January 1, 2011. Today is 1/1/11. Wow! How quickly the years pass! December 31, yesterday, ended late in the evening so I did not get time to write in the journal.
In the past week, there has only been about .4” rain all together. Our water supply is getting quite low. But the Lord knows the need, and we leave it in his hands.
Yesterday morning, I had to prepare the weekend soup as all the leftovers were gone. After preparing all the vegetables and getting everything in the pot to be cooked, I worked more on organizing and boxing up school supplies, trying to get a lot of things cleaned out of Connie’s room too. Devit and Luke came for Bible school first. Then Max came afterward.
After spending a couple hours cleaning, I started working on some Bible study in the computer. Then Erisa came to talk a while. She said she had been down weeding around her mother’s grave and thinking about her mother and talking to her, although she knew her mother couldn’t hear her. She wanted to know if there were some way she could put a marker on her mother’s grave so I gave her some suggestions. She asked about where the dead spirits are, if there is a special place for them. It was obvious that she is lacking some understanding about life after death. Then she wanted to know if she could join with those who want to stand strong for the Lord, even though things aren’t right with Anevina (her husband). I told her that Apekio comes even though Daniel isn’t living right. Reminded her that she is not accountable for Anevina’s sins, and that the Lord can certainly use her in some way. After that she said that Vanesi was asking about being baptized, but said she doesn’t understand about baptism. I told her to have Vanesi come and we could talk to her.
While we were still talking, Paqo came with a pumpkin which we didn’t need. She didn’t want to take it home so she left it with us. Later we gave it to Jevin. Both Paqo and Erisa wanted to know if we have coffee plastic to buy. Told them we are considering getting a roll in town as others have asked too. They said there are lots of people wanting coffee plastic.
Erisa was here quite a while so I was late getting the soup on to cook. It took a long time for it to start boiling because the pot was very full. So we didn’t have our dinner until 12:30.
After nap and prayer time, I cut up the popo and had snack. Then worked on checking Luke 8 before getting supper. Devit’s mother came while I was getting supper and brought a HUGE bunch of greens which she said was from Pilip. We didn’t need them so after the meeting last night, we gave those away to Tomas and family.
After supper and dishes, I played the keyboard a bit to relax before the meeting. Tomas was the only one here on time. Eventually they had all straggled in, except for Wan, who is still not feeling very strong. He came by earlier in the day to see Daddy. Said he has lost 12kg since being sick.
The New Year noises had already started when folks left last night. It was going on midnight when we got to bed so we were still awake when the grand finale came. So didn’t get too many hours of sleep last night.
As for ourselves, we stayed around the house all day, away from the goings on around the village. After breakfast and Bible reading, I went walking and praying. Then I worked for a couple hours on the office bookshelf and school stuff. Got the shelves all cleaned and reorganized. Praise the Lord for one "spring cleaning" job completed! Put away in a box all the extra school workbooks of various kinds. After a snack and short sit-down break, I started to work on the bathroom. Besides the routine cleaning, I got one of the shelves cleaned out under the sink. Put out a couple new candles to replace the ones that had burned down. Really wanted to wash the floor, but the water supply is short right now.
Before my nap was over, I remembered that I hadn’t gotten bread mixed and ready to rise. So rose up from nap and went and got the bread dough made and in the pans. Then we had our prayer time, and then snack time. While the bread was baking, I started making my crackers. That’s when Apekio came. After crackers, I made granola. After Apekio left, I started getting things ready for supper. Just about had things ready when Luke came. It was after 6:00 when he left so we had a late supper. Then there were dishes to do, and kitchen cleanup. I was thankful there weren’t too many dishes. It was 7:30 before I had the kitchen all cleaned up and was ready to get out of the kitchen.
Since, O sweet Lord Jesus, Thou art the present portion of Thy people, favour us this year with such a sense of Thy preciousness, that from its first to its last day we may be glad and rejoice in Thee. Let January open with joy in the Lord, and December close with gladness in Jesus.—Morning and Evening
“28Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 30They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 31Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. 32For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 33But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.” Proverbs 1:28-33
January 2. The weather is very dry again. Our water is all but gone. Tania and Lilian said they would come this afternoon and carry water for us.
This was a special morning because we got to talk to Christy and Connie.
Daddy continued preaching in Romans this morning, the first three verses of chapter 5, but made a cross reference to Hebrews 10:26-31, knowing full well that many of the people deliberately chose to go out and sin yesterday. When the meeting started, there was only a small number there, mostly just those who are trying to stand strong. As time went by, more came, but many young people did not come. Before announcing the baptism, we needed to make sure that Maura had not gotten involved in the goings on. Praise the Lord, she had not. There were quite a few who came forward at the invitation. Daddy encouraged them to come only if they were truly repentant and intended to forsake their sin. After the invitation, he gave the announcements. Then asked if there were any other announcements.
There was only one meeting this morning. Then the people had a short break before going down to the river for Maura’s baptism. We thank the Lord for this happy event among all the sad events of the weekend. Daddy and I were not able to go because of our age. (The hill down to the water where the baptism took place is very steep)
Lilian, Tania, and Ailin (Poqo) came this afternoon and carried three buckets of water each. We were down to the bottom of the barrel. We had them fill the washing machine, then dump the rest in the drum.
In the evening, we listened to a message by Nathan Deatrick called “Stay on the Field.” It didn’t have anything to do with staying on the mission field, but it was a good message. I couldn’t concentrate on doing something in the computer after that so just worked on crocheting. Started on a little hat to go with the afghan I finished in the morning. I guess this one will be called “Soft Violet.” This afghan will be for Serah’s baby whenever it is born.
“1My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. 6For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. 7He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. 8He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints." Proverbs 2:1-8
January 3. Was awake from about 3:00 this morning. So many things going on in my mind. Was glad to get up, although I had a hard time concentrating on things most of the morning.
The three girls came again and carried a couple more buckets of water each. Daddy paid them, and they bought yarn with their pay.
Daddy went to the radio to see about our flight on Thursday. MAF is not going to be able to do a flight as there is no 206, and no loading coming this way on the twin otter. So when Daddy got back, he called NTM on the phone. They believe there will be a flight in this area on Wednesday so we can go out on the back flight.
Daddy went to the radio again to call CRMF and let them know we will probably be out a day early, but no one was in the office today. Have to call back tomorrow. Carol Holland told Daddy that Chris has gone to Australia as her mother passed away. When we got to town today (Wednesday), Shannon said that Chris got to Australia before her mother died. Her mother died on Tuesday. But then her father died on Saturday. So they had two funerals back to back. Chris’s father has been sick and in a nursing home for a long time. Maybe he was just hanging on for the sake of his wife.
When Daddy came back, he got the fuel tank taken off the generator and cleaned it up and put it out in the sun to dry. I did a little bit of work organizing Sunday school materials. Maura and Penina came and wanted to carry water. They each carried two buckets and said they would carry again this afternoon or tomorrow morning. However, the Lord sent us a nice rain this afternoon so they did not need to come and probably won’t need to carry tomorrow.
Traiposa was here with Matyu and Erisapet. They had left him outside on the ground to sleep, but when the rain started, Erisapet went out and brought him in. After he woke up, he was a bit fussy, until he got to play with some of the toys I had put out. Then he was happy.
They were here until after 5:00. Then Daddy cleaned out the bathtub while I fixed supper. After supper, he brought some rain water in, and I did dishes.
“21My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: 22So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. 23Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. 24When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. 25Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. 26For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.” Proverbs 3:21-26