Monday July 15 - Day 1
Travel Day
Leave Saint Luke at 5:30am -> Arrive in Birmingham Alabama 6:00p.m. We ate breakfast at Cracker Barrel, Dinner at a Mexican Restaurant, and stayed the night at a Fairfield Inn in Birmingham Alabama.
Participant Postings:
the hardest part of the day was trying to stay awake during the road trip to avoid missing out the beautiful view
where I saw God today- during our trip I saw beautiful mountains that God has created
What did I learn about myself today? I learned that I don't have to be afraid of anything, that God is always with me and that he accompanies me to every place I go... that every time I go somewhere I have been afraid that something could happen to me but today God has given me the strength and courage of being who I am
What was difficult about today? take the van and say let's go and be able to bring them without any problem.
What was your favorite part of the day? My favorite part of the day today was the prayers from pastor miller. Why? Because for me getting a blessing before I start a long trip it means that I will have protection from God.
How did today’s events open your mind to something new? * The way that todays event open my mind to something new was that while we where in the car trip I got to interact more with the people in the group in not that I’m not social with people is just that I never be really closed to get to the point to play games and like get to know more of us and today was one of those day where we as a group or a family we are I was able to be more close to people and spend more time get to know more about them and talk about challenges that we have over come in life and that really made me happy because it makes me feel like I’m more q family and that I can have trust in my slushy group …
Where did I see God Today? God creation was all around us in the beautiful mountains, forests, and rivers.
Where did I see God in others today? There was a point in the van ride where many of us were playing the UNO card game. It was in the sound of giggling and laughter, the sounds of joy and true happiness that only can come with the feeling of belonging. Belonging to something bigger than myself. being part of SLSHY, being part of God's creation, being part of church. being loved.
What was the difficult of today? The difficult of today was the air conditioning in the ven. I did not bring any sweater; when I got in the van and been in for a couple hours I start feeling so cold, but I am glad later the air conditioning was not a problem anymore.
What was your favorite part of the day? My favorite part of the day was when we were at the pool I liked being with friends and family enjoying a very cool afternoon after a 10 hour trip
What was your favorite part of the day ? * My favorite part of the day was when we went to the pool ,because when we where in the pool deacon kyle ask us if we have ever swim in holy water and we said no and we prayed and bless the water and also he gave us a little recap when we learn about Moses story in slushy which it really connected to the pool because it talks about when the Jews cross the red sea with Moses,and being at the pool with holy water we blessed makes me feel much better and remembering moses story makes me feel that god is really next to me ….
What have you learned about how others see you? Well, I felt very happy to be able to express what I feel, what I see and what I say. I feel free to say what I feel without anyone criticizing me or seeing my point of view in a bad way. I feel calm when I live with Deacon and Friends, I am very happy to have come on this trip. It is a great experience, crossing states after states, seeing new places, it is something very fun. Thank you Deacon for this experience.
Tuesday July 16 - Day 2
Travel Day and Opening Event
Leave Birmingham Alabama at 8:00am, tour Kelly Ingram Park, Lunch at Apple Bees, Arrive in New Orleans at 4:00p.m. attend opening mass gathering, Spend 30 minutes debriefing and studying the braveness of Philip and the eunuch in Acts8:26-40. Pizza for dinner!
Participant Postings:
What was your favorite part of the day? My favorite part of the day today was being for the first time in the gathering. It was super amazing to begin able to heard those wonderful speakers.
Where did you see God today? I saw God today in the gathering how everyone got together, and everyone’s faith was just amazing witnessing everyone’s love.
My favorite part of the day was when the guy came out in the gathering and made us laugh also the stories we heard and the music!!!
How do you see God working through others today? when I saw the Salvadoran boy talk about his life, knowing how God has prepared a plan for each of us, knowing that if we have God in our hearts there is nothing impossible to feel how God can change life in an instant, now I understand the word "you are not alone." God is with us and that is the greatest work we can see in each one.
Where do you see God today? As soon as I entered Youth Gathering, I felt a strong emotion that I cannot explain, seeing many young people jumping, dancing, seeing those smiles and so excited, it was so beautiful and I just imagined God where I was, in what place I had gotten lost and just today You have me here in front of all this crowd of people, and especially with you, my eyes filled with tears, feeling that great emotion, the chills that I felt in my body, I knew that God was right there with me at that moment. Thank you God
Today was full of travels and getting to know everyone. I enjoyed getting to know other young adults and get settled. My favorite part of the day was the sermon from Dr. Chan. My favorite quote was “you were precious before you had the chance to prove it.”
