Yesterday was a cold day too. And so was today. Some sunshine in the afternoon yesterday. Some drizzly rain today. Daddy had the wood stove going a good part of the day today, but firewood is running low. Max stayed after Bible school and cut firewood most of the rest of the day.
Today I had Lilian take full charge of tokples class. She did pretty well. I will have her take charge again on Thursday. There is quite a bit to cover tomorrow. All the children read their little tokples books today and did well. I had them take them home to read to their families. They have a paper for their fathers to sign, saying that they read it to him and to at least two other people.
Started learning about the 10 toea coin in math class today. I had several interesting answers to the question, “How many toeas is ten toea?” Anywhere from four toeas to 10,000 toeas. :-) I gave them each a ten toea coin, and we talked about the coin. After school, they all wanted to buy lollies (candies) with their ten toea. Daddy said that would be okay. (The Kina is Papua New Guinea’s currency. It is divided into 100 toea just like our dollar is divided into 100 pennies)
They started learning the color “yellow” in English class.
Jevin and Miriam and Frina are all sick. However, Jevin is still well enough to start and turn off the generator in the evenings. And Frina is still coming to class. They said Miriam ran a very high fever last night, and they had to take her up to Kelly’s house.
Today (Tuesday) was the first day of Bible school. Daddy forgot to tell the men that they would only hear two bells — the two school bells. So Luke, anyway, was waiting for a third bell and came quite late. Max and Maik came late too, but not as late as Luke.
"When I cry unto Thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me." Psalm 56:9
It is impossible for any human speech to express the full meaning of this delightful phrase, "God is for me." He was "for us" before the worlds were made; He was "for us," or He would not have given His well-beloved son; He was "for us" when He smote the Only-begotten, and laid the full weight of His wrath upon Him—He was "for us," though He was against Him; He was "for us," when we were ruined in the fall—He loved us notwithstanding all; He was "for us," when we were rebels against Him, and with a high hand were bidding Him defiance; He was "for us," or He would not have brought us humbly to seek His face. He has been "for us" in many struggles; we have been summoned to encounter hosts of dangers; we have been assailed by temptations from without and within—how could we have remained unharmed to this hour if He had not been "for us"? He is "for us," with all the infinity of His being; with all the omnipotence of His love; with all the infallibility of His wisdom; arrayed in all His divine attributes, He is "for us,"—eternally and immutably "for us"; "for us" when yon blue skies shall be rolled up like a worn out vesture; "for us" throughout eternity. And because He is "for us," the voice of prayer will always ensure His help. "When I cry unto Thee, then shall mine enemies be turned back." This is no uncertain hope, but a well grounded assurance—"this I know." I will direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up for the answer, assured that it will come, and that mine enemies shall be defeated, "for God is for me." O believer, how happy art thou with the King of kings on thy side! How safe with such a Protector! How sure thy cause pleaded by such an Advocate! If God be for thee, who can be against thee? —Morning and Evening
July 14. Praise the Lord for sunshine today.
Frina was sicker today and did not come to school.
I made a new bulletin board (a bigger one) for the schoolroom, and Daddy helped me hang it up. The other one was too small for all eleven of them to hang up their projects.
“…and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.” Genesis 13:12 (eyes on the world)
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (eyes on Christ — the better way)
July 15. A little rain during the night. Sunshine today. And a little rain again this evening. Thank you, Lord, for the sunshine and rain. And that it wasn’t so cold today.
Jevin became quite ill so Daddy did the bell-ringing today. Frina is still very sick. School went well today. The children seemed to get a lot accomplished.
There has been a lot to do this afternoon and evening to get ready for school tomorrow. Also made a birthday cake to celebrate Mailin’s birthday tomorrow. Didn’t get a chance to do anything on the computer, but at least I don’t have to meet with the teachers until Sunday.
