August 12. Cold and cloudy all day today. No sunshine. Even with the wood stove going all day, I still had a sweatshirt and jacket on later in the evening.
Made pancakes for breakfast today, but no eggs for Daddy. They are all gone, except for three eggs which we will use for sandwiches the next couple days. After breakfast, quiet time, and walking, I finished up some things on the computer that needed to be ready for printing this evening. Then I got the verse visual ready for tomorrow and worked on finding a song. Had a harder time finding a tune for this week’s verse. While we were eating dinner, however, one of the tunes I had passed over kept going through my head with the words to the verse. So I thank the Lord for helping with a tune.
People came early for lotu today in spite of the weather. The song leader was late, though, so Daddy asked one of the others to lead songs. Both Amos and Matthew have colds, but Amos led songs anyway. After the announcements, Betty gave her testimony of salvation. The church will decide on a time for baptism. We pray that the Lord will give us a warm sunny day. We continue to pray for a change in the weather and for warm sunny days anyway. So many people with colds or other sicknesses.
Daddy preached on Colossians 3:1-7 in the first meeting and 8-12 in the second. So much meat to chew on in those verses. There were a good number out in spite of the cold and people with colds. Since people came early, we were able to finish a little earlier and have nap earlier.
In the afternoon, I worked on getting everything together for tomorrow, except for the things that needed to be printed in the evening. I was thankful that there wasn’t any writing to do on the chalkboard for soul-winning class. Daddy covered the last two sections of lesson 15 which was a summing up of the lesson with applications for saved and unsaved. I hurried and printed out lesson sixteen and got them all collated and holes punched because Daddy thought he would start that lesson. But people were cold and chose to go home by their fires, although they did stay around and talk for some time before going home.
“19For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.” I Peter 2:19,20
August 13. The weather today was pretty much like yesterday. We started school in here by the fire this morning. Moved out to the schoolroom for English class as there is not enough room in here for the extra English students. After school, Bethuel and Sosthenes chopped firewood.
Got the monthly update written today, and sent it out to the general list this evening.
“21For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” I Peter 2:21-25
August 14. More cold weather, turning colder by mid-afternoon and rainy too. No sun in sight. Today was wash day, and the laundry got hung in the house today. There were only two loads this time so it didn’t take too long. I had a little time to work on the computer before school.
We started school in here by the fire again, but then moved out to the other room for the rest of the classes — English and math. Both Matthew and Amos have really bad colds. Graham and Steve cut firewood today after school and filled six boxes. We are really going through the firewood.
This afternoon, I got lesson material ready for tomorrow, sent e-mails that I had written last night and a few I wrote today, and started translating verses for the next Bible class lesson. Then I peeled and washed potatoes and put them on to cook for supper. I had forgotten that we still have some potatoes left so we decided to have a change from rice.
There were hardly any dishes tonight so it didn’t take long to clean those up. Then I shivered through a bath, but I was thankful to have a bath anyway.
“For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” I Peter 3:12
August 15. The Lord continues to send us very cool weather. We did see the sunshine several times today for a few minutes, but overall the clouds are still hanging around.
Matthew was very sick today with his cold and did not come to lotu or to English class. Mike’s baby is quite sick too so Bible school was cancelled for this evening. Amos has a bad cold, but he still managed to take charge of the singing and prayer time. Daddy continued teaching on “How to Behave in Church,” talking today about praying and singing.
The plane that was booked by a coffee company and was supposed to come get coffee today did not come because, they said, the weather in Goroka is very rainy. We just pray that the weather will be good for Daddy’s trip to town on Monday.
This afternoon I kept busy grading papers and recording grades, and then fixing greens to go with our leftover mashed potato-pumpkin meal. And this evening, there was more printing to do. Tried to get ahead a little bit, too, with some of next week’s printing so I won’t have so much to do on Sunday evening.
"17For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” I Peter 4:17,18
August 16. Praise the Lord for a mostly sunshiny day! I was so thankful to have a warm enough afternoon to wash my hair and then be able to enjoy a bath this evening. We were even able to start school in the classroom this morning instead of by the fire. And it was nice to let the fire go out this afternoon and open the windows a bit.
Esau and Dallas chopped firewood after school today.
Most of the afternoon was spent grading papers and recording grades. Then I started on lesson plans for next week so I will be sure to have everything done ahead and be able get all the printing done Sunday night. The generator won’t be on again after that until Daddy gets back from town.
“6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” I Peter 5:6,7
August 17. The Lord gave us another sunshiny day, and we are very grateful. I was just sorry I did not get a chance to get outside. By afternoon, very strong winds had come up.
Yesterday evening, I was able to finish the rest of the lesson plans for next week and am thankful to have that done.
“8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 5:8-11
Below are some pictures that I didn't have when I did previous posts for Mom and Dad. Thought you might enjoy them. :-)