And it only took a month for me to hear it!
Yea, so, big thing this week was General Conference. We finally got the DVD's to listen to it, and were able to watch 3 sessions - the Priesthood Session on Saturday evening, and the Saturday Afternoon and Sunday Morning Sessions Sunday morning. I loved all of it; but before I even go there, I would like to share the story of setting up this grand and glorious General Conference.
1:30 hours. No joke. It took us 1 hour and 30 minutes to set up the dang thing. Elder Jones and I - both computer people, mind you; we can build with, break, and fix our own computers easy, be it software, hardware, or any other -ware you can think of - we're given the task of listening to the technologically illiterate people here on how we should set it all up. Thus the following occurred :
The Odorkor bishopric wanted to to this whole thing with a projector - fine. The projector doesn't have a standard RCA Audio in jack; it's only got the 35mm headphone jack for audio in. So, our DVD player can't connect audio to the projector. They then wanted to bring some laptop and connect the laptop to the projector through the VGA and then use the audio output of the laptop for the entire sacrament hall. We informed them that wouldn't work, audio-wise. They then said fine, we'll put the microphone next to the laptop. Hmm, okay. We get the laptop, hook everything up, get the DVD ready to go.... and then the laptop dies because the battery can't hold charge anymore and the charger is American (HP) and the only converter we had didn't work. They then said, ok, fine, go get the computer from the clerk's office and we'll play it from that. So we go and do as we're commanded, and bring it in, set it up, and put in the DVD. Turns out, the computer only has poor Windows Media Player, which was lacking the codecs (software, basically) to actually PLAY the DVD. So that doesn't work.
Now, all of this is going on since 0800. The thing was suppose to start at 0900. Now, Elder Jones and I came up with the idea at 0805 to use the TV we had for the audio, and just run the video through the Projector, and then we can just use the DVD player, no problem. Shot down without a single thought. Now its 0936, and they're running around with their heads cut off cause they can't get things to work and the few people that showed up to begin with are starting to get frustrated and want to leave. We then present our idea again. Luckily, by this time, OUR bishop has shown up. He asked us if it would work, we said yes, he said "then do it." 5 minutes later, we have the TV set up, mic sitting next to it for people in the back, projector set up, and we're playing the conference DVD.
Yea, so, big thing this week was General Conference. We finally got the DVD's to listen to it, and were able to watch 3 sessions - the Priesthood Session on Saturday evening, and the Saturday Afternoon and Sunday Morning Sessions Sunday morning. I loved all of it; but before I even go there, I would like to share the story of setting up this grand and glorious General Conference.
1:30 hours. No joke. It took us 1 hour and 30 minutes to set up the dang thing. Elder Jones and I - both computer people, mind you; we can build with, break, and fix our own computers easy, be it software, hardware, or any other -ware you can think of - we're given the task of listening to the technologically illiterate people here on how we should set it all up. Thus the following occurred :
The Odorkor bishopric wanted to to this whole thing with a projector - fine. The projector doesn't have a standard RCA Audio in jack; it's only got the 35mm headphone jack for audio in. So, our DVD player can't connect audio to the projector. They then wanted to bring some laptop and connect the laptop to the projector through the VGA and then use the audio output of the laptop for the entire sacrament hall. We informed them that wouldn't work, audio-wise. They then said fine, we'll put the microphone next to the laptop. Hmm, okay. We get the laptop, hook everything up, get the DVD ready to go.... and then the laptop dies because the battery can't hold charge anymore and the charger is American (HP) and the only converter we had didn't work. They then said, ok, fine, go get the computer from the clerk's office and we'll play it from that. So we go and do as we're commanded, and bring it in, set it up, and put in the DVD. Turns out, the computer only has poor Windows Media Player, which was lacking the codecs (software, basically) to actually PLAY the DVD. So that doesn't work.
Now, all of this is going on since 0800. The thing was suppose to start at 0900. Now, Elder Jones and I came up with the idea at 0805 to use the TV we had for the audio, and just run the video through the Projector, and then we can just use the DVD player, no problem. Shot down without a single thought. Now its 0936, and they're running around with their heads cut off cause they can't get things to work and the few people that showed up to begin with are starting to get frustrated and want to leave. We then present our idea again. Luckily, by this time, OUR bishop has shown up. He asked us if it would work, we said yes, he said "then do it." 5 minutes later, we have the TV set up, mic sitting next to it for people in the back, projector set up, and we're playing the conference DVD.
The Bishop (my districts) then asked me to sit upfront so I can be the technology expert, to be sure to fix anything should anything go wrong during conference. All in all, it was kinda fun, in a nerve-wracking, hair-ripping, frustrating kinda way. In the end, it worked, so alls well that ends well, right?
Note, it's almost impossible to stay awake during General Conference, no matter how amazing those speakers are, when you have to watch it for 4 hours straight (no break in between) in intense heat! I had to keep my legs or arms moving so I didn't fall asleep; haha.
Anyway, that was the big thing this week. No baptisms, due to conference. But this Saturday, all going well, we should baptize 4! Which should be awesome. What's really awesome is that one of them is Adams' daughter, and his son is scheduled for the 27th or so (can't remember the exact date; will have to check the board when I get home). But yea, it's great to see his family following in his footsteps.
Welp, that's about it for now. I'm giving a talk tomorrow in Zone Interviews, so I have to write that, and it's taking up a lot of my time; I've already had to extend my computer time by 30 minutes 3 times now; haha.
Pictures should be coming, soon. We get sub next week, so we'll probably head over to the awesome cafe or something. If not, well... sorry. That's life here in Ghana. Hahaha.
This Gospel is True, and the Work is worth it! Take care and God bless!
PS: I'll probably have my little blip of a talk (only 3-5 minutes or so) posted in my Points of Ponder blog thingy, if anyone cares to read it. It's not much, but then again, it's not really suppose to be. We're hear to preach the Gospel, not go into the depths therein. Gotta love it all!
--Elder Collings
Note, it's almost impossible to stay awake during General Conference, no matter how amazing those speakers are, when you have to watch it for 4 hours straight (no break in between) in intense heat! I had to keep my legs or arms moving so I didn't fall asleep; haha.
Anyway, that was the big thing this week. No baptisms, due to conference. But this Saturday, all going well, we should baptize 4! Which should be awesome. What's really awesome is that one of them is Adams' daughter, and his son is scheduled for the 27th or so (can't remember the exact date; will have to check the board when I get home). But yea, it's great to see his family following in his footsteps.
Welp, that's about it for now. I'm giving a talk tomorrow in Zone Interviews, so I have to write that, and it's taking up a lot of my time; I've already had to extend my computer time by 30 minutes 3 times now; haha.
Pictures should be coming, soon. We get sub next week, so we'll probably head over to the awesome cafe or something. If not, well... sorry. That's life here in Ghana. Hahaha.
This Gospel is True, and the Work is worth it! Take care and God bless!
PS: I'll probably have my little blip of a talk (only 3-5 minutes or so) posted in my Points of Ponder blog thingy, if anyone cares to read it. It's not much, but then again, it's not really suppose to be. We're hear to preach the Gospel, not go into the depths therein. Gotta love it all!
--Elder Collings
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