We were wakened by our alarm at 6:30 am. I read my devotions while Duane showered. Then I had my turn. We agreed it was a great feeling! We were picked up in our van and taken around the block to the guest house for breakfast. Duane and I decided to turn on some additional data protocol on our phone so we could communicate. Texts starting going through sometimes. Tons of email came in too. We logged off Facebook after we saw that our son Dave had posted to our friends that we were here safely. Then we were taken to the sessions – the clergy in one van and a car, the laity in another car. The laity session was meeting seemed near our hotel. The clergy session met in a church that was a little farther away at the end of the fairgrounds where the conference was being held.
As we approached the area, we could see many people walking toward the church. A big business everywhere are the motorcycles. The driver takes up to three passengers behind to places they need to go. So delegates were coming that way. There were three laity from East Ohio, the Sierra Leone Lay Leader, and myself. We were taken right in and seated in the first row in front of the table where the leaders were going to sit. We watched as many people were coming in and filling the right side of the sanctuary. I decided to talk to the tech people to try and get something posted. They were willing to try. They asked for my flash drive. Unfortunately time had not allowed me to think that through to have one prepared. I had been carrying my computer everywhere so sat down, turned in on, and transferred my blog words. I took it to them. Since they had a PC, it took a little bit to get it transferred to their computer and then we ran out of time before I could use their browser to boost it up. So I let it go and went back to my seat. Three United Methodist Women that I have known from before came to greet me – Sis. Pauline Roberts; Sis. Alfreda Anderson, the Conference Associate Lay Leader; and Sis. Sarah Nah, Conference United Methodist Women President. It was so good to see them. The laity session began around 9:45 am. After the devotion time, the guests were introduced, tagged and given the souvenir program. Usual business proceeded. In a while, we were offered additional bottles of water. Then asked if we wanted to rest. None of us did. Then a man who was helping Frances asked if I wanted to go back to the hotel. It was very warm and I decided that I had had enough. When we got to the hotel, Francis asked me to get the others who were already back to come so we could go to lunch.
Duane was in the room. He had gone with the clergy to their session. He met several friends from earlier times. All the guests were introduced. Our friend Tom preached for their devotional time. Then the business of approving persons for ordination and other business occurred. Our group were brought back to the hotel to rest.
We had lunch meeting even more persons from the different US groups. Duane was going back to the clergy session. I needed to rest and catch up with myself so I was taken back to the hotel with another clergy spouse in the Bishop’s car. At first the air conditioner wasn’t on. Then I think since there were more of us resting they turned it on for the afternoon. I lost all of my connectivity in the room. So I went to a lounge room near the front door. I got thru to Duane at least. Didn’t try anyone else. I’ve been charging my computer and writing more of this. It is now late afternoon and the electricity went off 15 minutes ago. It will soon be time to go to the evening sessions. More later.