February 1. It was such a blessing to have a bath last night! It was a very warm evening, and we were quite sweaty and dirty. Actually it was warm all night. When we went to bed, I kept throwing covers off. Just had the sheet on for a while. It was still quite warm so got up and opened the window. Was just about getting to sleep when I heard the pitter-patter of little rat feet on the kitchen floor. Got up to see if the rat trap was out. It wasn’t. Put out the trap, and discovered the garbage hadn’t been covered either. Covered the garbage and went back to bed. It was about 11:00 then. Don’t know how much longer it was after that before I finally got to sleep.
Breakfast and quiet time this morning was interrupted quite a few times to answer the door. Some were coming for their mobiles, but most of the time children came to check out the “rubbish” box, as they called it. I finally gave the rest of the “rubbish” to Misaini to divide up with the other children. The “rubbish” box contained a bunch of little gadgets we were getting rid of. Also Micah came with 10 toea to buy a lolly (a piece of candy).
Around 9:00ish, we headed up the hill. Sakias wanted us to come up and mark off the spot where we want our house. Kelly had marked his land yesterday. We walked around the back of Nuanda’s house and up by Kelly’s house. Janet came out to see us. She was getting ready to go out to town today to take Misek to school. He will be going to the PNG Bible Church school in Goroka.
There was some cloud cover when we left the house, but as we stood there and talked, the sun started peeking through. Then Sakias came along with Monika and their little girl. Monika was going with the group to carry coffee to Aivonti. The little girl would be staying with Sakias.
We went on ahead up the hill, and Sakias said he would be there in a little bit. It was quite warm as we inched our way up the mountain. Micah saw us coming, and started calling “kahkuo”* before we even got near his house. We stopped and talked to a few people along the way. A lot of Waisara people were coming over to see one of their ladies who was also waiting to go out on the plane. She had tried to give birth to a baby, but it was breach, and the baby died. Her people had brought her over here yesterday on a stretcher.
*I think kahkuo means “Grandpa.”
Also passed Max and his family as they were on their way to the haus sik. All of them were sick. Sakias caught up with us before we got past Aiqdo’s house. Finally made it up to the house site. We trudged through the burnt-off section and got our clothes all black. Sakias showed us the spot where Tavio is buried and where Neten’s wife will want to build her house, if indeed Neten builds up there. Sakias went and got some sticks, and we marked off a 36x48 foot area for our house. Matyu and Erisapet came by while we were there, and a young man with them. Not sure who it was. He helped hold the tape measure while Daddy measured off. Now things are ready to dig and level the ground and then get posts so we can start the foundation.
I was thankful that some cloud cover had come up while we were up there. I did get some sunburn on my face. Micah saw us again as we were coming down. He and his family were sitting at the bottom of the hill, near the pathway to the haus sik. Micah called out “Wait man i kam.” (The white man is coming.)
It was about 11:00 when we finally got back to the house. Time to put dinner in the oven — leftover rice casserole from yesterday. Relaxed and worked on the photo album while dinner was cooking.
I was really tired at nap time and slept about 1 1/2 hours. After our prayer time, there was a knock at the door. It was Senko. He had brought his school books and wanted help with his lessons. I was glad to help. Told him he could stay here and work on them if he wanted to. That way I could be available to help. Gave him a lap desk to work on. I worked on packing while he was doing that, but checked on him every so often. He did several pages of math and a couple pages of English. Then I asked him if he wanted to try reading some English. So I got out the first reader, and read the first three lessons with him. Gave him the book to take home and practice. Before he left, we had him carry water from the drum outside to fill up the drum inside. He was happy to do that.
Wan came by this afternoon too, and he helped Daddy move the boxes of books out of the schoolroom.
Frina came to have Daddy set the time on Javin’s mobile. Javin is very sick with malaria, and is on injections. Daddy had to start the generator again tonight.
