March 4. Very tired this evening after a whole morning out shopping, a meal to prepare this evening, and a days’ worth of dishes to wash. Had only a little bit of time, after nap this afternoon, to sit down at the computer and do a little Bible study in Deuteronomy. We enjoyed our chicken stew that I made for supper. It was a wee bit too salty since I had to use the table salt that was here as I didn’t bring enough sea salt with me. The table salt is obviously much saltier than the sea salt. Otherwise it tasted really good. Since that one pack of chicken breast fillet was the only chicken breast fillet that we could find anywhere in town, I used only half of it and put the other half in the freezer for later. This evening, Daddy installed the eco tank in my computer. Praise the Lord, I should now be able to do the printing from my own computer. “Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy….” (Revelation 15:4a) March 5. Started the day by putting a small load of laundry in the washing machine and then going to Bible reading and prayer. Made a couple popo fritters for my breakfast. Hung the clothes out in the breezeway. Had an enjoyable and edifying talk with Martha via Skype. Then Ben called for Daddy to come and pick up most of the tracts. Half of the flag tracts weren’t ready yet. So off we went to Kumul. Then we headed to Seng Da to get bread, but there was no whole wheat bread today. We did, however, get some more yarn and a couple umbrellas — a big one for ourselves, and a collapsible one for Anna Jean. We were going to get copy paper, too, but that section of the store was so busy, we waited and waited and still nobody came to wait on us. We also saw David upstairs and invited him to Mike’s ordination tomorrow. After Seng Da, we went to Stationery Works and got copy paper. Next stop was YuYu for a solar light for Mata’s mother. And last stop was the ATM machine. After we got back to the flat, we started heating up the chicken stew for our dinner when Mike called. He and his family had just arrived in West Goroka from Kainantu and needed someone to pick them up. So Daddy went and got them, and I ate my dinner. We talked a little while, and then Mike and Daddy went out to find some lunch for Mike and family and got some food at the Papindo Kai Bar near Papindo central. When they got back, we warmed up the rice for them, and Daddy warmed up his stew, and they all ate. It wasn’t long after that when Wenera showed up. He came down to be here for Mike’s ordination tomorrow. We are amazed at the discernment Wenera has gained since his salvation several years ago and are so thankful that he has a heart to serve the Lord. He hasn’t even been to Bible school, but has more knowledge of God’s Word than many who have. It was going on 4:00 when they all left to go to Philip’s place for the night. So we had a very late nap. March 6. What a busy morning! Wenera and Mike family decided they wanted to have the ordination service in the morning instead of in the afternoon. They said they would be ready around 9:00. So Daddy called David to let him know. David was here on time, but we waited still another hour before Wenera and Mike family arrived. It was time then to Skype C&C, but Daddy gave them a quick call to let them know it would be later. The ordination service was a blessing. Daddy had David open in prayer. Wenera and David each chose a song to sing. Wenera also sang a special. Then Daddy preached a message from Luke 9:57-62 on not putting your hand to the plow and looking back. We showed them one picture of an old-fashioned plow and one of a couple horses pulling a plow with a man steering it. Afterward, Daddy had Mike come for the laying on of hands, and David and Wenera with him as witnesses. Then Daddy presented him with the ordination certificate, followed by picture taking. It was around 11:25 when we finally called C&C. All our guests told them “hello.” I was busy trying to print a picture of the soldier and Bible logo for Wenera to use for their Christian school. Never could get it to print. Just kept getting a message saying that Publisher could not complete the operation. So then we just talked with Christy and Connie until a little after 12:30. Then we spent some time fellowshipping with everyone for another hour. So it was around 1:30 or so before we finally had our dinner, after 2:00 before we finally got a nap, and 4:00 before I got up. Before supper, I tried printing another publisher file from my computer, and got the same message. Then I transferred the logo pictures to a word file and had no problem printing it. Daddy tried printing a publisher file from his computer, too, and had no problem. Then Daddy did some trouble-shooting on the printing problem and learned that my computer is not the only one that has that problem with publisher. It is a Microsoft problem, and Microsoft has not been able to answer the problem.
