Convention was exciting, seeing my friends, the meals with the clanging of pots and pans and the humble murmur of 600 saints and servants waiting to sing "grace."

I remember my delight as a young mom at convention being so grateful to God, that in spite of the "wrestling" with the little ones, He allowed me to hear so much of what was said and that so many things "spoke to me" and encouraged me there. It was my heart's desire, in those days, to be able to get the entire convention... from the first meeting Wednesday nite till the last one Sunday afternoon or evening. I didn't feel this way just because it was "expected." I REALLY wanted not to miss anything that was spoken, nor miss rejoicing when new "babes" stood to their feet to profess.

I took my "outsider" friend to convention one year. A few years later we were talking about her visit to convention. She said: "What I remember the most is all those beautiful dresses heavy with lace and frills hanging in that barn."

And, speaking of Special Meetings. Did y'all have "special meeting rounds?" That time of the year at Special Meeting time when the workers, in full force, would eat and sleep at everyone's home? Of course they got EXTRA "red carpet" treatment and I believe it was a really "special" time for them, and I have even heard workers lovingly refer to this time, as "Special EATING rounds."

At least 1/2 or more people leave every night at Texas conventions and stay in local motels where there's air conditioning! Friends leave between meetings too. The Texas conv. are held in July, one of the hottest months for Texas. Many young parents let their kids cool off by swimming in between meetings at the motel, while parents watch TV in their rooms.

Where I have been in Australia, NO ONE is allowed to leave Convention at all, except in an emergency, and the permission of workers must be sought. Conventions are held out in the middle of nowhere for exactly this purpose, people can't walk into town! Most are surrounded by miles of bushland.

Most years during convention meetings, the workers make a point of stating these very important things, that we don't have ANY contact with the outside world during convention, as it ruins the 'spirit' there. This even includes wandering outside the convention 'boundaries' for a walk.

'Convention' accommodation is canvas tents, pit toilets and cold showers for the common saint, but workers are provided with proper housing, flush toilets, all modern luxuries etc. Workers are always seated separately, both in meetings and food shed. Note that meeting and food sheds are BIG tin hay shed things with dirt floors and it certainly gets well over 40 degrees (105 F) here, and people still have to live under those hot heavy canvas tents. Some people wet their clothes to keep cool when it gets really bad.

After the night meeting there was cocoa and doughnuts, and as I grew older this was a time to "pair up" and sneak off for some heavy petting and kissing. Romance in the "Truth" was often a long distance affair with me writing letters to a girl all year, but only seeing her at convention. Often one’s feelings had changed and sometimes the girl had found someone new who lived closer.

Other memories of convention include the intense feeling of comradery among the young men in the "Truth." I believe most of us felt persecuted in the everyday world. But when we got together it was a contest to see who was enduring the most pain, suffering and self denial for "Christ’s sake." I remember when I was about 10 years old having a contest with other boys, rubbing our knuckles in the grooves of a cinder block wall to prove how able and willing we were to endure pain. Whoever had the bloodiest knuckles at the end was the winner. The pain caused be being different in the world was not so visible. When one feels different they tend to direct their anger at themselves.

Re: Convention food -- I can remember too manyconventions I lived on peanut butter and honey sandwiches. Good thing I like p-butter!

How many nice (expensive!) shoes get ruined trying to navigate the treacherous rocks (or mud) on the conventions grounds every year?... and how many pairs of nylons?!!!! (As teenagers, tho, we "played" the fashion parade game as well as anyone, I suppose!!)

I remember one convention when my sons were about 12 and 11, and ______ had brought with him a library book of true escape stories, so they amused themselves between the meetings by plotting how they were going to escape from convention. Not quite the attitude the workers liked to see in the long-suffering children.

The food at convention was always great. Kids loved it too. When they were little they loved to pour water--especially at the workers' table. While the two hour meetings, three times a day, were long for the kids they still enjoyed playing in the trees and being free to roam about the farm yard without fear between the meetings.

Did you ever go to Convention by yourself as a single person? It is no picnic! Everyone else seems to be a "couple." Convention as a single can be the loneliest thing EVER!

John and I had 'the privilege' of being cook's helpers at 1994 Greenshields Convention here in Alberta... it was actually quite fascinating, if exhausting work. We did really enjoy getting to know the sister workers and were quite impressed what a nice 'spirit' they had even in the very stressful situations which inevitably arose ... such as when the crowd was twice as big, or twice as hungry as expected, and a whole new batch of mac'n cheese had to be cooked between settings... Needless to say, with all the 'fun', we didn't get much out of the meetings that particular convention!

Brown 140 lbs of Stew Meat in a 30 gallon steamer * Add:4 Gallons Beef Stock * Simmer 1 1/2 hours * Layer:40 lbs Sliced Carrots * 40 lbs Onions, * 20 lbs Celery * 33 lbs Frozen Peas

In a 5 gallon pail, mix together: 5 cups Flour * 6 cups Ketchup * 12 cups Water * 1/2 bottle Worchestershire Sauce * 1 cup Vinegar * 3 cups Salt * 3 bottles HP Sauce * 2 cups Pepper * 1/2 cup Sage * 2 cups Maggi flavoring

Stir well, and pour over vegetables and meat. Steam at high heat for 5 hours.

Mix together in a large pail:

12 cups white sugar * 8 cups sifted cocoa * 3 tsp. salt * Put in the bottom of a 20 gallon steamer and slowly whisk in: 9 gallons milk * Heat to scalding, stirring constantly, and then add: 1 lb butter 2 TBSP vanilla

Note: 1 gallon serves 20 people

Fill a 30 gallon steamer 2/3 with water * Heat to boiling and add:45 lbs elbow macaroni * Boil for 8 minutes. * In a separate 30 gallon steamer, melt: 11 lbs butter/margarine * Alternately stir into the butter: 11 gallons of milk * 22 cups flour * Stir till smooth and thick. * Add: 3 TBSP dry mustard * 6 TBSP paprika * 1/2 cup pepper * When milk is scalding, slowly add, stirring constantly: 25 lbs grated cheddar/american cheese * Stir till totally melted and smooth. * Add: 60 lbs diced wieners * Steam at low heat for 1 hour, stirring often.