Note: I included the story of the school students in this post to give a glimpse into the Owena culture. It is not the custom for people to express what they really feel or want. Rather, it is custom to tell another person what they think that person wants to hear so as not to hurt that person’s feelings, even if they do not plan to carry through on it with their actions. In this post, the school students learn that honesty pays. In the end, the students were happy, and Mom was happy that they were happy.
In America, we often do the same thing. We don’t like to hurt other people’s feelings. But, it is true for us as well, honesty pays.
July 7. It has been a chilly, mostly rainy day. We are thankful for the rain. We did get to go outside for a while mid-morning and get some exercise and fresh air.
Not long before school this morning, Sosthenes came to ask if there was going to be school today. He knew there was going to be school today. What he was actually asking was, “Can we have the day off to go fishing?” I was not surprised that somebody came and asked. However, I was rather upset that they hadn’t come and asked yesterday or sooner so I could have time to think about it and decide what to do. They knew at least twenty-four hours before that the whole village was planning to go down and go fishing.
By the time school was ready to begin, I had had some time to talk things over with the Lord and think things through and decide what to do. If the whole village were down at the river and these twelve were in school, I knew they wouldn’t be concentrating on learning. It is hard to teach when their hearts are not in learning. So I sat down with them and asked, “How many of you want to go to the river today?”
They looked at each other, but nobody answered. So I repeated. One of them replied, “We’ll have school first and then we’ll go.”
“You didn’t answer my question. How many of you want to go to the river today?”
Phinehas suggested, “Maybe we can just have school until noon and then go down.”
“You didn’t answer my question. How many of you want to go to the river today?”
After a short silence, Bethuel piped up, “All of us.”
I was glad to finally get a straight answer. “Okay, you all can go down and go fishing. But next time the whole village wants to do something together, please come and let me know ahead of time so I can have time to think and make a decision.”
They agreed to do that. So then I presented the next proposal. I had already decided to have two weeks holiday at the end of the term instead of one. Even if the students don’t need it, I do. However, since their siblings and friends are all on holiday from the other schools this week, I thought they might want to have the week off to spend with them. They liked that idea too.
Then I asked what they want to do about the store. They said that one group will come tomorrow morning and another group in the afternoon to look after the store.
Those matters settled, they all put their books back in the cupboard and excitedly took off for the river. I was happy that they were happy.
Wrote a couple e-mails. Tried to send them, but we still aren’t getting reception. Couldn’t send e-mails all day yesterday, or today either.
Made corrections on the Bible school lessons Daddy had just proofread. Then made the students’ copy.
Then we went out for our fresh air and exercise. The village was very quiet with everyone gone. Daddy got a long piece of bamboo and got that big spider web and nest down from above the back porch. After that, we just walked around. After coming back inside, we both had a nap.
Had a little while to work on the next soul-winning lesson until dinner time. There was a little bit of chicken ‘n’ rice left over so I added some flour, oil, and seasonings and made patties for our dinner. Then we had another nap. :-) I think we must have been tired today.
This afternoon, I worked more on the soul-winning lesson and got that pretty much finished up this evening.
After supper, Daddy started the fire because it had gotten quite chilly and damp in here. I put a little water on to heat for bath so I could wash up before it got much colder.
Printed out the new Bible school lessons for Wilson, and now he is here having Bible school.
The people never did get to go fishing. The water was too muddy from all the rain.
“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” II Corinthians 7:1
July 8. We didn’t hurry to get up this morning. It was a little after 6:00. After having breakfast and quiet time, I sorted out the laundry. Then Daddy turned on the generator and we washed clothes. We praise the Lord for a nice morning to hang clothes and partly sunny weather for the clothes to dry.
After the clothes were hung, I was ready to sit down for a while. Finished up the next soul-winning lesson, and will print out a copy this evening for Daddy to proofread.
Peninnah and Dallas came and looked after the store.
A little before 11:00, I started getting veggies ready to make soup for dinner. Peeled and washed taters, washed carrots, skinned an onion. Then I diced up the onion and browned it with beef mince and herbs and spices. Added water to the pot and a couple beef bouillion cubes, and diced up the taters and carrots. By then it was already noon, and was going on 12:30 before our soup was ready. When the soup was done, I added soy sauce and seaweed and a can of peas. We enjoyed our soup for lunch.
After lunch, Daddy went out and got the clothes off the line. After the kitchen was cleaned up, I went out and brought in the hang-up clothes. Then we had our nap.
This afternoon was spent working on the next Bible lesson for school. Have that finished except for applications.
Esau came early to look after the store, and Daddy helped him when customers came. A little after 3:00, Sunny showed up so the two of them worked together until 5:00.
“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” II Corinthians 8:9