Welcoming the IC delegates in Madrid

[carlos]

Since last night Madrid is a different city. Besides the usual crowd of tourists, the city center is now flooded with literally thousands of our brothers and sisters coming from 64 different countries to attend the International Convention this weekend. Wherever you go you meet groups of delegates at every step.

 

There has been a lot of work and preparation to make the delegates feel very welcome. And these last days the atmosphere was of nervousness and anticipation. The delegates were received by groups of brothers at the airport (even those who lost a flight and came on their own) and escorted to their hotels by volunteers. At every hotel where they stay there are volunteers all around the clock to help in case they need anything.

 

Many of the delegates are joining the tours organized by the branch while others are exploring the city on their own. There are groups of volunteers scattered in the city center and especially where those tours end, with the purpose of helping them to get to their hotels, finding places to eat, to do shopping or simply to find things to do. Also to give them gifts and souvenirs. I was assigned this morning in one of these groups and it was wonderful to see lots of our brothers from everywhere all the time. They were delighted with all the affection they were receiving and the care of the friends. We took lots of pics but we are not allowed to post them in social media, sorry! 

 

One of the things that made the friends more nervous were the detailed instructions we received on how to greet the delegates. Hugs and kisses are ok for the brothers coming from such and such country, but they are a no no for the brothers coming from certain other country. With some you can shake hands, with some bodily contact is frowned upon.  We ended up hugging everybody and nobody complained. 

 

People are very surprised by these tourists of a different sort. To make a bigger contrast, just one week ago those same streets were packed with people celebrating the gay pride parade. Thousands of people high on drugs or drunk, almost naked, vomiting and peeing on the streets, some shamelessly copulating in public and others starting fights. This week we have our beautiful delegates dressed modestly and nice, well-mannered, well-behaved and considerate, and really happy. If people can't notice the difference Armageddon can come today as well and sweep them all.

 

This is going to be a really really busy week with lots of nerves and excitement, but it's also going to be a an unforgettable occasion. Dear friends, we love you all. Those who came to Madrid and those who will visit us in the new world. Hugs to all of you!

[blueyellow]

Thank you for the topic. 

 

Also, could you post more about cultural differences? 

[blueyellow]

I mean what countries don't like hugs and such. 

[paulc]

Those were beautiful thoughts Carlos. I really enjoyed reading them. Can’t wait for all those hugs in the new world... it just makes everything so real and wonderful. Have a great time and please keep us posted. 

[Hope]

My brother Michael and his wife Jennifer will be part of that wonderful throng.  It would be amazing if you could find them, @carlos... are delegates identified by country at all?

 

It is so exciting!  

[Stormswift]

1 hour ago, blueyellow said:

I mean what countries don't like hugs and such. 

New Zealand we touch our noses together.

 

So, Carlos you see a Kiwi you know what to do! LOL. 

Edited July 15, 2019 by Stormswift

[RNGuzman]

My parents are there!  They arrived earlier today.  We know of some other friends that will also be in Madrid.  I can't wait to see pictures.

[Miss Mouse]

I have so many dear friends from all over the world that are there Carlos , If you meet anyone from Vancouver ask if they know me they probably do. LOL

Also a couple in Circuit work are there from Alberta....I am feeling a little left out . But we did go to Helsinki and were able to enjoy the throng of our friends coming from a distant land that is under ban .... that itself was the biggest treat imaginable. The Fins housed, fed and in some cases clothed those ones 5000 strong that were able to make the courageous journey to attend we got to visit and hear experiences that we treasure.

[blueyellow]

12 hours ago, Hope said:

@carlos are delegates identified by country at all?

At the last international convention I attended we wrote our countries on the badge. 

[ijsvogel]

This story makes me even look more forward to our own international convention in Utrecht. Thank you! 

