the top fundraising. The day that God has prepared us for in advance. It is here! It is here and we are filled to the brim with emotions of all sorts ~ excitement, anticipation, exhaustion, apprehension, fear, anxiety, joy, hope, and wonder.
What is it that God has so lovingly prepared us for? Will we know it when we see it? When we hear it? When we meet him or her? Will we be awake enough to hear the good news? Brave enough to cross over our comfort line? Willing enough to speak truth? Loving enough to listen? Will we be changed once we return? Will we shine through our exhaustion? Will we be closer to one another after this shared experience? And exactly what will we do on our service day? The ELCA does an amazing job preparing and training us for this week but the one thing they keep under wraps is where it is we will be serving. This is kept a surprise until we are all loaded up on the bus and heading out. It is then and only then that we will know exactly where it is we will be accompanying others in the amazing city of Houston. This list of where we could land this year is as big as Houston itself. It ranges from hurricane cleanup, to pet rescue, to human trafficking awareness, to book fairs, to park beautification and that is honestly, just to name a few. Regardless of the where, we can't wait to share with you just how God stretched us and grew us and filled us, all the while using us to share His amazing grace and Her unconditional love through all the varying gifts we bring. Yes indeed. This Changes Everything! As we prepare for the gathering each time we go, we inevitably have questions about why we go in the first place. It's an expensive experience, after all, and there are plenty of other ways the church can be engaged in learning and service that are a heck of a lot cheaper. And yet, this is one a few experiences that give a glimpse of what the wider church looks like. The opportunity to worship and fellowship with 30,000 other people from across the ELCA is something that isn't experienced in other ways. If you have the time, take a look at Is it Worth It?, a blog post by Jennifer Shimota Krushas, an ELCA pastor. She describes the impact the National Youth Gathering has on young people. She writes: They will experience the Lutheran Church in a way that many of them never have before. They’ll see how big it is. That their congregation of 50 is part of something so alive and enormous, something that is big enough to say, “Let’s raise a million dollars to dig wells, so God’s children can drink clean water.” And then watch as a million dollars rolls in. That their little Trinity Lutheran in rural Iowa is a part of something so alive and intentional about bringing resurrection life everywhere that their 30 books are stacked on another congregation’s 25 books and the stacks grow until there are semi-trucks filled with books driving toward Houston, so that every child in a huge city can have a leg-up in literacy. The National Youth Gathering gives us all a chance to be part of something bigger. It allows us to see the many ways God is active and working in the world. Through worship and learning, playing and serving, we get to know what it's like to be part of the larger body of Christ. We discover new things about ourselves and see one another in new ways. Jennifer Shimota Krushas concludes: So, here’s the thing: Our kids will tell the story of the church. They will. And the same is true for our little group from Charlottesville. In the big and little things, we will learn about and experience God's love that changes everything. This experience will have a lasting impact on the youth and adults we send to Houston, changing them and changing the world. And that seems more than worth it.
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Peace Lutheran YouthMiddle School Youth Group (grades 6-8) and a High School Youth Group (grades 9-12) meet weekly and also participate in Virginia Synod and ELCA youth events. Our youth are a vital part of Peace and we welcome all to join us! ArchivesCategories |