Greetings from HOT and MUGGY Floriday! Today was another day filled with lots of activites.The morning began with our “Chosen Frozen” attire in an attempt to blend in with the other 1000+ participants from the Minnesota South District. With that many bright blue shirts, it wasn’t nearly as easy to identify our youth! Our morning began with our family group Bible study time followed by a large group Bible study focusing on how God continues to save sinful people through the use of his CHOSEN children. God has chosen us through baptism to proclaim his love. The sessions are motivating our youth to make a difference, so we continue to pray that the flame that has been ignited in their soul will burn strong once we return to Rochester. After the large group session our youth were once again free to explore different small group sessions, on-site servant events (i.e. donate blood), booths representing areas supported by the LCMS, and concerts. Our youth have enjoyed The Katinas and Lost and Found in the concert area. They have experienced many different small group sessions that they are excited to share upon our return. This evening was another large group session featuring Micah Parker, the founder of Trust Guys, who used sports analogies to symbolize our relationship with Christ and shared personal life stories. The Jesus Painter and liturgical dancers also performed. The variety of things shared is immense and powerful. Thank you for your continued support and prayers. We know the kids are worn out, but are taking in all possible opportunities. We have one full day left before the closing on Wednesday morning. Tomorrow evening will be spent in worship where the youth are excited to experience the body and blood of Christ with 25,000 other Lutherans. Â
What a day. The morning started out early for the counselors with a 7:15 meeting for updates. The morning started even earlier for several of our youth participating in the 5K run. Twelve hundred people showed up for the run, and we are proud to report that Shane took 4th place. Andrew Weckwerth and Stacie also finished in the top 50. We had “family” time with our small groups and discussed the meaning of Community! We quickly moved on to the topic of the day…Chosen with Others. It began with a large group (only 8000) Bible study focusing on how God walks with us in our daily life, and four youth shared their experiences about how they were chosen to carry out God’s plan in their lives. Then the youth had the opportunity to do small group sessions, take in concerts, visit vendor booths, and meet new friends from across the nation. The youth were very excited to take in the session provided by the Jesus Painter. We spent some time explaining our RAuschestertin t-shirts, but looked great as a group carrying our Minnesota Twins dressed Spiderman. This evening highlighted another “mass” event with awesome music, inspiring stories, and intriguing topics to dialogue in our small groups. The evening was energetic and provided never ending Hope in the lives of our youth. Currently our youth are participating in a rousing game of Ultimate Chicken. Any guesses on what Ultimate Chicken is? Continued blessings from Florida. Please keep the youth and the chaperones in your prayers.
What a day…Have you ever wondered what 25,000 backpacks look like in 5 different piles? We are able to tell you and have pictures to show you. Have you ever wondered what a waitress carrying a necklace made up of 18 receipts looks like? We are able to tell you and have pictures to show you. Have you ever wondered what it looks like to see 25,000 people get into a mass event? We are able to tell you and have pictures to show you. We have had another wonderful day. Unfortunately our first organized gathering event (the pool party) got rained out by what some youth seemed to think was a hurricane. 
We had the opportunity to walk down International Drive and eat as a group at TGIF prior to the mass event. We were able to get fairly decent seats for the opening event, considering the amount of people racing for them. They have an excellent sound system and screens set up so everyone can see without difficulty. The opening event was filled with excellent music, inspiring speakers, and a LOT of ENERGY. We look forward to several more fun filled days. Thanks for your continued support and prayers. Blessings from Florida.
Photos from the first two days have been posted online. You can find links to the daily galleries from the GYM Gathering page. If the day has passed and you don’t see a gallery link yet, be patient, Internet access may not always be available or reliable.
