Welcome back, readers and prayers. Here is a little peek into the wonderful two weeks of rest the Lord provided for Dad and Mom. This starts with the January 6 entry to her journal. After telling about their time of rest, I will go back and tell about the previous six weeks' ministry by posting Mom's journal notes from November 26th through January 5th.
January 6. Praise the Lord for a good sleep last night after a long day yesterday. Daddy was awake a couple hours in the night, he said. Both of us were quite tired today and were thankful for a good nap this afternoon. We went out shopping this morning, but did not go out this afternoon. It is nice not to feel rushed. We picked up a few things that we have on the list to take back to the bush, but mostly just got what we need for meals here.
This afternoon, I installed Microsoft Office 2007 in the new computer. Then Daddy took it down to the office to have it activated. Things have to be activated by phone here. It doesn’t work to try to activate them over the internet. After that, I read e-mails from the last six weeks. Then worked on redoing our ministry update after recent events in Owena caused us to reconsider what we had written. Was thankful to get that all done by this evening.
Late this afternoon, when I went to make supper, I tried to light the stove using the electric switch and discovered that the power was off. So I found a box of matches — oops, only one match in it, and the wind blew that one out so there were no matches for lighting the stove. So Daddy got ready to go up to the corner Papindo store to get some matches. Then I found a “gun lighter” (don’t know what they are called that) I could use to light the stove. But Daddy went to get matches anyway in case we would need to light candles later. While he was gone, it started raining. I was happy to see him coming in the door before the rains came down faster. But the rains didn’t last long. And soon the power came back on again. It went off twice more after that for short periods. We are thankful that it is on this evening.
Fixed broccoli and carrots for supper, and made spaghetti with buckwheat noodles. The broccoli and carrots were a nice change from the regular diet of greens and pumpkin and occasional uxai.
"Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." 1Peter 5:7 It is a happy way of soothing sorrow when we can feel—"HE careth for me." Christian! do not dishonour religion by always wearing a brow of care; come, cast your burden upon your Lord. You are staggering beneath a weight which your Father would not feel. What seems to you a crushing burden, would be to Him but as the small dust of the balance. Nothing is so sweet as to
"Lie passive in God's hands,
And know no will but His."
O child of suffering, be thou patient; God has not passed thee over in His providence. He who is the feeder of sparrows, will also furnish you with what you need. Sit not down in despair; hope on, hope ever. Take up the arms of faith against a sea of trouble, and your opposition shall yet end your distresses. There is One who careth for you. His eye is fixed on you, His heart beats with pity for your woe, and his hand omnipotent shall yet bring you the needed help. The darkest cloud shall scatter itself in showers of mercy. The blackest gloom shall give place to the morning. He, if thou art one of His family, will bind up thy wounds, and heal thy broken heart. Doubt not His grace because of thy tribulation, but believe that He loveth thee as much in seasons of trouble as in times of happiness. What a serene and quiet life might you lead if you would leave providing to the God of providence! With a little oil in the cruse, and a handful of meal in the barrel, Elijah outlived the famine, and you will do the same. If God cares for you, why need you care too? Can you trust Him for your soul, and not for your body? He has never refused to bear your burdens, He has never fainted under their weight. Come, then, soul! have done with fretful care, and leave all thy concerns in the hand of a gracious God. —Morning and Evening
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“For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.” Proverbs 6:23
January 7. Late when we got to bed last night. Slept in ‘til about 6:30 this morning. Daddy got up at 6:00. Thankful to the Lord for a pretty good night’s rest.
Started a new crochet project last night. an afghan called “Elegant” made with pretty white motifs, except I’m going to make half of them white and half of them pale blue. Hopefully I have enough yarn. Am thinking I will try to make it into a curtain rather than an afghan.
After breakfast, quiet time, and crocheting another motif this morning, I looked at blog sites — C&C’s, Joyful Hearts Variety (too bad I don’t have some way to get some crocheted items to you for your store), and Owena Opportunity. Then I spent a long time trying to get the quarterly newsletter in order. Around mid-morning, it was definitely time for a stretch break so we decided to go out and do a couple errands. Went to the MAF hangar first and picked up the empty diesel drum.
A man was down near the office with strawberries, rhubarb, and celery to sell. So I went down with Daddy, and we got two bunches of rhubarb and a pint of strawberries. A rare and special treat. By then it was well past nap time. So to nap I went.
After nap, I had a little snack. Then prepared and cleaned the strawberries and put them in the freezer. Trimmed up and cleaned the rhubarb and put it in the fridge. Daddy found a strawberry-rhubarb pie recipe on the internet. So next week when we are out at Sobega, I’ll try to make a pie. Makes my mouth water just thinking about it.
After that, it was time to start supper. Peeled taters and put them in the pressure cooker with one of the chicken breasts we bought today. It was a big chicken breast, plenty for the two of us. Had leftover veggies.
After supper, I finished up December progress report and sent out ministry updates. Then I took a break and did the dishes.
“1My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. 2Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. 3Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart. 4Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:” Proverbs 7:1-4