The Lord is giving Dad and Mom some days to get refreshed and to stock up on supplies for use when they go back into the village. Thank you for continuing to be in earnest prayer for the work there. Here are some excerpts from Mom's journal of their time since they have come out for a break.
June 6
This morning we were up and at ‘em right away. Finished last minute packing. Had breakfast. Did up dishes. Got the gas and water turned off. The Lord gave us a beautiful morning. Some people came by and carried our cargo up to the airstrip right away. We were thankful they did, because the plane left Goroka early and arrived in Owena probably around 8:30. We were in such a hurry, we didn’t really look at the time. We quickly closed up the house and set off for the airstrip. My legs were really weak today, and breathing was hard. So the plane landed quite a while before we got to the top.
Didn’t take long to get to Aiyura. Arrived here just before 9:15. And then to Ukarumpa guest house. Jim and Peggy, the host and hostess, welcomed us. They are from Colorado. After we got settled in a bit, the first thing I did was have prayer time. Didn’t get time for that before we left, and needed it. Peggy took us around to the store and left us there. We knew our way back to the guesthouse from there. Peggy said that they don’t get as much in the store now because ships don’t want to come to PNG unless they have a shipload. Three orders have been canceled already because there isn’t enough shipping to PNG.
Spent some time looking around the store to see what is available. There are a few things we would like to get — things not available in Goroka, but most things are more expensive than Goroka. Got back to the guesthouse about a half hour before lunch. Sat in the front room and looked at a tour book of Holland until the call for lunch came. Enjoyed some nice home-made creamed corn soup, some homemade bread, cheese (I only ate a little piece), a little piece of chocolate cake with whipped cream, and a cup of cranberry-pomegranate green tea. The tea was really good. There were three other guests — Rocky from Washington state (with SIL in the Sepik), and Peter (from North Carolina) and his wife Bergeta (from Holland) who work with SIL in Bougainville.
After lunch, we had a nap. Then I worked for a while on the computer — finished reorganizing Psalms and checked another chapter. Then Daddy and I went for a nice walk around the block. Except it turned out not to be a block, but we did manage to find our way back to the guesthouse.
Enjoyed taco salad for supper.
Spent some time this afternoon and evening working on Sios I Gat Glori.
“1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust…. 14Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 15He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 16With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.” Psalm 91:1,2,14-16
June 7. It got quite chilly last night and did not get as warm today as yesterday. After breakfast this morning, we went down to the store and did some shopping. Found a few things that we do not usually find in Goroka. Peggy and Jim came down for a few things while we were there, and we were thankful for their offer for a ride back. We were just going to put our box of supplies in the van while we walked. But it was misting outside when we went out. So we hopped in too.
Worked for a while on Psalms. Then we went out walking again. It was a little warmer by then. We walked on down past the store to the print shop. We had thought they might have printer ink cartridges there, but they said they don’t have things like that for sale anymore. From there we walked further on down the road to the joinery and hardware. Got some pipe fittings, hooks, an over-the-door hanger, shelf brackets, and a couple picture frames for my paintings. I think I’ll try to learn how to make picture frames and save a bit of money.
Got back to the guest house just in time for lunch. After lunch had a nice nap. Then prayer time. Worked for a while on Sios I Gat Glori.
Enjoyed visiting with Cliff and Marty Heller and a Swiss couple at the supper table.
Read I Corinthians 2 in our time together this afternoon. “9But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” (verses 9,10)
June 8. It was kind of a slow, quiet day. Cool and cloudy a good part of the day too, with a bit of rain. We took a walk down to the store this morning. Got some balloons and Daddy got a small chocolate bar. Then we stopped by the communications center to see if they had any Digicel modems for internet. They don’t have them there. The rest of the day we have just been here at the house. I took a long nap this afternoon. We’ve had a good rest, but it will be good to get on to Goroka tomorrow, and then back home next week.
“7And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:7,8
June 9. It has been quite a bit busier day than yesterday. We were awake around 5:30 this morning and got up shortly thereafter. Got everything packed up, had quiet time, breakfast, and then a few minutes to relax (we thought) before having to go to the hangar. The fog was really heavy this morning, but lifted very quickly. When Daddy called MAF around 8:30, however, we were told that the plane would be at Aiyura by 9:00. So we had to call for the hangar bus to come pick us up right away at the guesthouse. It wasn’t long after we got weighed up before the plane arrived, and we were soon on our way to Goroka. Praise the Lord for a beautiful day and a safe trip!
Brought stuff over to the flat and then off to the stores for shopping, and for lunch at SVS. Stopped at the Post Office and picked up a few pieces of mail and four boxes. One of them was accidentally sent to Sydney, Australia, first; but still arrived here quite quickly — about a month. We were thankful to receive the packages safe and sound.
After doing a little shopping, we came back to the house and unloaded the truck. Had fun opening all the packages. Then Daddy worked on getting the e-mails in, and I took a nap. Then we went out again — to West Goroka. Looked around New Century and picked up a couple little things. Then went to Brian Bell to look at generators. Saw they were having a sale on CD players so got a new CD player — K149 (about $60US). This one doesn’t have a little plastic thing that closes it and makes it play so hopefully it will last longer than the other one did. It also has a cassette player and an am/fm radio. After that, we went to Papindo and got a few little things there.
Now it is almost 7:30. We’ve had supper, and I got my clothes unpacked and put away. And finished reading the mail. That’s about it for the day.
“Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.” Luke 21:33