this is my second post today.

So... what did tuesday hold... I woke up early and went to the conference center. I didn't know what was in store. There were a couple other students that were headed into a certain room so I followed them. It ended up being a mentor/mentee meeting. I was placed with a mentor as soon as I walked in the door and ironically enough she knew sign language and gave me some contact info. She is from Long Beach California. This conference is in California next year and she told me to keep her contact info in case I want to come next year she will let me stay with her or she will help hook me up with free rent somewhere for the week. So that was pretty neat. The past president of Mexico , Vincent something i can't remember his last name, spoke at a Plenary yesterday. It was not very interesting but I sat next to a really awesome girl. She is 24 and from Texas. We pretty much didn't leave eachothers side the rest of the night... no really. We were out really late and our hotels are in opposite directions so she ended up coming and sleeping at my place. we had to go in seperate directions the rest of the day today but we are planning on meeting up again tomorrow. She has helped put a lot of fun into this kind of stressful trip. This morning I went to several sessions and also helped out at the Hospitality booth. I couldn't really give anyone directions or answers but they had really cool maps that I could help find it with the person who was asking the questions. And I ended up learning a lot myself at the same time. OH i am not sure if mentioned this earlier, If I volunteer 20 hours I get 50% off my conference fee. That is 125$. So That is what I have been doing. I still go to the sessions I want but I just help out a little and technically get paid to go.

This morning I went to look at the exhibit hall for the first time. I found a lot of cool information and met people from all over the world. The last count was 9,500 people attending, 3,000 from outside the US, and 126 countries being represented. It was an amazing splash of every culture you can think of in one room. you walk two steps and you are in a different country. Each booth was offering somthing completly different. It made me really want to travel ALL over the world... expect poland and egypt weren't all that exciting to me. I mean Poland did have nice ladies and some cool pillows they were giving away. But it just didn't seem all that exciting to me.

The coolest thing was I found a travel agency. I started talking to him and he ended up being from Burnsville. He has booked flights for North Central(my college) when they go on trips and he also has gone on YWAM trips himself! He is the VP of the company and he asked me to meet him and the owners of the company when I get back to MN. He said maybe we can sit down and talk some good partnership where I can help my school lock in great rates for trips in the future as well as assisting me personally in my travels in the future whether I am alone or in a group. So that was really awesome. Really.. the most exciting thing that has happend so far.

I ran into a man yesterday also from Japan and started promoting his school. I found out he is best friends with Jason, one of the guys who sponsored my flight to come here. Small world. And I want to travel all around it!

I am sure I am missing a lot. but i am tired and have another big day tomorrow.

wanting to do more things like see the smithsonian...

Toni