October 11. It was a short night. Took me a long time to get to sleep, but didn’t sleep very soundly. Heard Andreas up three times. Was hoping he wasn’t sick or something. Got up twice myself. Heard Daddy up some time or other. Noticed when it was starting to get light outside. It was a very dark, cloudy night before that. Heard rain during the night, and was thankful to the Lord for the welcome sound of rain. The first measureable rain in over a month—.1 inch.
Andreas wanted to leave around 5:00, but we still didn’t know who was going to go with him. Daddy and I got up around 5:15. Didn’t hear Andreas moving around, but heard him up after we got up. He had cereal and his morning coffee, and was ready to go. Around 6:00, people started coming around. They were concerned about just Andreas and one other person going. They were afraid people would think Andreas was a tourist and would try to rob him. They kept saying that many people will be going tomorrow to sell coffee, and Andreas should wait and go with a large group. But Andreas needs to get back, if he can, as he has other work projects coming up with CRMF. Daddy sent Jevin to call for Devit to see what he thought. While we were waiting, I asked Andreas if he would like some pancakes and eggs too to supplement his breakfast. Of course he would. He’s a hearty eater. Started warming up pancakes and getting ready to cook eggs. Then Devit arrived.
Devit said that, since Silvia has relatives in and around the area, he often comes and goes freely on his own. He would take Andreas and even go on to Goroka with him. He was all ready to go. Andreas did not get to eat his second breakfast. It was about 6:30 when Andreas and Devit left here. They made really good time to start with. Daddy watched their progress with binoculars. Around 4:00 this afternoon, Devit called and said they were not too far from Irakia. They slowed down considerably going down the mountains, as Andreas started having knee pains. I know what that’s like. That’s a PNG affliction, must be. Andreas will need a good night’s sleep and strength for tomorrow to get to the road and get a vehicle to Goroka. We are thankful that the Lord gave us an overcast day and a bit cooler weather than we have had. That was an answer to prayer so it would not be scorching hot for Andreas’ hike up the mountains.
After they left, Daddy and I had breakfast. Then someone brought greens so I got those all washed so they could be cooked for lunch. Had some quiet time, and got things ready for school. At recess time, I got the greens cut up and put in the pressure cooker with salt and vinegar. I measured water to add also, but discovered later that I had never added the water. I asked Daddy to start the greens cooking around 12:00 if I were not back yet from school. He did. When I came in, I could smell the greens cooking. They smelled a little bit burnt, but not too bad. I wondered why they smelled burnt. I was sure I had put plenty of water in. As I was getting the leftover fish patties out to warm up for dinner, however, I noticed the water sitting there on the counter in the measuring cup. Oops! Is that why the greens smelled burnt? After I got the fish patties started warming up, I turned off the pressure cooker, let the pressure down, then added the water to the greens. They didn’t look too bad. I guess there was enough water in the greens themselves to keep them from burning.
Even Max was here bright and early this morning — before 7:00. But Daddy had him wait until 7:30. Max is going to be going to Okapa with the rest of the group so will not be here for Bible school on Thursday. So there will be no Bible school this week since Devit is gone. In this case, we count Devit’s absence as part of his ministry. Luke came by this afternoon to get a clearer understanding of his homework which is due tomorrow. However, he will have another week to finish as Daddy will just wait until next week and start Bible school again when Devit gets back.
I started school a bit later as it was quite a busy morning. It was around 7:45, I think, when Manila and I started school. School went well today, and I was thankful for the Lord’s help. The only thing I had forgotten to do was get out visuals for the Bible lesson. We sang “Noah I Bilip,” reviewed Genesis 39:3, and started learning Proverbs 21:1 before continuing on with the story of Joseph. In Owena class, we read from the Owena translation of the Gospel of John, did some review, then spent some time on the /nt/ consonant cluster. Reviewed some spelling words starting with /n/ and /t/, and then some with the /nt/ cluster. Then he copied four new spelling words with the /nt/ cluster so he can memorize those. Last of all, we started reading the first primer ANÍNÉ. Read the first six pages, and then had recess.
After recess, we did a lot of review in math before doing today’s lesson. Then introduced the use of the ruler, and the nine add family. In English class, we talked about the new month, October. Then reviewed all the word cards, and started learning the word “circle.” The rest of the class time was spent doing worksheets with circles and finding circles around the room.
