March 20. No rain again last night. A few sprinkles this afternoon.
Praise the Lord for His Word today!
After breakfast, quiet time, and exercise, I played the keyboard for a while this morning, until it was time to call Christy and Connie. Haven’t had time to play for a good while. Too much going on. It was refreshing to be able to play. We couldn’t get a connection in the house today so went outside to call. Tried several places outside but still couldn’t get a connection. Finally ended up in the little house where we’ll be staying as soon as they get a new outhouse made. It was a joy to be able to talk with Christy and Connie for a while.
By the time we finished and got back to the house, it was just about time to go to lotu. A number of boys were waiting outside the gate so they could carry our things down to David’s house. We started out with just a small group, but ended up with 40 something. So many children! Especially boys. How they need to be taught the Word of God while they are young! We hope we can get a Sunday school started as soon as we get our house made. We were surprised and pleased to see Bensamin’s father there. Eric translated for him during the meeting. Also Philip’s father was there. Merinta and the children came, but Luke did not. All of Kelly’s household were there, except for Kelly who was in Aziana, and the nurse, who was up all night with Serah who was having labor pains. They said it is not time for Serah to have the baby yet. Tania, Maura, Penina, and Betty (Gibson’s daughter) were there. Apekio and girls were there too. And Maro’s mother. Lilian was not there, but Apekio said that she has been sick with malaria for about two weeks now.
Daddy gave a couple toksaves just before the message, dealing with “Should we fear man or God?” and “Should we follow man?” Another dealt with “Should we go back?” And the last was for them to start thinking of a name for the new church. Then Daddy preached on the book of Nehemiah, comparing the building of the new church with the work of Nehemiah in building the wall of Jerusalem. We had a break about half way through, and then he continued with the rest of the book.
It was after 1:00 when we got home and warmed up dinner, and 2:00 when we lay down for nap. After nap, we started heating water to wash hair, and water for Daddy to make coffee. In the mean time, I worked on cutting up a popo. While I was doing that, I heard the burner flames poof out. LP had run out. So Daddy went out and changed the LP.
Had snack and then started working on the computer while I was waiting for the water to heat for washing my hair. Finally got my hair washed and went back to the computer. Then Apekio and the two youngest girls came. Turned off computer and enjoyed a little visit with them.
After supper, I started setting up Pidgin Nehemiah for printing. David wants a copy. He is the only one who asked for a copy.
“Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.” Jeremiah 13:23
March 21. Still no rain. Did more packing and tearing down today. David, Toni, and Wan took the roof off the schoolroom. They were going to come back this afternoon, and take the walls down, but it was too hot. Said they will come tomorrow.
Daniel came after they were all done. He dug up a lot of stones out of the walkway and piled them up, ready to be taken up the hill. Looks like we will have enough stones.
It is somewhat discouraging that nobody from the church wants to help other than David.
“16Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. 17I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation. 18Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, and as waters that fail? 19Therefore thus saith the LORD, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them. 20And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the LORD. 21And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.” Jeremiah 15:16-21
March 22. No rain last night, but 3/4” this afternoon, with thunder and lightning. Praise the Lord for a good rain after several dry days.
Four men came early this morning and started work on tearing down the rest of the schoolroom — David, Wan, Toni, and Daniel. These are the only four right now who are not allowing the fear of man to control their lives. We are very thankful for them. Only one, David, is from among those who say they want to start a new church and stand strong for the Lord. What does standing strong for the Lord mean to them? The four men worked hard and finished a little after noon. We gave them some Navy biscuits and some peanuts to eat.
I did more packing and worked on proofreading Pidgin Nehemiah. Made corrections this evening and printed out a copy for David. David was here for Bible school.
“For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes.” Jeremiah 16:17
“5Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. 6For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. 7Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 8For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. 9The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. 11As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.” Jeremiah 17:5-11