July 3. More rain last night. Today was flight day back to Owena. I was awakened about 5:00 by people outside loading up a vehicle for their trip. It wasn’t time to get up yet, although we did have to get up early. Daddy got me up around 5:40. Had the last minute packing to do, breakfast to eat, and dishes to clean up before we left for the hangar. Randy came a little before 7:00 with his vehicle to help us load up and take things over to the hangar. There was lots of fog hanging around Goroka, although the area immediately around the airstrip was clear, and there wouldn’t be any problem climbing above the clouds to head toward Owena. Weather report from Owena was fog and light rain. There were seven people going to Andikombi on the same flight, and an Aziana family coming to Owena so they could walk back to Aziana. Apparently the strip is closed in Aziana. So the twin otter had quite a few passengers. Weather report from Andikombi was good so the pilots decided they would fly over Owena and look at the weather there. If it was open, we would go there first. If not, we would go on to Andikombi and then come back.
It was a little after 8:30 when we finally took off from Goroka. We climbed up above the clouds and saw nice blue sky and sunshine above. Ahead there was nothing but a sea of clouds as far as the eye could see and beyond. I was so hoping that Owena would be open and we could land there first. But it wasn’t. So on we went on another fifteen minutes to Andikombi. All the way to Andikombi too, and on beyond, there was just a sea of clouds. But their airstrip was open. Dropped off the Andikombi people and their cargo and headed back to Owena. It was about 10:00 when we got here. There was still some fog near the approach, but there was plenty of room for the pilots to circle in front of it and land. Praise the Lord, we were home!
I headed right down to the house and opened the house up so we would be ready for the carriers to bring our cargo. What a mess on the kitchen floor from the rains they had had here! It apparently leaked down the wood stove chimney, as there was dark brown water all over the floor in front of the stove, and the wooden stove base was all wet. I got out some rags to soak up the water.
After the carriers came and Daddy came, what was left of the morning was spent unpacking and putting things away. Got the freezer loaded up, and put some eggs on to boil for sandwiches for lunch. This afternoon, there was more putting away to do, but nap came first. I was so thankful to be able to lie down and rest for a whole hour without having to get up in the middle of nap - the first time in two or three months.
After nap, I did more cleaning up and putting away, worked a little bit on lesson plans for this coming school term, and then headed to the kitchen to get supper. Fixed a pot of carrots and broccoli. Put a pot of rice on to cook after spending some time picking out weevils. Browned some onion and chicken and let that cook in the pressure cooker. Then made it into gravy to go on the rice.
Didn’t have to do dishes this evening so worked on school lessons again after supper.
“6The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory. 7Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods. 8Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD. 9For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods. 10Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked. 11Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. 12Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.” Psalm 97:6-12