December 22. A nice sunny m orni ng, and a very hot, sweaty day until the clouds and rain came late this afternoon.
After breakfast and quiet time this morning, I started making tortillas. Then Bonita came in so I showed her how to do the tortillas, and she soon was busy rolling out the little balls of dough. I started cooking them on the wood stove while she was still rolling them. When she finished rolling those out, she washed the doors of the old small cupboard in the schoolroom and then washed the floor in the school area. Then she swept the office, kitchen, and bathroom and cleaned off the legs of Daddy’s office chair.
I took down the closet curtains in our bedroom so I can wash them tomorrow. Also started sorting out one of the boxes of craft things stored in the closet. When Daddy turned on the generator, I spent some time working on the PNG history/geography lessons. Worked on that some more before starting supper this afternoon.
Late in the morning, we started out for a little walk, but the trail was pretty wet in one stretch, and I was afraid of falling. So I came back, and Daddy continued on for a short walk. When I got back to the house, I walked around the yard and looked over the garden to see if it needs to be weeded. It definitely does. Helen came by as I was out there, and she asked if she could weed. So tomorrow, I will have her take care of the garden, and Misaina can weed under the house.
Daddy got back right after I came inside. Then he opened and stirred up the varnish for me so I could put a coat on the new cupboard. So now the cupboard is shiny blue and yellow. He cleaned out the brush while I got lunch ready. Then we ate and had our nap.
After nap, I glued down some big scraps of linoleum over the places where there were big holes in the linoleum in the school area. Weighted them down until the glue dried.
Erisa came by with a pumpkin and chatted for a while. She said her second daughter, Aritsendo, got married to Eki about three weeks ago.
The place was busy with people coming and going today. Several young ladies came to buy yarn. Dallas came and paid part of his school book costs for the coming year, and Mike came and paid his in full.
A number of young men were practicing rugby at the bottom of the airstrip today, getting ready for the holiday games, and a lot of young ladies went over to Tainaraba today to play basketball.
“41For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward. 42And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.” Mark 9:41,42
December 23. 45th anniversary. Praise the Lord for His wonderful care and blessings over the years!
Praise the Lord for a sunny day, too, for hanging out the laundry! It is starting to rain now - about 6:00 p.m.
When we got up this morning, we smelled a horrible smell in the kitchen. Daddy said it smelled like gas. The bottled gas couldn’t be running out already! Yes, it smelled like gas, but a lot stronger than the bottled gas when it starts to run low. It smelled like the putrid gases given off by decaying flesh. A dead rat! We looked under and behind and all around the stove area where the smell was coming from. Couldn’t find anything. Figured it must be behind the counter right next to the stove. No way to get to it. We were thankful that the morning was warm and we could open the door and windows early to let in fresh air. Later in the morning, the big horse flies came around the house trying to get inside and find that dead flesh.
Tomas came by today to see about getting some extra wire for their generator and also more fuel.
Bonita came right after Daddy turned on the generator this morning. I showed her how to do the laundry, and she did most of the work. She also helped me hang the clothes out. After that, she prepared greens and carrots for our dinner. So she had a busy morning.
In between guiding her in doing laundry, I did a bit more sorting out of craft things in our bedroom. Afterward, Daddy helped me fix up a chalkboard tray in front of the chalkboard. Then before dinner, I worked on the PNG history/geography course.
This afternoon, I worked more on the course before cutting Daddy’s hair. Then I made banana cream pudding for our anniversary supper and whipped up the cream to go on top. It was very rich, and that was all we needed to eat.
“14But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 15Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 16And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.” Mark 10:14-16