Bishop Davies to Zaatari Camp

Next week Bishop Davies, the presiding  bishop for the Church and his wife will be in Jordan for three days of meetings with area directors of temporal affairs from Europe, Asia, Africa etc. and their wives.  The meetings will be at the Amman Center and we won't be involved.  However, since we are the humanitarian directors for Jordan we have been asked to provide a humanitarian experience for Bishop Davies and Dave McMillan, director of temporal affairs for the Middle East on the last day of the conference before they go home.  Since the Church recently made a contribution to the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) we thought it would be great to arrange a visit to Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan and visit the medical clinic that SAMS supports with the donation from the Church.

It's not easy to get permission to go into the camp.  Security is VERY TIGHT but our friends at SAMS told us they could arrange it.  The Davies and McMillans sent copies of their passports for government approval to go into the camp.  We arranged for a van and a driver, a tour of the Zaatari camp medical center and welcome by camp leadership.

Then we got a phone call this morning saying that the government needs more time to grant the approval.  SAMS is doing what they can, but it doesn't look hopeful.  We are hoping and praying that everything works out.  It would be a great experience for Bishop Davies.

We have a "plan B" but it isn't quite as exciting as "plan A."