Saint Stephens and Atonement Youth Join 2006 Youth Gathering in San Antonio, TX

It is exciting that the Saint Stephen's Lutheran Youth group and the Atonement Lutheran Youth Group joined together for this big event.  This week of July 12-16 they are currently joining 24,000 youth, volunteers and chaperones at the ELCA Youth Gathering.  For more info to go the official site: 2006 ELCA Youth Gathering: San Antonio     

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Youth and parents arrive July 11 to load up St. Stephen's van.

All gear is neatly packed away.

"Texas or bust"

"Crazy Lutherans on Board"

The perfect van to get them all to the airport.

"We're in Texas"

After a send off prayer the group gathers for a photo opportunity.

Youth and Chaperones.

Ready to go!

Leaving Atonement parking lot for airport. They plan to arrive in San Antonio later that evening.

Looking out the plane leaving GSO Airport

Jill and Tonya on the plane

Alex on the plane

Jesse and Elizabeth on the plane

Pastor Matt trying to look back

Looking out the plane once again

Jill and Tonya looking away

The Houston airport terminal

Jill on the subway in Houston

Looking out the plane on the night flight to San Antonio (blurry)

Fellow Lutherans at baggage claim in San Antonio

W.C. at baggage claim

Welcome sign at the Alamo Convention Center

Entrance to the convention center

Elizabeth, Jesse, Tonya, and Jill in the convention center

Dwight D. Eisenhower in convention center (we took creative liberties)

Courtyard and River Walk at the mall

Pastor Matt and the group at the mall

River at the mall once again

Pastor Matt in reflection

Looking at a wing in the mall on another packed day

Jill watching a singer in the convention center

The House Band in the Alamo Dome

Looking at only a fraction of the 26,000 Lutherans

The Alamo Dome stage

Mural in a Latino suburb outside of San Antonio

Mural on the wall created by the local art foundation

Jill on a lighter side....

And Alex on a lighter side...

Jill once again...

The full mural symbolizing the life and death of a latino woman

Mural of the Virgin Mary on the building for the art foundation

Burning heart on the building made of mirror peices

The sky in the suburbs

Local backyard

Another mural. Not pictured on the far left are the names of men and women written on the wall who have died of local violence

Artistic (kind of) look at a street sign and the sky

Another mural drawn on a run-down convenience store

The same mural

Mural drawn on the local building used for STD testing to promote the health of the community

The band Lost and Found in the convention center

Pastor Matt, Bishop Hanson, and Alex. This was the best day of Pastor Matt's life (kidding).