We're getting ready to head home!!  Last leg of this wonderful and challenging journey.   We're hoping to be back home sometime between 5:30 to 7pm depending on how long they take to eat and the always wonderful construction areas that remain between us and our own beds!

I would like to ask that anyone's kids that took pictures if you could contact me at agh3@agh3.com to arrange the church getting copies of the pictures so we can all share in the memories.

I'll post something more 'thoughtful' after we get home because it's time to roust them all from the comfy Confort Inn beds, eat, morning devotions and then "On The Road Again....!!"

Sorry I haven't posted anything since the 17th.  We've had a crazy-busy couple of days and I had just enough energy at the end of the days to get the pictures posted and started writing blog posts..but fell asleep at the laptop.

We're at the end of Day #6 and this has been an interesting experience.  For me, personally, it's not quite what I was expecting, but I'm getting something else that is equally as important I believe (which coincidentally is the theme of the whole conference, We Believe).

Todd, Ed, and I are all getting to know the kids better and they're such unique individuals and it's been rewarding learning more about them.  I still have some that I want to connect with over the remaining days.

At our morning devotions, Kari has had Ed and I share our faith story with the kids and where we came from and where we think we are now.  We hope the kids heard something they can relate to.  I know making us think about what we'd say forces us to give it more concious thought then we normally would..which helps us just as much as it does the kids.   I've posted some pictures of our devotions..they're always ending on a funny note of Kari throwing snacks at the kids for them to carry with them so that they'll have something to eat handy.  She'll make a good pitcher on a church softball team should we start one.  Many of the kids (and adults) could use some catching practice though.

The daily sessions we're all attending have been on various topics.  Some of them are good..some not so good (the speaker didn't really talk about the topic described).  There are some fabulous speakers though that give a great message that I hope is getting through to the kids.

I hope you've been watching the live streaming of the Mass Events from 7:30pm-10pm each night at www.lcmsgathering.com.  The message and skits are moving, funny, entertaining and at least make me think about a lot of things about my faith.  I watched the streaming version tonight as I was just too beat to walk and fight the crowd tonight and Kari let the kids take the night off to swim and have some down time (they're exhausted too!).  You don't quite get the magnitude of the number of people there and deep booms and beats of the drums that really get you worked up.  But it is a good way to at least get a feel for the messages the kids are getting during the days.

Tomorrow is the last full day of sessions and then the Mass Event with full service.  Then we have to start packing up so that we can load the vans on Wednesday morning by 7am, go to the closing ceremony, and then hit the road back home. 

I didn't have any picture opportunities today so no new photos.  If anything happens tomorrow, I'll post some new pictures in the evening.

Thanks for the prayers for everyone here.  We pray God continues to bless us and this event and will keep us safe the rest of the trip.

God IS Awesome!

(PS:  Please, go to www.lcmsgathering.com tonight at 8pm and watch the service streaming live!!)

(I'm moving my journal from FaceBook to the main church website so everyone can follow along.  I've copied my original postings prior to this one.  I'll try to post a couple times a day with events and updates.  Pictures will be posted online usually late in the evenings so please make sure to check my photo page many times throughout the trip!!!!)

What an interesting day!  While we waited for our tables at Hard Rock Cafe (1.5 hours) we went with Brett who took 2 cardinals as memorials for his late grandparents.  He picked out a nice place along the river walk to place the memorials and we said a little prayer and some quiet time.  Then we went back to Hard Rock and had a great dinner (and got the whole restaurant to shout Happy Birthday to Amber).  Then we took the kids to Bourbon Street and walked them down so they could experience the atmosphere under adult supervision.  Quite interesting (my 1st time on Bourbon St too).  We think it made an impact on the kids.  By then it was pretty late so we came back to the hotel, let the kids run around for a bit then had our evening devotions and next day planning.  Kari's taking it all in stride and managing through the hiccups that are always bound to occur with endeavours such as this.

The kids are doing great and appear to be learning more about each other.  Amazing that they've "known" each other for years but didn't really.  Todd, Ed, and I are really enjoying getting to know the kids much better.  They're starting to actually 'talk' to us more and I hope we're not seen as the 'old guys' from church.  I'm enjoying learning where they're at in the beliefs and I'm praying this event will help them build a solid foundation in their faith, boosting the lessons that Pastor Klima, Pastor Bellas, and Kari have been instilling in them over their earlier years.

God is Awesome!

We arrived around 11:30 today. got into the hotel then went & registered at the convention center. Let the kids swim and now we're @ The Hard Rock Cafe waiting on our food. Lots of fun so far.

Day #3 and we're on the final 100 miles to NOLA! We had a nice brkfst and then morning devotions. I think the kids starting to get alonng better..I just pray we all keep our patience with each other!

We've arrived in McComb, Mississippi safe and sound. Most of the kids are now swimming in the outdoor pool. Then we're heading to Golden Corral for massive scarfing downage of foodstuffs. We're just 110 minutes away from our hotel in NOLA so we don't have to get up at the crack of dawn tomorrow. Thanks to God for watching over our group!

started the morning in MO, been through TN, and now in MS. Starting to cloud up a bit..but thank goodness for good A/C!

Hope's New Orleans Youth Gathering Update: On the road for almost 2 hours..we've just passed UofI exit on I57. 66 Miles to Effingham! Kids are still playing nice.