I wish every one of you could have been at the ELCA Youth Conference in New Orleans and seen 38,000 teens walking in the streets of New Orleans, working in the devastation from the hurricane, and worshipping Jesus.  It was an awesome experience.

Several times that week in New Orleans I would look around at all those kids and I wondered how God was working in their lives, then I would look at our kids and smile.  They have their whole future ahead of them and God is sitting in the driver's seat.

At the welcome home church service, I told funny little stories about our kids on the trip, but some of you were unable to attend so I am going to repeat them in this article.  Our kids of Burke are very special and God is working in them, and it's going to be awesome to see where God leads them.  Thank you for all of your support.

The two men of our trip were Tim Klang and Alex Olson.  Tim and Alex are dapper young men, who spent their free time in the weight room (I still am not sure what was so appealing about a weight room) and when they were lounging around in the room at night, they put big white fluffy robes on and strutted around like kings.  I see God working in Tim and Alex.

Jamie Truitt and Michelle Schmid -- our two newest little sheep.  Jamie and Michelle have to be two of the most talented ladies I know.  At 4:00 am Jamie, in her sleep, spoke Spanish to Michelle and Michelle answered Jamie in Pig Latin, which was an interesting experience for me since I shared a room with them.  Then there is the elevator incident; being stuck in the elevator at one in the morning for an hour and a half.  I see God working in Jamie and Michelle.

Megan Schultz - Megan is our no nonsense girl.  When there is something to be done, such as making free hug T-shirts, she got the ball rolling.  "We need shirts, we need scissors, we need markers," and she picked out the supplies.  The girls made the shirts and free hugs were given.  Megan had one special request on this trip -- to go to Cafe Du Monde for Beignets and we did.  Megan knew what she was talking about.  They were the best little pastries I have ever eaten -- throw in a little chicory coffee and WOW!  Thank you, Megan.  I see God working in Megan.

Jacqui and Jessie Wollin -- the two inseparable sisters of the group.  For sisters, they really like each other.  Jacqui and Jessie have this contagious laugh.  If you couldn't find them all you had to do was stop and wait for the laugh and there they would be.  Their laugh could also wake you up from a sound sleep, and that is a fact.  I experienced it first hand and I wasn't even in the same room with them!  I see God working in Jacqui and Jessie.

Six years ago when I became a part of the Burke staff, one of my responsibilities was to be a part of the youth group.  In the youth group was little Kaylee Housner and little Kaylee would be so upset when we were planning mission trips and ELCA gatherings because she wasn't old enough to attend.  We kept telling her "Honey, you just have to wait.  Your time is coming."  Kaylee's time did come and she has gone on several mission trips and now the gathering.  This is bittersweet for me because now little Kaylee is no longer Little Kaylee, she is now a beautiful young woman who is preparing for the next phase of her life.  I see God working in Kaylee.

Hugs and Prayers

Karen