[JennyM]

18 hours ago, carlos said:

People are very surprised by these tourists of a different sort. To make a bigger contrast, just one week ago those same streets were packed with people celebrating the gay pride parade.Thousands of people high on drugs or drunk, almost naked, vomiting and peeing on the streets, some shamelessly copulating in public and others starting fights. This week we have our beautiful delegates dressed modestly and nice, well-mannered, well-behaved and considerate, and really happy. If people can't notice the difference Armageddon can come today as well and sweep them all.

We had a  small gathering in a small river with bro and sis yesterday. We picked fresh organic food and other things.

I feel so relaxed and secure with bro and sis.  

Totally different  of people in the world. 

[Hope]

11 hours ago, blueyellow said:

At the last international convention I attended we wrote our countries on the badge. 

 

Well, yes that.  But you'd have to run up to everyone to read each badge to know where they're from!   I was talking about a larger designation like, this is where delegates from each country are gathered, so if you were looking for friends from America or France or Australia, you could start from a general area.

[Araujo JW]

On 7/15/2019 at 11:51 AM, carlos said:

Since last night Madrid is a different city. Besides the usual crowd of tourists, the city center is now flooded with literally thousands of our brothers and sisters coming from 64 different countries to attend the International Convention this weekend. Wherever you go you meet groups of delegates at every step.

 

There has been a lot of work and preparation to make the delegates feel very welcome. And these last days the atmosphere was of nervousness and anticipation. The delegates were received by groups of brothers at the airport (even those who lost a flight and came on their own) and escorted to their hotels by volunteers. At every hotel where they stay there are volunteers all around the clock to help in case they need anything.

 

Many of the delegates are joining the tours organized by the branch while others are exploring the city on their own. There are groups of volunteers scattered in the city center and especially where those tours end, with the purpose of helping them to get to their hotels, finding places to eat, to do shopping or simply to find things to do. Also to give them gifts and souvenirs. I was assigned this morning in one of these groups and it was wonderful to see lots of our brothers from everywhere all the time. They were delighted with all the affection they were receiving and the care of the friends. We took lots of pics but we are not allowed to post them in social media, sorry! 

 

One of the things that made the friends more nervous were the detailed instructions we received on how to greet the delegates. Hugs and kisses are ok for the brothers coming from such and such country, but they are a no no for the brothers coming from certain other country. With some you can shake hands, with some bodily contact is frowned upon.  We ended up hugging everybody and nobody complained. 

 

People are very surprised by these tourists of a different sort. To make a bigger contrast, just one week ago those same streets were packed with people celebrating the gay pride parade. Thousands of people high on drugs or drunk, almost naked, vomiting and peeing on the streets, some shamelessly copulating in public and others starting fights. This week we have our beautiful delegates dressed modestly and nice, well-mannered, well-behaved and considerate, and really happy. If people can't notice the difference Armageddon can come today as well and sweep them all.

 

This is going to be a really really busy week with lots of nerves and excitement, but it's also going to be a an unforgettable occasion. Dear friends, we love you all. Those who came to Madrid and those who will visit us in the new world. Hugs to all of you!

This story struck me as I imagined all this. We just had our International Convention here and although I personally did not participate, I closely followed the brothers' joy through reports, photos and videos. Many times I cried. I imagine you were so closely involved in this memorable event.

[blueyellow]

1 hour ago, Hope said:

 

Well, yes that.  But you'd have to run up to everyone to read each badge to know where they're from!   I was talking about a larger designation like, this is where delegates from each country are gathered, so if you were looking for friends from America or France or Australia, you could start from a general area.

Yes there are language areas. As the loudspeakers in each area of the stadium are connected to a different language.

[Guri]

On 7/15/2019 at 5:54 PM, Stormswift said:

New Zealand we touch our noses together.

I guess you are joking.  

[Stormswift]

No.

[Semer]

Spoiler

Sorry, I just didn't know how to remove this "spoiler" bar. 🙂

 

I'd love to participate in this thread a little more, but I'm very busy with different activities for the delegates.

Yesterday, we were preaching with the delegates, then we had a meal with typical Spanish food and a show with traditional dances and music (the result of months of rehearsals). This morning I was serving as a tour guide for the delegates.

