Monthly Archives: February 2016

Then it was time to go to the airport.

When we got to the airport, a man from Brussels Airlines who had been at the downtown office in the morning had been watching for Duane. He took us right in and found a chair for Duane. Then he took our passports and got us through immigration. Then he came back and took us to the security area. Their machine for carry-ons was not working so they were checking everything manually. We didn’t have to take things out and we could leave our shoes on. The man was still with us and took us into the waiting room.

We had to wait a couple of hours. There were a few other internationals who had been with us at the conference. About 8:30 pm, when it was time to start sending persons to the plane, our airline friend came back again and took us to the front of the line.   He gave me a piece of paper with his phone number and name so we could call him when we got home and let him know that Duane was doing ok. It wasn’t too long before we got in the shuttle and went to the plane.

After we were in the air, we were served snacks and a drink. Within a little while we were served dinner. The flight was about 8 hours. We watched some shows on the little screen and then tried to sleep. I’m feeling tired right now just remembering. I think we both got some sleep. It didn’t seem too long before the lights were going on and we were given a breakfast box with a croissant and cream cheese. There was also coffee, tea, and fruit juices. We landed in Brussels at 5:15 am.

We had to wait 7 hours before the next flight. We had to go through customs and security again before getting to the next terminal. We sat in a seating area. But lots of persons were sleeping. It didn’t take too long until Tom, Bill and Duane were sleeping. I was watching out the windows and working on blog comments. Everyone took turns getting up and walking around. Then we came back to the same area and the others went to sleep again.

Our flight was at 12:10 pm so we gathered our things and walked down to the gate by 10:30 am. Again we saw others we had been with in Liberia going on this flight. It didn’t take long for them to start loading. We were going back in time so even though the flight was almost 9 hours long, we were going to get to Dulles by 2:55 pm. We settled in to our seats and realized that the screens were both going to work this time. I was able to watch Inside Out and The Intern. We had lunch shortly after the flight took off. Then we had a snack just before we got to Dulles.

We had to go through customs using check in machines. Then back through security again. After we were free to go to our gate, we went by an Auntie Anne’s pretzel stand. Duane said it before me. I needed to get a soft pretzel. Our next flight was at 5:10 pm. We got to the gate. Then I called Nelson to find out how things were going with Mother. It was not good. He had gotten a call from the Physician’s Assistant who said that Mother was not doing well and she was prescribing Hospice care. Obviously I was very unhappy about this. She told Nelson to have me call the nurse and see how things were going. So I called Newcomer Hall where she lives. They said that she was not doing well. They said to call again in the morning. We boarded the plane and left for Detroit. We were to get there near 6:15 p.m.

We went to get our luggage and said goodbye to the others. Duane called the Oakleys – Susi and Brian – who had kept our van. Susi picked us up and took us back to her house. We visited with them a little while. Then we drove to Plymouth and a Comfort Inn. Since it was connected to our place that we stay in Mason OH, we thought we might be eligible for a free night. Duane didn’t have the cards he needed but the desk person gave him the 1-800 number and said they could search for him. It worked and we got the free night. We were put in Room 101 and given a bag with goodies and bottles of water. Duane managed to get the extra clothes we needed from the suitcases without bringing them in. It was 32 degrees out. He was very cold. What a difference!

We didn’t waste time getting what we needed for the night. And went to bed immediately – 9 pm.

Friday Feb. 19 – I woke around Midnight. I wasn’t sure where I was. Then back to sleep and awake around 3 am. Same basic feeling. Back to sleep to wake around 6 am. I took a shower. We didn’t have all clean clothes but we wore the new shirts from Mother Irene when we went to breakfast. It was a conversation starter for sure. Good breakfast. We finished up, reloaded the car, checked out and headed for home. We stopped in Bay City at the Meijer store to get some food then got home by 11:30 am.

It was quite an adventure! We were glad to participate in the conference and to see so many friends from different times we have been to Liberia.

Update on my mother – We were able to visit her Feb. 20 – 22. While she is confined to her bed, she is eating the food others feed her and is communicating again with those who are caring for her.

We are feeling much better and have pretty much caught up on our sleep. This is the end of the written posts related to our 2016 Trip to Liberia.  I am hoping to put up some pictures at some time.

We woke up early and finished packing our suitcases. We had one less because one of the smaller ones went inside a larger one. We got our packs organized with what we would need on the planes and what we wanted with us. We put everything out in the dining area. The Ivorians had left the day before. This morning Duane and I went to missionary Nancy Carew’s house for breakfast. She lives across the way from Princess and Sam. It was another great breakfast.