What emotions were triggered today? Because? I really had too many emotions this day because completing a 15 hour trip I had never done that before I really loved it that was also my first time going to such a big stadium wow it was surprising I loved knowing that I'm really very happy to be able to to be part of this group and to be able to be on this adventure. Thank you Deacon.
when i was listening music during the fieldtrip, I learn something new every single day. like. I have to be prepared for the future and the past is forgotten
Today, I felt inquisitive and was questioning the way I think about faith and worship. The mass gathering was different than other worship or church events I’ve been to. There were a lot of different speakers and especially dr chan stood out to me when he was talking about healing and having to be vulnerable to others to heal. I feel like this resonated with me and made me question the dichotomy between independence and community. It also helped me see more clearly how important it is to open up to people and how it is not a weakness or burden.
-the hardest part of the day was getting all seated in the stadium and walking in and back out but it was all worth it in the end
What was your favorite part of the day?My favorite part of the day I actually have two, I liked it when we went to the Gathering, I really liked the music part, Also the part where we went to tour the Martin Luther King park listening to the story about where everything began to be the same regardless of skin color and being able to enjoy that moment together was fantastic.
-my favorite part of the day was the opening of the gathering, hearing the bands play and hearing all the speakers
What was the difficult of today? The difficult of today is hearing the stories of those people who fought in the civil rights and died for many people. Became of that now all those people have freedom. Few people can make a big change.
What have you learned about yourself today? Today I learned about to not be afraid and be brave that no matter what god loves us ! And something that I can say is is that while we were at the ElCA Gathering there was a speaker that really related to me and what surprised me the most was that he recently graduated high school and he was talking about how when he was little he travel from El Salvador to USA and how brave he and his family where because of all the struggle they went through while they where coming to USA and I can really relate to that ,that had me think how brave we can be when situations like this happen …
In March, I had the opportunity to travel to Alabama and Atlanta with Lutheran Campus Ministry to learn about civil rights and race, throughout history and to the present. We passed through Birmingham today, and stopped for a while at Kelly Ingram Park, across the street from the 16th Street Baptist Church. It's an important Civil Rights site, and I was fortunate enough to be able to share some of what I learned a few months ago with the students. To me it was an important reminder that God puts us in the right place and time to learn, and then to pass along that knowledge to others.
How did today’s events open your mind to something new?* The way todays event open my mind was at the really early morning where Deacon kyle took us to the “Kelly Ingram park “ which it really gave us a really interesting story of how it talk about the civil right ,and how children suffer from getting arrested because they would protesting so they could show the world how they where being treated and it show how this high schoolers kids where really brave and really stood up to show the world how they where being treated this really open my mind because there’s been times that for little things we really be afraid but reading this story and visiting the park made my mind open…
Wednesday July 17 - Day 3
Service Day
Participant Postings:
How did you see God working through others today? I saw God working today with everyone this morning all of us gathering and listening to the stories about what happens in New Orleans and how music is a big impact and how it keeps the kids off the streets. After we went to gather the buckets and we took them to get blessed.
What was your favorite part of the day? My favorite part of the day was getting Anderson to interact and eat. He was being social and it’s a goal for us.
Today was challenging and eye opening but also fun. I found the blue bus inspiring because it showed a way that volunteers go out into the community and try to help even though the problem of homelessness and hunger in New Orleans isn’t simple and doesn’t have a clear solution. I also enjoyed my small group and hearing their insights.
Today was a lot of inspirational speakers and service. We got to serve the homeless through the Kula big blue bus ministry. We spoke to the people and heard there story. The homeless serve through the ministry in addition to being served by the ministry. We got to hear from young adults on representing us in the Lutheran World Federation and other speakers during our big group. Our speakers throughout the day urged us to be our authentic selfs and be “anyways” people. To show up and show out “anyways” despite our challenges.
happy because I'm getting to know places.
every emotions were triggered when hearing each and one of the speakers that were authentic and brave enough to share their story. my favorite part of the day was gathering all together to hear the bands play and being able to hear all the singers and seeing all the dancers, it brings tons of joy and great spirit overall
How has your understanding of God changed today? my understanding of God has. Change I would say a lot because as today in the ElCA Gathering it talk about how god sees everything how good loves you just the way you are no matter what your made how god made you and that really gave me in change because many times we feel insecure about our self and we don’t think about how god just made us the way we are and that we should love our self just the way we are and not care about society or what they say !
