Youth Travel Journal 2008

July 27, 2008 (installment #2)

N.Y.E. has been great so far! There is a Starbucks!

My last workshop was called “The Crisis in Sudan: One Man’s Story”. At the beginning they played a short film about the civil war in Sudan and the Lost Boys. The Lost Boys had to walk to Ethiopia, which took about two years, when their villages were attacked. They were able to stay at a refugee camp for a few years but then had to leave and walk to Kenya. The boys walked 1,000 miles. There were 27,000 to start with and only 12,000 made it. When the film was done one of the Lost Boys came on stage and talked to everyone about his experience. He said his village was attacked early in the morning when he was seven. His dad had died and he was separated from his mom and his sibling. After being in Kenya for awhile he was interviewed and told that he was picked to go to the U.S. He spent three days with other Sudanese learning about life in the U.S. They learned how to turn on the lights, how to cook, how to use the bathroom, etc. He moved to Connecticut in May 2001 and was enrolled in high school with some other boys. They were shocked at how the students used their cell phones in class and disrespected the teachers. So one day he walked up to his teacher and said,” In Sudan we paid attention in class and didn’t act like this” and the teacher replied,” Welcome to the U.S.” The boys dropped out and joined a more private learning program and got their high school diplomas in six months. One day he got a phone call from his cousin saying telling him his mother and sibling were alive. People raised money so he could go visit his mother and sibling. In 2006 he became an official citizen of the U.S.

When he was done talking he got a long standing ovation. There were also many spots in his story when people were clapping. As I was sitting in my seat I kept looking around the auditorium and saw people crying, smiling and occasionally laughing. The workshop was a great experience because you found out that people go through things like that and still believe in God.

Kati Hart

This week at Knoxville Tennessee was so much fun. The day before I left, well a week before I left, I was so excited! Michael Fiez and I were texting back and forth counting down the days until it was the time to leave. I was so excited when we pulled out of the Salem United Church Of Christ parking lot in Verona, WI. I rode with Angie to DeForest and it was so much fun. Zoey and the others were talking about middle school stuff and we were kind of eaves-dropping!! When we finally reached the coach buses I was so excited. The bus ride was so much fun down to Tennessee. We went through downtown Chicago and it was so beautiful at night. I have never been there and I was so excited to get a chance to go there at night. We stopped along the way to eat about 3 different times. I kept asking people sitting next to me on the bus what state we were in and they all kept saying Illinois. I was so impatient. Then when I was sleeping we arrived in Tennessee so I woke up to people looking out the window and the scenery of the Smokey Mountains! It was so awesome going through them, well I actually loved it.

When we got to the University I was glad that the 11 hour bus ride was over, and that I was in one of my favorite states, Tennessee without my parents. I finally saw something they haven’t seen yet in a whole other state! YAY. I found out that I was bunking with Abbey, Zoe, and Kaitlyn. The first day was so fun and I was so glad I finally made it, but as the days went on it really wasn’t fun anymore. First it was the heat, oh my gosh it was so hot but to people down here it seems perfectly normal. Walking didn’t help much either, the University is so big and my activities were so far apart and I hardly had them with anyone I knew.

Having Abbey as my roommate and she wouldn’t let me got to sleep! I was so tired in the morning and the walking in heat didn’t help that either. But as far as the activities go they were fun. First I went to volleyball then “tell your sacred stories”. The next day I went to “old faith, new music”. The last day I went to “the crisis of Sundan”and “When We Were Young”, minister speakers from all over the USA. But at the end of each day I was so happy and fun and really surprised how much I learned.

Right now, the night before I leave to head back to my home state Wisconsin, I am so happy to go just like I wanted to go to Tennessee. I can’t wait to crawl into my bed and get a good night sleep for once in the last 5 days. I can’t wait to see my parents and I can’t believe I’m saying this but I can’t wait to see my brother. Overall I had an awesome and fun filling trip and I might not do it again but it was certainly an opportunity that I could miss out on and I’m glad I didn’t!!

