Ruby, 8th Grade

Thank you to everyone who donated to the church so we could go on this trip to New Orleans. I was able to meet so many fun and new people and have so many memorable experiences.

Max, 10th grade

I had an amazing time at the ELCA National Youth Gathering. I wasn’t really sure what to expect outside of the Mass Gatherings each night, but whatever my expectations were, they were definitely exceeded. 

I saw God in so many places during this trip. Yes, during the Mass Gatherings, which were full of amazing songs, speakers, dances, emcees, and more, but also outside of the Mass Gatherings. 

One place that I really saw God was in the community itself. A very popular activity over the entirety of the trip was to trade or “swap” items with members of other churches or groups. Our church had stickers to swap or give away, but other very common items were rubber bracelets, clothes pins, and regular pins. I traded items with people from Minnesota and Wisconsin, but also from people across the country! Pennsylvania, Wyoming, Idaho, Iowa, Nevada, North Carolina, and more! 

Which brings me into my next “God sighting.” Last summer, our church went to North Carolina to take part in an organization called “The Dwellings” that focuses on providing opportunities and comfort for homeless people. While there, I met one of my best friends, Elizabeth. During the trip, we didn’t talk all that much, but Elizabeth followed our youth group on Instagram, and through our profile, she found me, and we started talking. Slowly but surely, we started having daily conversations and our bond became super strong, even though a screen. One day she said, “I better see you at the National Youth Gathering,” and then I was determined to go. Luckily, our youth leader also had full intentions on going, and we made it happen. 

Before the trip, I was very nervous I was never going to see her. After all, there were over 16,000 youth through adults attending the gathering. The first time we saw each other was in line for nachos (lol) and I ran up to her and hugged her. After that, I didn’t really see her again for a while except one time when walking back from the next night’s Mass Gathering. After the gatherings, there were “community” gatherings in several of the hotels near the main venue. Elizabeth and I went to different hotels for most of the week, but I was determined to see her at least one more time before we left because we had been COUNTING DOWN the days until we could see each other again. Luckily, with the help of others from our church, we convinced Allison to go to her hotel instead of the one we had been going to, and I spent the whole night with Elizabeth. We danced, made a tiktok, took pictures, and made lifelong memories in the short time we had. We had to leave a little earlier than we usually would have had to because we were further away from the hotel we were staying at, and that was really hard. 

When it was time to say goodbye, I felt a wave of emotion come over me and while hugging her for the last time, i started crying. That was when I felt God the most, because God was what brought us together. Once, then twice, and I’m sure again and again God will bring us together. It’s hard to say goodbye to somebody who is lives 1,151 miles away from you, but I know God will make our bond even stronger than it was before. 

Throughout the week, we did many things to be close with God and appreciate God’s work, but it was with Elizabeth that I felt the closest to God. 

I’m so thankful I got to go on this trip, and I’m glad I could strengthen my faith in such a way as this. 

Cora, 10th grade

As I started my first day of the youth gathering, I found myself not taking everything seriously. I thought it was fun, but I didn’t really understand why everyone was so excited and jumping with joy at these mass gatherings. But confidently by the end I was joining in, enjoying the true meaning of God. I found it the most interesting watching these speeches, to figure out these people's lives and how they were so different from mine. I never knew the things I learned on this trip. It was truly an eye-opening experience and moment. I wish it could’ve been frozen in time. 

Kaitlyn, adult leader

A reflection in haiku 

Streets of New Orleans 

God blessed our feet with blisters 

Created to be… 

…Brave! 

Psalm one thirty-nine 

We’re formed in sacred darkness 

Grown like planted seeds 

…Authentic! 

Jacob v. Esau 

Not made to be someone else 

Only our own self 

…Free! 

Speak to all the crowd 

Free to be our fullest self 

Beyond assumptions  

…Disruptive! 

Who sets unfair rules? 

Stand up to the status quo 

We are not mistakes 

…Disciples! 