After lunch and nap, I went for a little walk outside to get some fresh air. Washed my hair. Took a nine minute walk around the schoolroom — my legs didn’t quite make ten minutes today. Worked on school lessons. Then Epekio and Lilian came by. Epekio brought some nice greens. Thank you, Lord. Lilian picked out yarn for her mother. Gave Epekio some of the yarn Christy and Connie had sent so she can work on baby blankets with that. We all talked a while. After they left, I worked more on school lessons. Then we had supper. After supper, I made granola and did dishes. Then finished up lesson preparations, printed out Matyu 11-13 for Devit and Erik to work on, and printed out Acts lessons for second year Bible school students.
"Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens." Lamentations 3:41 The act of prayer teaches us our unworthiness, which is a very salutary lesson for such proud beings as we are. If God gave us favours without constraining us to pray for them we should never know how poor we are, but a true prayer is an inventory of wants, a catalogue of necessities, a revelation of hidden poverty. While it is an application to divine wealth, it is a confession of human emptiness. The most healthy state of a Christian is to be always empty in self and constantly depending upon the Lord for supplies; to be always poor in self and rich in Jesus; weak as water personally, but mighty through God to do great exploits; and hence the use of prayer, because, while it adores God, it lays the creature where it should be, in the very dust. Prayer is in itself, apart from the answer which it brings, a great benefit to the Christian. As the runner gains strength for the race by daily exercise, so for the great race of life we acquire energy by the hallowed labour of prayer. Prayer plumes the wings of God's young eaglets, that they may learn to mount above the clouds. Prayer girds the loins of God's warriors, and sends them forth to combat with their sinews braced and their muscles firm. An earnest pleader cometh out of his closet, even as the sun ariseth from the chambers of the east, rejoicing like a strong man to run his race. Prayer is that uplifted hand of Moses which routs the Amalekites more than the sword of Joshua; it is the arrow shot from the chamber of the prophet foreboding defeat to the Syrians. Prayer girds human weakness with divine strength, turns human folly into heavenly wisdom, and gives to troubled mortals the peace of God. We know not what prayer cannot do! We thank thee, great God, for the mercy-seat, a choice proof of thy marvellous lovingkindness. Help us to use it aright throughout this day! —Morning and Evening
October 12. Woke up about 3:00 this morning to the sound of rain, real rain. Went around to make sure it wasn’t leaking in anywhere. Had to put a basin on top of the washing machine to catch what was leaking in there. Saw a few wet spots on the insulation paper in the office and living room, but didn’t see any water dripping. Wondered what things were like in the schoolroom, but didn’t go out there. Daddy went out to check after we got up this morning, and there was quite a huge puddle of water in the insulation paper just in front of the cupboards. He got out the wash tub and pushed the water into it. Praise the Lord for 2.25 inches rain last night!
Devit called Jevin this morning before 6:30, and he and Andreas were already on the trail. They walked all day again to get to the car road. Couldn’t get in touch with them this afternoon. Maybe Devit’s battery needs charging. And then, of all things, MAF came in to pick up Andreas. Said they tried to call yesterday morning and this morning. But either time was too late. Andreas was already on his way. I feel sorry for poor Andreas. His muscles were pretty sore. He is used to bike-riding, but not mountain climbing.
School went okay today. Manila seemed tired.
Daddy was quite concerned about his blood pressure this afternoon. It read very high. But he didn’t have any symptoms. Something didn’t seem right. He called Dr. Morton, and Dr. Morton agreed. He would have had some symptoms. The problem was probably with the blood pressure monitor. After that, Daddy changed the batteries and it read more accurately.
“1To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?” Psalm 42:1,2
October 13. No rain last night. Cloudy and humid this morning. Sunny and blue skies part of the afternoon. Then black clouds and a rainbow at supper time. Thank the Lord for His goodness and watch care over us today.
