Throwback Thursday: Annual Conference Adventures

 

My entire summer is laden with first-time adventurers. Last week I spoke in retirement community chapels. This week I went to our church’s annual conference. I’ve been part of a handful of denominations in my lifetime, and I’ve never been to any of their annual conferences until this one. I am not really much of a conference-goer in general, but as part of my schooling, I needed to attend this particular conference at some point. It moves around the country each year, so what a blessing it was that this year it happened to be (for the first time ever) in Fort Wayne!

                I decided to commute to it, since it was close enough for that, but oh my goodness. I can see why even local-ish people decided to get a hotel to be close. The days were long, and when you don’t have a room to pop into between events, you have to carry everything you own with you at all times!

                I thought I’d show you some of the happenings of the week – just in case you’ve never been to such a conference either!

                My first day to attend was Sunday. I rode up with Jonathan and Julie after church, and we got all checked in. My nametag said Rebekah, so I felt like I was in trouble all week long, with people calling me by my full name when they read my tag! They had an exhibit hall full of vendors, and I paid a couple of visits to the bookstore. It was a glorious feeling to be among all the books.

                Jonathan, Julie, and I all went to the New Attendee Orientation so we could better understand what was ahead for us throughout the week. You’ll also notice some coffee appearances throughout this post. The hotel attached to the conference center had a Starbucks in it, which meant I could get coffee without ever venturing into the oppressive heat. Yes, please.

                That evening, the three of us went out to dinner at a burger place across the street, and I immediately jotted that down as a place Ryan and I need to go on a date! After dinner, we went to the opening worship session, which was filled with much music and an encouraging message. By the time we arrived back home, it was nearly 10 p.m. and I had to be up early to be on the road by about 7 the next morning, so I didn’t get a whole lot of sleep!

                Monday was also the first day I had to drive myself and navigate the terrifying parking garage.

                Ready for a new day!

                I sat in on business breakout sessions throughout this entire day. Jonathan was a delegate to the conference, so he had assigned seating with the delegates. Julie didn’t attend on Monday, so I was completely on my own. But I made it! AND I successfully navigated exiting the parking garage as well. (I was also so very thankful that they had concession kiosks for lunch, so once again, I didn’t have to enter the oppressive heat to find a restaurant.)

                Tuesday morning, I think I left home at 5:45, because I went to a networking breakfast with Jonathan and Julie before the conference began. Can we pause to appreciate my veggie omelet? I didn’t eat the potatoes – except a sample of two. They were SO GOOD.

                I was relieved to have friends with me again on this day. Julie and I spent most of the day together while Jonathan tended to his delegate duties.

                Yesterday was the final day of the conference, but I was a little late in arriving, because I had to swing by the hospital first to pray with someone about to have surgery. I was glad to find spaces still available in the parking garage (though I had to go much farther in this time!) and I arrived in time to hear the bulk of the business meeting.

                I was on my own again for the majority of this day, eating concession lunch, finding coffee, and attending more breakout and business sessions.

                By the time I came home, my brain felt mushy, but I was proud of myself for navigating such people-y adventures. I really didn’t know very many people all week, but the tiny handful I did know asked how I enjoyed the conference. I told them all I wasn’t sure, because I hadn’t had time to journal about it yet – and I never know how I feel about something until I write about it. My brain comes out my fingertips and then I know. So maybe I’ll be able to tell you more about that later. But in the meantime, I have now done one more new-to-me thing this summer!