September 14. 8:30 p.m. It has been a busy day. Water is on heating now for washing dishes so that job has yet to be done.
Praise the Lord for a nice sunny morning and for rain again this afternoon and evening. Not a hard rain like yesterday, but rain nevertheless.
After breakfast and quiet time this morning, I had time to go over the ladies’ meeting lesson once more before the first meeting started. The first meeting was scheduled for 8:00, but it was 8:30 before things got started; and Daddy’s preaching usually goes quite a while so it was 10:45 before the meeting ended. Seven people came to the altar to pray at the end of the meeting.
Daddy’s theme for the week is “The Fear of God.” Amazingly enough, much of what he had to say goes right along with the ladies lessons on holiness. Before the preaching, Steve gave his testimony of salvation, and Obet acknowledged his sin before the church and asked their forgiveness.
Had a short break and time to set up for the ladies’ meetings. Ladies’ meeting started just about 11:30. We sang for about 15 minutes and then had the lesson. Rebecca did a very good job translating, even on things I added in that she hadn’t been able to prepare for. There seemed to be good interest among the ladies on our topic “Holy Women.” There were several unsaved ladies present, including Aiqdo and Jaydine.
We finished about 12:30, and Daddy and I had our lunch and then a nice nap. After nap, I got the chicken into the pressure cooker so it would be ready later to put into the meat pie. I didn’t know if I would be needed to help with the children’s meetings or not. Then I got the ingredients mixed together for pie crust for the chicken pot pie.
The children’s meeting was supposed to start at 3:30, but it was at least 3:45 before it got started. Sosthenes got the meeting started with songs. They were nearly done with song time, and it looked like I would have to teach the lesson, but then Mike came. The children were well-behaved and participated eagerly in the meeting. They were all excited about learning their memory verse too. It was about 5:15 when their meeting ended so they are going to try to have a shorter lesson tomorrow (just do the first half of the lesson).
While Mike was teaching, I got the chicken pie all made and into the oven. Also sorted out the laundry so we could do a couple loads of wash this evening. There weren’t very many clothes, but there was a whole load of dirty rags from cleaning day last Thursday. Supper was ready about 5:45, and we sat down to eat. As soon as we finished eating, I turned on the washing machine and got the first load started. Just had one load of our clothes to do plus the load of rags. I was thankful Daddy was able to help me before time for youth meeting.
There were about 25 or 30 youth at the meeting. Daddy’s theme is The Christian Walk.
While he was teaching the youth, I printed out three song books for ladies who had asked for them this morning, one song book cover for Jonathan whose cover had been destroyed, and four booklets of translated portions of the Bible to give to Esau.
“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
September 15. Praise the Lord for another day of blessing! It was a cloudy day, and the Lord sent us rain again this afternoon. So the Lord is not only refreshing our hearts with the water of His word, but He is watering the earth as well.
Before breakfast this morning, we went out and hung up the clothes we washed yesterday evening. We are thankful that everything got dry even though the weather was cool and damp.
After breakfast and quiet time, I went over today’s ladies’ lesson again. People were a little later getting here this morning, but there were a lot more people than yesterday. There were even visitors from the other church and from the church in Marivo. Praise the Lord for these who are hearing the Word of God!
There were a lot more ladies in the ladies’ meeting this morning too. Some of the ladies sang a special today - “Sitting at the Feet of Jesus.” It went along well with our theme “Holy Women.” After that, I asked questions to review yesterday’s material and then started on today’s lesson. I did a lot of deviating from the written outline today so I was glad Rebeka was able to stay with me.
Also printed out a page of encouragement verses for Graham. They finshed his court today (had started it yesterday, but got rained out). From what Matthew said, it appeared that the man and his wife (who had accused Graham) had planned this out to try to frame Graham. These young people are facing trials and need our encouragement and prayers.
After nap, I looked over tomorrow’s lesson for ladies’ meeting and made visuals. Then it was time for children’s meeting. My, how excited those children are about learning their Bible verses, singing, and hearing God’s Word! Twenty-one of the children were ready to say the first part of their verse today. There were a lot more children here today too.
After the children left, Mata came in and gave me a big hug. Then we sat down and talked. She said the teaching in the ladies’ meetings today and yesterday really spoke to her heart. She saw that she has greatly failed to be a holy woman. She said she went home from the meeting, went into Amos’s office, got on her knees, and asked God to forgive her and help her to be a holy woman. Praise God for the power of His word! I asked her if she would give that testimony in the meeting tomorrow, and she said she is ready to do that.
After that we had our supper. Then I practiced the song the GCS students wanted to sing tonight in the youth meeting. And then I found the verses I wanted for Thania and Graham and got them printed out. Was working on a few revisions in the ladies’ meeting notes so I can print out copies for the ladies who asked for them when Daddy called me to play for the special music in the youth meeting. Afterward, I put water on to heat for bath.
“Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.” Acts 8:4