2015 International Conventions (Spoiler?)

[dozerman5676]

I don't think it's a spoiler since it's not for all congregations in the U.S. and it was read last week. A letter read at our Service Meeting and again Sunday was outlining some 2015 International Conventions. In scanning the list it looks like about half of the states in the U.S. are invited (Montana was not invited to any International Conventions in 2014). You must apply and be accepted to make your travel plans.

Here is a list of the Convention Cities for us to choose from:

Ghent, Belgium

Sofia, Bulgaria

Medellin, Colombia

Zagreb, Croatia

Tallinn, Estonia

Ta' Qali, Malta

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Airfare to these cities is a lot from Montana so I should start walking now.......

[rocket]

Airfare to these cities is a lot from Montana so I should start walking now.......

 

Don't forget to bring your water shoes and shark repellent. 

[trottigy]

And as I was corrected on this, I am happy to pass on the correction   I believe they are calling them "special" rather than "international".  

 

Same thing, but only different.    

[shali]

This set of conventions for 2014 isn't even over and they already have solid plans for ones overseas for 2015!  This organization truly amazes me! So many irons in the fire yet they keep track of it all and keep adding to the pile!

[dozerman5676]

And as I was corrected on this, I am happy to pass on the correction   I believe they are calling them "special" rather than "international".  

 

Same thing, but only different.  

That even makes me feel special!

[trottigy]

This set of conventions for 2014 isn't even over and they already have solid plans for ones overseas for 2015!  This organization truly amazes me! So many irons in the fire yet they keep track of it all and keep adding to the pile!

 

 

Plan ahead as if Armageddon will not come in your lifetime, but lead your life as if it will come tomorrow (w 2004 Dec. 1 page 29)

[ava]

Plan ahead as if Armageddon will not come in your lifetime, but lead your life as if it will come tomorrow (w 2004 Dec. 1 page 29)

 

STOP WITH THIS QUOTE!!!!  I know this quote more then any other quotes in our literature because of you, hahaha.

 

Lol, jk with ya Jerry!!!!

[LoneWanderer]

While not counted as an Intrrnational Convention, there is going to be a very special Regional Convention to be held in Stockholm, Sweden in the beginning of next July.

Apparently for the first time ever all Witnesses in the territory overseen by the Scandinavia Branch shall be invited to one convention. This is going to mean a huge witness that shall be given in a VERY secularly minded society that is Sweden when all the guests from elsewhere in Sweden as well as Denmark, Norway, Faroe Islands and Iceland gather together to be taught by Jehovah. Venue holding the convention is the new(ish) national stadium for football (soccer) called, wait for it...wait for it..yes, Friends Arena ( :rolleyes: ) with a capacity of some 50,000 seats.

The number of publishers in the whole branch territory is somewhere around 48,000 mark, so let us hope that as many as possible can make it to this historic event. Might be difficult for some due to financial restraints or other problems to do the trip. And even though I personally abhor the thought of tens of thousands of people talking at the same time during breaks (over-sensitive as I am), I really hope the 2014 memorial wasn't our "last" ;)

[shali]

Don't worry about the noise during the breaks - you only get one hour and you bring your food with you.  It's fun to sit in your seat and look out and really take in the scope of your brotherhood!  Plus on Saturday, you can watch the baptism during your lunch.  The hour goes by really fast - eat, find a restroom and back to your seat takes up the whole hour practically!  Plus, it's worth it to hear all those voices singing to Jehovah at the same time!

[lavritt]

I want to go to MALTA!!! (though I doubt it will happen) My step son works for an airline and goes to Malta for the weekend (makes you sick, doesn't it??!!!) Anyway, the first time he went he called his dad and said, after visitng Malta, he has decided that Apostle Paul was NOT shipwrecked there....when he saw it, he jumped OVERBOARD! 

Edited September 15, 2014 by lavritt

[shali]

That's the place I thought I'd be most interested in seeing too! 

[ava]

I want to go to MALTA!!! (though I doubt it will happen) My step son works for an airline and goes to Malta for the weekend (makes you sick, doesn't it??!!!) Anyway, the first time he went he called his dad and said, after visitng Malta, he has decided that Apostle Paul was NOT shipwrecked there....when he saw it, he jumped OVERBOARD! 

 

 

My husband works for an airline and the perks are awesome!!!    Next month we are flying to another city for a day to visit an exhibit I want to see and then have dinner and fly home later that night!!!

 

 

We applied to go to London this past August for the international and were not accepted, sadly.  We had 30 from our cong apply to London and only 2 were accepted. Unfortunately for next year, my State of Texas is not on the list, so we will not be applying to go anywhere in 2015.

 

Malta would be pretty awesome to see.

[trottigy]

STOP WITH THIS QUOTE!!!! I know this quote more then any other quotes in our literature because of you, hahaha.