Jesus leads the way 

We follow where He steps, like 

footprints in the snow 

Elliott, 10th grade

I had so much fun on this trip, and I am so grateful that I went. One of my favorite parts was meeting so many new people and seeing people you knew from other churches. I found it so cool that you could just walk up to people and talk to them without it being awkward. Another thing I really enjoyed was how many speakers there were. It was nice because you couldn’t relate to every single person but there were so many that you could find one to relate to. Overall, it was an amazing trip, and I didn’t want to come back. When people ask me about the trip, I just can’t seem to express how awesome it was. 

Rory, 9th grade

The ECLA Youth Gathering in New Orleans was really fun. The culture of the city, combined with the energy and enthusiasm of all the participants, made for a beautiful experience. From the inspiring speakers to the delicious food, every moment was filled with excitement. Exploring the historic streets of New Orleans and connecting with new friends from all over was extremely special. The sense of community and shared faith was amazing, making it a really fun event that I was happy to be a part of. 

Allison, adult leader

This was my third time attending an ELCA Youth Gathering and attending as an adult leader is such a different experience than as a teen. Instead of being the 14-year-old who was wandering off meeting people from different states, I was trying to keep track of the 14-year-olds who were eager to make new friends. As different as this experience was, during the Mass Gatherings I was instantly taken back to being a teenager, cheering for the speakers, signing at the top of my lungs during my favorite songs, and letting a few tears shed as I looked around at 16,000 Lutherans gathered in one space. Bishop Elizabeth Eaton shared it is the largest gathering of ELCA Lutherans in the world to take place, and it is truly incredible being in a space where people have so many shared experiences.  

Although we had many fun moments, the times I enjoyed the most included meeting new people or connecting with old friends from all over the country. It’s always wild how at gatherings such as this, the Church becomes so much smaller. Since most congregations wear matching shirts, it became easy to see where people were from so striking up a conversation was organic. Being from Iowa, I was always excited to chat with a group of Iowans and learn where they were from, often gushing over local landmarks, restaurants, or the best gas stations. Seeing the growth many of the teens made was also incredible. Many of them were reserved at the beginning of the trip, unsure of how to approach new people or what to say. As the week progressed, even the shyest youth were trading stickers, Snapchat usernames, and chatting up a storm. 

I am eternally grateful for the generosity of our congregation and the River Falls community for the money given to allow us to go on this trip. As a teenager, attending the Youth Gathering was a mountaintop experience and I’m so glad 17 young people from Ezekiel had the opportunity to make lifelong memories and grow in their faith. 

Brad, 10th grade

This trip is something that will stick in my head like jelly toast hitting the floor. There were so many things that will stay floating in the gray matter of my head, things like a man saying “you're afraid” or seeing the sad sight of poverty engulfing a part of a community. But most of all the stickiest of sticky happenings that will ever stay within my mind is that no matter how many people you have, and the time you give, there is always one tent still under the bridge. But that doesn’t mean that a tent can’t turn into a house.

Lily, 10th grade

The gathering is now on my list of top 10 favorite things I got to do this summer. This was my first time going to New Orleans. I did not expect New Orleans to be that pretty but it was gorgeous. I was not expecting a huge arena but going to the arena every night was super fun. There were a lot of great speakers, but I would have to say one of my top three was the musician, Blanca. I loved how she told her story and was comfortable sharing about how she lost both of her parents and then how she ended up, finding God in all the hardships in her life. Another speaker that I also really liked was Dr. Jacqueline Bussie who shared about her husband's passing, I really liked her story. It was very sad but the way she talked about it and how traumatizing that must be to see someone you love so much die in front of you Made me really have sympathy for her. Overall, I love the gathering nightlife was super fun and I feel like I could connect with God on a deeper level after hearing all the speakers' stories. 

Josh, 10th grade

Walking around New Orleans was almost exactly how I imagined it. Humid, sticky, and there was always music playing somewhere, but not all the music was jazz, because when we walked into an old catholic church, the jazz musicians outside became muted, and all I heard was a choir. After we had left the church, most of the group went shopping around the area, but Don Juetten and I stayed around the park and met a painter who told us about the stories behind a few of his paintings, one of which included a “jazz funeral” which is a kind of tradition whenever someone well-known passes away. At the funeral, they play mostly slower tunes, but after the family leaves, the band goes down the streets playing loudly in a sort of celebration. I’m still not sure how exactly to describe it, but it’s an interesting tradition.  

