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It was our last day in Ganta.  We packed up and checked out of the hotel.  We went to breakfast at Angel Hill. Then we went to the closing service of Conference.  When we got there, many persons were still outside the building.  There was going to be a procession at the beginning of the service.  The clergy all had white robes on and lay persons were dressed in their finery.  There were last pictures taken with friends. 

We worked our way through the crowd to go to our seats in the front of the auditorium.  Music was already being played.  Soon the Conference Secretary Rev. Dr. Labala announced the hymn for the processional – “Come, Christians, Join to Sing”.  There were three verses but we sang it again until all had entered and taken their seats. This included the choirs, the newly ordained clergy, the cabinet, the directors, Bishop Quire and Retired Bishop Kulah.

After a short greeting was said, we sang “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee”.  The Bishop led the Invocation and the Confession.  The Conference UMW President Muriel Nelson led the Act of Praise.  The St. Paul River District Mass Choir sang an anthem.

Then the Advance Committee led by David Farhat made an impassioned plea for giving to the Fund Drive that began a number of people making large donations and calling out others by name to do the same.  At one point our leader Jon Reynolds walked up and gave $500 which the team had put together and pledged another $500 toward Ganta Hospital. 

After a long time the service continued with prayers, Scripture readings, a choir anthem, and the singing of the Conference theme song – “My Hope is Built”.  Then the Bishop gave the sermon.  Afterward everyone stood and said the Apostles’ Creed.  The prayer hymn was “Jesus, Keep Me Near The Cross”.  There was a Passing of the Peace by all waving their hands, a communion hymn, and the Celebration of the Lord’s Supper.  The Sending Forth was the Hymn “Go, Make of All Disciples”. 

There was a final business session and the fixing of appointments.  But by then our guides were encouraging us to leave so we could get to lunch and our journey.

We had lunch and gave last greetings to those who had come in later.  We started back to Monrovia at 2:45 pm. We had a couple other people with us. On the way back we stopped at a place that had a fairly new well with the name of Rochester St. Paul UMC on it.  That’s where Jon served before his current appointment at Cass Community. 

We eventually dropped off the other travelers and arrived at the Mission Compound by 7 pm.   We unloaded and ate a supper provided by our dear ladies Ocelia and Vision.  Devotions and debriefing and to bed.

(I wrote this entry back on Feb. 15 but never posted it.  I did not have internet available the rest of the trip.  And while I took notes from time to time, I didn’t write anything the rest of the time.  We often were told that we needed to be ready at a specific time to go somewhere and then would have to wait for some reason before we left.  Since everything was packed away where we were staying, I wasn’t able to use that time to write.   Now on Feb. 28 after our trip has ended and we are back to our lives at home, I’m going to try and catch up.  It may not be as detailed but it will tell what we did the rest of the trip.  However, first is the post from Feb. 15.)

Short comments – Each day we have gone to the Angel Hill Restaurant for our meals.  There are several long tables and chairs with white covers.  There is a short table at the head for the Bishops.   There is a buffet consisting of various kinds of food depending on what meal it is.  All of the guests of the conference primarily from the U.S.A. and Sierre Leone ate there.

(We found out later that the main cooks for our meals were persons the Conference had hired and brought from Monrovia to be sure our meals were what we could eat.  In fact one of them was Mother Quire’s sister. Food was not quite as spicy as they usually eat.)

We have breakfast around 7:30 am. Conference has adjourned for lunch around 2:15 pm.  Supper has been around 7 pm after whatever activity we had in the afternoon.  Conference continues while we are gone.  One evening was the memorial service which we missed.  Another evening was a music program which we missed. 

When we got to Conference on Saturday unlike the previous day, we were the first persons there.  Hardly anybody was in the auditorium.  The conference secretary introduced a seminary student who gave the devotions.  His emphasis was on investing yourself in what you are trying to accomplish and in the future.  If you don’t work on it now, it may never happen.  Everyone has a part to play to make a significant legacy.  The Bible Teacher Dr. Paul was next.  He was building on his ideas from previous days.  One interesting thing – he always started with a little exercise.  Fist pushed forward into the air – Go, fingers wiping tears – Weep, hands down to ground – Sow, hands gathering in – Reap, hands in the air – Rejoice! 

A time for the Bishop’s Appreciation had Bishop and Mrs. Quire sitting in front as persons passed by putting money for them in baskets.     Later Dr. Brewer spoke during the Hour that Inspires and challenges.  We went to lunch very late.  Afterwards part of the team went back to the conference to experience the Ordination Service.  

Others of us including me went back to the Guest House to rest.  Very soon after getting in the room, I got out the computer to write some more.  After I had written one post, I tried to get into the internet so I could send it to my son.  It wasn’t taking the password even after checking with reception to be sure I had it correct.  After about an hour I gave up and took my computer and phone to team member Jill who seemed to have the only 110 volt plug.  After getting the phone set up to charge, I showed her what was happening with the login for the hotel internet.  Turns out I had the user-id wrong.  Once I corrected it, I could send to Dave.   I got the computer charged up again too.

It was time to go the supper.  The vans came and took us.  The ones who had attended ordination told us that there were 2 commissioned, 9 ordained elders, and 44 ordained associate elders.  They have a different system of levels of ordination. 

After supper we came back to the hotel and sat in the patio area.  We shared our high and low moments and had devotions.  It was a good day. 

Notes from Jill Woodward from South Lyon:

We visited the hospital this afternoon. Upon arrival we were given hand sanitizer for our hands and had our temperature taken. We went through that building to another building where we went through the same process. Duane was recognized by that person.

Allen Zomonway, the director, joined us to give us the tour. Due to gas prices and shortage there was no power in most of the buildings. The doctors, nurses, and staff are doing the best they can but under tough circumstances. They don’t often receive their financial support in a timely manner. Many patients cannot pay and the services end up ‘gratis’ or pro bono. This past year, pro-bono was over $100,000. That is a small fortune there.

We saw many new mothers and their babies. There were 3 sets of twins. The women stay 24 hours if there are no complications. Patients come from many different districts. Some come with one support person and there is house for all of them. They cook for their family who are in the hospital.

The children’s wing is looking to buy all new, metal beds as the government has ‘condemned’ the wooden beds. The hospital is not sure where the needed funds will come from as shipping beds is very expensive.

What pained the hearts of many team members was hearing the story of a young boy who came in with breathing problems and needed oxygen which required a generator and fuel. The family was told they needed to buy the fuel but they couldn’t. The boy is on oxygen but that took the generator away from other things. As it is, the building only has power part of the day.

Some renovation has taken place but a lot more needs to be done! As I said these wonderful people are doing the best that they can under, what to us, is horrible circumstances, but they are persevering. The hospital is considered to be one of the best in the area.