ELCA NEWS SERVICE

July 25, 2009  

ELCA Youth Urged to Volunteer, Provide Hope, Make Dreams Come True
09-165-JB

     NEW ORLEANS (ELCA) -- Two young men with very different life
experiences told of how their volunteerism in distant places has helped
them feel hope and provide hope to many.
     Spencer West and Michel Chikwanine were speakers at the July 24
evening program at the Louisiana Superdome, part of the 2009 Youth
Gathering of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
     The gathering includes 37,000 Lutheran teenagers, adult leaders and
other volunteers who are here July 22-26. "Jesus Justice Jazz" is the
gathering's theme. Participants are fanning out across the area to nearly
200 community service sites during their visit to this city.
     West, from Toronto, was born with a condition that resulted in the
amputation of both legs when he was five.  "I was told there was no hope
for me," he said. "But my family and I refused to believe that. So we set
out to prove not only to ourselves but to the rest of the world that I
could be just like everybody else."
     Sitting in a wheelchair on the Superdome stage, West described the
disappointments of growing up, including being bullied and hearing
constant comments about the fact that he had no legs.
     What changed his outlook on life was a "Me to We" trip to Kenya
during his high school years, he said.  Me to We is a movement for young
people aimed at social change throughout the world. It sponsors trips,
and provides education and speakers.
     "From the moment I arrived in Kenya, I instantly felt peace and
clarity," West said.  During that trip, he helped build a school and
learned what life is like for some Kenyans. One young Kenyan girl
commented that she didn't realize that white people such as West
experienced life difficulties, too.
     Through volunteerism West said he discovered his purpose in life and
learned that he was "different" for a reason. "I was different because I
needed to show people like yourselves and kids in Kenya that it doesn't
matter what your abilities are, what color your skin is, where you're
from or what your gender is. If you work hard with others, never give up,
and laugh a lot and aren't afraid to stand up for something that you
believe in -- we all have the ability to provide hope and possibility for
others," he said.
     Chikwanine, who grew up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was
forced to become a child soldier at age 5 by rebels during a time when
his country was experiencing a civil war.  He said he was forced by
rebels to shoot his best friend.
     But after two weeks as a soldier, Chikwanine escaped. "I ran as fast
as I could for three days and three nights, constantly looking over my
shoulder thinking that somebody was chasing me," Chikwanine said.  He was
reunited with his family.
     Chikwanine left his home country at age 11, living with his family
in a refugee camp in North Uganda.  He recalled that experience when he
visited this city two years ago and saw people living in tents.  One
young girl living there reminded him of his travels throughout Africa and
the world, where he's met students eager to hear his story.
     "It kept reminding me that we as humans go through all kinds of
struggles but we also have something called hope.  Hope is something
better in the future. We have to realize that hope is not just a dream,
but it's a way of making dreams come true.  That's what each and every
one of you here is doing.  By volunteering you're giving the people of
New Orleans a way to dream.  You're honestly giving them hope."
     The July 24 Superdome gathering included a concert by Skillet, a
Christian rock band, a special singing performance of "Note to God," plus
videos and other music.
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     Information about the Youth Gathering is at
http://www.ELCA.org/gathering on the ELCA Web site.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news