If you're looking for information on our trip to the Youth Gathering in New Orleans you are in the right place!  We leave at 7:30 am Saturday morning!  If you'd like to come pray with us before we leave please be in the church parking lot by 7:25am. 

You can track our planes in the air at Flight Aware.  We are flying Southwest.  Our flight numbers are 3088 from Indianapolis to Tampa, Florida, then 930 from Tampa to New Orleans.  Coming home 764 New Orleans to Orlando, and 1165 from Orlando back to Indianapolis.

Saturday
We had a nice flight experience.  The flight from Tampa to New Orleans was almost all Gathering participants.  We faced a few challenges in our new surroundings.  We saw some sights of the city, a bit shocking for this group of small town kids and adults.  The Mass Event was an amazing experience.

Sunday
We enjoyed our free hot breakfast first thing in the morning.  We then made the treck over to the convention center.  We picked up our t-shirts, backpacks, and  schedules.  Then we headed off to our Bible study for the LIVE track.  After Bible study we went to the LIVE area and then the Commons area.  In the Commons area the kids walked around and signed up for some free stuff.  The "flyers" that they picked up worked well for hats when we got caught in the rain on our way back to the hotel.  The food is pretty expensive please send SWEET CORN! :)  Rest in the hotel before the evening's Mass Event.  We had our "family time" and got caught up on handing out the notes.  (Morning was pretty hectic.)  The kids are really looking forward to receiving them.  Then we headed out to the SUPER DOME for the Mass Event.  The Jesus Painter, Brock Gill (Illusionist), and the Skit Guys were amazing entertainment.  The evening's speaker Kellie Stocker (I think) spoke about losing her 18 year old daughter in a car accient and that everything in her faith journey was there to prepare her for the tragedy.  After the Mass Event we went back to the hotel and tried to decide what to get to eat.  After the "adventure" on Saturday we decided to order in.  We had some yummy pizza and called it a night.

Monday
Today we got up and had breakfast.  We took some bagels and dry cereal with us to snack on at the Convention Center.  We were able take a short cut today.  We can walk through this small business area that is only open during the week.  It took us 29 min and 38 seconds to make it to our Bible study.  About 4 minutes of that was inside the convention center.  Our Track for the day was LOOK.  We continued our Bible study in John.  Then we went through the LOOK room for a while.  The kids went to a session at noon about marriage and the holy union that it should be.  After the session we worked together to do a scavenger hunt in the LOOK area.  We made a little scrapbook, a prayer flag, and salvation bracelets. We each earned a small deck of cards for completing it.  After we finished we walked back toward our hotel and stopped at the Subway we found on our way.  We took our food back to our rooms and ate and rested. The Mass Event was full of entertainment.  The Skit Guys performed again as well as a continuation of The Network skit.  President Kieshnick and his wife both spoke.  The main speaker for the evening talked about being sure that YOUR STORY is about God and not yourself. 

Tuesday
Today we were able to sleep in.  Bible study didn't start until 10:30am.  Everyone needed a good rest so it was a great time to have it.  John's birthday was announced before Bible study started.  Bible study theme for the day was LISTEN.  It was about listening to God and how he speaks to us.  The group split up a bit to attend various sessions from anything to sex to relating karatee to Christianity.  John took a karatee chop to the chest.  We stopped at Quiznos and Subway for lupper.  Then it was rest time.  Tonight's mass event is worship.  Worship involved banners that were made by youth in the Commons.  There was a blend of hymns and praise songs.  There was a dramatization involving Jesus' death and "explosion" out of the grave.

INJURY COUNT:
1 broken headband
1 blister from flip-flops
1 karatee chop to the chest
1 bruised ego
2 skinned toes
1 cut finger (from arts and crafts)
1 bug bite
1 fall in the road
1 close encounter with a car
a few blood blisters on a foot
a flying disc to the face
BUT WE'RE ALL OK!
and a slip in the shower

Wednesday
Today is the last day of the Gathering.  The Mass Event this morning was the Gathering closing.  It was packed with energy and excitement because WE BELIEVE.  The message focused on Phillip talking to the Ethiopian and how he shared the story of Jesus with him.  Speaker Jeffery Meinz summarized the Bible in an amazing narration of the Bible.  We were encouraged to share God's story with others when we return home.  We received "Boom Wackers" and did some percussion "wacking".  After the end of the Mass Event we went  back to our hotel to re-group and met up with the group from Winamac.  We walked over to Bourbon Street to take a couple pictures.  We continued on to the River Walk area, took some pictures, and did some shopping.  Then we went back to the hotel for "nap" time.  We'll have pizza delivered tonight and get packed up to leave bright and early tomorrow morning.

Thursday
We got up and had breakfast and got right onto our shuttle.  The plane ride from New Orleans to Orlando was great but got in a bit late.  Only one person boarded the second plane after us!  We had a bit of turbulance on the flight from Orlando to Indianapolis.  We were greeted by parents and friends.  With the late arrival of our plane we didn't have time to get anything to eat so we stopped in Lebanon on the way home.  We were greeted by friends and family and signs when we arrived back at the church.  Thanks to everyone who prayed for us while we were gone.  We have a presentation prepared for Sunday morning.