We had thought we were going downtown with our luggage around 8 am. Turns out we didn’t have to go until later. So we talked with Nancy for a while. Soon all the luggage got loaded in Sam’s car.

First we went to the conference office so we could turn in the money we were donating to the Administrative Center in Kakata-Farmington District. We also gave money toward the hospitality we had received at the Annual Conference. There was some confusion about getting receipts so we had to wait for the treasurer to get them. Meanwhile our friend Frances brought Duane and I presents of shirts from Mother Irene Innis. They were a different kind and very stylish. Then Princess Jusu came looking for me to take me back to the UMW sponsored training center. I said that I hadn’t gotten a picture with Rose Farhat so Princess took me back to the Women’s Center to see her again. We got pictures taken. Then we went back to the car. The receipts came and Tom came back from having breakfast with George Wilson.

Sam drove Tom, Bill and us downtown to the Brussels Airlines office. We had to wait a half hour until they opened at 10 am. We were the first ones in. We got temporary boarding passes and turned in our luggage. While I was checking in ours, Duane passed out from the heat. Some men helped him to a chair. He came to almost immediately. One of the airline women brought him a glass of sugar water and another glass of regular water. He was also moved closer to the air conditioner. Sam and Bill went and brought the car closer to the office. He walked with us to the car. He was feeling much better.

We had one more place to go before going back to the mission compound. Sam took us into West Point which was a poorer area of Monrovia. Fishing is a primary part of their economy. As we went down the streets, we saw lots of smoked fish that vendors were selling. Sam attended the John Kofi Asmah United Methodist Church. When we got there, older students were taking exams in the sanctuary. Duane stayed in the car with the air on.

We began walking beside then behind the church following a narrow path between various buildings. We went past a large area where there were fish drying tubs. Soon we got to another building – the John Kofi Asmah United Methodist Elementary and Junior High School. It was built by the church with funding from the Illinois Great Rivers Conference. There was a large plaque on the wall indicating all the persons represented from both the Liberia conference and the Illinois Great Rivers Conference when it was dedicated to the glory of God: February 27, 2012. We had been asked by IGRC to visit this project so we could tell them how it was doing. The younger children were on holiday so there wasn’t anyone in the classrooms.

We went back to the car and began to drive out of the area. Sam told us about West Point’s experiences during the Ebola outbreak. We went back to the Mission Compound where Duane rested for the afternoon. Tom, Bill and I had some lunch. Duane ate some of our snack food.

Tuesday morning we woke up feeling pretty good. After getting dressed, the six of us went next door to Princess Jusu’s apartment for breakfast. It was a great breakfast of oatmeal, eggs, juices, fruits. Duane had coffee. But we didn’t eat much. We were still cautious about what our stomachs could handle. Bill and Tom left to go downtown to check in at the Brussels Airlines. They took our passports so we didn’t have to go. Duane and I stayed and visited with Princess and Nancy Carew for awhile. Then we went back to the dormitory to wait for our day’s adventure to begin. Bill and Tom got back and returned our passports. Bill was expecting the family of his two foster Liberian sons.

About 10:20 am Kakata-Farmington District Superintendent Paul Gartor arrived to take us back to his district parsonage. This is the one that Duane’s mission team worked on in 2008. We had an enjoyable ride there because it was air-conditioned. The route was almost the same as the one we used to get back and forth to the conference in Buchanan. It was good to continue to see more of the rebuilding and colorful renovations of businesses and homes. We went past the airport and the Firestone plantation again. Then a little farther on was Cottontree, the town near the parsonage.

When we got to the parsonage, it turned out that it was not what I thought I had seen from the road on Sunday. So much for my memory. We saw Paul’s wife Martha Gartor again. We had met her at the conference. Martha’s mother was there also as were their four children. They walked us around through the parsonage and into the back yard. We went over to see the administrative center progress. It was up to what would be the roof line. We walked through the different rooms. It is really much bigger than they need. Duane said later that he was sure they had cut back the heavy grass that was growing inside since they hadn’t put a floor in yet so that we could walk around inside.

We went back to the house and had lunch. There were rice, greens and chicken. It was mild and tasted very good. Martha showed us pictures of the clergy women on the district at an event they had attended. She is working with them to learn various life skills. She gave me a brochure about it. I don’t have it right now to describe the program more. They hold dinner fundraisers so they have some money to get materials they need. I gave her $100 to help them along.

