General Conference In China - Oct 2015

This weekend was our first General Conference in China.  In Asia, general conference is held the weekend after the actual meetings take place.  It was a little bit tough mentally as three new apostles were called this conference, I check the Utah news, Facebook was loaded with quotes and information from general conference.   I quickly turned it off. 

We also have many family traditions centered around General Conference so it is an enjoyable weekend for the kids and so it is something they look forward to every six months.

A few challenges we encountered:
- We weren't as prepared as we thought with the internet and downloading the sessions.  This really affected the first session (and we finally gave up) but helped us to be prepared for the following sessions and will help us in the future.
- Lunch meat here is expensive.  Like really expensive.  $1 USD per slice of lunchmeat.  Our normal homemade sub sandwich (our Saturday lunch tradition) was more expensive than usual but I was very grateful to be able to buy the meat at all.
- Having snack food is waaaay easier in the states.  We knew this going in.  We are in China.  Unless you want veggies or rice or eggs, it is difficult to get and expensive.
- In our area of China coins are not readily available at banks.  We normally have pots with coins that the children earn by listening for certain words.  Not this time.  China has bills.  I guess northern China uses coins more frequently but we are in southern China.  Mild adjustment.  Marcus did have to wait in line for two different tellers and the lines are not quick.  Now we know for next time.
- Printing packets is tough.  We don't have our shipment (I know... STILL) so we don't have our printer and the print shops here can't print PDF files.  Not sure why just learned they can't.

Even with the challenges, conference was amazing.  So uplifting.  Inspiring.  How lucky we are to listen to messages meant for all of God's children, anywhere in the world.  As usual, I was sad to have it end and can't wait for next time.  Came away feeling like there is plenty to improve upon and lots to do as a mother to teach my children.

Bottom Line:  Conference worked out.  We missed getting together with the cousins for the women's session, had a few difficulties, but really felt the spirit of conference, even half a world away.