Today was a day spent at one of the well known parks in Orlando. We boarded the busses early this morning to be at the park when it opened to take in the whole day. Our group had the choice to visit the “movie” side or the “amusement” side of Universal Studios, and it tended to be evenly split with the group meeting at the Hard Rock Cafe this evening for dinner. The youth are having an awesome time and are prime examples of Christians Chosen to Celebrate. On the “movie” side of Universal Studios the group had the opportunity to experience an 8.3 earthquake to an F5 tornado. They helped ET return to his home planet and found out the rest of the second Shrek movie (on the honeymoon). They felt tarantulas crawl over their feet, a donkey spit in their faces, and conversed with the “non-communicating” pharoah on stilts. On the “amusement” side it was one roller coaster after another. They stood in line for nearly 2 hours to ride the HULK but all seem to agree it was worth it. The spiderman ride was reported as ‘awesome’ by one, and they were enthused by the dualing dragons. Shopping was also a big hit with some; while others were thankful they didn’t have to participate in the shopping excursion.  We all ate together at Hard Rock Cafe with other churches from across the US. The hostess said they had served over 600 people today who are in town for the Gathering – that was at 6pm and included only the ones they knew of. We have begun to network with churches and youth from all over, and the youth are building up excitement for the big event starting tomorrow. Thanks again for your continued prayers and support!  Â
We have arrived safely in Orlando after 1507 miles on a fun-filled bus adventure with 97 of our new closest friends, 5 in transit movies, 4 food stops, 3 exhausted adult chaperones (apparently you don’t sleep well on a bus after the age of 18), 2 lovely overnight rest areas, and 1 amazing God who got us here safely. We spent the afternoon at Fort DeSoto Beach where the mighty ocean washed our weary bodies. Sand Dollars were abundant and very fascinating for our youth. Our hotel location is ideal and very convenient to the convention center. Our only flaw on check in was a shattered window in one of the rooms from an apparent ”bird” accident. We were able to watch the fireworks from Universal Studios this evening from our hotel windows and are planning on a very restful recuperative evening. We are thankful for very well behaved kids who have proved so far to NOT be a challenge. Tomorrow will be spent at Universal Studios where the kids will have a choice of the Universal side or the Islands of Adventure side, so we will keep in touch after another busy day. Thank you for your prayers and continued support.
Following a period of milling about, eager anticipation, luggage loading, farewells, and a brief Sending ceremony led by Pastor Henry Biar, the Rochester/Austin Gathering Group boarded two busses and departed for Florida this morning. Follow along with their trip at the GYM web site.
There you can find links to pictures and information as it becomes available.
Dear Everyone,
I just got back from the village of Suchanoy. When Russians say “villageâ€? they mean there are no services available and no indoor plumbing. As terrible as the conditions were, the people were extra warm. They are very alert to the things of the world and to their faith. This village is mostly people of Latvian decent. That is kind of how the mission got started. Pastor Sobolev’s wife is Latvian and some from Suchanoy were in Krasnoyarsk for a Latvian festival and so the connection to go and preach there was made. I am the first pastor to stay over night however–two nights in fact. There is a lot to do here as far as the church is concerned. There are at least three more places that congregations could start but Pastor Sobolev is the only pastor. I am certainly encouraging the young men here to think about the ministry. By the way, the young men from our congregation also need to consider the ministry. There is always a need for pastors and teachers.
This will probably be the last update before I get home since I will be in the pulpit next Saturday night and Sunday morning. The experience here has been priceless although there were times I have not wanted to pay the cost. There are several projects which we could be involved in that I will give details for and each congregation I have spoken in has blessed you. At the end of the service when prayer time happens they always pray for you in my absence. The church is certainly universal in all of its aspects. Thank you for your prayers and for the time away. Thank my family mostly because this has been hard for them especially.
I can’t wait to see you next weekend.
In Christ,
Pastor
Hi everyone, We didn’t leave for Suchanoy this morning as planned. It will be tomorrow at 7AM. It is about a three hour ride. if I can I will e-mail from there. Otherwise it will be on Saturday or something.
One of the things I have noticed is that I carry my camera around but do not take as many pictures as I did at the beginning. I think that is because things are looking ‘normal’ instead of different. I am still taking them but not as many. I want to thank the people who have written notes during the trip. I hope I have answered them all although I can’t tell which age new and which are old on the way I retrieve my mail here verses in the office.
The thing that strikes one most here are two very contrasting things: The absolute mess that is all over the ground, in the parks, etc. and the wonderful people that I have met. Some of the nicest people live in the filthiest conditions. You will see more when I give the presentation in September, but trust me, there is nothing this messy anywhere in our town.
this trip[ has also taught me much patience. There are only certain things I can do on my own and when I need to I can venture out but mostly I have to wait for someone or something before I can do what it was that is planned. Anyway, that is probably a good thing too.
I am ready to get back to work with you. It is the little things that are taken for granted that you miss the most when they are not there.
I’ll write again at the end of the week.
In Christ,
Pastor
A selection of photos from the Independence Day celebration at Grace have been posted here.
(fireworks courtesy of the Rochester Post-Bulletin)