When I was 8 years old, my family hosted a delegate from South Korea for the International Convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 2002. It was great! I remember meeting a couple from Japan, another sister from South Korea and a very VERY tall brother from Canada. It was really something to me; the realization that there are Jehovah’s Witnesses in other countries who do basically the same thing we do but only in their language and in their culture and countries and we are all united together in love! I remember being an 8-year old running from person to person to get a picture with them. I have pictures somewhere with friends from Asia and Africa in their traditional wear. It was one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life! It became my dream to someday, when I was older, to attend an international convention somewhere.
Dreams do come true! It was finally realized a few months ago. It was with great honor to have been accepted to the International Convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Berlin, Germany for 2019. With a total of 24 countries all over the world, this has been a memorable year for brothers and sisters everywhere! If you haven’t been to one yet, I URGE you to do so! It’s one of the most beautiful experiences of life! Honestly, I will be replaying that week over and over in my mind for years to come.
So If you read Traveling Casualties (Part 1), you’ll know that it was a rough trip getting to Berlin, but thank fully we made it! Upon arrival, since it was so late, the brothers were outside waiting but totally weren’t expecting us. Still, I was totally ecstatic to see them! They took care of us and told us that the storm was so bad, one of the airplanes that flew in after us was going to keep the passengers overnight due to heavy rains and thunder/lightening according to their safety regulations. Those brothers were going to stay there overnight, taking turns until the brothers and sisters still on that plane could be released. That blew my mind! The best of all, despite how tired they must’ve been welcoming friends all day, they were still smiling and warm.
That’s just one of MANY examples of how our brothers and sisters all over the world were able to show their love. It Really brought a whole new level and different meaning to what it is “to love”. You come in and you’re so overcome with emotions that you don’t know how to act. You don’t know if you want to smile, or laugh or cry, so you pretty much end up doing all of it at once. It’s definitely a feeling that I don’t think I have ever experienced before. It felt like it was out of this world… coming directly from Jehovah himself. It was intense, whenever I mentally put myself back in that week, I go through the motions again. In all honesty, I’m even tearing a bit as I type these words down. It was euphoric! :’)
Love expressed in these conventions left everyone involved with such a great impression. Not only us, in fact, the spectators that live in these cities noticed, the security guards on duty during the conventions and anyone else that accepted the invitation and attended couldn’t fathom that people like this actually exist in the world. The peace, the harmony and the brotherhood is unlike anything else. I can’t think of a grander way to collectively bring praise and honor to Jehovah our God!
Releasing Ropes 