Los Anuncios de la Iglesia Vida E†erna
ELCA Youth Gathering 2024

Pastora Carmen Colón-Brown
Vida Eterna Iglesia Luterana, Cincinnati

 

Six persons from Vida Eterna – four youth and two adult chaperones – were among the 16,000 Lutherans gathered for the ELCA National Youth Gathering in New Orleans. We tasted beignets at the famously historic Café Du Monde, viewed the Mississippi River, learned to pronounce Tchoupitoulas Street, ate Crab, Shrimp Po’Boys and Alligator. We searched for souvenirs and met various teens from other states. We enjoyed an airboat ride in the Louisiana bayou. We explored New Orleans on foot, walking from our hotel on Canal Street to the French Quarter, down to the Convention Center and over to the Smoothie King Arena, perspiring heavily due to the New Orleans heat and humidity. But this trip was more than those experiences… it was holy reminder that God is at work in and through our lives.

The opportunity to gather like this only comes around every three years, and due to COVID interruptions, six years have passed since the last National Youth Gathering. As our youth encountered youth groups from across the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico, they received bracelets, pins, and a variety of creative giveaways. Some of the VEIL youth even traded their bracelets or pins. We gathered for service, learning, fellowship, and nightly worship which included inspiring speakers, musicians, and dancers. This was a once-in-a-lifetime FAITH experience, even for those youth not fully immersing themselves in the experience.

 

Here are some thoughts our teens expressed during this trip:

“We had to walk a lot in the heat and humidity, but I got a new perspective each day. Blanca was GREAT!”

We took an opportunity to tour the Louisiana Bayou. One youth said, “I saw God in the nature: the wild trees, the nests, and through the alligators that were not aggressive toward us.”

“Even though it seemed as if we didn’t do much on our Service Day, I was glad to help.”

“A marching band from one of the New Orleans schools played their instruments in a way which was so unique, it was great! We can’t play our instruments like that!”

“We met friendly youth. It is very hot and sweaty, but the music was fun!”

“It was cool to be a part of a group reading Psalm 139 on Synod Day!”

“It was confusing, but being a Communion helper was nice.”

“The BUGS are crazy big in New Orleans!”

“I’m in the Fire Academy. So, it was great speaking to a Fire Fighter from New Jersey who was also the Pastor of his congregation!”

Pastora — “Seeing crowds of people in matching shirts walk through the streets, and having wonderful conversations with strangers was phenomenal! I met a Filipino woman, who was the pastor of a congregation in NY. And in our conversation, I felt we were all connected in this one event and that we were all celebrating our faith together! It is a reminder that various people, various cultures, and various perspectives can come together and become ONE anywhere and not just in our church.”