Rajamundry Youth Conference

This past week was spent going to Rajahumndry Youth Conference. We rode the train there and came back by plane. Long story....but the main reason was we were in no hurry to get there but we had to be back for Branch conference and the train wouldn't get us back in time so the mission president suggested we fly.

Swaroop lives in 1st branch. His family is from Rajahmundry. He said Youth Conference is our time to meet. We spent time with him last year when we helped with Hyderabad and Rajahmundry Youth conference. This year he was assigned to ride our train and help us get there safely. He was a great guide and we enjoyed his company. He likes his picture taken and always seems to find his way in front of my camera. Our train was called "The Special Train." It took 12 hours to get there instead of 9 hours and he said he wouldn't ride it again unless he was getting married and going on a honeymoon!! That won't be for at least 4 years. He's preparing to serve a mission.

There were 150 youth at this conference. They loved the workshops and the games and the dance. In this picture they are playing the human knot game.

This was the auditorium where the dance was held. These kids love to dance. Dance was our assignment. Staying in control and teaching 150 kids for 1 1/2 hours was a big assignment.

They loved the country line dance to "Ackey Breaky Heart." They also loved "Rose Garden" and the Jitterbug...or swing...

I used the stage to teach. These were some of the district leaders who also danced on the stage...Most of them were learning too! Smiles on their faces because they were having fun was the best part for me.

This is probably our last youth conference. We've done 5 of them while on our mission. There is an all India single Adult conference in October in Bangalore. I doubt if we'll get to participate in that as we will be coming home. I think most of the 150 kids shook our hand and told us how much they liked the dance.

One other highlight of the trip. We got on the train to Rajahmundry about 9 p.m. last Wednesday night. We had a phone call from Satish, one of the young men that dances with us in 4th branch. He wanted to know what platform we were on and in what car. Elder K told him. A few minutes later Satish, Karunaker and Vicky all showed up in our car. They rode the bus from 4th branch to the train station to come and say goodbye and send us off! That was the nicest surprise for us. They are great guys and that little jesture made our whole trip. We spent an hour wishing they could have gone with us. We actually wrote a letter to the District President requesting their help because they helped us with the Hyderabad Youth conference and were very good help. We told him that they were the future leaders and with a little training on how to be in charge of a dance....they could teach dance next year. I guess the budget didn't allow for it to happen.

Now you know why we love these guys!!! (At least one of the reasons why!!!)