Day Four 7/19/21

Pastor, Vicar and Art went to register at the Convention Center this morning , leaving at 7AM. As part of registration, they picked up everyone's clear bag that would be the only bag we would be allowed to carry into the Superdome. Meanwhile, the rest of us were back at the hotel, gathering in our meeting room for for breakfast at 7:45 AM with Kara as our fearless leader, who kept everyone on time. 

After breakfast, we went down to the lobby in groups (We had to travel down two different elevators, one of which had maximum capacity of 10 and the other of which had a maximum capacity of 15.) We did get some interest from passers by in our shirts, which are based on Isaiah 43:2, which says  (in Eglish):

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
    and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
    and the flame shall not consume you.

or in Creole:

In the swamp of sin, Jesus is our Levee

We boarded the bus, and quickly took care of hair needs before

picking up Pastor, Vicar and Art outside the Convention Center and heading to Mardi Gras World - the largest float designing and building facility in the world! This is where more than 80% of Mardis Gras floats originate from...

We felt right at home because one of the first things we saw walking in the door was Mickey and Minnie.

along with many other characters that had ridden on Mardi Gras floats, which were larger than life, and seemed to keep an eye on us

We proceeded into the gift shop where there were real Mardi Gras costumes that were available to try on in order to help imagine what it would be like to ride on a Mardi Gras float.

Then the tour started. We met our tour guide who presented a brief history of Mardi Gras and gave each of us a slice of King cake to sample.

Then we went into the main part of the building, where we saw how the float characters were designed and built from  many layers of styrofoam glued together and sculpted by a robot named Pixie

then are covered with paper mache, painted, and become the amazing sculptures that were all around us in the warehouse.

These are then placed on floats, many of which are double-deckers

Here are our youth posing for a picture...

After the tour, we had some time to wander around the facility and have some fun posing with the various characters

Leaving Mardi Gras world, we headed to the Swamp Tour, once again crossing Lake Pontchartrain

and various other low lying areas with occasional birds

At the Cajun Pride Swamp Tours, we received box lunches and ate at some picnic tables

before beginning our adventure aboard a flat bottom, pontoon style boat.

After getting situated on the benches, we were off...

and it wasn't long before we saw an alligator. Lots of alligators actually, which swam right by the boat. 

The large number of alligators likely has something to do with the fact that the tour boat operators put food on sticks for the alligators to come and eat... 

The alligators seem to be very aware of this practice and swim toward the boats, looking for a nice snack

There were also large groups of racoons, active during the day due to the feeding practices of the tour guides  

an occasional bird

and groups of wild pigs

which were right by the boat

Then our tour guide pulled a baby alligator out of a cooler and passed him all around the boat

He had a somewhat mischievous smile

No sooner had we finished passing around the baby alligator than there was a loud clap of thunder and a sudden downpour.

We had a metal roof on the boat, and so did not let this dampen our spirits

Back at the picnic tables we entertained ourselves for a bit waiting for the rain to let up.

Then boarded the bus and drove to the levee close by Oak Alley Plantation.

We got out and walked along the levee separating the Mississippi River from the plantation.

Here is Oak Alley Plantation,

On the way back to the bus, some of the guys decided to sprint, with the rest of the group coming back at a more leisurely pace

Next we went down the road a short distance to Laura Plantation.

The cat on the back of the visitor center was definitely very popular.

One of us had even color coordinated with the local flowers.

We took a tour of the plantation

starting in the basement

Daryl (our bus driver) came along with us

Next we proceeded to the front porch

and through the main part of the house

as well as the out buildings

We saw the suger cane growing near the slave quarters

This is where the slaves lived, with four to six slaves living on each side of the duplex.

Next we drove back to the Convention Center, where the banners along the street displayed the NYG theme of ENDURE.

We were 20 min ahead of schedule (!) and had time to explore the gift shop area and engage in a laser sword battle before dinner.

Dinner was bbq chicken. (Our mascot, Philippe the FROG, rested during this time).

As we headed out of the Convention Center we encountered Joy, a comfort dog, who seemed to enjoy being comforted by us.

Then began the 25min or so march to the Superdome, led by Karsten carrying Philippe on a pole. Philippe the FROG reminds us that we Fully Rely On God.

 Philippe is also easy to spot from the back of our group and allows everyone to easily see where we are going when the mass of other convention-goers presses in on our group as we all approach the Superdome.

Philippe proudly wears the Hawkeye cape as well.

We entered the superdome

where there were a variety of speakers and music. We each received a wristband which lit up with different colors depending on which section you were seated in during some of the songs. We heard our theme message (ENDURE)presented in a variety of ways and our theme song (ENDURE). The whole mass event pointing toward the theme verse -

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

(Hebrews 12:1-2)

 Hebrews 11 lists a great cloud of witnesses from the Old Testament (Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and so many more), and here we see that this great cloud of witnesses is still here today, all of us in the Superdome. We bear all witness to the same thing, looking to Jesus as the author and perfecter of our faith. 

There was a jazz band that played some New Orleans jazz music. They were amazing. They concluded with a rousing rendition of 

O when the saints
go marching in

O when the saints go marching in, 

O Lord I want to be in that number

When the saints go marching in.

(This song has a special meaning for us as we have sung this song multiple times daily on our trip, doing our count-off after the word "number" to make sure everyone is present before we leave a location)

By faith Abraham went out, not knowing where he was going but only knowing that the Lord had told him to go. He lived as a nomad at God's command. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. 

(from Hebrews 11)

Lord, let us see this great cloud of witnesses, and may they strengthen our own faith. May we do your will in our lives as we also look forward to the city that you have prepared for us. Amen, amen amen!

In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

(John 14:2-3)