An email forwarded to a friend. What do you make of it?
Below is a report about preparing for the Seattle, Washington International Convention. Helps you to realize that it is Jehovah’s will that we attend conventions and assemblies and that Jehovah is the one who makes it happen as long as we obey him and his channel.
To begin with, the brothers involved in working with the public for these international conventions all had to fly to NY and attend a special training on how to handle this according to the branch's specifications. Had to be done very professionally...
Originally, the brothers tried to get either the Safeco Field (where the major league baseball team plays) or Century Link (where the football team plays) but neither place would schedule out as far as we needed (since they started this process a couple years ago). So they turned to the University of Washington for the beautiful Husky football stadium. They were promptly told they do NOT rent their stadium out to anyone! EVER! That it had to do with security issues and it just couldn't happen. So the brothers told the branch they couldn't get a place and the branch told the local brothers there would be no international convention on the west coast if they couldn't get a facility.
So they went back to the UW and talked to them some more. Again it was about security. So the brothers told them about our own security but they said it was Homeland security issues. They were told we would all have to submit to being searched before entering - bags, et al. The brothers said no problem.
Well, next they said to try to discourage us was they would have to have references (probably thinking we wouldn't have any!) from BIG stadiums like theirs - not little ones like the Tacoma Dome where we usually have the convention. So they told them they could call QualComm in San Diego and Dodger Stadium in L.A. So they called and asked them how they handle working with us; the security, cleaning, etc. and they both basically said they just hand the keys over and we take it from there... So UW FINALLY decided to make this 1 exception to rent it out to us!
However, there was only ONE weekend all summer long that we could have it - the 4th of July weekend! It turns out - that was the one weekend the branch WANTED us to have it!!! They want this to be a HUGE witness to Seattle! (There are 3 states invited to attend - us, Idaho and Montana with a total of 34 or 37,000 expected.)
Next, the brothers had to find lodging at hotels that were used to getting $300/night and they were offering $140.! The hotels all said "NO WAY! We have gigantic cruise ships coming in here that are full of people who are willing to pay the $300. So after this went on for a while, the brothers got to feeling really disheartened about the whole thing and so they had to call the branch again and tell them they couldn't get lodging. The branch told them - "you keep hitting the walls and Jehovah will blow the trumpets" so they kept on asking. Finally, 1 of the major hotels changed their minds and gave in. After that, one by one they all gave in and accepted our offer!
All the attendants and brothers working in the facility, the parking lots and everywhere else will be having special training. The Governing Body wants EVERYONE to attend this event - including the elderly and infirm - so extra special attention is being given to how they can be accommodated comfortably. From the drop off and parking to their seating which will be the closest to the doors. And the congregations are expected to take care of the elderly and infirm in their own congregations while at the convention.
There are big, giant video screens in several places so that no one will have to turn their heads to view them and everyone will have a good view of the speaker!