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.)