If you're looking for information on our trip to the Youth Gathering in New Orleans you are in the right place!  We leave at 7:30 am Saturday morning!  If you'd like to come pray with us before we leave please be in the church parking lot by 7:25am. 

You can track our planes in the air at Flight Aware.  We are flying Southwest.  Our flight numbers are 3088 from Indianapolis to Tampa, Florida, then 930 from Tampa to New Orleans.  Coming home 764 New Orleans to Orlando, and 1165 from Orlando back to Indianapolis.

Saturday
We had a nice flight experience.  The flight from Tampa to New Orleans was almost all Gathering participants.  We faced a few challenges in our new surroundings.  We saw some sights of the city, a bit shocking for this group of small town kids and adults.  The Mass Event was an amazing experience.

Sunday
We enjoyed our free hot breakfast first thing in the morning.  We then made the treck over to the convention center.  We picked up our t-shirts, backpacks, and  schedules.  Then we headed off to our Bible study for the LIVE track.  After Bible study we went to the LIVE area and then the Commons area.  In the Commons area the kids walked around and signed up for some free stuff.  The "flyers" that they picked up worked well for hats when we got caught in the rain on our way back to the hotel.  The food is pretty expensive please send SWEET CORN! :)  Rest in the hotel before the evening's Mass Event.  We had our "family time" and got caught up on handing out the notes.  (Morning was pretty hectic.)  The kids are really looking forward to receiving them.  Then we headed out to the SUPER DOME for the Mass Event.  The Jesus Painter, Brock Gill (Illusionist), and the Skit Guys were amazing entertainment.  The evening's speaker Kellie Stocker (I think) spoke about losing her 18 year old daughter in a car accient and that everything in her faith journey was there to prepare her for the tragedy.  After the Mass Event we went back to the hotel and tried to decide what to get to eat.  After the "adventure" on Saturday we decided to order in.  We had some yummy pizza and called it a night.

Monday
Today we got up and had breakfast.  We took some bagels and dry cereal with us to snack on at the Convention Center.  We were able take a short cut today.  We can walk through this small business area that is only open during the week.  It took us 29 min and 38 seconds to make it to our Bible study.  About 4 minutes of that was inside the convention center.  Our Track for the day was LOOK.  We continued our Bible study in John.  Then we went through the LOOK room for a while.  The kids went to a session at noon about marriage and the holy union that it should be.  After the session we worked together to do a scavenger hunt in the LOOK area.  We made a little scrapbook, a prayer flag, and salvation bracelets. We each earned a small deck of cards for completing it.  After we finished we walked back toward our hotel and stopped at the Subway we found on our way.  We took our food back to our rooms and ate and rested. The Mass Event was full of entertainment.  The Skit Guys performed again as well as a continuation of The Network skit.  President Kieshnick and his wife both spoke.  The main speaker for the evening talked about being sure that YOUR STORY is about God and not yourself. 

Tuesday
Today we were able to sleep in.  Bible study didn't start until 10:30am.  Everyone needed a good rest so it was a great time to have it.  John's birthday was announced before Bible study started.  Bible study theme for the day was LISTEN.  It was about listening to God and how he speaks to us.  The group split up a bit to attend various sessions from anything to sex to relating karatee to Christianity.  John took a karatee chop to the chest.  We stopped at Quiznos and Subway for lupper.  Then it was rest time.  Tonight's mass event is worship.  Worship involved banners that were made by youth in the Commons.  There was a blend of hymns and praise songs.  There was a dramatization involving Jesus' death and "explosion" out of the grave.

INJURY COUNT:
1 broken headband
1 blister from flip-flops
1 karatee chop to the chest
1 bruised ego
2 skinned toes
1 cut finger (from arts and crafts)
1 bug bite
1 fall in the road
1 close encounter with a car
a few blood blisters on a foot
a flying disc to the face
BUT WE'RE ALL OK!
and a slip in the shower

Wednesday
Today is the last day of the Gathering.  The Mass Event this morning was the Gathering closing.  It was packed with energy and excitement because WE BELIEVE.  The message focused on Phillip talking to the Ethiopian and how he shared the story of Jesus with him.  Speaker Jeffery Meinz summarized the Bible in an amazing narration of the Bible.  We were encouraged to share God's story with others when we return home.  We received "Boom Wackers" and did some percussion "wacking".  After the end of the Mass Event we went  back to our hotel to re-group and met up with the group from Winamac.  We walked over to Bourbon Street to take a couple pictures.  We continued on to the River Walk area, took some pictures, and did some shopping.  Then we went back to the hotel for "nap" time.  We'll have pizza delivered tonight and get packed up to leave bright and early tomorrow morning.

Thursday
We got up and had breakfast and got right onto our shuttle.  The plane ride from New Orleans to Orlando was great but got in a bit late.  Only one person boarded the second plane after us!  We had a bit of turbulance on the flight from Orlando to Indianapolis.  We were greeted by parents and friends.  With the late arrival of our plane we didn't have time to get anything to eat so we stopped in Lebanon on the way home.  We were greeted by friends and family and signs when we arrived back at the church.  Thanks to everyone who prayed for us while we were gone.  We have a presentation prepared for Sunday morning.