Being myself, I thought that the people I met on the street were more impactful to me than some of the speakers. What immediately comes to mind is a homeless man that had found humor in one of his lowest points: his cardboard sign wasn’t asking for money, it said “private jet needs fuel” so I stopped and got to know him a little, and he was really nice, even though his tough times. Going on a tangent, homeless people usually end up being some of the nicest people, because it’s never just “thank you” you’ll always get a bunch that say “someone else needs it more” and those people have my infinite respect. 

In all, what I saw in New Orleans was an unorganized mess of everything: food, music, cultures, religions, and in the very middle, some of the nicest people I’ve met outside of Wisconsin. I’m not the best writer, so I let my brain take the day off and wrote this from my heart and soul, just like all the greatest jazz musicians did, so you can call this my best improv solo to date. 

Evelyn, 12th grade

The trip was very eye opening for me. When we were cleaning the storm drains on Thursday, day 4 of our trip, we learned that the city of New Orleans doesn’t maintain the storm drains like they should, and that can lead to dangerous flooding. There was garbage in the lesser-known streets and alleyways of the city, whereas the streets outside of the fancy, big retail stores were spotless. It was like the city cared more about cleaning the places most people saw, even if they weren’t the places that needed cleaning. It seemed unfair to me, that people in a small neighborhood should work so hard to keep their homes safe from flooding when the places being kept perfectly pristine aren’t even being lived in. That’s a crappy deal. But it reminded me of the speaker we had on day 3 of our trip, or day 2 of the Youth Gathering itself. Her name was Jaqueline Bussie, and she talked about being an “anyways person.” She said, “Life is going to throw garbage at us, but we push forward anyways.” Those words came back to me when I heard why our service project was so important. The city refused to take care of the storm drains, and left the streets of that neighborhood flooded, but we tried to help anyway. We didn’t fix the problem; the drains will become clogged again. But hopefully being on the news and sharing our stories with others will raise enough awareness to cause a lasting change. Because even though the city turns a blind eye to the needs of the smaller neighborhoods, the inhabitants of those neighborhoods work hard to stay positive and stay bright anyway.

Jenna, 9th grade

During this trip, I had the chance to meet new people everywhere I went. I also had the opportunity to worship with people my age in various ways such as dancing, singing, and listening to others. One speaker who really impacted me was Pastor Emily from The Dwelling, a church in North Carolina that some of us visited last summer on a mission trip. The Dwelling supports the homeless community by providing food, showers, clothes, and more. She talked about the homeless community, and how despite feeling invisible due to lack of resources like IDs and birth certificates, God always sees us. This message resonated deeply because it reminded me that even when we feel unnoticed, God sees us. This trip was incredibly meaningful to me because of the connections I made with others and the growth in my faith. 

Mickey, 8th grade

On my trip to the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering I made so many memories that I will forever cherish. One of my most favorite things was meeting new people from all around the country. During all days I meet people from all over and experienced so many differences but the one we had in common was our love for God. It was amazing to see so many kinds of people who were there for the same reason as me. Overall, I am so thankful for the members of our church and community so we could go on a once in a lifetime trip!

David, 9th grade

The ECLA Youth Gathering trip has been one of the most fulling and exciting trips I've ever been on. It gave me an opportunity to help a neighborhood community with the service project our group did cleaning up storm drains by making sure they worked in case of flooding. From that experience I learned how lucky I am not to have to worry about hurricanes or floods destroying my home and my neighborhood. I am very glad I was able to help the neighborhood out and show New Orleans that the Lutherans were here for more than just the ECLA gathering but also to make sure we give something back to New Orleans for being such wonderful hosts to all 16,000 Lutherans that joined us in the gathering. 

Piper, 9th grade

I want to say thank you to everyone who helped us go to the ECLA Youth Gathering in New Orleans. Your support and generosity made this incredible experience possible. We had an amazing time connecting with other youth, exploring the city, and deepening our faith. The memories we made, from the inspiring sessions to the delicious beignets, will stay with us forever. Thank you for making this unforgettable trip happen! 

