Monday, July 19, 2010

monday

Hi Royal Redeemer Family!!This is our first blog from NOLA - which is a good indication that we are having a BLAST!!!We arrived Saturday afternoon after spending a few hours on the bus - it was a great opportunity to meet new friends from the Ohio District. Our bus drivers, Lonnie, and Jack kept us safe and sound:):)The Opening Mass was AMAZING!! fireworks, songs of praise, shouting, dancing, 25,000 participants - awe-inspiring.We can't wait to tell you more about yesterday's Servant experience where we, along with 200 others helped clear out an brush/debris left over from Hurricane Katrina. Our eyes have been opened to the huge need that still exists here. You would be so proud of our teens; they worked through rain and broken tools, and dirt, and kept going!! It was a life-long lesson in being a part of something bigger than ourselves - a link in the chain...After showers, and a 20 minute "power rest" at the hotel, we were back to the Convention Center (which is 3/4 mile longggggg - really!) to see Echelon and the Jesus Painter in the same venue of 5000. - WOW!! some said it was thier favorite part of the day.Then, off to dinner (boy, were we hungry!) on our way back to the Superdome (a one mile walk - did I mention these youth are troopers?!?!) - for another Mass Event with such meaningful speakers, skits, performances, and powerful messages. Ask our teens about it when we return!Today has been Bible Study and a morning of bungee games, rock climbing, group games... they are just fininshing up as I write this text. So, we're off to lunch..... then, off to speakers, concerts, a New Orleans style dinner. and, tonight, we will be on the Riverboat, Nanchetz, with about 440 of our closest friends from Ohio and Michigan.this event is a life-long experience. More than one of our teens have said they feel closer to God than ever before.We are blessed beyond measure. God Is Good, All the Time!!!!Peace! Ike, Daniel, AndreaPS - not sure when our next blog will be but we'll try to add pics then...