Started laundry at 6:30 this morning. Had Jevin start the generator right after he rang the first bell. Before the 6:30 bell, Devit had already called Jevin and told him that they were ready to get a PMV and be on their way to Goroka. Devit’s phone did need charging yesterday (as we thought), but they slept somewhere last night where he could charge it. Daddy tried later in the day to get in touch with them to see if they had arrived safely in Goroka, but there was no answer. At supper time, the phone rang, and it was Devit. Devit and Andreas said they had made it safely to Goroka and were thankful for God’s help and protection. Andreas said he is going to send Devit back on the airplane.
It was already warm early this morning. Didn’t even wear a sweater when I hung out the clothes at 7:30. Laundry was all done and hung out before 8:00. It was a blessing to have some time to clean, and to work on some lessons before lotu. I even had time for a walk around the schoolroom with my prayer book in hand. A little before 9:00, we went on up to lotu. There were half a dozen men already waiting outside the church building. We went in, and Daddy had Luke start the singing. In a little while, a few women came, and later more men and women. Daddy read through the story of Abraham’s servant seeking a wife for Isaac, Genesis chapter 24. He read the whole chapter with just a few comments — 67 verses. That took up the whole preaching time, but he will do the exposition next week. Actually he had a hard time getting through the last few verses, as we started hearing hollering around the village. People started getting restless. Was there some kind of trouble? Daddy called Luke up for a short prayer time, but there was more hollering and people started leaving. So he just had Luke close in prayer.
A neighboring village had come with their bows and arrows, and apparently with some shotguns too. Someone in that village had died, and they were blaming a couple of men in Owena for the death. They said they were coming to fight, not to talk. The Owena men all got their weapons and went out to protect themselves and their families. They set watches around the village so the men from the other village wouldn’t come around and into the village some other way. Many went up the hill and tried to talk to the men. But they weren’t accomplishing anything. Finally one of the Owena men fired a shot with his shotgun. The men from the other village started running away. The Owena men chased them as far as the old Waisara, and shot arrows at them. They shot back. Two from the other village got wounded. So Owena men are standing guard around the village tonight in case of payback. I was just thinking yesterday that perhaps things would be quiet here for a while. I couldn’t think of anything else that could possibly happen. Daddy told me I shouldn’t think. Of course, we know that God is in control of our lives, no matter what.
We did not have school today. It would have been too hard for Manila to concentrate. So I used the time to work on some other computer projects and do more cleaning.
After nap and snack, I went out to get some sunshine. Took a pair of scissors and trimmed some of the dead branches off the flower bushes. Trimmed down some of the greenery out back too that was growing above the top of the fence. Then I worked at the computer some more until supper time. Made up some monologues for Manila to memorize in English class. He needs more practice with speaking. He is very quiet.
There weren’t many dishes tonight so had time to play the keyboard again before getting work done on the computer. The songs tonight were all centered on Christ’s return. That was a blessing.
"Love is strong as death." Song 8:6 Whose love can this be which is as mighty as the conqueror of monarchs, the destroyer of the human race? Would it not sound like satire if it were applied to my poor, weak, and scarcely living love to Jesus my Lord? I do love Him, and perhaps by His grace, I could even die for Him, but as for my love in itself, it can scarcely endure a scoffing jest, much less a cruel death. Surely it is my Beloved's love which is here spoken of—the love of Jesus, the matchless lover of souls. His love was indeed stronger than the most terrible death, for it endured the trial of the cross triumphantly. It was a lingering death, but love survived the torment; a shameful death, but love despised the shame; a penal death, but love bore our iniquities; a forsaken, lonely death, from which the eternal Father hid His face, but love endured the curse, and gloried over all. Never such love, never such death. It was a desperate duel, but love bore the palm. What then, my heart? Hast thou no emotions excited within thee at the contemplation of such heavenly affection? Yes, my Lord, I long, I pant to feel Thy love flaming like a furnace within me. Come Thou Thyself and excite the ardour of my spirit.
"For every drop of crimson blood
Thus shed to make me live,
O wherefore, wherefore have not I
A thousand lives to give?"
Why should I despair of loving Jesus with a love as strong as death? He deserves it: I desire it. The martyrs felt such love, and they were but flesh and blood, then why not I? They mourned their weakness, and yet out of weakness were made strong. Grace gave them all their unflinching constancy—there is the same grace for me. Jesus, lover of my soul, shed abroad such love, even Thy love in my heart, this evening. —Morning and Evening
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“3O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. 4Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.” Psalm 43:3,4
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