Red-shirted workers from the Youth Gathering technical communications crew grabbed a quick lunch Monday at a food court near the New Orleans Convention Center. The crew includes volunteers and paid staff.

Photo (left side of table, front to back): Kari Gray, 25, Seattle, field producer; Sarah Culler, 33, Seattle, videographer; Paul Schmidt, 34, Lansing, Mich., media team leader.

(Right side of table, front to back): Josh Miller, 30, Nevada City, Calif., lead photographer; Lisanna Smithheart, 29, Seattle, photographer; Andrew Sielski, 28, Detroit, videographer; Erik Mathre, 49, St. Petersburg, Fla.

(more…)

Tired of the hassles that come with a full-sized rental car?

New Orleans has other options for the 37,000 Lutherans arriving in town this week.

These miniature cruisers are for rent outside the Hilton Hotel near the Riverwalk Marketplace.

A New Jersey tourist opted for the mini-car because she was tired of walking in the heat.

Many Lutherans, particularly those from northern climates, are thrilled with the sunshine. A church member from South Dakota called the sun “nature’s Vitamin D.”

“It’s pretty awesome,” she said. “You don’t have to work up a sweat here. You just sweat.”

A discarded bathtub from New Orleans served

as a focal point at worship Sunday at the

Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE).

*

*

*

*

*

(more…)

Apu Seyenkulo, 17, of Chicago, rehearses a liturgical dance before worship on Sunday evening.

She’s participating in a three-day ELCA multicultural youth event in New Orleans known as MYLE.

“The worship is more diverse,” Seyenkulo said. “The  people that come — it’s like we share more in common with each other.”

(more…)

Talk about a welcome.

The city of New Orleans is displaying street banners along Convention

Center Boulevard that say, “We’re jazzed you’re here!”

Another sign reads: Welcome ELCA Youth. (more…)

Lutherans teens spilled into the fifth floor hallway of the Sheraton Hotel on Sunday night.

Two shy boys from Puerto Rico leaned against a pillar on the right side of the hall. A young woman originally from Taiwan stood next to a pillar on the left side. In between, a  sea of New Jersey teens wearing lime green T-shirts sat on the floor.

“I didn’t know what I was getting into,” said Josiah Williams as he surveyed the diverse crowd.

The teens were waiting to get inside a room for worship. It’s the kickoff to a three-day event known as the MYLE — Multiculture Youth Leadership Event.

Williams, an aspiring actor from Milwaukee, said he needs the MYLE. He loves worship, but doesn’t make it to church every Sunday, he said.

“The MYLE  is a good place to get a closer connection to your spirit and God,” Williams said.

* * *

An airport shuttle driver said Hurricane Katrina destroyed his home four years ago. Everything inside, too, including his dog, Ja.

The driver said that when he fled for safety, he left the pit bull behind. Like many people, he simply didn’t believe the Katrina hype.

“My only regret to this day is that I didn’t take him with me when I left town,” the driver said.

* * *

An estimated 12,000 different ELCA youth will be working across New Orleans on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. They will all be wearing orange T-shirts. Not just any orange. The official color: hunter orange.

* * *

Spotted at airport:

• Dozens of ELCA youth from Detroit in matching yellow T-shirts
• Dozens of ELCA youth from New Hampshire and Massachusetts wearing black T-shirts that said: “Jesus, hope for the nations.”
• Several red-shirted ELCA volunteers helping Lutherans at the airport with shuttle rides

Businesses spotted near French Quarter:

• Cajun Encounters (bus tours)
• Dixie Gyros Greek Restaurant
• Cemetery Tours