An Excited Loud Echoes Through Ford Field

An Excited Loud Echoes Through Ford Field

An excited shout echoes through Ford Field: "ELCA, are you ready for tonight?" Around me, I hear the roar of 30,000 Lutherans cheering in response. The noise is deafening, and being a part of it both gives me goose bumps and makes my heart race. I stand there in Ford Field, in awe of the sheer number of Lutherans surrounding me. As part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) National Youth Gathering in Detroit, each person in the crowd is my age and shares the same religious beliefs as I do. The energetic and unified atmosphere already has me smiling, and I can't wait for the rest of my week in Detroit.

Of all the days following that night, Friday was the most amazing; at times, however, it seemed to be just the opposite. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...The speakers in Ford Field had all served so many people in their lives, from fighting poverty and world hunger to promoting gender and racial justice. For me, I knew I wouldn't be changing the world in one day, but at least I had a chance to help change Detroit. I guess that's why the service project was so incredibly important to me, and why I was crushed when the DJ made an announcement later that day.

It came around 2:30 P.M.; we had been talking, dancing, and waiting together for 5 hours, and our bus still hadn't come. Anyone could tell how exhausted we were by the looks on our faces. Just as I had convinced myself that our bus was next, a message came over the speakers: "Buses 91–100 will not be leaving today. Due to traffic delays, the buses are now needed to go pick up volunteers from this morning. All remaining participants: follow your leader to the Cobo Center." In one moment, my struggling smile faded and I was on the verge of tears. Thoughts flooded my mind: "How could this happen? Didn't they know they needed a few more buses? I waited all this time for nothing? How could I miss this, it's what I came here for!" Deep down I knew God had much more in store for me, but at the time I felt cheated out of an essential part of the trip. Our tiny circle of six sat in silence for a while, dejected and a little angry. We were given our lunch and began to eat together, but the almost tangible silence remained hanging in the air. After we had eaten, our

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