February 22. Not quite as cold last night, but warm and dry again today. Clouded over for a bit this afternoon, and we heard thunder off in the distance, but no rain came.
I was thankful I got my bath early last night as David and Silvia came in the middle of the evening. God’s Word had been working in their hearts, and they realized they had never been truly saved. David had indicated the other day (when he was here with Peter) that he felt he was saved, but the Lord wouldn’t let him rest with that. So both he and Silvia were saved last evening. Silvia said that she had been “saved” in 2003 when we were here, but we did not counsel with her. She did not say who did, except for “he” and that Tema was with him. The only ones we had questioned extensively so that they could be prepared to counsel were the pastors. And we had given them a paper with questions to help them know what to ask people when they counselled with them. But the one who dealt with Silvia only told her that she needed to “tanim bel” so that she wouldn’t go to hell fire. She said the word of God that Daddy taught in the meetings was powerful and spoke to people’s hearts. After we left, things just went back to the same as they were before, with no power in the preaching. They were thanking the Lord that He had been merciful to them and not let them die before they were saved.
Daddy started feeling sick early this morning and was pretty sick most of the day with nausea, vertigo, and weakness. He has been in bed or lying in the recliner most of the day. Has not eaten much. We figured it must be food poisoning, but why did he get so sick and not I. I just felt a little bit unwell.
Amos and Matyu took charge of lotu. Amos led the singing and had the four new believers give their testimonies. Peter said that he wants to join with GIBC so apparently he plans to stay here for a while. After the testimonies, Matyu gave a short talk on Romans 10:2-4 and 9,10, the verses that the Lord had used to work in his heart. Then he took prayer requests and prayed. (At the end of his talk, Matyu mentioned again about the other people calling them longlong. He remembered that Daddy had showed him some verses about how people had called Paul and other believers foolish too. So Matyu said, “If they want to call us longlong, that’s okay. We’ll just ‘kamap longlong moa yet.’” (become more foolish) I just smiled. It is a blessing to see these people enjoying their new-found salvation. I pray that their joy doesn’t wear off.)
I threw out the rest of the rice with the sausages and just had sandwiches for lunch.
This afternoon, after nap, I washed my hair, washed greens and onions to cook for supper, cleaned the bathroom mirror and toilet, worked a little bit on lessons for next week, prepared potatoes and Singapore for supper and put them and the greens on to cook. I ate supper by myself. It was early so waited a while before doing dishes.
Mailin and her husband came while I was doing dishes and wanted to see the pictures of Billy. I was almost done with dishes so had them wait a while. The rest of Mailin’s family came to look too. After they looked a while, and I closed down, Mailin’s husband, Matyu, and another man who was with them asked for King James New Testaments. When they all went out, Mailin stayed behind and asked for us to pray for her husband to be saved. I gave her some of the little doctrinal booklets on salvation and invited them to the meetings tomorrow and Friday. Hopefully Daddy will be feeling well enough and strong enough to preach the next two days. (Mailin and her husband did not come to the meetings, but we found out that Mailin is sick.)
“7But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal…. 11But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.” I Corinthians 12:7,11
February 23. Praise the Lord that Daddy was feeling better this morning and was able to preach for the meetings. He took a couple naps during the day, and he did feel pretty tired out after preaching.
It was around 10:00 when people started gathering for the meetings and we went up. I put a hat in my bilum and also had cotton in my pockets because we have had a lot of wind on these dry days. I remember how sick I got after the New Year’s meetings, and it took over a month to finally start getting well again. I used both the cotton and the hat. But then after the meeting, Daddy and I talked and decided it would be better that I just stay home instead of wearing the hat until we can teach these people what God says about head covering so they can follow His word and not man’s. They have been taught for years now that a lady, as well as a man, is to uncover her head in the meetings. And I could feel many eyes on me when I put the hat on.
Daniel, Gibson, and Peter (from Marivo) were all at the first meeting. Only Daniel stayed for the second meeting. Otherwise there were only church people. But they seemed to enjoy being together, and spent a lot of time talking together after both meetings.
After breakfast and Bible reading this morning, I did some walking and praying. Then I worked on school lessons until time to go.
It was only 11:30 when we came down after the first meeting, but we went ahead and warmed up dinner and ate so Daddy could get a nap before the second meeting. I worked more on school lessons while he napped. Then I took a nap after he went up to the afternoon meeting.
After I got up, I did some cleaning — scrubbed Connie’s door so it is ready for paint, swept the meeting room, office, and kitchen, filled in the holes in the kitchen floor with rolled up card paper pieces (holes from where the pipes were before they moved the cupboards) and glued pieces of linoleum on top of them, cleaned bathroom sink, counter top, and footstool. I think it was yesterday when I cleaned the mirror and toilet. Then I worked more on lessons until supper time.
After supper and dishes, things were really hopping with people coming and going for water and other things. Mike came this evening for assurance of salvation. Has been talking to his wife and mother about salvation, and it is likely that they are not saved. His father and the rest of his family need prayer for salvation as well.
“25That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.” I Corinthians 12:25,26