Lol, jk with ya Jerry!!!!

How about, "Stop the Insanity!" OK, I'll stick with "let your Kingdom come!"

Funny, I talked with mom today and asked if it is OK to use the word "sucks" in prayer - because this system does! She said, "use 'stinks' - that's what I use"

Oh, back to topic - I hope you all get accepted and get to go! Please post pictures!

Edited September 16, 2014 by trottigy

[shali]

My husband works for an airline and the perks are awesome!!!    Next month we are flying to another city for a day to visit an exhibit I want to see and then have dinner and fly home later that night!!!

 

 

We applied to go to London this past August for the international and were not accepted, sadly.  We had 30 from our cong apply to London and only 2 were accepted. Unfortunately for next year, my State of Texas is not on the list, so we will not be applying to go anywhere in 2015.

 

Malta would be pretty awesome to see.

Wow Ava, how romantic! Sounds wonderful! Sorry your congregation isn't on the list for the 2015 special conventions - you can use my address and apply (hehe!)

[James the Less]

Is it only congregations in the USA that are invited to attend next year's special conventions?

[LoneWanderer]

...

But but but, I don't wanna shalijack this thread!

Thanks for your concern, but too bad I hate sitting next to people! So aisle seat for meeeee-eee (and at the very least the next seat to me, too). And this ain't gonna happen considering how few seats they are going to be.

--

I guess brothers under the US branch receive information first per which international conventions there are going to be. I suppose it's going to be similar like this year and previous years, different destinations are available for different countries. To my understanding Swedes were invited among other places to Seattle this year, whereas Finnish applicants could travel to Atlanta.

[dozerman5676]

We just had our CO visit and he mentioned that of these 7 "Special" Conventions, only three would have sessions in English so we would probably still go to our "Not so Special?" convention we are assigned to. I kind of want to go to Croatia or Estonia just to help show our Brothers and Sisters there some support. Maybe the local "hooligans" would think twice if they saw a LARGE united group of Jehovah's people.

Ghent, Belgium

Sofia, Bulgaria

Medellin, Colombia

Zagreb, Croatia

Tallinn, Estonia

Ta' Qali, Malta

Chiang Mai, Thailand

[Toy Poodles]

We just had our CO visit and he mentioned that of these 7 "Special" Conventions, only three would have sessions in English so we would probably still go to our "Not so Special?" convention we are assigned to. I kind of want to go to Croatia or Estonia just to help show our Brothers and Sisters there some support. Maybe the local "hooligans" would think twice if they saw a LARGE united group of Jehovah's people.

Ghent, Belgium

Sofia, Bulgaria

Medellin, Colombia

Zagreb, Croatia

Tallinn, Estonia

Ta' Qali, Malta

Chiang Mai, Thailand

 

So will the "Special Friends" going to the "Special Conventions" get there on the "Special Plane" then the "Special Bus"?lol

[AH173]

From the planning/organizing of the 2014 international conventions, I recall either Bro Morris or Splane said they had 3 years of planning in them. Maybe so with these special conventions! ☺

[Qapla]

Just a side thought ....

 

When some read "Will this be our last Memorial" they jumped on it as the FDS saying that the end would come before the spring of 2015 - but, with the letters about the Special Conventions, no one has jumped on that saying that the FDS is saying the end will NOT come in 2015 ....

 

Hey, just an observation ....

[carlos]

When some read "Will this be our last Memorial" they jumped on it as the FDS saying that the end would come before the spring of 2015 - but, with the letters about the Special Conventions, no one has jumped on that saying that the FDS is saying the end will NOT come in 2015 ....

 

[carlos]

What I find curious about these Special Conventions is that several of them won't have the program translated into English. Isn't it strange to send international delegates to a convention where they will sit for the whole program without being able to understand it?

[Carol E]

We asked our c.o. about this and his thoughts were, "In this case you go for the experience, not so much the information.  You can always get the information presented, even go to a local convention.  But the experience of seeing the brothers and sisters and to have that interchange of encouragement is why you would attend a convention where you don't know the language.  Seeing the international brotherhood is the major benefit."  <<<not an exact quote but the gist of what he said. 

 

@dozerman5676, what if you want to go to Croatia and I want to go to Thailand?  

[dozerman5676]

We asked our c.o. about this and his thoughts were, "In this case you go for the experience, not so much the information.  You can always get the information presented, even go to a local convention.  But the experience of seeing the brothers and sisters and to have that interchange of encouragement is why you would attend a convention where you don't know the language.  Seeing the international brotherhood is the major benefit."  <<<not an exact quote but the gist of what he said. 

 

@dozerman5676, what if you want to go to Croatia and I want to go to Thailand?

We could have a vote and in case of a "Thai" you win.

[Carol E]

:blink:Groan!!!