Our first day...

 Our day began with a greeting and a long term visioning from Bishop Yambasu. and we met our local hosts Smart and Beatrice at the UMC House. The Bishop laid out a vision for the church in Sierra Leone which included adding two floors to the UMC House to be rented out thus providing income for the church to support a pension program for their retired clergy and an ambitious plan to build a University which would begin with a school of Agriculture and Theology.  Within school of theology he talked about addressing the issues of violence against women.
We have been moved by the radical hospitality that has been shown to us by our Sisters in Sierra Leone. The women of the West District prepared and served a wonderful lunch, allowed us to go home and have a bit of rest, so we could be ready to be part of their UMW social night in our honor. Now they did some serious singing!!!!
Tonight we are sorting all of the ministry items that were brought. Thanks so much to all who shared a pin for the women's conference next week. We will have suitcases for the women's training center, the pre school, the Hartford Girls school, as well as our personal things for the next 3 days. Tomorrow we need to be packed and ready to load the bus for a few days of exploring...all before 7:30 am.
We may not have wifi for the next 3 days but we will be enjoying our continuing adventure...and we appreciate all you prayers during this time.  Blessings,  Vickie, Sally, Randie, Carol,  Cindy, Rita, Mary and Bonnie.