We sent Mom this "cake" for her birthday since we couldn't send her a real one. It grew quite large in the water. Too bad she couldn't light the candle and blow it out. :-) Mom's favorite color is blue.
December 10. Another dry day with clear blue sky in the east. No measurable rain from yesterday.
Luke and Devit were both here for Bible school today. It was a blessing to see how they were taking hold of the Scriptures they are studying (Acts 19) and thinking things through on their own. They are realizing that some things they have been doing as believers do not line up with God’s Word and are a hindrance to the growth of the church. They saw how, when people refused to hear and obey the word, Paul and the disciples separated themselves, and Paul taught those who wanted to hear. They were also seeing how paying for their children’s sins will not help their children to realize that sin has its wages, and that God will require payment.
Again it was a relatively quiet day. Very warm this afternoon and evening. Perhaps the Lord is preparing more rain for us.
“1A Psalm of praise. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” Psalm 100
December 11. No rain last night. A few drops this afternoon. Lots of rain on the other side of the valley. Things are very dry here. Water supply is running low. But God knows our need, and we can trust Him to supply.
Daddy went to lotu at 7:00. Luke had charge today and spoke on Acts 6, the choosing of deacons. He did pretty good.
It has been a hot, sweaty day. And a busy day. Four loads of laundry since we didn’t do laundry on Wednesday. Some of the clothes had to be hung in the schoolroom. There wasn’t room for all of them outside.
The weekend soup had to be prepared. Worked on that for a while after breakfast and in between loads of laundry.
After hanging the clothes, I was ready for a cold drink and a few mintues to relax. Didn’t relax long before we took up the linoleum in the living room. It was really in bad shape. We couldn’t wash it because it had so many holes, and the water would have soaked into the cardboard underneath. The linoleum hand faded out drastically and become very brittle under the skylight. That room gets the most traffic too so that linoleum was very worn. Now we need to do a hands and knees scrubbing of the bamboo.
After that job, it was time to turn on the stove and start the soup cooking for dinner. Then I sat and crocheted until the soup was done.
After dinner, Daddy went out and brought the clothes in. He also worked today on bringing in the rest of the water from the drum outside. Cleaned out the drum for the next batch of rain water.
After nap and our prayer time together, I decorated a canvas bag for Manila so I can put his gifts in at the end of school. Then I worked for about an hour at the computer before cleaning the bathroom. After that I mixed up cookie dough and started those baking while I got supper. After supper and dishes, I swept the bathroom and kitchen floors and washed the kitchen floor. Generator is running tonight so got photocopying and printing done for this coming week of school and for Bible school. No time to play the keyboard today. And no bath tonight — not enough water. But I do plan to have a good stand-up, pour over bath in the tub. I think I have never sweated so much in a long time as I have today.
“Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.” Psalm 101:6
December 12. No rain again. It was very warm all night. Cloudy day today, and very warm, but no rain.
After breakfast and quiet time, and walking plus prayer time, it was refreshing to have time to play the keyboard a while. Didn’t get a chance to play yesterday. Also worked on the computer a while after that, recording in the check register everything from our last bank statement. Didn’t quite finish before lotu time.
Went up to church a little before 10:00. Only children were there. We waited 25 minutes before any men came. Finally Luke came and started the singing.
Daddy completed the teaching on Independent Baptist, talking about some of the groups with other names that are thought to have held to these doctrines before us.
In the second meeting, Daddy reviewed the BAPTIS points once again and challenged folks to consider what God would have them to do.
After dinner and nap, I washed my hair. Then finished up the check register and got the income report up to date before getting supper.
The Lord sent us some encouragement this evening right after supper. Maura Saivu and Serena Nukawai came to say that they want to be baptized and become members of the church. Praise the Lord! Maura is 18 (she thought she was, but checked her health book later and discovered she is only 16) and said she was saved when Bro. Jim [Ogle] was here. Serena is 15 and said she was saved when we came in 2003.
“25Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. 26They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: 27But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.” Psalm 102:25-27