If her grandmother was busy trying to ensure that ritually kosher milk was available in Cleveland, granddaughter Dina is dealing with the challenge of getting any kosher food at all. "We had packed up entire freezer-loads of food, and in our American naivete, we were expecting to just unload it and put it into a refrigerator when we got to China," Greenberg told the gathering.

Relating the story of how the food finally arrived, not in a refrigerated van but on bamboo trucks, completely spoiled, she described how she and her husband, Rabbi Shalom Greenberg, could do nothing but look and laugh. "We had 25 boxes of rotten food and two empty freezers that were supposed to be full. We just laughed and laughed. Then and there we found a new meaning to the Rebbe's guidance to Shluchot to do our work with a glad heart."

Greenberg said she reached out to all her fellow Shluchot for advice on how to deal with the situation. "I got recipes. From my sister in Argentina I learned how to make peanut butter from scratch."

The Internet has been a great source of information for the Greenbergs, as many Shluchot at the Conference confirmed it has been for them too, providing new opportunities to share ideas about programming and activities, as well as educational material, and simply supportive conversation.

And while nearly every Chabad organization around the world has been able to fulfill the Rebbe's directives to provide public access to Jewish observance, including, for example, public Chanukah menorahs, Shanghai presents yet another challenge.

"Religious practice is not sanctioned in China, so we cannot have anything public," said Greenberg. "But foreigners are allowed to practice their religion. We were able to have about 150 people at our Rosh HaShanah services. During Chanukah we placed a menorah in the window of a store owned by Jews. You can't imagine how many people stopped by to see it, both those living in Shanghai and visitors. It also prompted them to ask about our presence there."

Meeting these challenges fuels the enthusiasm of all the Shluchot, agreed grandmother, granddaughter and daughter as they met together, along with their sisters of each generation and about 50 cousins and nieces - all of whom are Shluchot as well. "It's been a great reunion," said Alevsky, noting that few in the family got to bed before 4 a.m. each night of the convention, as they talked and caught up on family news.

"If someone in your family needs something, you make time no matter what. We are all part of one family," said Alevsky, referring not to her own family but her extended family of Shluchot, "so we make time for the spiritual life of all who need it. G‑d makes time flexible. That is one of His miracles. It's a privilege to do this work and see miracles happen every day."