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.