Lord of Life - Ubuntu! 2003

7/19/03
Today we scavenger hunted the entire gathering ... having a ball in teams of 3 & 4! Our worship this evening was keynoted by The DeKalb (GA) Marching Band (from the movie Drumline ... Awesome) and Dr. Beverly Barrymore ... who, working with with The Lord of the Rings and 2 Timothy 2:12, helped us understand that God will not ask to do something that we cannot do ... with God's help. We took the challenger, met new friends, played U Ball (pix ... like dodgeball, except you were handicapped based on gender, landmines, illness, poverty) hosted by Lutheran World Relief.

Bono, of U2, addressed us by video about the AIDS crisis in Africa ... and we learned why faith has something to do with the community and politics. We got onto the very front of the gathering floor ... our closest ever, 12 rows back in the Georgia Dome .... we rocked, and rocked! Tomorrow we gather early for worship ... then our group will visit the Martin Luther King National Monument and Ebenezer Church ....before flying home. We covet your prayers as we travel .... and return to our families, jobs, summer breaks. We'll be trying to translate our experience, but it isn't easy ... so pray for us!

7/20/03
We made it .... safe and sound, inspired and tired! The final day was a massive worship .... using the western rite liturgy we always use (for 1900 years) of Gather, Word, Meal, Send ... but in lively contemporary fashion you'd expect at a youth gathering. Bishop Hanson preached, and well, (PIX) using a conch shell as a Caribbean image of calling others to freedom and to the great banquet. We have been invited, and we came! The offering was collected and brought forward in huge baskets (pix). The Eucharist was distributed at about a hundred "stations" using baskets made in Tanzania, and wooden bowls made by a cooperative. When it was over ... we cried ... and collapsed. We were so tired!

But we grabbed lunch and went to the Martin Lutheran King Jr. National Monument and visitor center, which was impressive. (You'll enjoy the picture of the whole group we asked a stranger to take. Well ... nice steps!) The monument, where Dr. King, a preacher of the Gospel, is buried, utilized the same text as much of our gathering .... "Let Justice roll down like a mighty river ..." It was quite warm that afternoon in "Hotlanta."

We did the airport and flight with ease, and were warmly greeted by parents and friends. We gathered for a last prayer at the airport, and LOTS of hugs. God has done something to us. What fruit we bear will give witness to God's goodness. I am because we are. We are because Christ is. UBUNTU!!