The End of Day One

So, its hot and sticky. We sat by the pool for a while before heading back downtown. Dinner was a disaster. Not many choices in a short time for non-natives who don't know their way around too well. We went to French quarter and hit the Hard Rock Cafe. Service was slow, food bad---typical Hard Rock faire.
Went to the Superdoom. Its huge and it was packed. I stopped to use the rest room.When I came out I was alone in a crowd of 37,000 frickin'Lutherans. none of them from Akron or Mellingers to be found. I spent anhour wandering the halls and weeping to myself. Turns out Nick was on stage performing rap music. (not really--Thank the LORD). We accidentally ran into each other after the event ended. We decided to return to the Hotel for rest instead of mo nighglife tonight. Tomorrow is another day.
We are learning that we are caught up in a movement of God's Spirit here. Whether the 8 youth on this trip realized that they were aboutt o take part in a GOD thing, they are starting to get it now. We are identifiable here. And people are curious about us. They want to know who we are and what we're about. They want to know what we're going to do while we're here. I was invited into a conversation about GOD with a young man who clearly seeks to intellectually disprove the existence of GOD. He, at least, has given up on the possibility that GOD matters or that GOD cares. His mental gymnastics about free will and omniscience and sin and just punishment and hell left me feeling my exhaustion. but it was clear that he wanted to discuss GOD with someone who would "represent". I'm not sure I did GOD justice, but I listened and engaged. It's pretty amazing to be identified publically as the overt Christian witnesses in the city this week. We are the largest assembled body to inhabit NOLA since Katrina. And our presence equals the number of residents who are still displaced or living in FEMA trailers since katrina. We are a very large presence. heard some good speakers in the Superdoom too. Looking forward to more of those big events this week.
Tomorrow am we experience the learning center. We'll share about that tomorrow night.