It was almost 5:00 when Senko and Frina left. We had supper, and then I did dishes. There were hardly any dishes tonight. That was nice. After dishes, I used the dish water to scrub the benches in the living room. I had been wanting to do it the past couple nights, but there was always someone here sitting on them. They were in dire need of a scrubbing. Then I sorted and washed the cabbage, pumpkin greens (which Erisapet’s mother had brought this morning), and onions and put them on to cook. While they were cooking, I finished up the photo album page I had been working on.
By then it was snack time — past 8:00. Turned on the computer and went and got snack. Now it is 9:00 already.
“I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.” Ecclesiastes 3:14
February 2. About .1” rain last night. No rain today. It has been a pretty busy day. Apekio came sort of early this morning, before I finished my quiet time. She came to pay their debt for the rice we got for them when we were in town. I had forgotten all about it. While she was here, she asked about my helping her with her crocheting again. So I did that, and we talked a bit. She said Daniel is making the coffin for her mother. When she dies, they want to bury her the same day. Her mother wants them to do that too. They have been almost solely responsible for the care of Apekio’s mother while she has been sick. After she caught on good to the crocheting, I went ahead and finished my prayer time. Then got the bed made and prepared the uxai and did a few other little things while she worked on the crocheting. After she felt that she had it down fairly well, she left.
Wan and Gibson came this morning too and moved the antenna to a different angle. But the radio still does not work. It seems like there is a problem where the antenna connects to the radio.
Toni and Severa and family came with more firewood this morning. Then they came in for a while when Apekio was still here. Gave a little jacket to them for the baby and some clothes for Severa.
After Apekio left, I started doing some cleaning, packing, and filing in the office. David came by, and we talked for a while. He is doing somewhat better, but the malaria medicine makes his stomach sick. We shared with him the things the Lord had showed us from the Word. He asked about Bible school too. Daddy told him he is ready to keep teaching, but there won’t be any bells.
Made spaghetti for lunch. Discovered that we still had a couple ears of leftover corn in the fridge so warmed those up for dinner instead of cooking the uxai. The uxai can be for tomorrow. There is leftover spaghetti too for tomorrow.
After nap and prayer time, I cut up a popo. Had a bowl of bananas and popo for snack. Washed hair. Did more cleaning in the office. Fixed supper. Ate. Did dishes. It was still early when the dishes were done so decided to do another page in the photo album.
After I got started on that, Miriam and Judy came, so went out to talk to them a little bit. Miriam wanted some yarn.
A little bit later Matyu and Erisapet came. He had some suggestions about our house location and about building a new church building and a few other things. Daddy shared with him too the things the Lord had shown us in the Word. He wanted to build a new church building right away. We told him it would be better to wait and see how many people want to meet together and start setting aside offering money for a new building.
It was about 8:45 when they left. Finished the page in the photo album. Had evening snack. Now it is time for generator to go off.
Manila, Frina, Jocelyn, and Ruth left today for Aziana. Ruth will teach, and the others will go to school there. Matyu said they are thinking of sending Sosthenes too.
“Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.“ Ecclesiastes 4:6
“9Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 11Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. 13Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-13
February 3. No rain last night. Up early this morning to make rice cereal for breakfast and then do laundry. I put all the school jump ropes in the laundry today too. They look nice and clean now. I hung them in the schoolroom as the clothesline was quite full.
About the time I was ready to hang clothes, Eren and Misaini came to clean the flower garden. Aiqdo’s boy Tesi was hanging around and wanted to know if he could help. I let him take the bush knife and trim down all the bushy stuff. They all did a good job. As a matter of fact, Eren did a better job than most others have done.
Toni and family came by again too with more firewood. Toni talked with Daddy about how many people to have get trees and bamboo and how many to have do the building. Toni is going to handle that.
I cleaned the school balls and frisbees this morning after Daddy left. Did some packing too. After nap, I worked on the photo album until I woke up good. Had a snack and read Bible. Then packed some more boxes before starting supper. Margaret came by with a couple eggs. Gave her a jacket and a toy for her little boy, Jack, who is seven months old.
After supper, I worked a bit more on the photo album for a little while. Then we started listening to a sermon on CD.
“1Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. 2Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. 3For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.” Ecclesiastes 5:1-3
“He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.” Ecclesaistes 5:10