Lots of people around today. Nandana’s family came with firewood. Then Enos stayed to cut firewood. A lot of people were hanging around the fence when Serah was hanging clothes so it took her a lot longer. There were strong winds today, however, so it didn’t take long for the clothes to dry.
Penina was already working when we looked out around 6:30.
Enos’s sister Susan came around with Magaret. They wanted to know if there was work. I asked Serah if the garden needed to be weeded, and she said it did. So they are supposed to do that tomorrow. This afternoon, I went out for a little stretch and saw that, indeed, the garden is in dire need of weeding. Found some tomatoes growing. Threw a couple away, and brought an almost ripe one inside.
Also found a ripe pineapple, no bigger than an orange.
Ben came by, and we went through the list of youth with him and determined which ones were little and need to bring proof of birth.
Devit came and started a file for Timothy-Titus tokples {Owena language} translation, and got most of 1 Timothy 1 into the file.
Daddy and I both had a fairly long nap today. I was grateful for a better night’s sleep last night too. Have been having lots of stomach cramps.
The sunsets have been so pretty the past few nights—a soft pink glow over the whole sky. A welcome reminder of God’s presence. Daddy decided that our promise to claim for these days is Isaiah 26:3,4.
To those who seek Him He is kind; but to those who find Him, beyond expression is He dear!—Morning and Evening
October 29. Colder this morning — 52º. Brrr! Thank the Lord for pleasant sunshine to warm the house up quickly. Thanks to God also for encouragement from His Word last night and this morning. From Mark 10:27 — “And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” And then verses 29 and 30 — “And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.” Going on further, we find our Lord telling of His suffering for us in verses 33 and 34 — “Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.” And Daddy has been reading of Paul and his being held unjustly in prison. We are so thankful for God’s Word and promises.
After Daddy left for Bible school, I had my quiet time alone in prayer, and in studying for ladies’ meeting coming up tomorrow evening. Daddy’s class had their exam in Elders-Deacons class today.
At 9:00 Susan Nandana came and worked in the garden, Serah came to work, and Jokapet came for typing class.
When Jokapet finished her lesson, Maik and Tanya came to get their team notebooks straightened out. It took a while to get all the points transferred to the team 3 and 4 books. Devit came too and worked more on 1 Timoti. Finished getting chapter 1 into the file, did chapter 2, and started on chapter 3.
Made fish patties for dinner, and had leftover veggies.
Daddy and I went for a short walk. It was very short. We were going to try to go see Penina, and maybe have Erik explain to her what we wanted done, but no one seemed to be around down there. Saw Tema, and she was not feeling well — toothache and hurting all over. The health workers did not open the haus sik today, as they were having some health education classes, so she wasn’t able to get pain medicine. We came back down to the house, and went around by the garden to look over Susen’s work. Looks like she still has a small part to finish tomorrow. Came up to the house and got some pain medicine for Tema. Worked a bit on some games for youth group. Then got supper.
"I will praise Thee, O Lord." Psalm 9:1
Praise should always follow answered prayer; as the mist of earth's gratitude rises when the sun of heaven's love warms the ground. Hath the Lord been gracious to thee, and inclined His ear to the voice of thy supplication? Then praise Him as long as thou livest. Let the ripe fruit drop upon the fertile soil from which it drew its life. Deny not a song to Him who hath answered thy prayer and given thee the desire of thy heart. To be silent over God's mercies is to incur the guilt of ingratitude; it is to act as basely as the nine lepers, who after they had been cured of their leprosy, returned not to give thanks unto the healing Lord. To forget to praise God is to refuse to benefit ourselves; for praise, like prayer, is one great means of promoting the growth of the spiritual life. It helps to remove our burdens, to excite our hope, to increase our faith. It is a healthful and invigorating exercise which quickens the pulse of the believer, and nerves him for fresh enterprises in his Master's service. To bless God for mercies received is also the way to benefit our fellow-men; "the humble shall hear thereof and be glad." Others who have been in like circumstances shall take comfort if we can say, "Oh! magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together; this poor man cried, and the Lord heard him." Weak hearts will be strengthened, and drooping saints will be revived as they listen to our "songs of deliverance." Their doubts and fears will be rebuked, as we teach and admonish one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. They too shall "sing in the ways of the Lord," when they hear us magnify His holy name. Praise is the most heavenly of Christian duties. The angels pray not, but they cease not to praise both day and night; and the redeemed, clothed in white robes, with palm-branches in their hands, are never weary of singing the new song, "Worthy is the Lamb." —Morning and Evening