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But it didn't stop the young people from doing several service projects previously set up at agencies and organizations throughout the community.
"A lot of the kids got caught in hail and rain," said John Everett, public relations director for CE National, the education arm of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches that is holding its annual national youth gathering with 2,400 young people this week at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
The kids not only were wet, many of them also were late getting lunch, causing organizers to postpone the door-to-door projects until today and Wednesday, Everett said.
Meanwhile, about 350 young people piled into buses after the rain stopped and headed for work sites throughout the Coulee Region, including the Red Cross, Riverfront Inc., the Salvation Army, La Crosse Children's Museum, Girl Scout Camp Ehawee in Mindoro, the La Crosse Area Family YMCA and fire stations in La Crosse and Onalaska.
"Our church likes to reach out to the neighborhood and show them what we're all about," said Rory Todd, 16, who was among about a dozen kids shoveling black dirt around the edge of a parking lot at La Crosse's No. 3 Fire Station at Losey Boulevard and Green Bay streets.
Todd, a pastor's son from Whittier, Calif., said he enjoyed meeting new people from throughout the country and hearing music and speakers at the convention's worship services.
"I hope to keep the feeling(s) that I'm on fire for God, I can do anything, and spreading it to my friends, too, " he said.
Joanne Gray, 14, of Waldorf, Md., said attending the conference has made her feel like Christ is really in her life.
"I knew he was in my heart, but we weren't very close or anything," she said.
Lamara Graff, 16, of Marion, Ohio, said the conference has been awesome so far, especially the worship services with all 2,400 young people in attendance.
"It's just amazing to see all those people worship and have one belief," Graff said. "You almost never get that."
John M. Helfrich, lieutenant of inspection for the fire department, said grass seed would be sown once the young people finished edging the parking lot with black dirt.
"It's awfully nice that they do this," Helfrich said.
Gayda Hollnagel can be reached at (608) 791-8224 or at ghollnagel@lacrossetribune.com.
