Because I was scheduled to attend the General Conference of Elders in Cincinnati, Ohio on May 3-4 this year, my wife and I prepared to go earlier for our interview at the US Embassy in Manila. Our interview this year was the easiest and the shortest one compared to the previous years.

Our interviewer was an American who spoke in Tagalog. In less than two minutes of questions and answers in our language the smiling interviewer told us, “Sir, ang inyong visa is approved.” We waited for our visa for one week and when it arrived we found out that we were given a 10-year multiple entry visa to the US.

We left the Philippines for the US trip on April 22 at 8:30 in the evening and arrived Los Angeles at 6 o’clock in the evening the same date.

Our Stay in Wisconsin

After our arrival in Los Angeles, we changed planes for our flight to Wisconsin. A little bit of the background for this. Our Wisconsin visit was made possible when a family, Brad, Judie and son John Dullum kept the Feast of Tabernacles in Iloilo last year together with their elderly friend Alice Heine.

When they knew that we will be going to the US for the GCE, they invited us to visit Wisconsin as a side trip, with their help for the trip. While in Wisconsin, on April 25, we attended the Beloit church Sabbath services, where I had the opportunity to speak before the congregation through a sermon scheduled for me by the pastor of the area, Mr. Bob Fahey.

We have experienced the warmth and love of the Beloit brethren that made us so grateful and happy that we came. The experience was another highlight and blessing of our lives. Our host, Brad and Judie opted to ask for a leave of absence from their jobs and went out of their way to make our stay with them most comfortable and memorable.

They have brought us to see the “House On The Rock Hotel and Museum,” a must-see landmark while staying in Wisconsin. House on the Rock houses the largest carousel in the world. Aside from many others, the carousel alone has more than 20,000 lights, 182 chandeliers, 269 handcrafted different animals. It is 35 feet tall, 80 feet wide and weighs 36 tons. The value of the carousel is $4.8 million.

The Conference of Elders

On April 29 we flew to Cincinnati from Milwaukee arriving at our destination at the Holiday Inn Hotel past 3 o’clock in the afternoon. We have just settled down in one of the rooms when Marguerite, wife of David Evans called and invited us to have dinner and fellowship with them. Together with another elder and his wife, we had great pleasantries with the Evans including their grown up daughter Briana. [It would be recalled that Mr. and Mrs. Evans visited the Philippines during the Feast in 1998 as one of our Festival guest speakers.]

The next day, as it is yet the arrival of most from the international areas, we had free time to go to the malls nearby and had our first meal with rice which we missed for a number of days since we arrived in the US.

On Friday, May 1 we joined the International Luncheon meeting with our Church president, Mr. Clyde Kilough and the operations managers, together with all international elders that were present on that day.

On May 2, in the morning after breakfast, we were privileged to see the Home Office on a guided tour. The Sabbath service held in the afternoon was attended by more than 400 ministers and their wives representing different areas of the Work. Mr. Kilough welcomed the delegates and gave an appropriate and inspiring message for that day.

The next day, May 3, which was the conference proper, the opening message and introduction of the new elders was given by the Chairman of the Council of Elders, Mr. Bob Dick. The keynote speaker was Mr. Kilough followed by the report coming from some of those who handled the international work of the Church. This was followed by a tribute to the deceased elders and wives.
Most of the May 4 session was done through the workshop presentations by different presenters. The following were discussed:

1. “Making Disciples While Preaching The Gospel” by Jim Franks;
2. “Getting Personal – as Disciples of Christ” by the Women’s Educational Task Force;
3. “Delivering Relevant Messages” by Gary Petty;
4. “Retirement Planning for Full-time Ministers” by Brian Taylor;
5. “The Discipline of Spiritual Discerment” by Richard Pinelli;
6. “Elements for a Happy and Contented Congregations” by Randy Screiber; and
7. “Growing Kids God’s Way” by Andy Burnett.

Los Angeles

On May 5 we flew from Cincinnati to Los Angeles to visit our relatives who live in Burbank. Staying for a number of days with our extended family gave us an opportunity to visit the President Ronald Reagan’s Library and Museum which houses the record of his accomplishments while serving as the president of United States, and also to see the Air Force One, the official plane of the chief executive of America.

We also had the opportunity to visit the Ambassador College campus and the famed Ambassador Auditorium and we were able to attend the Sabbath service in Eagle Rock congregation pastored by Larry Greider.

May 10 was our flight back to the Philippines with a stopover in Guam. Arriving home on May 12, we look back on the great blessings of attending the General Conference of Elders. We acknowledge and gave praise to God who made all this possible.

© 2009 United Church of God, AIA - Pilipinas