IT's sooooo late! Well, okay its 10:07 but feels like 1:07am thats what it even says on my computer! Soooo Ok, I got up, was here at the convention center by 11:30pm on July 7th *tues*, Samantha Vincent and I are rooming together, and we traveled here together. We decided to try and save the diocese some money by going and getting food from a grocery store, which took a 20 min bus ride through Anaheim both to and fro. But we finally found a target and a natural food store. We got back around 3pm or so and I started unpacking as samantha napped. At 4pm we went to the Deputy Orientation. That was interesting, we learned how to electronically vote and there was a skit about how a resolution would be discussed, which of course centered around Disney characters/Disneyland.

Then Samantha and I went to the Chicago Consultation reception at 5:30pm and they had a speaker on who they were, what they were trying to do and what they were planning on doing. This collection of bishops and deputies and regular lay people are for the inclusion of gay, lesbian, bi sexual and trensgendered *LGBT* people in same sex blessings and so forth. They have a dvd out about African voices and two booklets/study guides on the theology of LGBT blessings and equal rights w/in the church.

At 6;30 we went to the International Bishops Dinner and seen just how diverse universally the Episcopal Church really is, we are truly not just a national church, but an international church.

After this, we gathered as a deputation in our Bishop's Hotel room for some social gathering time. by this time I was so jet lagged I stayed for about an hour and promptly went back, took a shower and headed to bed. best sleep ever.

7.9.09
I woke up at 6:30, Samantha and I went down for breakfast at our hotel, the marriott at 7, then the bishop joined us and we were able to find his views on some of the pressing issues on our minds *very helpful, a very open and sincere response*

8am was our first legislative session where we elected a secretary as well as asst secretaries and a treasurer and sent a message saying we were ready for business to the House of Bishops *HOB*

Next was community Eucharist with a wonderful sermon from the Presiding Bishop on the stability of the church in the Phillipeans and the importance of mission in the Episcopal Church.

11=1245pm was my first legislative committee meeting. I am assigned to World Mission which is made up of two sub committees, World Mission and Episcopal Elections and the Anglican Communion....

....Okay, there's alot more about this committee, it is one of the most controversial committees dealing with the most controversial resolutions at least, so I am tired and will continue tomorrow....

: )