And tomorrow the convention.

Edited July 18, 2019 by Semer

[Stormswift]

10 hours ago, Guri said:

I guess you are joking.  

It's called a Hongi.

But since the bird flu scare we just touch noses rather than get too close. Gets a bit awkward with long beaks.

But yes, joking about Carlos doing it ... although if he did I think they'd be quite chuffed.

 

 

25 minutes ago, Semer said:

  Reveal hidden contents

Sorry, I just didn't know how to remove this "spoiler" bar. 🙂

 

I'd love to participate in this thread a little more, but I'm very busy with different activities for the delegates.

Yesterday, we were preaching with the delegates, then we had a meal with typical Spanish food and a show with traditional dances and music (the result of months of rehearsals). This morning I was serving as a tour guide for the delegates.

And tomorrow the convention.

Must be so Exiciting ... being in a small country it's hard to phatham such large numbers. Would love to be involved in what you are doing.

Edited July 18, 2019 by Stormswift

[carlos]

Sorry, this is being a hectic week receiving the delegates and doing all kinds of activities with them, as brother Sergio mentioned above. I haven't had any time to even visit the forums. I promise to come back to this topic after the weekend.

 

This has been a wonderful first convention day. We were a bit over 47,000 attending in Madrid, plus the whole country tying in by phone to the talks by brother Lösch and brother Dillinger, totaling some 119,000. And we received a wonderful gift we had been waitign for so long, the revised NWT in Spanish! Many tears of joy have been shed in today's convention.

Edited July 19, 2019 by carlos

[Miss Mouse]

On ‎7‎/‎18‎/‎2019 at 1:44 AM, Guri said:

I guess you are joking.  

They are not joking .........I have seen it with my own eyes.  :)

52 minutes ago, carlos said:

Sorry, this is being a hectic week receiving the delegates and doing all kind sof activities with them, as brother Sergio mentioned above. I haven't had any time to even visit the forums. I promise to come back to this topic after the weekend.

 

This has been a wonderful first convention day. We were a bit over 47,000 attending in Madrid, plus the whole country tying in by phone to the talks by brother Lösch and brother Dillinger, totaling some 119,000. And we received a wonderful gift we had been waitign for so long, the revised NWT in Spanish! Many tears of joy have been shed in today's convention.

Don't worry Carlos just feel the LOVE and enjoy

[Brandon]

This has been a wonderful first convention day. We were a bit over 47,000 attending in Madrid, plus the whole country tying in by phone to the talks by brother Lösch and brother Dillinger, totaling some 119,000. And we received a wonderful gift we had been waitign for so long, the revised NWT in Spanish! Many tears of joy have been shed in today's convention.

How nice to have an Int'l Convention in Spain. It looks like you also had the programme simultaneously in English and sign language.

Today in Toronto we had our programme in both English and Spanish!

We had well over 5,000 in the Spanish alone. Hopefully all these will have been able to download the revised NWT in Spanish and use it tomorrow!


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[carlos]

I have a friend in toronto who is attending the convention in Spanish this weekend. He called me yesterday just to tell me how happy he is with the new Bible. 

[Brandon]

I have a friend in toronto who is attending the convention in Spanish this weekend. He called me yesterday just to tell me how happy he is with the new Bible. 

I guess they didn't find out until after the sessions ended? I wasn't clear on this point.


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[LuvDogz]

On 7/15/2019 at 9:28 AM, blueyellow said:

I mean what countries don't like hugs and such. 

Good point. ha-ha I hate hugging. (I'm from the Philly area, we don't hug much.)

[Semer]

3 hours ago, LuvDogz said:

Good point. ha-ha I hate hugging. (I'm from the Philly area, we don't hug much.)

I can't help but repeat what the US office sent us about their delegates. I don't remember the exact wording, but it was something like "There are a few brothers here who don't like hugs, but we ignore their discomfort!" 😄