November 29. .4” rain all together yesterday. No more rain during the night. Praise the Lord for a nice sunny morning to warm things up a bit.
Manila was ready for school a bit after 7:30 this morning. And Devit and Luke were ready for Bible school. Max didn’t come today because he is sick with a bad cold. Manila seemed to be having a hard time today although he did okay in everything except math. He could not remember his subtraction facts. We spent half the class drilling the subtraction facts so did not get a lot of other things done. I sent flash cards home with him to study tonight. We were a little late finishing school because of the extra time spent in math class.
Daddy and I were thankful for a good nap this afternoon. It as about 3:00 when we woke up. Then someone was at the door. I went to see who it was — Apekio. She had taken a little time off to come over here. Her mother is very sick — her legs are swollen, and she cannot go outside anymore. Apekio has to help her to the outhouse. Graham has been sick for two weeks now, and Apekio has been taking care of him too. He kept vomiting up everything he tried to eat or drink, and has a severe headache.
Yesterday Janet gave him a shot to help stop the vomiting. So Apekio rarely gets out of the house. We talked a while, and I gave Apekio a few little food items to help her family. Prayed with her before she went back home. She is a blessing with her cheerful attitude in the midst of all her trials.
Devit’s mother came by too to see if we had something for her to give her son Pilip. He is very sick with diarrhea, and she is staying with him in the ward. Gave her a couple Maggi for him.
After she left, I worked a little while on school stuff before getting supper. After supper and dishes, I played the keyboard a while before working on school materials.
“1Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite. I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations…. 6For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD? 7God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him. 8O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee?... 15Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. 16In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. 17For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted. 18For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.” Psalm 89:1, 6-8, 15-18
November 30. Last day of November. Wow! Where is this year going? Only one month left. Maybe the Lord will come before the year ends.
No rain last night, but has been raining a lot this afternoon and evening. Thunder and lightning too. Praise the Lord for keeping us supplied with water. The river is up pretty high though. Apparently Devit and his sons got across this morning. He was going to Aivonti to get Silvia. She had gone to her village for a few days. But they probably won’t get back unless we get a day or two of no rain.
Manila did better in his math today, but still needs lots of practice on his subtraction facts. I had him write his own story in tokples today for the first time. I told him to write one or two short sentences about something he did during the holiday last week. He wrote one long sentence and did an excellent job. I was amazed how well he spelled everything and even got the tone marks correct. I was very pleased. We started reading book three today too and finished the whole book. He had timed reading in English today too, and did really well in that.
Finally got my hair washed this afternoon. Made oatmeal cookies for Daddy. Played the keyboard a few minutes this evening after doing dishes. Then worked on school materials most of the rest of the evening.
The people are really short on food, I guess, particularly their staple, kaukau. A man at the Aivonti market offered to do buying for them if they would send a list of how much to buy. About 90 people put their names down for rice, etc. Danny started out for Aivonti today with the list, but could not get across the river.
Daddy went for a walk this morning up beyond the airstrip, and looked over the layout of the land to see where we might build the new church building and our house. It is a proposition we will have to make to the church and then get permission from all the landowners. Or perhaps we could even build below the airstrip where Daniel’s old house used to be. That would be more convenient for most of the people.
He talked to Janet today also. She said that there is a lot of sickness, especially diarrhea, and some typhoid. People were staying in the ward, but they realized that was not a good thing to have typhoid patients and patients with severe diarrhea in there with others. So they sent them all home. She said it was [too] hot in the ward.
“And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.” Psalm 90:17