February 1. Thankful for a better night’s sleep last night. There was a little rain during the night, but more rain this afternoon and evening. The power went out twice (so far), but we are thankful it wasn’t out long.
After breakfast and quiet time, we went through the shopping list together to see what we needed and what store we should get each item at. So it was after 8:30 before we left the house this morning to see about getting a vehicle for shopping. When we got over to the office, both vehicles were about to be used so we had to wait about a half hour. We decided to go upstairs and see if the folks from Kiari would like a visitor. When we got there, just Mr. Ellison was there. His wife and the single lady, Karen, had gone out to the bank; and he was waiting for them to get back. We enjoyed some fellowship with him. The Ellisons are a retired couple from Greenville, SC, filling in for the Smiths for a year while the Smiths are on furlough.
It was after 9:30 when we went back down to check again on a vehicle. Even though we got a bit of a late start on shopping, we got done fairly quickly since we pretty well had everything all planned out. We were thankful that we actually got most of our own grocery shopping all done, except for the last minute items. Now we can concentrate on shopping for the people and second hand store shopping. We would also like to have the Ellisons and Karen in for a meal this weekend.
It was about 1:00 when we got back here for lunch. After lunch, I had nap, and Daddy went out to NTM hangar to pay our bill (we didn’t get a chance to pay on Monday) and inquire about a flight back to Owena. Over the weekend, we will check to see what the weather has been like in Owena, and if the strip is drying out, or not. If the strip still isn’t useable, we won’t be able to get building supplies this time. MAF is scheduled to take our building supplies in on the twin otter.
When Daddy got back, he packed up boxes with our supplies. I did the dishes, wrote a couple e-mails, and then fixed up a veggie medley for supper — broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and snow peas — to go with our leftover spaghetti. Wrote a couple more e-mails after supper.
“10For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” Romans 5:10,11
February 2. Today was a somewhat relaxed day. Before we got a chance to invite Karen and the Ellisons over, Karen called this morning to invite us over there this evening for taco supper.
In the morning, we walked down to West Goroka and checked out some of the other stores. We found a couple nice shirts for Bonita at K2 each. Then went across to the second hand stores. All we found was one long-sleeved blouse for myself.
We came back to the house for snack, and then Daddy went out walking again to a couple hardware stores and to MAF. MAF said that weather has been better in Owena the past couple days, and the strip is drier. So if the better weather keeps up, they should be able to fly us in next week. We’ll just keep praying.
While he was gone, I finished up the soul-winning lesson I was working on, and most of the rest of the day, I worked at the computer. I did wash my hair and do dishes right after nap.
We had planned to walk over to the main compound for supper, but had a couple big rains this afternoon so Bro. Al came over and picked us up. After they went and invited us for supper, they found out this afternoon that NTM chopper is down so they had to make other arrangements to get back to Kiari, and the only flights they could get with SIL would either be tomorrow or a week from tomorrow. They chose tomorrow so have been extra busy trying to pack up as well as preparing a meal for us. There are actually around 700 of those choppers down in the US, they said, because of a manufacturing defect that was discovered in one of the chopper blades. NTM is not sure when or how they will be able to get a new blade. So that takes away one of our options for getting back to Owena. If we can’t get in with MAF, we may have to fly to Aiyura and go in on SIL chopper. We’ll see what the Lord has in store for us.
Anyway, we enjoyed our taco supper and the fellowship. Helped Karen with the dishes and came back here around 8:30.
“17But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 20For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” Romans 6:17-22