We Are Home!

We are home!  Thank you for following our blog while we were in New Orleans! 

Thanks for your support, prayers, and love that you gave to our team that went on this trip.  Lives were changed and everyone had a blast and more importantly GOD MOVED!

 Look in the worship folder for a date when participants will be sharing in worship their experiences with the congregation. 

Thanks again for following our blog. 

God Bless

On our way home

We are now on our way home. Its unbelievable how quickly this trip went.  Youth grew in their faith, built lasting relationships with one another, and had a BLAST.

We learned the importance of taking risks for Christ, to openly talk about our faith with one another and friends at school, and to know that Christ has created us with a specific gifts and a calling that is specific for each person. 

At the closing superdome last night we were reminded that we can do nothing that will separate us from the love of Christ. "Neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Ephesians 8:38-39

We were able to get on the floor last night at the superdome and had great seats for the performance of Switchfoot. Switchfoot was a highlight for many on the trip.

New Orleans is a beautiful city with beautiful city.  We experienced being welcomed and thanked multiple times for being in New Orleans.  But there is still raw wounds still open from Hurricane Katrina. A lot of people who are experiencing homelessness, and men and women are being objectified on Bourbon Street.   In scripture Jesus was constantly teaching about serving those who are different then us, and tearing down the walls that remain between us. 

We were reminded through the theme of the gathering that we are Citizens with the saints. 
"For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came to preach peach peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.  For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father." Ephesians 2:14-18

Needless to say God did big things on this trip! We can't wait to share more stories, and pictures from our trip. 

Thank you for following our blog.  Our prayer is that through reading about our experiences you grew in your walk with the Lord as well. 

May the Lord bless you and keep you. 

Day 5: Practice Discipleship

This morning we gathered with our St. Paul synod and learned what it means to be a disciple.  We gathered into worship which was lead by our very own Drew Jonell, Cooper Dillon, and two youth from King of King's.  They did an awesome job! In order to learn to be a disciple the youth went to various stations that they learned what it meant to study, worship, pray, and serve.  This was a time for our own participants to mingle with other youth from our synod.  They made new friends and new connections. 

Its unbelievable that today is our last full day.  This trip has been an amazing and God has shown up in BIG ways.  We can not wait to share pictures and testimonies with you when we return.  Enjoy some of the photos we have taken so far.

God Bless You! 

We stopped in St. Louis at the Arch on the way to New Orleans.

Getting ready to go to the top of the arch!  Smiles all around. 

Brad Pitt donated financially to help rebuild homes from Hurricane Katrina.  This house is built to float on water. 

French Quarter

The big cross in the superdome!

Its time for skit in a bag.

Lunch at Daisy Dukes on Saturday

Day 4 and 5

Let it Rain, Let it Rain, Let it Rain

The Youth Gathering has officially started!  Wow, what a sight to see 39,000 youth together worshiping Christ in the same area.  We have taken over the city.  Wednesday evening Reverend Nadia Bolz-Weber shared her story with us as the Youth Gathering was kicked off.  She is a women who grew up in the church,   lost herself to drugs and alcohol.  In the process she was becoming numb to who she was and where her identity lay.  She has tattoos up and down her arm, and could say she does not fit the typical image of the church.  After becoming sober, and seeking Christ as she was, and meeting her husband she felt a calling to plant a church that welcomed a diversity of people.  Her path to God was made with struggles and falling on her face and in the midst of it God picked her up and showered her with His grace and love.  She reminded us it is ok to be different.  God has created with different gifts and passions and those things make us who we are.  

 On Thursday we learned what it means to be a peacemaker.  How do we resolve peace? How do we make peace in the name of Jesus?  Shane Claiborne shared with us stories of how he has made peace in our world.  He has worked with Mother Thersea in Calcutta and spent time in Iraq with Iraqi Christens.  He is an example of someone that goes out of his comfort zone to love God's people.  What an inspiration to our youth and our adults on the trip.  He makes us want to be risk takers to make a difference and to make a change.  

Youth have been enjoying the different activities in the convention center.  There is bumper cars, dodge ball, sports, artistic expression, jumpity jumps, and a ton of other activities as well. We have been talking about how to serve the homeless and how to love them like Jesus would when we approach people who are experiencing homelessness on the streets of New Orleans.  We have been talking about how to break down the walls with people who are different then ourselves and to be united with one another. 

