April 25. Just a wee bit of rain last night. Woke up to a clearer, cooler morning. It has been a lovely sunny day. The Lord is gracious to give us a reprieve from all the rain.
Nuanda preached the first meeting this morning. Daddy preached the second meeting, on the third of three important words in Romans — justification. It is by grace, through faith, and through the blood of Christ, never by works. After the second meeting, we had youth leaders’ meeting. We were glad that Philip came.
When we finished youth leaders’ meeting, Maita Wanka from Marivo was here to get some things for a Marivo lady who had a baby yesterday.
Then we had nap, and after nap, I met with my teachers. Only Tania and Lilian were here so I gave them lessons and instructions for Mailin.
Then Javin came with his stones he had gathered in Pinata. He had some very interesting stones. One was a good-sized ball shaped stone. (He said he brought back another even bigger ball-shaped one that he put in his garden.) Several were egg-shaped. He said there is a man in town that buys certain types of stones. The story of the egg-shaped stones was quite interesting. There are apparently quite a few of them in Pinata, and they are found in the kunai (tall grass). The men there told him that if a person is cutting kunai to make a garden or something, and he hits one of those stones with his bush knife, he will get sick. The remedy for that is to go back and apologize to the stone for hitting it. Then go home and sleep. He could come back the next day and finish cutting the kunai because the stone would have moved somewhere else.
Javin said that there is also a huge white stone in the woods. In the center of it, a tree has grown up. Their ancestors have planted flowers and small trees around the stone. The men told him not to go look at it and especially not to touch it or he would get sick. He did go look at it, and when he came back and told them he had looked at it, they really chewed him out and told him he would get sick.
After Javin left, I did dishes. Then we had supper. This evening I worked on pictures to send C&C for 2010 missions conference.
“Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.” 1 Corinthians 7:23
April 26. Another dry day. It was nice to get out for a while this afternoon. Daddy and I took just a short walk to the ward to take the people some food. Sipora came and worked in the garden again today. Dug out all the kaukau. Most of it had to be thrown away. The rest went to the sick people in the ward, along with some greens, cucumbers, and peanuts we had bought. People came from Marivo and Waisara and helped people here to cut the airstrip today. Nuanda told people yesterday that if it didn’t get cut, the haus sik would be closed, and no mobiles would be charged. Praise the Lord, the airstrip is ready for use again.
Nuanda wasn’t feeling well when he was here last night, and is sicker today.
Started school a little early today and finished a little late. There is a lot more material to cover each day now, it seems — much more to review. Bonita and Rebecca are having quite a hard time, especially in math.
Neomi’s mother came by for a visit this afternoon. Had not seen her for a long time. Said she had been sick. Read to her from 1 John 2 before she left.
“ Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man love God, the same is known of him.” 1 Corinthians 8:1-3
April 27. Sunny and warm and dry this morning, but turned cloudy and cool this afternoon with a little rain.
Daddy and I both have some kind of red spots breaking out all over our skin. Mine are mostly on the face, and he has some on the face and leg and other parts. Seems like more and more break out each day, but we can’t figure out what it could be. It is sort of like a rash, but doesn’t itch or make us sick in any way. Daddy couldn’t find any kind of description of it in a medical book. Maybe it is caused by some kind of parasite or something.
My teacher helpers asked for some stuff in town for their hair — hair softener, hair food, shampoo, and black dye.
“What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.” 1 Corinthians 9:18