Happy Independence Day!

Okay I'm writing now so I don't get stuck trying to recap my day at 3 in the morning again!

At 10:00 this morning, we had a huge worship service in the Convention Center which around 8,000 people attended. The feeling of being part of such a large group was incredible and Bruce Reyes-Chow (the 218th GA Moderator) gave an engaging and inspiring sermon.

The service had lots of special music and a big choir made up of singers from several congregations in the area (or so I'm assuming from the variety in robes).

For the first time in GA history, we had a baptism at the worship service which made the event even more memorable.

A mural was created during the service which is meant to depict the verse around which the 219th GA is based:

"Out of the believer's heart shall flow rivers of living water." - John 7:38

After the worship service, we had a huge lunch in the ballroom and met with our individual committees for the first time. We went through parliamentary procedures and set the agenda for the next two days. Oh yeah and we got free candy. Three other YAADs and I thought we would be assertive by sitting front and center so that we can make a presence on the committee and show the other people that we're serious! Of course none of us are as prepared to talk about the overtures as the commissioners who have studied these topics in depth for months, but at least we can stay in the middle of the action and make sure our opinions are heard.

Now it's off to Nicollet Island for a picnic and fireworks on the Mississippi River!