Kari Blake

Hello I am writing to the nice people of Salem from the beautiful city of Knoxville where the weather is nice and the people are friendly. My time here has been a very fun and informative one. One of the highlights of my time here at NYE has been hearing the collegium (of pastors and denomination leaders) speak about what they do and why they do it. So far the NYE lifestyle has been a fun one

Eric Hauser

Dear friends,

Thank you for following our journey to NYE through this travel journal. We have traveled far not only in distance, but in fellowship together, and in growing faith. We were deeply saddened to learn of the tragedy that unfolded this morning in a Knoxville church, and have prayed that all those affected be touched by God’s love and comfort. We are also thankful that all of the NYE participants were safe and beyond the reach of harm. We would ask that you join us in prayer for those who mourn.

We have been “Living the Life” at NYE that God has welcomed us into, and our hope is that all that we have experienced here will bring us more fully into our relationship with God and with one another. The gifts of each of our young people will continue to enrich the lives of family, friends, and the ministry of our church. We look forward to sharing more of our stories with you, and to the homecoming that awaits us.

In Peace,

Laura, Angie, and Dick

July 27, 2008

Hey everybody,

This week in Knoxville we have done a lot of fun things. There is a lot of music, and the band Lost and Found is definitely my favorite band that has played. We also do two workshops each day. Most of the workshops can be a lot of fun, but some of them are a little boring. The food here is really good too. Everyday we have to walk to the arena, which is really far away for worship. Overall, I have had a lot of fun here, but I am also eager to get home.

-Zach Nechvatal

Hello everyone,

Everyone’s been having a great time this week. All the workshops have been fun, and the speakers at the services have really made an impact on a lot of people. Also, there has been some really great musical performances and there’s a lot of fun things to do during free time. All in all everyone has been having a blast, and look forward to having a fun final night here on campus.

Michael Fiez

Hi to all at Salem from Knoxville. Please know you all have raised great kids- young adults . What a pleasure it has been to be apart of this group. It is truly wonderful to witness the growth and participation I see with this bunch. Salem is really a special place to have nurtured this group.

Love to all in Christ, Dick

We have all been having a great time at NYE this year. Every one has been finding opportunities to do what they like all week. But my favorite part of the trip has been the morning worship service at the beginning of each day. Walking down with friends, new and old, has been a great time to catch up on different events and look forward to the next activity. The music by Lost and Found, Starfield, and the house band has been excellent made even better by the fact that nearly the entire arena gets on their feet, clapping and waving their hands, singing when called for, bouncing ten+ beach balls to the entire crowd, and really joining in. But I found the sermons the most thought-provoking. They have all been very emotional and prove the reader’s true faith in God and what is right. Julia Butterfly Hill sat in a tree for two years, not because she was forced but because she volunteered. She went days without food when loggers kept her food supply from arriving, and held on when helicopters flew mere feet above her head with winds whipping her. The other speakers have told about being orphans, and many other things they have done to help less fortunate. I think all the speakers have excellent stories and really got to people with their message.

-Nadia Graese

Saturday, July 26

Dear church family,

It has been a fantastic experience, here in Tennessee, NYE. The people are so kind and friendly it really touches my heart being so close like a family. I definitely would like to stay longer and I am planning on coming back in four years. It really is a neat experience at our worships. The sermons touch my heart. One time at worship I saw smoke come up and it looked like two hands coming together to hold each other, then I knew God has always been with me. Julia Butterfly Hill was an amazing speaker. It’s like her and God were best of friends, the way she knew what she had to do. The workshops are neat and I really liked some of the choices. All together, this experience will last a lifetime in my memory.

Zoe Shaw

Greetings from the tropics!! Hot, sweaty, tired and inspired we are! The trip helps me to remember all of the good things- laughter, prayer, support, empowerment and far more (showers, AC, Beds…). I won’t waste your time with all of the adjectives that could be used to describe this trip, but know that I have learned so much about, and more importantly FROM, the youth or our church and others. The future is now, it is here, it is alive and well and living in the suburbs with people of diverse backgrounds, cultures, races and yes…even religions (GASP- say it isn’t so!!). I got very pumped about the Interfaith Youth organization based in Chicago, so brace yourselves to hear more about that in the not too distant future. Thank you for this gift and the trust you have shown in allowing me to accompany these amazing people.

