Our Practice Discipleship day began a little later this morning and the youth got to sleep in until 7:30 or so. As we traveled, with the entire synod (all in the our hotel) it was a flow of different colored shirts towards the Sheraton Hotel...getting out of the hotel this morning was the adventure...ours took us down some back stairs, through the loading dock, into the main area of the hotel...you should of seen the people on the dock look when we came cruising. :)
We had our meeting on the 5th floor and it began with a worship service that Anna participated in. As we were entering, I got recruited for small group leader and the morning began. Our SE Mn Bishop, Harold "Huck" Usgaard, gave a very powerful message to our youth and really made us think about what discipleship really means. We then broke off into our small groups for a series of excercise and bible reading to discuss the areas of discipleship: Study, Invite, Encourage, Serve, Give, Pray, Worship, .... all related to discipleship and our faith. We then were to head out for the day.... scavenger hunt in the city... but the rain has everything for us on hold. As I am writing this, a few of us our hanging out in the hotel and a few are heading out for some shopping and a visit to a Mardi Gras Shop. New Orleans is currently in a Flash Flood Warning until midnight tonight...some reports indicating 4-6 inches of rain before it is done...could make for an interesting night.
The evening dome event allowed us the opportunity to sit on the main floor. Our seats were not as good as opening night, but were still very good! The music tonight was incredible...an old favorite, Lost and Found opened the evening and they are always fun. Then Rehman Soul took the stage and their music was incredible. Many of our young ones, including Anna headed to the front by the stage to rock with them. For as excited as they got tonight, I can not imagine what will happen tomorrow night with Switchfoot!
The opening speaker tonight, Jamie Nabozny spoke about harrasement by classmates when a school system when the school did nothing to help him. Jamie sued the school district for failure to stop the harassment and won a landmark case! His message on bullying was unbelievable. He talked about the pain he suffered in the school, initially verbal abuse in 7th grade and by his junior year in high school it became physical. He was told by the principle: " If you are going to be openly gay, you better get use to it." His message meant a lot to some of our youth who had studied his documentary.
Then Diane Latiker spoke about gang violence in Chicago...she took kids off the streets to minister to them to stop the gang violence and give them a purpose in life. There were as many as 75 kids at her home at one time and she made a real difference in so many lives.
Finally, the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize receipient, Leymah Gbowee spoke with a little humor and challenged us to use our gifts to make a better world. Each of our kids were touched by one or more of the speakers and this was the highlight for many of them.
Our evening concluded once again at the Sheraton.... it was a DRY walk with no more rain falling at the present time....it was another very good day and we look forward tomorrow as we Practice Peace Keeping and the Interaction Center...should be an amazing, God-filled day!
Good Night From New Orleans.... hoping tomorrow is a dry day!
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