From the Big Easy...

I am down in New Orleans this week for the MentorYouth.com National Conference. This is a conference that is co-sponsored by the National Network of Youth Ministries (MentorYouth.com is oversee by them), the Office of Juvenile Justice and Deliquency Prevention of the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Justice - Office of Justice Programs, and the Corporation for National and Community Service.

The theme for the conference is Mobilizing New Mentors. It has been a very informative conference, I attended a great workshop on mentor training which affirmed some things I have been doing with that and also gave me some great ideas to implement. The hotel I'm at - the Hotel Monteleone is right in the French Quarter. Last night was crazy - the Louisiana Superdome opened for the first time, and the New Orleans Saints played there for the first time since before Hurricane Katrina. They beat the Atlanta Falcons - 24 - 3. It was crazy down on Bourbon St. I went out with three new friends from LifeBridge out of New Hampshire, and let me tell you if you do a family vacation to New Orleans - avoid the French Quarter - nothing there for the kidlets, not much there for me since I'm not into the Blues, bar-hopping, or other activities that I won't mention in this blog.

Last night the party continued into the wee hours of the night, the only reason I can tell you that is that my hotel room is on the side of the hotel that faces Bourbon St. (we are still like 3-4 blocks away), and I could hear it. Sitting here in my room, it sounds like they are still partying. Crazy.

Anyway, my group walked by Jackson Square (named after Andrew Jackson - who before being President, was the hero of the Battle of New Orleans, the last battle in the War of 1812 against England). It isn't a nice place to visit at night, so I'm planning on going back there after my last workshop to see it during the day. St. Louis Cathedral has some cool architecture. I also would like to see a cemetary (I know that seems weird, but you can't bury people here due to the water table being so high - so it's all above ground - it's different), but I don't know if I will have time (unless there is one close). Also, I'm not sure how much walking I can do today - my right knee has been giving me problems (some of you may know I had arthroscopy on it back in January). It has been giving me troubles off and on for the last two weeks, but yesterday and today non-stop ache, so please pray for me regarding that. Also please pray for a safe trip back tomorrow. Thanks!