June 6. Another cold morning. Since it was damp and chilly yesterday afternoon and evening, I had the fire going until bedtime so did not have things ready for starting a fire this morning. Since the skies were clear and there was no fog, however, the day quickly warmed up; and, after lotu, I went outside for a while to soak up some sunshine and feel its warmth on my cold body. When I came back inside, I felt much better.
Before Daddy called this morning, I had made some raisin muffins and popped them into the oven. He had added some minutes to his phone yesterday and had been given some free minutes so we were able to talk a little longer this morning.
After we finished talking, I unlocked the front door for lotu. Then I buttered and ate a couple of the warm muffins which had just the right amount of time to bake while we were engaged in conversation.
Mike continued teaching on love this morning, particularly between husband and wife, covering more of I Corinthians 13. Then Matthew took prayer requests.
I had intended to spend some time with computer work this morning, but had picked a book off the bookshelf that I couldn’t put down — IN HIS STEPS, by Charles Sheldon. I know I had read it years ago, but its challenge provoked me to think seriously about some of my ways of doing some things. I did also practice keyboard so as to be ready to play for the students to sing tomorrow morning. After practicing the song for their special, I turned to a song in another book, Songs Everybody Loves, and played it. “That is the song I want to translate for my young lady students to sing at graduation,” I concluded. So I set about translating it. I am not quite satisfied yet with the translation so will need to work on it some more.
Read a little more while I was eating lunch and for a while afterward. Then I had my nap. I must have been pretty tired because I slept about 1 3/4 hours. After nap, I put water on to heat for washing my hair. While it was heating, I got things ready for starting a fire in the morning. After washing my hair, I turned on the computer to find the Pidgin translation for the verses I want the students to learn in the next couple weeks — Mark 16:15 and Luke 14:27. Also got the income report up to date and got a good start on the May progress report.
Even though the sun was still shining this afternoon, I did not go out because very strong, cool winds were blowing. Later the skies turned dark and gloomy, and a little rain fell. There was a lot of thunder off in the distance, but no big storm came here.
The Lord blessed with sweet bananas which Mata brought this morning and with tomatoes which Sakias brought this afternoon.
Just as I was about to fix my supper this evening, there was another knock on the door. Esau had come to talk with me a bit. He wanted to let me know how thankful he was for my helping him with Bible verses. The story of David and the verses from Psalms of David’s confession of sin, assurance of forgiveness, and restoration of his joy in the Lord were a great help to him. He quietly stated that the joy and peace of the Lord is ruling in his heart. I saw in Esau’s attitude and countenance that, for the first time, he really seemed to understand the wonder and joy of God’s forgiveness.
After he left, I went and got my supper. Then I put water on to heat for my bath and read more while the water was heating. Wanted to get my bath early this evening before the air got any colder.
“And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha.” John 19:17
June 7. Didn’t see any moon or stars last night. It was cloudy this morning and warmer than it has been — 60º. I started the fire although I wasn’t sure whether I needed it or not. Have been getting pretty stuffed up the past few days though so I think the fire helped keep that down.
After talking with Daddy, I warmed up some muffins, had breakfast, and had quiet time. Then I sorted and washed some greens to cook later. Erovi had brought them to me yesterday afternoon.
Matthew preached today from Epehsians 2:4-7 — God’s great love, mercy, and grace by which we who were dead in sins were made alive through our union with Christ. David preached in the afternoon on God’s giving of Seth to Adam and Eve to take the place of Abel. He mostly dwelt on the need for man to call upon the name of the Lord for salvation, and after salvation to call upon him for all our needs.
Somebody had started fires close by during church time, which filled the meeting room with smoke, making it hard to breathe. Even Matthew was having a hard time and told people to close the windows. The winds were strong too, and became quite fierce and cold later in the afternoon. They seem to be calm this evening. There is a lot of clear sky again, and I saw some stars and the two planets in the western sky.
I looked over tomorrow’s lessons for school and wrote the new Bible verse on the chalkboard. Afterward, I looked up some Bible verses I may use in talking with the class in the morning. Then I washed, peeled and cooked some potatoes for my supper. Read Bible and In His Steps for a while until my supper was ready.
“20And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 21But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” John 20:30,31