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.