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Friday morning of the convention in budapest i had the unique privilege of sitting in the hungarian sign language section. it was so amazing to see how attentive and appreciative these brothers and sisters were. one deaf brother came up to me before the program started and wrote down his name, and i gave him a bookmark with my name and address. we were trying to communicate, but with little success. then he "told" me to stay where i was and he went to his seat and came back with his brand new bible (complete nwt had been released the day before). he looked up a scripture, showed it to me, and then i looked it up in my english nwt. we were able to communicate using the scriptures. i'll never forget it...a hearing american communicating with a deaf hungarian using only the bible...you can't be more united than that!

-Sarah Bartlett, USA

View Pictures from the Convention

My trip to Budapest Hungary, was a wonderful privlidge and blessing, here are pictures and comments from my trip

Here is the first page...

Here is page 2...

Finally Page 3...

-Carmen Harris, USA

The International Convenion is a wonderful experience. Highlights include...

The New Releases

Watching the Baptism

Listening to our brothers play music after the session

Seeing People wear their native garb...

Enjoying time with your tour group

Meeting those in other congregations...

Enjoying the Drama

Getting Gifts from others

Singing Kingdom Songs United with our brothers...

Robert de Jong, Danmark

December 18-21
Peak Attendance (Over 13,000)

THe hardest part of an international convention is sitting in your seat (And For some people staying awake). The convention was made up of Spanish, Korean, Japanese, Chineese, and English Delegates. (Mainly English and Japaneese). Stages were setup for each langauge in differnt rooms in the Hawaii Convention Center.

We took moments to enjoy the program in each of the languages. Amazing and wonderful all to be taught by Jehovah the same way. After the convention is amazing! Brothers and sisters trading names, hugs, items from their areas, and warm handshakes. (We brought Pork Rinds and Accents for all to enjoy what the south is about).

My brothers from Japan brough squid chips for all to enjoy (That smile is being forced)

Trade my suit for your komoto

Brotherly Love

Ugh the Pork Rind

-Yel Le Me Ma, USA

December 25-28, 2003
Peak Attendance Over 10,000

Even though everything was closed and we couldnt find food before the convention, we found lots of spirtual food there. We met brothers and sisters speaking Ilocano, samoan, Japanese, English, Korean, and Chinese. Thousands of delegates from Japan, Korea, PHilippines, American Samoa, Saomoa, Guam, Fiji, Canada, Taiwan, and Hong Kong were there.

It was amazing to be there and be in the city where the first Kingdom Hall was called a Kingdom Hall. There was a display at the convention telling the History. (See the Extended Entry).

It was also interesting to read the History of the Bible coming to the Hawaiian Islands. (See the Extended Entry).

Watch a Crazy Kid at the Convention! (Video WMV)

Watch our Brothers Enjoy some Singing after the Convention

I'm Awake Now

And Thats who I gave my song book too

A Multide of Brothers

We're in the Family

Those Pesky Witnesses and thier tracks...j/k

In 1935 during the construction of the new branch facilities on Pensacola Street, James Harrub approached Brother Turtherford and asked, What are you going to call this place when it is finished? Brother Rutherford replied,"Dont you think we should call it Kingdom Hall since that is what we are doing, preaching the good news of the Kingdom? Thus Hawaii holds the distinction of having the first Kingdom Hall

(History of the Bible in Hawaii)

For centuries the Hawaiian people lived in the constant dread of the volcano goddess Pele. After reading the Baible and learning that Jehova was the true God, High Chiefess Kapi olani was determined to defy Pele and free her people from their morbid fear.

In 1824, Kapiolani and her royal entourage began their arduous journey from the Kona district to the Big Island to Kilauea Volcano. Along the way, multitudes pleaded with the chiefess to abandon her mission. Even at the brink of the crater, a priestress of Pele met Kapiolani and warned her of the dire consequences should she continue her journey.

Ignoring all such warnings and entreaties, Kapiolani climed Kilauea Volcano and descended into its crater. Eating the ohelo berries, sacred to Pele, and throwing rocks in to the fiery pit, Kapiolani shouted "Jehovah is my God. I do not fear Pele. Should I perish by her wrath, then you may fear her power. But if Jehovah saves me, you must fear and love him."

Seeing no response to the High Chiefess insults, the Hawaiian populace came to realize the volcanoe goddess held no power over the God Jehovah. Thus Kapiolani shatterd Pele's grip over her people

Muchas Gracias Jehovah (View image)

A Letter (View Image)

A Sign (View image)

Watch the wave at an international convention! (High Resolution) (3 MB)

Watch the wave at an international convention! (low resolution) (.5 MB)

Pictures

The peak attendance was on Sunday afternoon - little over 107,000, close to 1,200 were baptized.
There were 5,000 delegates - 3,000 from the states.

Each day a branch overseer would relay experiences from their country (in English).

The whole convention experience was incredible! The first day of the convention we were greeted with a huge reception line. The brothers and sisters gave us gifts and lots of hugs and kisses. Chile doesn't have many black people or blonde sisters, so lets just say if you were one or the other you were attacked. One black brother in our group was surrounded by little kids who wanted to feel his head.......couldn't help but smile. On Friday I was walking to get my boxed lunch and there were several brothers and sisters singing kingdom songs. In the middle of all of this there was deaf ones signing and the other brothers and sister were singing for them.On Sunday after the convention had ended the brothers and sister kept singing Kingdom songs for 45 min . After the 1st verse the whole stadium was unified in singing. Tears of joy filled everyone's eyes. As we leaving brothers and sister lined up for at least 3 miles waving , and holding up signs that read "see you in paradise".What a wonderful privilege it is to part of a united brotherhood where language of mouth doesn't matter just language of truth!

Jillian Brewin, USA

Another experience came from Ecuador. In Ecuador they have a large Indian population, many of them live in isolated areas. One man found 4 magazines in the wall of his house. With those 4 mags he determined that it was necessary for him to attend meetings. He eventually crossed the mountain and went to the local Kingdom Hall. Within a short period of time 15 people became interested in what he was learning and they would visit his house for bible discussion. Now this man is a Brother and there is now a congregation in that area!

This Convention was October 16-19 2003

Some 58.000 brothers and sisters assembled for the first international convention in Japan that has taken place in a few decades.

Read more about this convention and view pictures.