This evening, Robert and Samegras came to talk. Robert is a son of Wenke. Samegras’s parents are not living. The couple were just married in March, and are living with Matin. People have been telling them that they cannot go to heaven because they are too closely related to be husband and wife. Their fathers both had the same mother, but not the same father. We were thankful for the opportunity to share with them the way of salvation, and hopefully it was clear to them that it has nothing to do with man or any of man’s works. It is all of grace and all the gift of God through Jesus Christ to everyone who believes. Salvation has nothing to do with who we are or who our relatives are. We gave them each a copy of the writings of John to read and think about. They did not say clearly whether they are saved or not, but seemed to understand that salvation is through faith in Christ. We shared with them that true faith results in changed lives (II Corinthians 5:17). They need our prayers.
(Thank you for praying for Dad and Mom as they try to deal with these misconceptions and try to explain the truth of Scripture to the people)
"The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out." Leviticus 6:13
Keep the altar of private prayer burning. This is the very life of all piety. The sanctuary and family altars borrow their fires here, therefore let this burn well. Secret devotion is the very essence, evidence, and barometer, of vital and experimental religion.
Burn here the fat of your sacrifices. Let your closet seasons be, if possible, regular, frequent, and undisturbed. Effectual prayer availeth much. Have you nothing to pray for? Let us suggest the Church, the ministry, your own soul, your children, your relations, your neighbours, your country, and the cause of God and truth throughout the world. Let us examine ourselves on this important matter. Do we engage with lukewarmness in private devotion? Is the fire of devotion burning dimly in our hearts? Do the chariot wheels drag heavily? If so, let us be alarmed at this sign of decay. Let us go with weeping, and ask for the Spirit of grace and of supplications. Let us set apart special seasons for extraordinary prayer. For if this fire should be smothered beneath the ashes of a worldly conformity, it will dim the fire on the family altar, and lessen our influence both in the Church and in the world.
The text will also apply to the altar of the heart. This is a golden altar indeed. God loves to see the hearts of His people glowing towards Himself. Let us give to God our hearts, all blazing with love, and seek His grace, that the fire may never be quenched; for it will not burn if the Lord does not keep it burning. Many foes will attempt to extinguish it; but if the unseen hand behind the wall pour thereon the sacred oil, it will blaze higher and higher. Let us use texts of Scripture as fuel for our heart's fire, they are live coals; let us attend sermons, but above all, let us be much alone with Jesus. —Morning and Evening
“After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” Genesis 15:1
“And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” Genesis 15:6
July 16. Rain during the night, but woke up to a beautiful early morning rainbow in the west. The colors were so bright, and the rainbow stayed there for a long time. What a blessing to have God’s reminder that He is a God who always keeps His promises! I was thankful that Daddy decided to go out and get pictures as I did not have time to do that. When I got up, I had to frost the cake and finish making the cordial* for the birthday party. Then after breakfast, I had some papers that the kids were to do today that I had to write names on. Almost forgot to pay Vinet and Maura before they left too.
(*Cordial in Papua New Guinea is a non-alcoholic, fruit-flavored drink - very delicious)
The kids reviewed Bible verses, and the lesson questions. Then they colored a picture of Enoch. After that we played a game matching Bible picture cards. They did a lot of extra work papers in math class today. In English class, they made a red butterfly and decorated it with yellow pieces of construction paper. I let them cut out the butterfly, but it was obvious that most of them had not used scissors before. I finally finished cutting out about half of them so they could hurry up and finish them. Then they hung them on the bulletin board. It was already 12:30 by then, but we went ahead with Mailin’s birthday party anyway.
The afternoon was really busy, too, getting started on school material for next week — Bible verse visual, finding a tune for the verse, getting grades recorded for today, etc. And this evening was equally busy working at the computer and trying to get organized for this coming week. Daddy was busy with the translators.
“And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.” Genesis 17:1
The morning rainbow Dad and Mom saw. Very beautiful!
And a couple of other views!