1 July 2015 | San Antonio, Texas, USA [Katie Allen, tedNEWS] “My journey was excellent, but as soon as we arrived we discovered that they’ve cancelled our return flights!” commented Pastor Raafat Kamal, Trans-European Division (TED) President.
“This week is actually a learning experience for me”, he continued. “We will be starting from 6am with meetings each day, running through to the evening, but I look at it as a time for celebration. Celebration of God’s goodness for the last five years and also looking forward to new ideas for the future. We pray for 20/20 vision to create a powerful vision for the next Session, in 2020.”
This thought, in sync with the theme for GC Session, 2015, ‘Shine! Arise! Jesus is Coming!’, appeared to be at the forefront of many people’s minds, as registration for the global Divisions commenced on Wednesday, 1 July. Others, however, were focused on more practical issues.
“It might be best for me to just stay at the dome all day long!” said the humorous Lydia. “Food, rest and the social side of things are going to have to be sacrificed in the name of staying conscious and beating any form of heatstroke. On the other hand, I could always order food to be delivered to my seat in the auditorium. The Adventist Book Centre delivers, right?”
Many city officials and residents are intrigued with the upcoming GC Session, having witnessed their own taste of Seventh-day Adventist activities during a recent free ‘mega clinic’, in the Alamodome, in April 2015, where 1,700 medical volunteers came to help those in need in the area.
The care provided, over the clinic’s three days, came to an equivalent of $20 million in health care expenses, with thousands of locals seeking help and advice.
Lara Croure, who works nearby the Alamodome, recalled people queuing for health checks from the day before the clinic opened. She highlighted how seeing an organisation do that for free, whoever they are, makes her want to learn more about them.
“I don’t know what else to expect this week, and the next, with all your people from around the world, but I can tell you right now that everyone coming to this conference has a lot to live up to”, said Lara. “Our people are expecting the best from y’all because of our experience with the clinic. Whatever you’re doing, make us San Antonions proud!”
For more photos from San Antonio, please click here. [tedNEWS]
tedNEWS Staff: Miroslav Pujic, director; Deana Stojkovic, editor
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