Today was a pretty laid back day as the four of us checked in at the
convention. We found place to eat shortly after (everybody was
impressed by the Pittsburgh pizza) and then did some site seeing.

We walked down to Point State Park in the Golden Triangle then to the
T to go to Station Square. There the four of us split into couples as
Mary and I purchased tickets to ride the Monogahela incline. Also,
the church gave Mary and I a gift so that we could go out to eat.
Very cool. So we walked Station Square a bit more, then up the
incline. I didnt think about it, but I might be able to upload some
of the pictures to Flickr tomorrow. Paul brought the churches laptop,
so I might be able to do it then. Im not sure that I can do it with
my PDA just yet.

Anyway, we got a lot of pictures including a panorama shot that I
will stitch together when I get home and upload later. We then
returned to the bottom of Mt. Washington and to the T. We ran into a
girl in tears who needed to use a phone, we let her use one of ours.
We talked briefly to make sure she was ok and then over the Mon to
the hotel to freshen up.

From the Hotel, (William Penn Hotel) we wlked into the Strip to
Lidias of Italy. A really nice Italian restaurant. We use the gift that the
church gave us to pay for it. It was a great meal.

Then down to the convention center, where the exhibits had opened up.
Mary and I walked through the first row looking over the materials
and things there. We then started down the end of the second row
where we went into the 1Life Revolution booth. 1Life is a program
started by World Vision to bring about change for the HIV/AIDS crisis
in Africa. The experience is you are one of 4 people and see how AIDS
has affected their lives and how the love of Christ can bring about
change. In the midst of the experience is the verse Matthew 25:34-46
[Mt 25:34] “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you
who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom
prepared for you since the creation of the world. [35] For I was
hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave
me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, [36] I
needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after
me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
[37] “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you
hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? [38]
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes
and clothe you? [39] When did we see you sick or in prison and go to
visit you?’
[40] “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did
for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
[41] “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who
are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his
angels. [42] For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was
thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, [43] I was a stranger and
you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me,
I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
[44] “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or
thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and
did not help you?’
[45] “He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do
for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
[46] “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous
to eternal life.” NIV from the Pocket Bible

A very moving experience. There will be more. Mary and I will be
going to the Prayer Labyrinth tomorrow morning and probably celebrate
Vespers tomorrow night. I love contemplative services. Mary is
looking forward to it so she can experience what I enjoy as part of
my spiritual journey. Until tomorrow…