Jazzy, 8th grade

On my trip to New Orleans, I had a grand time. I wouldn’t change anything; I think I got the most out of this experience. Some of my favorite things we did was meet many new people although I love everyone back home, I think it was about time that I opened my bubble to some new people from different places. Everyone has different lives and experiences which are great to learn about. I also enjoyed playing Gaga ball because I felt that I got to know some people on a deeper level because playing a competitive activity can really show people’s different traits and its overall just a fun game that reminds me of my time at Camp Wapo. Finally, I enjoyed getting to see the scenery especially since we live in Wisconsin, and we don’t go out to big cities often. Although some thought the city had some negative aspects to it, I personally thought it was really beautiful, especially looking over the water. Through and through I feel that I learned a lot from this trip and grew as a person in many ways. This trip was so entertaining, and I would definitely do it again. Thank you to all who donated and helped with this trip. I really had a good time. 

Hannah, 11th grade

Something that I took away from this trip is that we are all people who are all made differently in God’s image. I realized this before but never put much thought into it until this trip. At the mass gathering we had a lot of different speakers come in and talk to us about their experience with God and how he had helped them during different times. One thing that I noticed during this is that everyone was different. None of the speakers were the same, and it really hit me then. God made everyone unique and everyone to his image. God has put me in some difficult situations in my life, and there have been times where I have been mad at him and asked him why he made me the way I am. But being on this trip made me realize that God made me in a special way. He made me so I was different from everyone else but special to him. Looking back, I am very thankful and glad that God has made me the way I am. I have overcome some things in my life that were hard on me, but God was there to help me.

Dominik, 9th grade

New Orleans was fun. I liked the beignets; they were very powdery. I liked the jazz music. The Convention Center was great. I learned a lot and had a good time. 

Madeline, 8th grade

“Your word is the lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” -- Psalm 119:105 

Have you ever turned on a light, let it sit, then turned it off and felt the light bulb? It’s warm right? So, you know that the light was on recently and still has electricity running through it even if you can’t see it at that moment. I believe God is a light in my life even if he might go out once in a while I know his presence is still with me. Even in the darkness. 

This year I got to attend the 2024 ELCA youth gathering in New Orleans, Louisiana. Yeah, New Orleans! When I signed up, I didn’t realize the 20-hour car trips that would be in store for me to go along with the already once in a lifetime opportunity. But I can’t complain because I learned a lot in that short-ish amount of time and grew a lot closer to the people around me because of it. 

In New Orleans I got to experience: Live Jazz, Outstanding Food, Phenomenal Speaker’s, and of course a stadium full of Lutherans just as ecstatic as myself to rejoice in the presence of God. 

While in “NOLA” I grew in my faith. Feeling him in the games I played, the people I met, and the late nights of dance parties and earplugs. The gathering helped form me into the person I’m truly supposed to be. Which is me! Not who others want me to be, but instead who I want me to be. 

But I couldn’t do any of that or get to experience any of that without the support and donations of my congregation, my family, my friends, and so many more. You are what made this possible. 

The ELCA Youth Gathering was a once in a lifetime experience and my lamp is lit and lighting my way. Thanks be to God. 

Jeanette & Don, adult leaders

Don and I were blessed to deepen our faith at the ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans, joining 16,000 other Christians in a week of spiritual growth. Our journey spanned 2,500 miles with 17 youth and 4 adult chaperones. 

Getting to know our youth and chaperones was a highlight, as we shared our faith and experiences, strengthening our sense of Christian community. The nightly mass gatherings provided powerful and inspirational messages and music on being authentic, contributing to root cause solutions, loving our neighbors, and finding comfort in walking with the Lord every day. 

We had an incredible experience in the city of New Orleans including the cleaning of storm drains in the Hollygrove Dixon neighborhood, walking over 100,000 steps all over the city, cruising the Mississippi, enjoying the local culture, and amazing cuisine. 

We are deeply grateful for our congregation's support and prayers, which made this journey possible. God's presence was palpable throughout, reminding us of His goodness and the joy of following Him. 

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Great time getting to connect with the kids, Allison, and Katelyn. I think my favorite was showing them how not to complain about heat, walking, or other perceived hardships. Sleeping on floors, endless hours in the vans, and unplanned detours added to the memories.