After feasting on the buffet at the Shula Steakhouse in our hotel, we headed to the Convention Center for our Interaction Day.  On this day, youth have the opportunity to visit vendors’ booths, put what they have been learning into practice, play games, and to become agents of social change.  Below you will find a smattering of photos of just a handful or two of the activities that were offered.

                                                  Waiting to go into the Interaction Center......

 

          Alex and Matt “kicking game” to the ladies, which usually ended with the same results.

An actual FEMA trailer designed for a family of 4:

Lindsay and I attempting to complete the “Migration Challenge,” an activity in which participants take on the role of birds (in our case, geese) and must attempt to reach their final destination despite all of the obstacles in their way.  We were some of the lucky ones who made it.  Many around us did not.

The “Locks of Love,” area, where youth could donate their hair to make wigs for cancer patients:

Various games and physical challenges:

We had a little fun at the word wall:

Making a fruit smoothie utilizing a bike to power the blender:

Justice Town, where youth could take an active role in learning about many political and social issues, such as homelessness, water supply, human smuggling, child nutrition, and so on:

And even more activities:

                                                          

                                                                Bow to your sensei!!

Kevin and Mitchell donated blood, while some of us were rejected (Emily: did not meet the minimum weight requirement, Matt (Belize visit) and Michael (Jamaica visit, though Mitchell yelled across to me in front of all of the workers and donors, “Is it because of the hookers, Michael?”)

After the Interaction Center, we headed to dinner, which proved to be an ill-fated decision.  Wanting to branch out from Oceana, we decided to try another restaurant on Bourbon Street.  It wasn’t good.  Unless you think waiting an hour-and-half for cold po-boys, gumbo, and fries is good.....then it is your kind of restaurant.  I will not mention the name of said restaurant here because that may be unfair to the place.  But it’s sign outside looks like this:

                                              

                                               Daydreaming that food would soon arrive.......

And then it did, after an hour:

                                       .....in the form of ketchup and water.........

After the debacle at dinner, some youth decided to stay in, while some went to the large group gathering.  I was dealing with the after effects of the terrible meal (I will spare you the details), so I opted to watch the live blog-cast from my hotel room.  Anne Lentz was nice enough to take the youth who wanted to go to the large gathering to the dome. 

               

                                             

                                            Pillow forts.....yes....our kids are gifted.

The dome event featured Donald Miller, who encouraged youth to put words into action; that just caring is not enough.  “Justice requires work.  We must enter into the complex life that justice requires.”

Venice Williams (No, not the tennis player) spoke about how the “green movement,” is not just about reducing waste or consumption or recycling, but also all about honoring God’s imagination. 

Anne Mahlum told her personal story from inner-city Philadelphia.  Every day she would jog past a homeless shelter until one day she decided she couldn’t just jog by any longer.  She founded “Back On My Feet,” which promotes the self-sufficiency of Philadelphia’s homeless population by engaging them in running as a means of building self-confidence, strength, and self-esteem.  My favorite line of her speech: “Sometimes you can’t pick the moments that change your life.”

The Flying Karamazov Brothers “entertained” the crowd with their juggling and humor, but not nearly as much as musical guests Guyland Leday (a child accordion player who plays in the traditional Zydeco style), Amanda Shaw (16 year old fiddle/violin player who is featured in the iMax film, “Hurricane on the Bayou”, and The Katinas, who played praise and worship songs as the crowd sang along.

The last highlight of the night, and this is a big one for me, was that I got to see and hear jazz live at a corner establishment in New Orleans. 

Loved it.

All for now,

Michael and the fort builders from NOLA