What was your favorite part of the day?* my favorite part of the day was hearing the speakers talking about there life and how god is with us at all times
How has your understanding of God changed today? When the day ends and Deacon Kyle brings us together and tells us a story about God, every day he makes us reflect, think that life is not how we want to live that God will open our mind, he makes us think with our hearts that we feel. the love that he does give and we can share with others that we see that no one is better or worse, that we are all equal, that understanding is something that we can have if we have God in our hearts.
Where do you see God today? When the boy spoke about the story of Abraham, I felt how great and powerful God is, knowing that nothing is impossible for him, I saw how he can give you the gift of being a father, I saw how it feels to have his presence. by my side.
How did today's events open your mind to something new?
The stories I received last night were very nice. I liked that they talked about how we have to accept ourselves for who we are, that we must show people who we really are and where we come from. We have to accept that God created us in his likeness and not No matter what we are, God will always love us no matter how we are, we are all his children and he loves us.
That no matter what we are or where we are from, God always receives us and works on each life in different ways. We see how God manifests himself in our lives day by day and that is very beautiful to see God's love for us and that is a clear example that if God loves us no matter who we are...
Where did you see God today? Today I saw God during the transgender girl speaker. I was really impressed to heard her story, also what really got my attention it was when she was explaining story of this Ethiopian; in other words how all the movement of Christianity it expended to western. It really show us base on those stories how much God love us, no matter who you are or what you have done. He will always love you.
What have you learned about your self today?What I have learned about myself today is to be strong anyway.Last speaker was very powerful speaker. When she was telling us that she lose her husband in a very happy moment; it was a moment that was not easy. During the time she mentioned that God change her life. This making me think that everything in this life that happened and no matter if those are important people have a purpose, and as she said we have to be ourselves anyway.
Thursday July 18 - Day 4
Synod Day
Participant Postings:
Describe today in as few words as possible? Amazing!!! We were all connected and enjoyed everything today we fulfilled our goal to get seats close by and it was so great for us to be able to enjoy gathering and watch out faith grow and for us to learn more.
How has your view of others changed today? Well, we must respect each other to be able to move forward, be good people, give examples to the world, show how the love of God works on each one and demonstrate that God is great and that He can change your life if one day you find yourself in a moment where you do not believe. There is a way out, look for God and you will see how wonderful God is and works in you.
Where did you see God today? I saw God through the word God is so wonderful he gives us his love no matter what we are like with others God loves us in the same way God is our father and he will never abandon us at any time, God gives us strong tests but he will always be with us supporting us because the love of God is inexplicable, it is too great to be able to define it.
What have you learned about yourself today?I learned so much in my faith, healing and learning. Being able to be grateful to experience this opportunity with everyone. I enjoyed the 15 minutes we have because it teaches me more and I enjoy it. I feel like God brought me to come to experience this.
I really liked the workshops about peacebuilding in the LWF and how the ELCA works towards climate justice. I saw how God is calling people to do this work in both the LWF and ELCA. I also saw God in the song So Will I because I find that music is where I really feel God. The lyrics stood out to me, making me think about how God is present even in the stars. Overall, I really felt connected to God during mass gathering because of this song and the beautiful dancing that accompanied it.
the hardest part of the day was having to go back to the hotel room from having so much fun.
once again the speakers triggered many emotions with their amazing and inspiring stories, the dancers were great and i absolutely loved it
today we got to experience service learning in addition to our workshops! I particularly enjoyed learning more about the Lutheran World Federation and peace building, as well as community organizing
What was your favorite part of the day? listening to a part of the Bible every day, and feeling that voice that God is speaking to you, and to say Thank you God, for today, for the happy moments that you have listening to your word, thank you for the immense love that you give us, thank you for the good that you gave me and that you always give me every day
How do you see God working through others today? When we were gathered at dinner, Deacon Kyle began to talk, seeing how God gives him wisdom, how he has that gift of being able to reach the heart of each of us, seeing the great works that he does towards him, God bless him and may he always May he be so blessed with the gifts that God has placed upon him, amen..
