After we got back from Ford Field and had lunch, we gathered as a youth group and had a great conversation about what impact from Detroit we would take back home from us. A lot of us said things like, taking more volunteering opportunities, donating to the homeless, realizing that little deeds make a difference, and participating more in supporting small businesses. After that, we went to the hotel to have some free time. Some of us went to the pool and hot tub and had a great time with each other and some people from other churches. Afterwards, we went to a nice dinner with everyone at Carrabbas. Our bus driver, Bob, and Katharine's mom and aunt had dinner with us, and it was really nice. We had a great day today!
Blog Post: Taylor Bauman
On the final day of our gathering we came together in Ford Field for our closing worship. As we filed into the rows it began to sink in that this would be my last youth event and I wanted it to be amazing. We began singing, clapping, and dancing to the house band. As worship started we watched the Bishop parade in with ribbons and doves flying high. The energy in the arena was incredible. The message from Bishop Eaton was to bring and have hope; to say hallelujah even when you are in the dark. It was really inspiring to hear a message from the presiding Bishop of our church. We were also able to see the installment of the new director of the ELCA national youth gathering, as well as the retirement of the former one. Communion, as hectic as it is for 30,000 people, ran smoothly and Rachel Kurtz singing Hallelujah in the background was amazing; feeling was incredible. The best part came at the end of the service when we were able to hear another slam poem from Natasha T. Miller. As well as finding out that in 2018 the National Youth Gathering will be held in HOUSTON! As everyone cheered for Houston it hit me particularly hard that this was my last youth event ever, and I began to cry but they were not tears of just sadness but tears of happiness because I know that where I am called next Jesus will still be with me to help break chains, build bridges and bring hope. As we sang the final song, swaying back and forth as a youth group, I felt so blessed for being able to come to Detroit.
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