The Bullock's in West Africa

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Nancy Bullock <noflattires@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Feb 18, 2014 at 1:58 PM
Subject: Our Visit by the Military
To: Jim & Nancy Bullock <noflattires@gmail.com>

Last week we did a humanitarian project where we gave 5 computers, 1 printer and support equipment for the computer setup to the Military base here. They had sent a request and we wrote it up and it was approved by the Area Presidency. One reason we did it is to improve relationships with them --- not that they were bad; there just wasn't any. There are members living on the base but the home teachers, missionaries, etc. cannot visit them there. The Mission President who is over the area where the base is located also wanted to be with us, for obvious reasons.

When we gave them the computers we told them they were welcome to come visit us anytime and we would show them around etc. Yesterday the Lt. Colonel called and ask if they could come this morning and give us a formal thank you. We called back and ask if they had time that we would like to show them our facilities. He said they would like that and could give us a half hour. He said he would bring his director and a couple of other people. The Director was not able to come.

We got hold of our Public Affairs couple and they made up 4 or 5 folders with pamphlets and information and a CD of the tabernacle choir. We also bought some drinks (sodas) and some banana breads to serve them. Public affairs arranged to have some key people there to take them around. We have a couple of men who know the Lt. Colonel from their past military days.

They arrived right on time but there were not 4 of them -- there were 9! We called the Public affairs couple and they quickly put together some more folders and prepared the snack for a few more. We took them to the Stake Centre that is on the grounds and gave them a tour. There is an Employment centre there with a computer room and a classroom They were shown that and it was explained to them what we do there and that it is for members and non-members alike. I think they were impressed with that. There was a class going on while we were there with probably a dozen or more people. The Lt. Colonel had questions. Then across the hall we showed them the baptism font and there just happened to be some missionaries in the room having a District meeting so it was an opportunity to explain about missionaries. The brother who was doing most of the talking, talked about investigators but then had to explain what that meant. He told them that people can investigate the Church for as long as they want and when they feel in their hearts that they want to join then they can be baptized and confirmed. As we left that room the Lt. Colonel said that he may want to be an investigator one day. Then it was on the the Family History Centre.

We showed them the Chapel and the gymnasium and there were a couple of young people there who are doing the Pathway program and so that was explained.

We then took them to the Area office (across the grounds) and took them up to the Area Presidency meeting room where the refreshments were laid out. Elder Vinson, from the Area Presidency, met us there. The Military presented us with some military calendars and we gave them the prepared folders etc. Refreshments were shared and quite a bit of visiting and then some photos.

The Mission President ask if he could go visit the Lt. Colonel sometime and he readily agreed. The Lt. Colonel also said that he would call us as soon as the computers were set up so that we can go take some pictures.

It was also interesting that the assistant to the Lt. Colonel ran into a friend in the Area office that he had grown up with. They were thrilled to see each other. Some really good things happened. Everyone was feeling good about the whole thing!!

It was a GREAT morning!! We are feeling really good about the whole thing. They did comment that they knew nothing about the Church before today and some said that they would visit on a Sunday.

Photos: The first photo is the class going on at the Employment Centre. The second is the Lt. Colonel presenting Elder Vinson with the military calendars and the third is a group photo of our visitors with Elder Vinson and three or our brethren.

We had two projects approved recently.

#1 We are giving 5 new computers, a printer, toner, etc. to the Military. We received a request from them and we decided (Area Presidency) that it would be good for government relations etc.

#2 We will give Ga Hospital a Haemalogy Analyzer (blood analyzer) and also we will pay the cost of building and installing cabinets, work benches, etc. in a laboratory room that was built for them by another NGO (non-government organization). We are excited to be able to do this for them and they were so thrilled when I called on Friday to tell them that the project was approved. Many of the patients must be referred to Accra for their blood test (50 km. away). This will really help them a lot. This small hospital services about 225,000 people, with the help of smaller clinics, etc.

When we went to visit this Ga Hospital to look at the project (with Bro. John Buah) we all felt really good about helping them. We looked at another project the same day and didn't get that same feeling at all.