Church Services today!!

Dad used to say that a person never wants to miss a Sacrament meeting because you don't know what you might miss!  Today was one of those days.

We were just starting to sing the Sacrament hymn when 5 guys in orange t-shirts walked in the side door and went straight over to the organ.  The organist stopped playing and we stopped singing.   Then 2 or 3 more guys came in -- a couple of them were pretty big, solid looking guys.   There were more outside. 

The Bishopric and a few others went to them, along with Elder Bullock and Elder Pack.  There was some discussion of sort going on and finally the Bishop managed to get one of the big guys to go out with him (to his office) and a couple more Church leaders took guys out.  There was still 3 or 4 in the chapel.   In the meantime, we were told to remain calm.

One of the young Elders told Sister Pack and myself that there were others outside around the building, which was not reassuring.   After about 15 minutes they got back into a 15 passenger van and left.

Apparently there is some 'traditional' law here for about a month when things are suppose to be quiet - no loud music etc.   Our church is not loud, as you know, unlike many of the Church's here.   Obviously it was all planned to show up when they did though.    They threatened to take the organ away but then it seems it was more a ploy to get a bribe.  The Bishop said they wanted 500 cedi (about $200).  He told them we did not keep money at the church but did end up paying them 100 cedi.   We don't think they should have paid them anything but......

The Stake President was notified and he alerted the other Wards in the Stake.  The Bishop and the Stake President will go to the police tomorrow and make a complaint.  Some of the people in the congregation knew some of the men.  The group that intruded had no right to do what they did.  The Church was not doing anything wrong.  Just some guys after money.  At least they didn't threaten any of us -- it could have been much worse.

It sounds pretty scary but we all just sat there and waited.   After they left, the meeting carried on as scheduled.

Now for a peaceful Sunday afternoon!!   All is well! 

Love, Elder/Sister Bullock

Posters

Love this photo I took!

We love the kids and their great smiles!

We are here looking at the 32 borehole/well project that is underway.

Gorgeous flowers

Aren't these beautiful?  I saw them growing wild beside a road.  Clarence says they are flowers of a bush used for hedges. 

Neonatal Resuscitation Training

This week we have had a team here from the USA to teach the Neonatal Resuscitation.  We have Ike and Gloria Ferguson (short term specialists), who organize the whole project, and we had Dr. Groberg (a brother to the Elder Groberg from the DVD, Another Side of Heaven), Dr. JoAnne ??, (was head of nursing at BYU)  and Heather, who is a nurse.  They have done a great job.

 Monday was a day of training the facilitators who are helping with the training the rest of the week.  

Tuesday and Wednesday was the training for the Doctors and it was a little more intense.  It was interesting because some of them, if not most, did not know about these methods of saving newborns.   Babies are delivered and if they don't breathe they are set aside as 'still births'.  With this training and the equipment that is given to them they will be able to save many many babies.   They will also take the training equipment, that we give them, and go out and train others in their areas. They also receive the tools/instruments to use on the babies.  We hope from this initial training that many more will benefit.   We were a little disappointed that more Doctors did not come but I guess that is usual as they tend to be pretty busy.

Thursday and Friday is the HBB (Help Babies Breathe) training for the nurses and midwives.  We were prepared for 60 participants but quickly  made up packets for 10 more.  That was already stretching the limit so when a few more showed up we had to take their names and phone numbers, etc. and promise that training would be shared with them later.  They did show up quite late too so the training was well under way.   The nurses training will continue tomorrow.  It has all been quite  success really and everyone is pretty happy about it.  The participants are all given certificates at the end if they pass the test.

We give them a morning snack and a big lunch.  Some of these people came from several hours away.  One Dr. traveled for 12 hours to get here.

It's been a good week.   The first 3 photos are of the Doctor's training and the last one is the nurses today.   We are mostly just there to help wherever we are needed.