Day 3-Houston, We Have A Problem-Lines :)

June 28, 2018

Day 3-Houston, We Have A Problem-Lines :)

Day 3 of our trio we had a day of learning about the lines of the Youth Gathering, and also were amazed at just how many kids are here!

We headed in the morning to the Houston Space Center, and spent time waiting for and then riding the Red Tram where we got to see the Astronaut Training Center, and Rocket Park. We enjoyed looking around for a bit at the various displays. For many of our crew, Nasa was a highpoint of the day.

After that we had lunch at Chick-Fil-A for lunch and then headed for the first time to NRG Park where we began to see how many youth are at the Gathering! We spent our afternoon exploring the Community Life area. Kids tried obstacle course bouncy houses, wipeout, and even a mechanical bull. They had a lot of fun, and even met some kids from other areas. And got clothespins from lots of places too (you'll have to ask the kids about that one)!

After a full afternoon we headed over to the Mass Gathering where we waited in another long line to get into the arena. We ended up getting pretty decent seats, and the highlight of my day was watching the kids faces as they found out what it is like to worship with 31,000 other Lutheran Youth! At one point, one of our youth told me that if church was like that, she would be there every day...guess I will have to work on that one! :)

We had some great speakers tonight at the Mass Gathering...from Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton who got everyone excited to serve here in Houston, to Pastor Tuhina Rasche, who told us her call story and talked about the importance of welcoming others who might not feel welcome in the church. She connected our call to baptism and challenged us to live out who we are called to be. Ginny Owens, a well-known musician who is blind told us about her call to do music and how she wasn't sure about what to do with her life, but she kept living out what she loved to do, and now she sings around the world. Our kids were very inspired by her faith and courage,

My personal faborite of the night was Bryan Stevenson, lawyer and activist who challended us to "get proximate" with those in our communtiies that are living with poverty and to spend our lives living out Micah 6:8.

After singing (and rapping) This Little Light of Mine, it was a sea of 31,000 kids heading to their cars and busses. So fun and so crazy! :)

After devotions and some Uber Eats back at the hotel, it was off to bed. We can't wait tosee what Day 4 of our trip brings!

Pastor Amy