November 26. It has been a very hard day. Up around 5:45 this morning to finish packing for our flight back to Owena. Still no rain. Very dry here in Oewna too. No water in the village. And no rain this week.
I think it was about 7:15 when we left the house for the hangar. We were supposed to be there at 7:00. Don’t know why they told us 7:00 because all the flights to take home the MAF pilots and staff were going to go off first. And nobody was there yet to weigh up our stuff. So we just had to sit there and wait. Finally one worker came and let us in to weigh up and get the bill paid. After a while, truckloads of people started arriving for their flights back to their respective bases of operation. There were three twin otter loads.
We did get to see and talk to Mike Davis for a while. He is based in Hagen right now. Is married to a well-educated national lady who worked as accountant for MAF before. That is where Mike met her. Her name is Anna. They have two children, a son Jordan, going into third grade, and a daughter, Michelle, going into first grade. He is still a Canadian citizen — says the PNG government wants K20,000 to take out PNG citizenship.
I thought Daddy was behind me coming down the hill from the airstrip, but when I turned around he was nowhere in sight. I waited and waited, and he never came. Finally Pueno came along and helped me down the hard part of the trail. Daddy had been trying to get the diesel drum open so the pilots could look in it and check it before putting it on the plane. Holga said he could take it out to Goroka on the return of the second flight.
The rats really made a mess while we were gone. We left in a hurry so the garbage didn’t get taken out. The rats had strewn it all around the kitchen. They also made a mess in our bedroom and started chewing up something. The thing that capped off the day’s trials was finding mother’s pillow (Beyond the Sunset) all chewed up*. I was thankful that the cross stitch part of it was still good. Saved that part, and threw the rest away.
*This pillow was a keepsake from Mom's Mom. It had a beautiful cross stitched scene on it with the song "Beyond the Sunset." The rats had chewed it all up. Mom was thankful that the cross stitched part had been spared.
Was thankful for a nap. The afternoon was very busy with things to finish unpacking and people coming and going. I could sense that I was coming down with something, and by evening my ears were hurting. Was too tired to do much this evening.
“For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” Psalm 85:5
November 27. Still no rain. It has been a very hot day.
Did not sleep well last night. My ear was really hurting, and my throat was sore too. Have been taking lots of Olive Leaf, Echinacea, and Clear Lungs today, but have felt pretty lousy. I’ve had to keep running back to the Lord for extra grace for the day.
Did more unpacking and cleaning this morning. We emptied out another drum for water storage in the house. That way we can keep it covered. Don’t have any way to keep the bathtub covered, and dirt and bugs get in it. Also we don’t have the tub free to take a bath.
This afternoon, the Lord sent water dripping into the tub again. After a while, it dripped faster and faster, until the tub was full. And earlier this evening, the Lord even sent some water through the other taps in the house. We thank the Lord for keeping us supplied with water. There is no water running now.
This afternoon, I worked a bit on school lessons for this coming week. Then made crackers and granola, fixed supper, ate, did dishes, worked more on school stuff.
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” Ephesians 1:7 - For ever blessed be the revelation of atoning love which not only tells me that pardon is possible, but that it is secured to all who rest in Jesus. I have believed in the appointed propitiation, even Jesus crucified, and therefore my sins are at this moment, and for ever, forgiven by virtue of His substitutionary pains and death. What joy is this! What bliss to be a perfectly pardoned soul! My soul dedicates all her powers to Him who of His own unpurchased love became my surety, and wrought out for me redemption through His blood. What riches of grace does free forgiveness exhibit! To forgive at all, to forgive fully, to forgive freely, to forgive for ever! Here is a constellation of wonders; and when I think of how great my sins were, how dear were the precious drops which cleansed me from them, and how gracious was the method by which pardon was sealed home to me, I am in a maze of wondering worshipping affection. I bow before the throne which absolves me, I clasp the cross which delivers me, I serve henceforth all my days the Incarnate God, through whom I am this night a pardoned soul.—Morning and Evening
“!O Praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. 2For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.” Psalm 117
November 28. Woke up around midnight to the sound of rain. Praise the Lord! Daddy waited for it to slow down a bit, then went down and put the drum out under the corner of the guttering. It was a while after that before I got back to sleep again, but was thankful to have slept fairly good most of the rest of the night. Still felt really wiped out most of the day.
It was a cloudy, rainy day all day. I did not go out to church. My throat and ears are still hurting quite a bit.
Daddy continued teaching on Baptist history and finished that part. Talked a little bit about Augustine and the work of the Roman Catholic church. Then talked about why the church should not unite with the government. Matyu interpreted first meeting and Luke second. It started raining pretty hard during the second meeting. Was hard to hear with the rain on the metal roof.
I was thankful for a good nap while Daddy was gone. Was ready for another nap this afternoon.
“28Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee. 29O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” Psalm 118:28,29