Blessings, joy and peace be yours! In His name,

Angie Shaw

Yo waz up! I’ve been having a good time here in Tennessee. I think my favorite thing hear is the music. “Lost and Found” is here and they are really cool. Aside from being kool musicians they tell a lot of jokes. They’re really funny people, they would be good comedians. That’s all I’ve good to say so I’ll see u cats on the flip flop later!

Mike Cashman

Hey, NYE has been really fun, there has been a lot of music and stuff like that. There is 1 band here that is really funny called “Lost and Found”. The people here are really funny. The only bad part was the long bus ride and the place we go to worship twice a day that is like a mile away. But besides that it is really fun and we are having a good time.

Alex Nechvatal.

Hi!! NYE has been so great so far! Yesterday I went to The Boys and Girls Club. It was so awesome to get to interact with the kids. It was also kind of sad though because most of the kids are under-privileged. You couldn’t hug them or touch them because some of them have been abused. We are all having a great time!

Kaitlyn Hopfensperge

Scone on Wisconsin. Yet another youth event that has been non-stop and awesome the entire way. It all started off with a 3000 person church service (1) in the basketball arena, which I might add was a pretty awesome church service believe it or not. Friday we went to another service (2) in the morning, and then to our first workshop. Brien, Abbey, and I went to a workshop held by a drumming group called Sheltered Reality. About 15 people played drums along with songs. Our next workshop was to learn about the band Lost And Found’s bike trip around the perimeter of the United States. Not only did they entertain us with their story, they took literally everything any one said and turned it into something so funny about half the people in the room were crying because they were laughing so hard. Another service (3) followed dinner that night, and after that we had free time then bed time. The morning started off with yet another service (4) following breakfast, and our third workshop of the event. Brien and I were conveniently scheduled for all of the same workshops, so we went to a workshop in the basketball arena all about new music in church. A long afternoon of free time followed which is where we are now. You will hear about the rest of what’s to come from the rest of the group but for now I have free time to attend to.

Tyler Wilbricht

Friday, July 25, 2008

Hello Salem UCC members! This is Abbey Wilbricht from Knoxville, Tennessee. The National Youth Event is AMAZING!!! Everyone is so nice and friendly and all the workshops and group meetings are awesome. Last nights first welcome gathering was so fun. The group, Star Field, was the opening group and really set the tone of a fun week ahead. We’ll keep you updated and will have many more stories to share when we get back!!!

Sincerely,

Abbey Wilbricht

Hey everybody back home from Brien Nechvatal. NYE has been great so far. We have heard three or four good bands play so far. The first workshop I have attended so far was the drum group Sheltered Reality. They played drums to popular songs and also had a good message about the drums bringing people together and allowing them to step out of their comfort level. I will see all of you when I return and hopefully have many more stories to tell.

Brien Nechvatal

Wow…so far, I’m impressed. The worship services are incredible! You don’t get the feeling of a normal worship service until they start the prayers. Last night, there was something like a mini-concert before and after with a really awesome Christian Rock band…from CANADA! They are amazing. I had my first workshop today and it was pretty sweet, too. I really like the programs that they have here, though. I’m anticipating an awesome stay here at the University of Tennessee and am not looking forward to the long bus ride back, but oh well. It’s going to happen either way.

Peace out y’all!

Josh Hart

Hello everyone!

It is warm and muggy here, but from all we have experienced so far, NYE is pretty “cool”! Like the others, I have particularly enjoyed the contemporary Christian bands who have been playing here – they uplift and inspire! Last night’s speaker was a young woman who has served as a UCC Global Mission intern and spoke of her experiences living in Jerusalem; she spoke from her heart about her hopes for a peaceful resolution to the Middle East conflict, while acknowledging the daily hardships of her many friends and neighbors who live in a place of war and tension.

Above all, what has inspired me most is our Salem youth; there are three thousand people attending this conference, which can be a little chaotic at times! J Our youth have consistently been patient, positive, and willing to explore and experience all that NYE has to offer. They are support one another, take care of their chaperones who just “need to know” what is happening (!!) , and regularly come together to “check in”, to share meals, and swap stories, and look out for one another. They are living examples of caring Discipleship and you can all be proud of them! I feel so fortunate to share in this experience, “Living The Life” with such a very cool group of young people, and to work alongside such enthusiastic and supportive leaders as Dick and Angie. Thank you for your continuing prayers for our journey!

Peace,

Laura