Monocco Conference

 18 May

Jeffrey and I along with the Kyungu's flew to Casablanca in Morocco. It was only the week before that I learned that Casablanca is a city not a nightclub in a famous old movie. I have never seen the movie - maybe someday I will. Anyway, I like the little I saw of the city as we drove out and then back in a few days later.

In the drive through the countryside on our way from Casablanca on the coast to Ben Guerir, I noted that the hills were shades of brown with selected farms and orchards that were green. I will bet Morocco is having a drought. You can see the farms and orchards that have died. It is just like going down hi way 5 in California during the six year drought where wells dried up and farms died. Looks like the same thing going on in that part of Morocco. 

The other thing that stood out to me besides the smooth freeway, was the fact that there were no hawkers in the street, shacks lined up to sell, or beggars at the intersections. Most of the buildings were painted. There must not be any snow as all the roofs were flat. I think Morocco is more affluent than Ghana - despite their drought. 

We arrived at the DoubleTree Hilton that is on the campus called Mohamed VI Polytechnic University or UM6P - [University Mohamed VI Polytechnic] and has quite a cool history and purpose. You can read about it here.

After checking in we found the conference at a domed building on the campus just a little ways away. I found out later that the campus is HUGE! The Kyungu's were already there so we went to sit with Luci Kyungu as Elder Kyungu was one of the keynote speakers. 

He was the very best of the group. One man spoke in Arabic with a translator brought in during his speech who wasn't prepared. Another lady joined in at the last minute and went on too long. In fact I was a little disappointed in the Conference this year as the technology and organization were not as good as past conferences. New people in charge dealing the learning curve I guess.

It was really great to run into old friends!

This is Lee-Shae Scharnick-Udlemans from South Africa. Last year we talked a lot and I learned so much from her presentation. She was pregnant. When I found she had a baby girl, I made sure to bring her a baby quilt when I saw her at the conference. It is so good to meet up with her again.

We meet every year and I waited till he was in full garb before getting a picture!

Lloyd and Gayla Allen listening while Brent Belnap is taking pictures

It is fun to see friends and I loved taking pictures of Brent taking pictures. He is usually behind the camera. We met up with the Allens and the Stratford's and then met Merri (sorry, can't remember her last name) and her husband who are the brand new ALC's in Abu Dhabi. 

They are setting up the Area offices and finding apartments, beds, etc. for the new missionaries coming to help them. They do not have office staff like travel, ICS, family history, auditors, real estate, humanitarian, etc. either. It is all being set up now. 

I enjoyed meeting and greeting and getting to know other people too. It was a good conference - mostly.