Travel Update - Travel Completed

July 27, 2009

As many of you already know, we have returned to Fresno and arrived safely.  With two teammates leaving us to head to South Dakota for a National Softball Tournament and another leaving the Superdome in New Orleans on a bus for Hattiesburg, Mississippi and additional days of meetings and assembly together with other leaders from other Lutheran Youth Organization, the 22 of us returned together on Sunday night.  We were greeted with many hugs, smiles and warm embraces.  We are glad to be home.

As many of you noticed, our updates to this blog have been lacking in recent days.  This has been due, in most party, to fatigue.  While I’ve done my best to serve as an adequate leader/coordinator for this trip, I do have limited resources (and I got tired).

The last days of our trip were exciting and fun.  Our team especially enjoyed our time at Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World, where we had the opportunity to “serve” by hearing the heart and passion of New Orleanians for this holiday that is often misunderstood and misinterpretted.  It was great to learn and experience this passion and we have been sent back to tell you that Mardi Gras is about much more than partying and wild frivolity.

 

Please see below for some reflections by students and some additional pictures.

Andrew

The past day was truly amazing, seeing the talent and creativity it takes to carve a Mardi Gras prop is truly fantastic.  My inner-designer came out of me once I was given an idea for the miniature float we had to make, and thank you to everyone who worked with me.

Another thing…nothing can describe the feeling of doing a dance with your friends.  These are the moments you always remember for the next year to 80 years.

Brenna

July 24 – Not many people I know can say that they’ve had their 17^th b-day in New Orleans, but now I can.  I want to thank the whole group for truly making this the best b-day ever.  I had an amazing  (and at times embarrassing!) day.  We also completed our service project, which was a tour of Mardi Gras World and learning the story and culture behind the party reputation, that this religious holiday has.  At the end we even got to build our own floats!  That night at the Superdome, the House Band played “Amazing Grace” and it was overwhelming.  The sound of 37,000 voices swelled, filling the Dome, all singing the same song.  That night at Team Worship was one of the most intense I have ever experienced.  We sang “Prince of Peace,” which is a very special song to me and carries many memories.  We began sharing our experiences of the week and what had affected us the most and many of us broke down in tears.

My overall feeling throughout the entire week has been thankfulness for this group.  When I look around at everyone gathered together, my heart is so full.

 

 

 

Touring Mardi Gras World

 

 

 

 

 

We were looking good!

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had fun trying our hand at making some “mini-floats.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our team!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Passing out In-N-Out hats was well received by many!

 

 

 

 

Thanks for all of your support, encouragement and prayers and please be sure to join us at Hope for worship this Sunday as we will share more images and reflections on our experience in New Orleans.

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