When I walked into my New Orleans hotel last night, William Wright (left) and Jacob Lucht seemed like an answer to a prayer. They were standing in the lobby with big smiles on their faces directing people to Lost and Found.

“Oh, it’s so nice that you’re doing this,” I told them. “Did many people lose things this week?”

They seemed puzzled. “I lot my hat yesterday,” I said. “Any chance somebody found it?”

Wright burst out laughing. I sensed that something wasn’t, well, right.

“You’re not really pointing people to a recovery area for lost items, are you?” I said.

“Nooooo,” Wright said and giggled. “Lost and Found is a band.” (more…)

Bradford Johnson, 17, Anchorage, Alaska

What he wishes he’d packed: My Native games equipment.

What he didn’t need to bring: Actually, I needed everything I brought.

Best moment: Today during the agape service.

Worst moment: Last night’s group

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A popular bumper sticker in New Orleans.

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A note of thanks from U.S. President Barack Obama was read to Lutheran teens at the New Orleans Superdome tonight by the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Obama praised the youth for their volunteer work this week helping with Hurricane Katrina recovery. The president, a former community service organizer, has urged young adults to be engaged in helping others.

Bishop Mark Hanson read Obama’s letter to the 37,000 youths and adults attending the 2009 Youth Gathering, an event held every three years by the ELCA. As part of the event, 12,000 youth were sent out daily on Thursday, Friday and today to perform community service projects.

“God bless you. God bless the United States of America,” the letter concluded. The teens cheered and applauded when the president’s name was read. (more…)

This pickup carrying Lutherans was spotting driving town Tenneessee Ave. in the historic Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans.  How did I know they were Lutheran? Youth Gathering teens wear orange T-shirts on their work project day. The shirts say, “Lutheran youth.”

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How many Lutherans does it take to dig a plant hole? These Iowans laugh as the question is put to them. Nick Stanford of Grinnell, Iowa, digs while his friends watch. (more…)

“I’m with Jesus”

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While waiting at the downtown convention center, a group attending the 2009 Youth Gathering plays cards.

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Julie Swan’s group worked in the Lower Ninth Ward today.

That’s a predominantly African American area not far from one of the levees that failed. The death and destruction was so massive that many people have not been able to return.

Swan, 48, is a youth adviser on the trip. She’s a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Goldsboro, N.C.

Her group spent much of the afternoon clearing an empty lot where a house stood before Hurricane Katrina. The house was destroyed. The group didn’t learn whether the homeowner survived.

Tall weeds covered the lot. The group discovered several household items among the weeds, including a pile of old record albums: the Eagles, Van Morrison, White Snake.

One teen wondered aloud about the possibility of finding an album of Michael Jackson’s, since his death has dominated headlines recently.

“Not only did we find a Michael Jackson album, we found ‘Thriller,'” Swan said.

Thriller holds the record for albums sold.

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Tom Powell (left) and Patrick Allen (right) were of different minds after their work project Friday.

Allen’s disappointment was obvious. His group had spent the day clearing litter and weeds from a neighborhood still recovering from the wrath of Hurricane Katrina four years ago.

The 18-year-old from Richmond., Va., had hoped to work on a project that would change someone’s life, such as repairing a home. Weeds, he said, will grow back.

“I’m the dissenting voice in my group,” said Allen, a member of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Richmond. “I didn’t think it was worth our time and effort. But I’m told that it will help even though it’s just cosmetic.”

Powell, 48, a youth leader, said the day contained an important lesson about community service.

“The youth today come here with high expectations to help the impoverished,” he said. “But those aren’t the only communities affected. God’s plan is for the work of the church to be done everywhere. In these times of reduced government services, this was an important outreach.” (more…)

Brittany Christensen, 19, of Pipestone, Minn., was among the 12,000 ELCA teens sent out on work projects in New Orleans today. Here she’s digging a hole for plants in the front yard of a homeowner in the Lower Ninth Ward. The temperature hit 91 degrees, with humidity at 44 percent.

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