We said goodbye and Paul drove us to our next stop – Bishop Judith Craig’s Children’s Village. We had passed it on the way and now stopped in. Director Rev. Robert Sieh, a long time friend, was having a meeting with some people. He stopped to say hello then sent me down the was to where Margretta was. It was so good to see her and her daughter Sue. Her three year old grandson George was there too. We talked a long time and I looked at many of her family pictures. She was still mourning the death of her father in December and needed to share. After Robert’s meeting ended, he and Duane walked around the Village and Duane took pictures of the improvements. The painting had been refreshed on about two-thirds of the cottages.

It got late in the afternoon and we needed to get back. We said goodbye knowing we might not see each other again. A driver took us back into Monrovia. It was about an hour. This time there was no air conditioning. The windows were down part way and we had to endure diesel and gas exhaust all the way in. We got back about 6:30 pm. We discovered that they had thoroughly cleaned another room nearby and moved our things into there. Then they thoroughly cleaned the room we had been in. It took a while to get used to the new setup. We had been using twin beds, each with a mosquito net; this one had a queen size bed and only one net. But we were able to have two fans for the night.

Duane slept all night and was still tired in the morning. I was able to sleep for awhile than woke up early. We had breakfast in the dining room. Then Duane went back to bed.

Later I went to lunch with Sam, Tom, Bill, and the Ivorians to a restaurant downtown called Diana’s Restaurant. It was run by some Lebanese. Sam, Tom and Bill had been there the night before. We had hamburgers fixed in an interesting way. The bun was cut two-thirds lower and one-third for the cover. The lower part was scooped out and a lettuce concoction was put in the hole. Then the hamburger was put on, ketchup on both sides, then the lid. Unfortunately I did not want to eat the lettuce so scraped it out.   I had ordered take out for Duane. I scooped his out too. When we were done, we went back to the compound dormitory. Duane was feeling a little better. He enjoyed the hamburger.

Monday afternoon I called Rose Farhat, the Women’s Directrice and said I was back. She came over to visit. She caught me up on how things were going since the Ebola had cleared up. They had closed the Day Care Center but it needed more work before it could be opened again. They had also redone the water supply at the Day Care Area and put up a fence to keep the children from going out by accident. I told her about our United Methodist Women’s groups in the Michigan Area and the United Methodist Community House. We promised to keep in touch and see what each group could do.

Later in the evening I went to Sam’s house to have him help me get in touch with the DS from Kakata-Farmington and the director of the Bishop Craig’s Village to arrange transportation for Duane and I to go visiting them on Tuesday.

We woke up at 6 am and finished packing. We were taken to breakfast at 7:45 am. We continued to eat carefully. Afterwards we were taken back to the hotel to get our luggage put in the van. We went to the conference. As we went in for the last time, we realized that the Ordination Service was in process. It was supposed to have been Friday night but kept getting put forward. There were three who were fully ordained and 102 ordained as Elder in Associate Order. We understood that they had been through Course of Study.

There was a short time while things were rearranged for the morning worship and closing session. Then a choir sang a number. Then the Bishops went out to the back to escort in President Ellen Sirleaf Johnson, president of Liberia. She is a United Methodist and had accepted the invitation of the Bishop to attend. There had been security moving around earlier and her area was set up just several rows ahead of us on the main floor.

The service did not proceed totally as programmed. There was liturgy used and some singing of hymns. Scripture was read. Since the person from Norway who was supposed to have spoken at the ordination had not been able to, he spoke first. The Bishop did not preach his whole sermon. He gave highlights of his theme. Blessings imply benefits. Blessings imply connection. We share the benefits. He mentioned again that he was going into retirement and said that the President would follow him later. (This is her last term. Elections will be in 2017.) He introduced the members of her group including the Speaker of the Parliament that had come with her.

A representative of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church spoke. In a short while the President made some short remarks. Bishop Hopkins led in prayer. Bishop Innis mentioned several of us attending again so the President would know the variety of guests he had. An offering was taken for the Advance. Everyone walked up and put their offerings into baskets. The choirs marched and sang as they walked around. Communion was held. The Episcopal guests were invited to leave for lunch before starting back to Monrovia. Later we heard that the President held a lunch in her apartment in the back of the conference area.

