Tuesday, July 15

This is a picture of our flag. Everyone group has a flag so they know where to find each other. Most people have flags from their country. We chose a skull and crossbones because we knew no one else would have it. And we were right!

WOW!! Honestly, I don't know any other word to describe today. The day began as usual. About 15 people in the group went to the tour of the Opera House. Peggy really enjoyed the architecture, and would really like to go see a show. Taylor and Barb agreed with her. They said the architecture was one of the best things about it. Julia said it seated 2000 people and was "very interesting" to see how it was acoustically set up. It seems like everyone that went really enjoyed it!

The rest of us hung out around the hotel. Jordan and I went to Coles, a nearby supermarket, to buy some food and drinks. We both along with Brett got to call home. Peggy was kind enough to let us use her phone card.

After this, we headed toward the Sydney Harbour, where the 4:30 mass would be celebrated. We got there around 12:00. We got our food, which was meet pies, an orange, and some kind of jam bar. The food is supposed to be from second, third, and fourth world countries. I didn't think it tasted very good.

We eventually met up with the rest of the group, and sat by them. Once settled, Taylor and I walked around looking for new people to meet. We talked to people from Australia, South Dakota, Italy, and all over. It turned out, the people we met from South Dakota we seated right by our group. We ended up playing hacky sack with them. Various people joined and left as we slowly got to know each other. It will be difficult to say goodbye.

Meanwhile, the boys were meeting people of their own. One guy, in particular, stopped and talked for quite a while. He was one interesting man. He had to sneak out of his country to attend World Youth Day. It he had been caught, he would have been seriously punished or killed. He also said that the price of one meal from McDonald's would feed his family for 90 days. It is so sad to see how other people have to live. On the up note, in our fee to go to World Youth Day, we paid for someone who could no afford it to go. That made me feel a little bit better.

Mass began at 4:30. I couldn't see a thing, but I could hear very well. Father Daren had the privelge to con-celebrate mass with a ton of other priests. The rest of us were far away in the crowd. The mass took a total of 2 hours and 15 minutes. They had readings re-read in different languages, and I thought the homily was never-ending. But the fact that we were there with 100,000 other people that shared our faith was overwhelming.

After mass, the boys went to get our food, and the rest of us headed back to the hotel. We ate our "vegetable soup" once we got back. I wouldn't really call it that, but it is good for us to share in the sufferings of other people.

Everyone is very tired after the long day. I'm sure I will sleep very well tonight.