Where did you see God today? Today I saw that god was with me and I say this because todays we had a worship and it was so wonderful and lovely really loved the way they did the worship that make see god today and also seeing our group being active and really enjoy the worship service
What was your favorite part of the day? I just didn’t have one favorite part of the day i really had 2 favorite part and one of them was that we got our seat so close to the stage and it was really amazing because with other 16,000 other people is hard to get seat really close to stage and also the other part that was really my favorite was when we had the final 15 with Deacon kyle where he gave us a recap of today theme in the gathering but also it was a theme that we had discussed in our slushy group with deacon and so it made me feel as we home the way we feel when we have our slushy session.
How did today’s event open your mind to something new? Well the event did not open my mind to something new today, but it makes me reminder of who I was and who I have become. When one of those speaker of today was talking about her sexuality and not being accepting because of her sexuality, I felt bad at that moment because I used to be one of those person who used to hate peoples who have different sexuality but at the same time I feel happy because God have changed me already the point that I love anyone, no matter who you are. We are equal. Those speaker teach me again that God love anyone and no matter what is your past. God always will be with you until you become the person he wants to.
Did you meet someone new today? Yes I did, I met two people from Puerto Rico and I also got the chance to see again two of my friends from Puerto Rico that I meet two years ago during humble walk trip.
Friday July 19 - Day 5
Interactive Learning Day
Participant Postings:
What emotions were triggered today? Why?The emotions that were triggered today was being emotional. The stories about all of the speakers and what they went through. How they overcame all of their hardships. I felt so content to see how they never lost their faith.
What was your favorite part of the day? My favorite part of today was everything! Being able to interact with people from different states and who believe in God just as much as I do! I don’t feel alone. I loved finding people who live in Maryland also! Also, tonights gathering was just amazing! The music, that faith, and the love! How you can feel everyone love for God the stories. I’m really sad tonight is the last night but I’m so happy I was about to come here and experience this and can’t wait to come back!
today opened my mind up in so many ways especially after hearing the differences and disruptive moments others have experienced, hearing these experiences others have encountered in life just makes me realize how much God works in other people’s lives no matter what situation they find themselves in
my favorite part of the day was hearing the singers and the beautiful dances we saw once again, the speakers were amazing as always
Everybody who told interesting stories in gathering like things that happen in their lives
I feel excited because I trying to be happy every single day when i play some sports. God's alway resolve our problems
How has your understanding of God changed today? Well I really like the speaker of today because I really like one part of her speech. That one was when she said God will always love you when you do bad things. That makes me remind me when I was in others domination; when I was part of those domination they were always telling me if I do bad things, I am sining and I might go to hell. In others, I did not have peace back to those days. The point all of this that I was able to understand that God was with me during those hard times.
Did you meet someone new today? Yes I did. I meet someone today from Ohio and it was very interesting because this person happed the same as me that we couldn’t come last time because of Coronavirus. Anyway, it was so cool to heard from him how happy he was to be here for the first time. So I told him, I can also say the same because this has changed my life in many ways, for instance how to see other and how to see this new society and the problems of this world.
My response for today is that got to learn a lot and experience prayer in different languages. I also felt moved by the perspective of the first female pastor in Palestine. She was incredibly inspiring
How did today's events open your mind to something new? to differentiate what is good and what is bad, sometimes we make the mistake of judging a person by their appearance, we do not think about the damage we can cause, when I heard the biblical story of the woman at the well, I understood that For God, it does not matter who you are or where you come from, for him you only need to be humble, have your heart full of love, love your neighbor and above all love yourself so that you can love others without harm and without evil, God He has called you to be a good person, someone so that on earth you bring peace and not war, God loves you and does not leave you alone, I understood that I should not look at the defects of others without first putting my own into practice.
What was your favorite part of the day... knowing that the young people had fun, that God made a miracle that they could come on the trip without any problem, and that each of them God gives them wisdom, purpose and goals so that they can be healthy children and fun... seeing them happy is the most favorite part of the day
Today I listened to one of the speakers talk about their experience at a church that first excluded them from leading a bible study and then from the church entirely because they are queer. This made me feel indignant and also made me question how the church can find compromise and peace without excluding people. I also felt these emotions at some of the other speakers and was able to talk about it in my small group.