After lunch we started back to Monrovia. We left at 3 pm and got back by 5:30. Our friend Frances who had been with us was dropped off at her home. Then our driver took up to the UM Mission Compound where there is a guest house. Everyone helped to get our luggage upstairs. At this point there were the four of us – Tom Robinson, Bill Haggard, Duane and I plus our two Ivorian friends. I have never been able to find out their names. They spoke French – one understood English better so translated.

After what seemed like a long wait, the compound director Sam – who had taken care of us at the beginning – came and assigned rooms. Turns out he had not been expecting us for some reason. Anyway, we wasted no time in getting settled in. As soon as possible Duane went to bed. While we were all tired, he was exhausted by the ride and the heat. He slept ultimately for twelve hours. The rest of us had something to eat, unpacked a little, then went to bed.

Continuing about the voting…..When everyone had finished voting, all were invited to come back into the conference space to watch the county. They watched as the clergy and lay ballot boxes were opened and mixed together. Then one of the Norwegian visitors was stationed behind the box to pull out each ballot. Three others from the US sat in chairs near the box and held baskets.

Each basket represented one of the three remaining nominees. A fourth basket received voided ballots from time to time. Patrick Friday from the General Board of Global Ministries had the “honor” of reading the names and placing the ballot in the respective basket. It took a long time. We were amazed at the stamina of Patrick as he kept reading the names. Many in the crowd were keeping tallies.

Then the ballots in each basket were counted. The basket holder moved the ballots from one place to another while Patrick counted out loud – 1 to 100 then over again as long as it took. The drama was increased two or three times by the lights going out. Flashlights from smartphones came on immediately trained on the ballots. The lights came on again in a few long moments. When the counting was over, the tally was Rev. Samuel Quire – 581, Rev. David Tokpah – 509, and William Labala 429. That eliminated Rev. Labala. So the other two names will be sent on to the West Africa Central Conference being held next December. Liberia is the only conference that needs a new Bishop. 20 delegates from each of the four central conferences for a total of 80 will decide who the next Bishop is.

We were glad when it was over. Even though it was late, we were taken to the guest house for a late supper. Then we went to our housing where we began to do our packing.

We decided that I would still stay in the room until lunch time. Duane took notes again. The Bible study leader Rev. Freed talked about the feeding of the 5000. It played out the Good Shepherd reality. Jesus had compassion – he was sick to his stomach at the spritual need of the people. Jesus distributes bread (symbol of life) – calls for a revolution to bring people back to God. Jesus uses what they have to create a miracle. Jesus was broken like the bread to bless people and callsus to do the same.

The LUMEF – Liberia United Methodist Endowment Fund – report was given. An offering was taken for the Fund. It started with a roll call of the leaders then everyone came forward to put envelopes in baskets. They had received the envelopes in their conference packet.

There was a dedication of six cases of Bibles for six districts. Then there was quite an appreciation of Bishop Innis. Many persons made comments and brought things for him and Mother Irene.

Earlier in the morning a woman came up to Duane and had to introduce herself because he didn’t recognize her. It was Eva Barchue, Albert’s wife. So as it got closer to lunchtime, she came back and wondered if he needed a ride back to the hotel to see me. He agreed. I was sitting in the lounge when they came up. I didn’t recognize them either! I wasn’t expecting to see them. In addition to Eva, her daughter Joyce was with her. So we sat and visited for quite a while until it was lunch time. I went to lunch but ate sparingly.

The missionaries have come. They have been at a conference in South Africa.   They joined us at lunch. Princess Jusu, Nancy Carew, Helen Roberts Evans and others.

I decided to go back to the session. They are needing another vote. We sat up on stage. As they began the vote process, we visited with Helen for awhile. Bishop Yambasa explained again that the two top vote getters would be sent to the West Africa Central unless one person got over 60%.

All members of conference were sent out of the building. The District Superintendents were to stand at the door and call the names of each church pastor and his lay person. Again several international guests manned the voting and the counting. There was a clergy aisle and a lay aisle. They were handed a ballot, which they filled it out, and put it in a closed ballot box. Persons who could not write were helped.

(More Later.  Start back with Post # 9 to follow in sequesnce.  This is as far as I got before weather, the last Worship service, the trip back to Monrovia, and other things.  We are back in Michigan.  Will hope to catch up soon.)

When they went back to the afternoon session, Rev. Paul Gartor, DS of Kakata-Farmington District gave the devotions. Then highlights of Bishop Innis’ new book about the History of United Methodism in Liberia were mentioned with great appreciation by an English professor from the University who had been asked to review it.   It was going to be sold for $5. There was protest that it was worthy of much more. So it was voted to sell it for $10.

