November 16. .4” rain last night. Kelly went up today to look at the dam again and see if he can fix it. Came by tonight and said that, for some reason, all the water is going under the dam and not into it. Then he said that he and Janet would like to come by and talk some time. We hope they do. It was the last day of classes for this little term. We finished about an hour early today, as there wasn’t much to do in Owena class, and I didn’t want to start something new. After class, I did a little cleaning in the schoolroom and started getting things set up for family day tomorrow. Then I put the uxai on to cook and warmed up the soup for dinner.
At nap time, it started raining. I hadn’t shut the windows in the schoolroom so nap was interrupted so I could go do that. I just lay back down when I heard water trickling into the bathtub. It sounded like it was trickling pretty fast so I got up to check that. But Daddy said to just leave it, and he would take care of it if it got too strong.
After nap and prayer time, we had a visitor — Epekio. It was good to see her. She hasn’t left her mother for a while, as her mother has been quite sick with dysentery. She said her mother is doing a bit better and even asked for kaukau to eat last night. But now Graham has come down sick with it. She did express her desire to have a part with the others who want to help build the church on the solid foundation of God’s Word. So her name is now added to the membership book. Praise the Lord!
Well may we "delight ourselves in the Lord" who makes us to drink of the river of His pleasures. Our faith stretches her wings and mounts like an eagle into the heaven of divine love as to her proper dwelling-place. "The lines have fallen to us in pleasant places; yea, we have a goodly heritage." Let us rejoice in the Lord always; let us show to the world that we are a happy and a blessed people, and thus induce them to exclaim, "We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you."—Morning and Evening
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“1O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. 2O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. 3O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. 4To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.” Psalm 136:1-4
November 17. 66º today. God is good!
.4” rain last night. Pouring outside now — just about 9:00 p.m.
Daddy thought he heard a rat jumping around out in the schoolroom before dawn this morning. So shortly after we got up, I went out to check. Unlocked the door and went across the room to look under the bench where we had put the glue trap. The trap was gone. Hmmm! It must be around here somewhere. Looked all around the room, and then noticed the trap right in front of the door. The rat was gone, but the trap was a long way from where we had set it. How he ever got it way over there, we don’t know. Anyway, I was thankful I had put my left foot inside the doorway first when I went in, or I would have stepped right in the middle of the glue trap.
Laundry day. Praise the Lord for sunshine this morning to help dry the clothes. After laundry, there was time to walk and pray. Also got ingredients together for fish patties for dinner.
Devit took charge of singing and prayer time in lotu this morning. Luke wasn’t there. Had gone to Aivonti yesterday to get some food for his family. Many people are out of food. The new gardens aren’t ready to gather from yet. Groups have been going to the market at Aivonti to get rice and other things.
Daddy continued teaching on the family this morning. Announced today that the Lord has raised up Ruth Opo to help start a Christian school here in Owena, and there really isn’t a need for me to teach next year. She is getting training so she can do that. The people, however, need to get a schoolhouse built.
After lotu, Lew talked with the men who will be taking charge of the church meetings while we are in town and gave them each a schedule. Then we had family day at school. All of Manila’s family were there except for Christy. Manila recited all five of his verses that he learned this term. Then we sang them. After that, he read John 6:5-13 in Owena. Then he recited a monologue in English. And last of all, he said Genesis 1:1 in Owena and in English, and we sang those. Gave him his progress report card to give to his dad. Then we served refreshments and talked for a while. We talked about what Manila would do if the people do not build a schoolhouse. I told Nuanda I would be glad to provide the materials and help Christy know how to teach him. Nuanda seemed content with that solution. He would like Christy to learn how to teach anyway. Said her baby is due in December or January. Nuanda said too that, if Konianko’s wife doesn’t go out to town, he is planning to take Ana out to the dentist. Traipina will go with them.
It was about 11:30 when they left. I cleaned up the schoolroom a bit and then fixed lunch. Daddy brought in the clothes. After nap and prayer time, it was time to get busy packing. Daddy folded the clothes and later started bringing water in from the drum. He had to empty the drum so we can bring it inside while we are gone. Otherwise it may disappear while we are in town. While I was working on packing, Neomi’s mother came with some nice sweet bananas. Praise the Lord! It has been about a month since we have seen any bananas. Paid her for the bananas. Then read to her from John’s gospel. Just as she left, Erisa came.
After Erisa left, I did a little more packing. Then figured out the cost of books for Manila for grade two, and started gathering some of those books. Still have a few more boxes to go through, as well as the drum, but will have to do that when we get back from town.
Had supper, did dishes, then a bit more packing. Was thankful for time to relax at the keyboard before turning on the computer.
“25Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be. 26There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky. 27The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them. 28Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew. 29Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.” Deuteronomy 33:25-29