December 25. No measurable rain last night, but rained lightly most of the afternoon today. A rat finally did get into the glue trap last night, however — about 2:00 in the morning. We have been trying to catch him for at least a month. The rats are so destructive and dirty. We are very thankful to have him gone.
Daddy went to lotu around 6:45 this morning and did not get back until after 8:00. While he was gone, I had my quiet time and then got busy peeling potatoes for dinner. Decided to make mashed potatoes this weekend instead of soup — something different. When Daddy got back, he cut up the pumpkin for me. Then I got that prepared for cooking as well. We still had leftover greens and uxai to go along with those two things.
After I sat and relaxed a whle, Daddy and I started scrubbing the living room floor. The bamboo floor had never been scrubbed before we laid the linoleum on it. So it needed a good cleaning on hands and knees.
Mak and family came with a BIG watermelon. It was more than enough for the two of us so we cut it in half and just bought half of it. That was a refreshing snack for today.
Finished checking chapter five of Luke while dinner was cooking.
When we got up from nap, the weather had turned chilly and damp. We thought how nice it would be to get the wood stove going, but we were low on firewood. Daddy decided that he could go out and cut some big pieces of firewood. Then George came along and spent the rest of the afternoon cutting firewood for us. And also when we got up from nap, I remembered that I was supposed to make bread today. So got down to business with that.
Sat down to work on visuals a few minutes and then planned to clean the bathroom. However, Apekio came by while Daddy was shaving and washing, and she stayed until after 5:00. After we talked a while, she carried several buckets of water in from the rain barrel outside. Then we read some Scripture and prayed together before she left. Since I was late getting the bread made, it was after 5:30 before we sat down for supper.
Worked on newsletters a while this evening after doing dishes.
“9I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee. 10It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword. 11Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood: 12That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace: 13That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets: 14That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets. 15Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.” Psalm 144:9-15
December 27. Had just gotten started in some Bible study yesterday evening when Matyu came. Never did get back to the computer. It was 10:00 before he left.
Well, let’s see, as far as yesterday’s events, the long rainy afternoon and evening on Saturday only delivered .2” rain. We did get a good fill-up in the outside drum, however, and are thankful to the Lord for more water. Yesterday and today have been very dry, and the water is going quickly. We continue to pray. God’s keeps us dependent on Him. We are grateful for His faithfulness.
Close to church time yesterday, I started getting bad stomach cramps, like I had had on Saturday morning. I ended up staying home the first meeting and lying down with the hot water bottle on my abdomen. Daddy went on up to lotu. He said only children and Luke and Devit and Silvia were there before 10:30. They went ahead and started anyway. After announcements, Daddy preached Romans 4:9—17. There were thirteen people who came at the invitation. I was feeling well enough to go up for the second meeting. He finished chapter 4 in that meeting.
After nap, I washed my hair. Then we had prayer time. And then I cut Daddy’s hair.
This morning (Monday), we slept in a little later since we had been up late last night. When we got up, Kuemuru was already working, cleaning the flower garden. Gibson came after a while and started cutting the grass. Angela came later and wanted to rake.
After breakfast and quiet time, I did a little bit of work in the bathroom, since I didn’t get to clean it on Saturday. Then I got one of the shelves in our bedroom cleaned off and the craft stuff that was on it reorganized. That took quite a while, but I was glad to get that done. Daddy went for a walk up to the airstrip. It was too hot by that time of morning for me to go walking. There were people still here working outside anyway. After I finished cleaning that shelf, I worked on organizing the notes we had discussed last night. Then I fixed dinner and worked on visuals while dinner was cooking.
This afternoon, I worked on the quarterly newsletters. Then I made sugar cookies for Daddy. Maura came around supper time, and we talked with her about the baptism coming up on Sunday. She said she checked her medical record, and she is 16, not 18 as she thought. She said she has her father’s approval for baptism.
There were LOTS of dishes tonight so I was in the kitchen a long time after Maura left. Was tired by the time I was done doing dishes.
“And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.” Isaiah 58:11
“Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.” Psalm 116:5