Guided prayer was given by a pastor and all prayed aloud particularly for General Conference. The Clergy Women came up, sang “We are Here” and presented a plaque to Bishop Innis. There was a motion that the Gbanga Graduate School of Theology be named the John G. Innis Graduate School of Theology. It was passed.

The Nomination Process began. Bishop Yambasu had the ballot container listed up and shown that it was empty – then it was covered. Someone had to receive 60% majority of the vote to elect.

Everyone was removed from the building. District by district – each pastor and each lay delegate was called and seated. Foreign guests were seated on the stage. At 5:55 the doors were closed. Not all got in. They would have a district that had finished voting go out so another could come in. There were more than 1500 persons voting. And it had to be equal clergy and lay. When they first determined the voters, there were three less lay persons so three pastors who had no lay present could not vote.

This is where our guide Sis. Frances asked Duane if he wanted to go back and check on me. So the next part is based on Saturday morning conversation.

All elders in good standing were eligible so there was a variety of possibilities. And we did not see anything handed out or promoted in front of all about those that had declared they were running. We did hear that there was promotion to small groups. The Norwegian Board of Global Ministries woman was asked to monitor the ballot box.

Superintendents called in the clergy and lay to sit down. They were given a ballot when they came in. 12 districts of 21 were seated. Then they came up individually then left. The next 9 districts came in and came right up and voted and left.   Then the entire group came in very quickly to get their seats and watch the counting. (See notes later about process.)

After everyone had voted, she led the opening of the box and the checking of ballots to be sure they were valid. The name on the ballot had to be the full name of the person. Some only had a last name or a first name and an initial. These were invalid. Some could not be read. These were invalid. Then several of the Norwegian and the East Ohio delegations counted the ballots by calling

When the counting was over, they had several names at the top of a list.   There was dancing and singing in the auditorium until 1 am. Bishop Hopkins took several videos and showed us. The top two would be sent on to the West Africa Conference in December for voting. The names that surfaced were not all the ones we had heard about running for Bishop. The top three were David Tokpak, James Labala, and Samuel Quire. They will vote again tomorrow to narrow it down.

Duane was invited to go to lunch with Rev. Anthony Dioh, pastor of St. Paul’s Church in Harper, Rev. George Monbo, District Superintendent of Cape Palmas, Rev. Solomon Jeh, District Superintendent of Kru Coast, and Rev. Kwia-Wleh Freeman, District Superintendent of Garroway District. These are the three districts that our Saginaw Bay District are connected to.

Mrs. Dioh and Mrs. Monbo were there also. They were sorry that I was unable to come. So was I when I heard about it.

There was discussion about the Medical Clinic being helped by our District. There was also talk about the DSs making trips to our district in three different years to share about their Districts.

Duane came back about 7:30 Fri night. He shared what had been happening during the day. Our friend Tom had been sick also. Duane was very tired so he decided to stay and rest. You will see as I share his notes and subsequent news we heard later that we both missed an exciting time.

When conference started Friday morning, attendees were told that Bishop Innis had been sick overnight, enough so that he went to the hospital. He had dehydration. The District Superintendents had been to see him at the hospital and prayed with him. He was back at the hotel in the morning. Bishop Hopkins led the conference in prayer for him.

Rev. Freed led another Bible study. Thursday’s perspective had been David as the Shepherd. Today he talked about the perspective of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. About 9:30 Bishop Innis came. The Journal report of the previous day would be ready in the afternoon. The Council on Finance and Administration gave their report and the budget was passed. Rev. Patrick Friday from the US and the General Board of Global Ministries gave a report about the 50/50 Ministry Assessment and resources. It has an emphasis on sustainability and capacity building.   It focuses on the Head – What are the abilities of persons/churches? – Heart – What are the passions? – and Hands – What are the skills available to carry out the task?.

Bishop Innis invited a young child to come up and blessed him. Then he invited a mother to bring her baby up and it was blessed. A new operating mission was approved.

Bishop Yambasu took a few of the foreign guests to review the Bishop nomination ballots and discuss procedure. The order of the day again was the Hour That Inspires and Challenges. This time Rev. Scott Walsh gave the message. He talked about Peter’s dialogue with Jesus . When Jesus asked “Do you love me?”, Peter was wanting to go back to what he knew – the familiar.   Jesus wanted him to go off in mission. An offering was taken at the end of the morning.