CONVENTION-DETROIT 2007

The national conference was this time our church 's (DETROIT) responsibility. From the day it was announced it was tensions, meetings, raising funds, organizing - the last few weeks even sleepless nights for convener's and others. Dance/song practices were all part of other things for sleepless nights. For topic and some comments/photos you can check out in the web site http://www.yuvajanaconvention.com/
We had 1 Bishop, 5 achens (priests), 3 main speakers for the topic"ROOTED AND CONNECTED IN CHRIST AS A DIASPORA COMMUNITY" . Sam George (1 speaker) has published a book called " coconut". website... http://www.coconutgeneration.com/
He talks about his personal life.. in the symposium ,and rate of divorce increasing.. identity thefts-struggles of Indian American youth,raising children is like baking cake,can have disaster's!Children feel uprooted, scattered, transplant them and they are like invisible people- children feel exposed. Need care and attention like plants re potted. Have cultural disorientation- can't perform. His favorite was Tarzan, Phantom; he showed "Tarzan 2 Disney's" cartoon the kid trying to find who he is.."someone tell me where i belong..i got to find my way... place where i could be.. a place i fully belong" song.. these are the feelings of 2nd generation... the Ape later tells Tarzan "u are simply u".. we have to find our uniqueness.
Take the healthy habits of the generations' American/our cultures.
Sam George ended the talk with quote from Mother Teresa' Whom he had met.."By blood &origin Am Albanian,by citizenship I am a Indian, AM a catholic nun, as to my calling I belong to the whole world as to my heart I belong entirely to Jesus".
Reny Samuel spoke about traditions ,language and other things which an Australian survey did -their results .Her emphasis was on the Diaspora meaning, transition-not able to understand Lang..structural or multilingusiam.. ,pluralism-Lang,religion,ideology..
our goal is the binding factor.Borrow positive core values.
These are the few sessions I sat through.And took notes like in college.. We gave all who registered a file with pen, paper pad,name tags a book with songs, worship/meeting times/food serving time...
They had Bible studies, kids session ,group discussions,competitions,talent night,camp fire which kept everyone awake from morning 6 sh to late night 3 ish...our church got prizes for solo/group song competition,quiz too.
I was part of food committee that meant i had a reason to disappear.so sat through only part of the program..what with running round getting kids ready for dance, food/snacks clean ups, getting our selves ready for our talents..!
our bodies are all aches and pains.. everyone of us trying to catch up on sleep too!
hope this will keep the blog awake. Rosh, is this enough!
hope you all had a good week end. please do find time to write a few lines.. either in chat/comments/blog.
God bless.