Day 2399. My alarm was set for 8:45 am but all the kids were up before that. At 9:30 am we left the house and drove the five minutes to church where we went straight to our table to talk to people. Just before the conference started at 10 am, Randy took the kids to their program, then returned to the sanctuary where we had 20 minutes of worship and then a short offering exhortation. Then it was my turn.
I went to the front and took the microphone to present the ministry for 5 minutes. I had a few pictures that they projected onto the screen. It went really well, then I returned to our table. In the course of the day a few people came by because they had heard me speak.
As we have to be at the table during breaktime, Randy and I went to the tent for cake and coffee. A friend of ours was there which gave me the only opportunity to talk to him, and we see each other rarely. Just as we were getting up to return to the sanctuary, someone came to let us know Sammy needed us so Randy went to see him. Sammy was then with us for a while before Randy took him back to the kids' program.
I was at our table during the break then the second workshop started at 11:30 am. After it was over, Randy picked up the kids while I stayed at the table. Once most people had left, we also left to go to the tent for lunch. Once again we were on our own at the table, eating Schnitzel. After lunch, we returned to the table in the sanctuary. Just before the afternoon session at 2 pm, Randy took them to the kids' program which was a special missions ralley. Then he returned to the sanctuary.
The speaker was done at 4 pm, then we saw the kids gathering at the entrance to the sanctuary. They all had the brandnew Wycliff T-shirts on - a gift. Tammy was right up front and the first one walking into the sanctuary. She was one of three kids with a big sign, showing what they had done this afternoon. And so she got to walk up on the stage, holding up that sign. The person who had done the program then said a few words about what they had done, then it was over, and we got to pick up our kids.
Once again we returned to our table. Tammy and Emmy had handed out lots of brochures during the conference. Tammy then got to try out the VR glasses one of the missions had so that you could take a walk in an African country.
When most people had left the sanctuary, we went to the tent for an early dinner, eating Frankfurters and fries. Tammy's friend sat with us as well, and then Sammy's teacher from the afternoon joined us. She had been in charge of Sammy only during the afternoon and had fallen in love with him. We had a good time talking and took some pictures. Then we returned to our table to be there before the last meeting started.
At 6 pm the last session of the missions conference started, and Randy took the kids to their program before that. I was extremely tired and was glad to close my eyes during worship. Then they had their last speaker. He finished at about 8 pm but then there was still worship. Randy picked up the kids, and they joined us in the sanctuary. Then Sammy's favorite song was played - Praise the Lord, oh my soul. The kids and I were all dancing. I even went to the front with them at one point, and we danced there. We had lots of fun, being full of joy.
Then the meeting was over. Randy started taking our banner down, and when no one came to our table, I started packing up the rest. Randy took the stuff to the car while we slowly made our way to the exit. Sammy's teacher from the afternoon then caught up with us to still buy a book and say good-bye. Then we left. It was 9:20 pm before we finally got to drive off.
Once back at the apartment, the kids put their pj's on while Randy and I were packing. Randy loaded everything into the car, and at 10:10 pm we started our 2+hour drive back to Vienna. We usually stay there until Sunday but we had an event in the morning. At first, the kids were very much awake and talking even though I had not given them their tablets. Then Tammy and Emmy fell asleep first. Emmy slept all the way home, Tammy woke up half an hour before arriving and was whining because of growing pains. Sammy kept falling asleep for a few minutes and then waking up again because he was not comfortable. I put on music then Pumuckl stories for him to listen to.
By 12:25 am we arrived at our house in Vienna. I took Tammy and Emmy inside right away, and Randy brought Sammy. They all went straight to bed. Emmy in my bed, and I lay down next to him for a few minutes while Randy was unloading the car and then looking for a parking spot. Then I got up, loaded the dishwasher, and got the stuff I needed out of the bags and suitcase. I was so very tired that I went to bed at 1:30 am without having turned my computer on, and it was just as late for Randy for whom that is not his typical bedtime as it is for me. It was a long day for all of us.
