October 20. It’s raining out there, and rivers of water are running down the mountainside. We thought this morning, when the weather felt very hot and stuffy, that there would be rain later today. It is time to start the generator, but Daddy is waiting until the rain lets up a bit.
About 3:00 a.m., I had to get up; and when I went into the kitchen, I heard a rat go scampering away. I wondered what he was into. When I came back across the kitchen, I saw pumpkin leaves on the floor. Hmmm, a greens-eating rat. Usually the rats don’t eat the greens or onions so I don’t bother to put them in the cupboard at night, especially when there isn’t much room in the cupboard, like now. Well, I went ahead and put the greens in the cupboard before getting back into bed. By then, however, I was somewhat awake, and was having trouble getting back to sleep. Soon I heard the rat again. What was he chewing on now? I shone my flashlight into the kitchen to see if that would scare him off. I guess it did temporarily as I didn’t hear any more noise for a while. Tried again to get back to sleep, but soon heard him in another part of the house chewing on something else. This time, I got out of bed and went on a rat hunt. Couldn’t find where he was (or had been) or what he had been chewing on. But I did not hear him again the rest of the night. Did not sleep well the rest of the night either so almost fell asleep in lotu this morning.
When morning dawned, I got up and sorted out the clothes. Then had breakfast and quiet time.
In lotu, Matthew taught about our being a chosen, holy people, using Colossians 3:12 as his text.
After lotu, Daddy turned on the generator, and I started the wash. There were only two loads today so was able to get done quickly and get them hung out quickly. I enjoyed being out in the sunshine, but was also glad not to have to be out any longer because the sun was so hot, and it was so humid.
Five of the school boys stayed and cut grass after lotu. All seven of them were planning to work, but Graham and Sosthenes had gone with Philemon to Pinata yesterday afternoon and didn’t get back this morning until the work was almost done. So the money was divided among the five of them. Now most of the boys have their debt paid off for the gifts they bought for their parents.
After hanging clothes, I swept the meeting room and cleaned the chalkboard. Then I got a mid-morning snack and sat down with Daddy to talk to Christy and Connie. We weren’t able to call the first Saturday of the month as we usually do because Daddy had gone to town. Then last week we forgot. So we were happy to talk with them this week.
After we said good-bye to Christy and Connie, we let the boys know what their work earnings and balance was. Then Graham and Sosthenes each came and said all their verses for the term. After that, I went back to painting the school banner that I had started painting last evening while Daddy was in Bible school. Just before noon, I cut up the rest of the pumpkin that Daddy had cut half of the other day, peeled it, and put it on to cook for dinner. Then put some of the leftover rice and chicken gravy on to warm. When we finished eating, we got the clothes in and then had our nap. I was tired after last night’s rat episode so slept about an hour and a half.
This afternoon, I finished painting the banner. Then I wrote a few e-mails and sent those before getting supper. Had supper, did dishes, and then cleaned the bathroom. I am looking forward to our big bath tonight.
“25Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?” Matthew 6:25,26
October 21. Up before 6:00 this morning. Got pancakes made for Daddy and some for myself. Enjoyed breakfast, quiet time, and time for walking and praying. Got the Corinthian booklets stapled that I had printed last night and Daddy had collated. Took a couple pictures of the school banner I had painted. Worked on lesson plans for English, math and science for this coming week. Worked at the computer a while until church time. Went out in the sunshine a little while and helped a couple of the little girls pick some flowers to put in the meeting room.
Daddy preached this morning on I Corinthians 1:10-17a and this afternoon on 17b-20. Between meetings, the church folks made some decisions regarding beginning work on the new church building. They have decided to start gathering poles this week.
My legs were hurting too much to sit in my chair in the meeting room for the second meeting. So I went and sat in my recliner with my legs up. I can easily hear the preaching in there. However, I’ll have to admit, I did not hear much of the preaching today. I must have drifted off to sleep shortly after Daddy started preaching, and woke up when he started preaching on the last verse. When the meeting was over, I went out and gave some little food items to our elderly church members.
Bethuel stayed and said his Bible verses. Then we lay down a few minutes - a short nap for Daddy, and another cat nap for me. After that, I washed my hair; then cut Daddy’s hair. Wrote a few e-mails before getting supper. When dishes were done, I started getting things together for school tomorrow, did some printing, finished making part 2 of the math exam, and have been going back and forth writing answers on the chalkboard for soul-winning class. People came early this evening for soul-winning class so Daddy was able to get started earlier than usual.
“30Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” Matthew 6:30-34