July 26. 7:00 p.m. Just finished the dishes. Now it is time to relax again.
Daddy was busy during the night fighting with the rat. It was quite a big one, he said. That rat was bound and determined that it was going to win out. We were bound and determined that it wasn’t. It certainly was a stubborn one. It ate rat poison. It got stuck several times in the glue trap but always got loose. Last night, it set off the rat trap which, so far, has never caught a rat. I figured out that the problem is with the way the trap is designed. If we use the trap again, I’ll stick the bait to the bottom side of the bait holder. Anyway, the rat finally got itself stuck enough onto the glue trap early this morning that Daddy had time to get a stick and whack the rat before it could get away. We are certainly thankful that rat is gone.
Daddy went back to sleep after that, and didn’t wake up until 6:00. He was still getting the fire ready in the wood stove when I got up at 6:10. Today turned out to be the coldest day so far. (I wonder if it will snow tonight. :-) ) Not even any periods of sunshine today, and raining lightly now. Definitely not good weather for getting well. I am praying for sunshine and warmer weather so I can get over this bad cold that I have had for almost four weeks now. We understand that there are quite a few other people who are sick with bad colds, and the ward is full. The health centre is out of pain medicine too.
Firewood is running low so we need to find someone to chop some. Almost everybody is gone right now, however. Most of the village headed for the river this morning to go fishing. They learned from some people on the coast that a certain type of flowers thrown into the water will stun the fish. Then the people are able to catch lots and lots of fish. The Owenians found out that they have the same kind of plant here. So they collected bags and bags of the flowers and took off for a day of fishing. It has been very quiet around here today.
Fixed hot rice cereal for breakfast, and started the laundry right after breakfast. A cold wind blew on my head when I was hanging the clothes out so I came inside to get my hooded jacket on. Even without sunshine, most of the clothes were dry by the time we finished dinner so we got them in. Daddy went out and got the rest after our nap.
After hanging out clothes, it was time to sit down a while. Had been on my feet for a couple hours. Worked on the science lessons for the coming school term. Later in the morning, I got the rest of the uxai ready to cook and put it on the wood stove. I started putting away all the books out of the school room for the time being. A few of them I set aside to read from whenever we teach on those things in science class. Then Daddy moved one of the drums into the guest room for me, and I scrubbed the part of the north wall that is right next to the outside (east) wall. I had done the rest of the north wall before. This afternoon, I did the section of the south wall that is next to the outside wall.
I was planning to get a little longer nap this afternoon, but a pesky fly changed my plans. After getting up, I put away more books. Cut up a popo and enjoyed a banana popo snack. Besides scrubbing more wall in the guest room, I spent more time working on the science lessons. Then I made lemon sugar cookies for Daddy before getting supper.
“2My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:2-4
One of the delightful parts of Mom’s journal notes this time was the special closing at the end. We miss them so much and are thankful that God is always with them.
That’s all for tonight. May you have a great day and may the Lord direct all your paths, keep you safe, and meet all your needs. We love you, miss you, and pray for you. Dad & Mom