Wonder Voyage 2008 Summer Blog

Today was the day we wrapped the trip up.  After a BIG breakfast our team visited the NOLA Aquarium and then off to tour the French Quarter.  The team had a great time – walking, visiting with each other, buying gifts for Mom / Dad and taking in some local food & culture. 

After our time in the city we retreated to Bubba Gumps on Canal for a hearty Celebration Meal, games, prizes and our FBC gift exchange.  Then, we took the ferry home (a favorite activity of our team) and prepared for our return home. 

After we packed, we participated in “Pass the Candle” were we challenge the team to share one thing they wanted to take home that changed their lives and on teammate that surprised them that week.  Each person took this challenge very seriously and we experienced one of the BEST Pass the Candle encounters I have ever facilitated.  My take-a-way: these teens took seriously their opportunity to serve, love and share – which has made an impact on the city of NOLA and influenced me to good works to those in need right where I live. 

This was our last day of outreach – so we decided to take the team on a “Devastation Tour” of the lower 9th Ward in New Orleans.  This is the neighborhood everyone has heard about on national TV…the place that sustained the most severe damage from the levy breach / flooding.  As we crossed the bridge, over the industrial canal, into the lower 9th the scope of the damage hits you.  As far as the eye can see there is nothing but a house here and church building there (all boarded up).  Where there was once a poor but vibrant neighborhood now there is nothing but tall grass and trees.  The new levy wall reveals just how large the breach was.  In addition, the stories we heard from NOLA religious leaders helped us to realize just how mismanaged the maintenance of the levies were and just how fast a city disappeared under the rush of the flood water.
 
As you drive through this neighborhood you are left gasping for air.  I told the story of Katrina, the perfect storm for this city.  I shared what is was like to come back just months after the city reopened and then asked the team members to imagine what it would be like if a “storm” of this magnitude hit their neighborhood.  What if they returned home from this trip to find their homes flooded, cars gone, stores closed, banks locked, and their local school was now a center for homeless families!  You could not hear a peep on the bus.  The students were challenged to leave judgment behind and embrace those who were desperately trying to make sense of their own devastated lives. 
 
That evening we asked the team to reflect on what they saw and who they were serving.  One phrase kept resurfacing.  The teens could not believe how devastated the city was, how simple life had become and how generally happy people were that we were there – serving, loving, and living the message of Christ.

Awake and with a tough go with the morning shower routine the group from Good Shepherd Episcopal set out early to attend an Anglican worship service at Saint Paul (very fitting for our journey) in the heart of Athens.

We ate lunch after the service and then set out to visit Mars Hill, where Paul explained the scriptures and told who the unknown God was. This was a time of reflection, pondering in our heart and imagining Paul as we stood in his foot steps. From there we headed to the  Acropolis and the amazing Pantheon set high above the city below.

As the sun shined bright and the marble stone steps reflected marvels tones, we climbed our way to see our forth and final world heritage site in seven days.

Making our way down from the Acropolis we slowed to shop in the market below and then made our way back to the mission apartments where the group is staying. We have enjoyed some amazing food on this pilgrimage but this final night was wonderful as we took part together in a wonder voyage tradition of having a celebration meal for the groups last evening.

We ate a fabulous meal on the roof top of our house with the Anglican priest, the Rev Malcolm Bradshaw from Saint Paul, who was able to join us for our meal on this the feast day of Paul (again how fitting). After dinner, as the sun set across the horizon, we sat in a circle and passed a candle around the circle. As the candle came to each person they shared about their individual perspective and take aways from our journey together. This intimate time was a wonderful opportunity for each person to hear what God was doing in each individual on this pilgrimage.

In the morning these road weary pilgrims begin their journey home to Kentucky. I know that the arms of many friends and family await them. I suggest you hug them tight and then listen to their stories of adventure and wonder. Its been a good journey.

Written By Paul and Scott, Two pilgrims in Greece.

Today we started our free day in Athens after sleeping in a little. We got our beach stuff together and got on a city bus “because our wonderful bus driver Ulysses left us for another group.” When we got to the private beach we were please to see the cushioned chairs and umbrellas. We swam in the crystal clear water that was surprisingly cold. After a long swim we dosed off under the intense sun.

After our beach time we joined Ken in a spiritual encounter moment. Early in the week we all choose smooth stones from one site we visited along our journey. The stone we each had been carrying represented a burden that was holding us back from living the life God wants us to live. After carrying our stone around this week everyone was invited to get rid of our stone and the burden it represented by throwing it in the sea.

After the stone throw we got on a tram and passed by the Olympic village on the way to the center of the ancient city. We shopped in the market below the Acropolis before going to the apartment where we are staying. We had dinner and listened to the life story of the lady who is the Pastor of the E.M.E. church in Athens. Overall, Paul and Scott really liked the beach and the girls really liked singing Lion King and T-Pain songs.