Today, we are practicing Justice and serving the community of New Orleans.  It will be a surprise to all of us on how we will be serving.  Please pray for us that it will not rain! It has been raining a lot and we have been drenched multiple times!!!!!   But it has been fun and a part of the experience.  Thats all for now.  Check back later in the coming days for another post.  :) 

God bless you and cant wait to see you all when we return.  

Wednesday July 18

We've been having a great time here in New Orleans! Today we went on a tour of the city as well as some of the other Wards.  The Ninth ward was the one hit by Katrina the hardest, we got to see the newly built homes and other saftey precautions that were put up following the hurricane. We also toured the French Market and got some great shopping in! For lunch we went to fantastic seafood restaurant, Oceana. Tonight we are excited for the kickoff of the Youth Gathering at the Super Dome!

Dear God, we thank you for all of the awesome experiences that we are having here in New Orleans.  Thank for watching over us in our travels.  We pray that you continue to work in our hearts as we grow closer to you at the Gathering.  Amen

Written by Grace Donvon

Day 1: Monday

1150 miles yet to go!  First two and a half hours we were full of energy!  We played "worst case scenario" and made friendship bracelets.  We are now watching the Dark Knight and things have quieted down. We are now anticipating our arrival in St. Louis and can't wait to go to the top of the Arch.  More later! 

From the awesome leader's, Janice and Hannah

 

Resurrection is ready with lots of smiling faces! 

We are ready to go!

Citizens with the Saints

Meet our Participants from Resurrection...

Drew Jonell

I am going on this trip to get more connected in my relationship with God and to find where I stand in my faith.  I am also passionate about photography and look forward to taking some pictures while we are in New Orleans.  


Again Jesus spoke to them saying, " I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."    John 8:12

Grace Donovan
 I feel that this will be a great trip and experience with friends.  Hoping God    will work through me to help others and maybe help me to grow in the     process.  I look at it as a opportunity to get closer to God and want to meet others that want to do the same. 

"I love her smile.  I love her ways.  I love to hear her laugh.  And    the silly things she says and does.  She brings Me great pleasure...this is how I made her." Psalm 139:17 

Cooper Dillon

 I went on the mission trip last summer going to South Dakota and it changed my faith in many ways.  I got a lot closer to not only God, but all of the other youth that were on the trip.  I hope that it will get me even closer to God than I already am.  I also hope that I will meet a bunch of new people who are similar in faith but have different experiences.  It will be interesting and emotional to see up close how devastating a hurricane can be.  

"If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too.  Romans 14:18

Jamie Humphries

I really wanted to be involved in this trip because I have never done something like this through church.  I have never been on a mission trip and really wanted to serve through the church.  I have gone to Camp WAPO multiple times and I love doing events and camps through the church.  I am very excited for this trip and am excited to help and meet new people along  with having a great time with my church and many others.


"In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "  Acts 20:35

Nate  Jorenby

I am excited to go on this this trip because I want to grow in my faith and help others to grow in their faith.  I also think it will be fun to do a service project, and get to work with other kids from Resurrection.

 “For God so loved the world,  that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16





Meg Graupman

I look forward to the opportunity to participate in the New Orleans mission trip.  I hope I am able to experience new things, help many people, and grow as a person as well as my faith.


"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity."  1 Timothy 4:12

Ryan Garbe

 I am excited for the New Orleans trip; for the opportunity to learn about others, to help many people, and to grow closer to God.  I hope to make this trip an experience that I will never forget!

Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:7


Garth Natwick

I am excited to attend the ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans.  I look forward to seeing new places on the ride out and meeting new people.  One reason why I wanted to go on this trip was to have another opportunity to grow in my faith.  Another reason is to be able to help the people in New Orleans who need help due to the hurricane damage.  I enjoy being able to help others in need.

 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight..   Proverbs 3:5-6

Thank you for your prayers and support as we go on our ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans.  We are anxious to share what we are learning and how we are growing in our faith.  Continue to return to our blog and you will find stories, prayers, and experiences from our participants.