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March 2. The Lord sent us a couple hours of rain before sunup this morning. Nevertheless He gave us good weather for the flight in spite of the fact that there was no sunshine. We waited and waited all morning for the plane to come. Had everything packed and were ready to go. Sunny came to help carry cargo. She just sat and waited with us and then with others. After a while Mike and Rahab came, and they waited with us. Then Nuandauro came, and she sat and talked with the others. Later John (from Marivo) came, and he sat with the others. I hadn’t realized that John is Taqita’s father. Finally a little after 11:30, MAF flew over on their way to Wonenara. Then MAF Goroka called to say they would be coming to Owena after that. So we started getting the house closed up, ready to leave. Nuandauro and John went around to the back gate, and Mike and Sunny helped put the cargo outside for people to carry. There was lots of cargo this trip — 11 items. In addition to the things we usually take to town, there were three boxes with Mike’s cargo, an empty LP gas bottle, the printer (so we can install it in our other computers), and a box of fridge foods. Then we headed up the hill and got there just when the plane was circling for its landing at Owena. Tim was the pilot today. He said this weather system is all over the country and has really made it hard to plan and stick to flight schedules. Weather in Owena, although not sunny, was good compared to many other places, especially places north and west of Goroka. It was going on 1:00 when we finally arrived in Goroka. However, we didn’t have any transportation so were there for an hour or more. Belinda and Rachel are using the Aibai vehicle which is their privilege since they are Aibai workers. They had planned to go back to Aibai today, but bad weather prevented them. So they don’t know when they can get a flight. Tim was busy helping us make arrangements to get Brad’s vehicle, but was also busy preparing for another flight. Tim’s wife had charge of the keys, but was out shopping so we had to wait for her to go back to the house and get the keys. Then she brought the keys over to the hangar to give to Daddy. However, Daddy still needed a way to get to the MAF compound to pick up the vehicle. An older man was there, one who does maintenance, repair, and building for MAF and other places, and he offered to take Daddy over to the compound. Daddy was finally able to get the vehicle and bring it back to the hangar and load up our cargo. Then we headed for CRMF. By now it was about 2:30 or so. It was too late to go out and do any shopping so we warmed up our meat pies for a late dinner and then did unpacking and napping and the rest of the unpacking. David called Daddy shortly after we got to CRMF and told him that he is no longer working and will be going back to Owena. He wants to come and see us tomorrow. A couple hours after our dinner, it was time for supper— :-). March 3. Most of the day was spent shopping. We first went down to Kumul Printing to see if Ben could print some more tracts so we can give them to Wenera. Then we went to Yida and Wan Tok to shop, came back to the flat and dropped things off, before heading for Seng Da. After Seng Da, we went to Papindo central where Daddy could use the ATM machine and we could also do a little shopping. We were thankful to find one pack of chicken breast fillet. Also excited to see that they have a new shipment of the Dimes fruit juices. They hadn’t had any for a long time, and we were wondering if they weren’t going to be able to get any more. By then, it was lunch time so we went to uptown Papindo for our dinner. Daddy had a chunky chicken sandwich, and I had chicken ‘n’ chips. After we did a little shopping there, we headed back to the flat. I was wiped out, but needed to have Lynn bring us a mattress to put under the other one on my very hard bed, have a glassful of water, and brush my teeth before I lay down. By then it was after 2:00, and I rested until 4:00. Mike called Daddy around 4:30 and said he and his family have made it as far as the car road. This evening, I finished writing the February progress report and have that ready to send to Pastor Ogle. “How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103) “Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.” (Psalm 103:5) February 28. Last day of the month. Didn’t get as much packing done today as I had hoped. Busy answering the door much of the morning. Sunny came to charge her phone and transplant a couple of plants. Then she stayed and practiced keyboard while her phone was charging. One lady came to give us some money to take to her daughters in Goroka, and she talked a little while too. Nuandauro came to get her gift bag that I had ready for her. She came again in the early evening while I was doing dishes and brought me some yams. Even though I don’t need them right now, I took them because she likes to give me something in return for her goodies bag. She said her stomach hurt because she was hungry and hadn’t had time to eat this morning, but she didn’t have a pumpkin to cook so I gave her the extra pumpkin we had. Yanahdo came by too, and I gave her goody bag to her. I had already given it to Anna Jean to take down to her, but then she herself showed up. A young lady brought a half dozen eggs and got some yarn and chocolates and lollies in exchange. This afternoon just before supper time, Graham brought his wife Lynn so we could meet her, and we talked with them for a while. I did go outside for just a few minutes this morning while the sun was shining; but there was a cool wind blowing so that’s why I didn’t stay out long. Daddy started for a walk up the airstrip, but only got across the trail to the airstrip and felt tired out so came back. This afternoon, I made tortillas so I would have some to take to town. Shortly after we started devotions, Mike came with a box of books and a bag full of clothes to go with us on the plane. Nehemiah called too. He said he will be coming back to the mainland earlier than originally planned as he has meetings at Victory Baptist in Lae, Rambo Baptist (where he went to Bible school) and Goroka Baptist churches. March 1. Some rain during the night and a little early this morning; but, praise the Lord, He sent sunshine and wind to dry the clothes. Judy was a big help with laundry and filling up the wood box before she practiced computer. I kept busy with many things including packing, getting the extra space in Mike’s boxes filled up with Genesis/Exodus books and then taping up the boxes, making an ordination certificate for Mike who let Daddy know last night that he wants to be ordained for the ministry before he goes up to Wenera’s place. Mike talked with Wenera too, to see if he would be coming down to Goroka and maybe we could have a brief ordination service in Goroka and Wenera could witness the event. February 25. Praise the Lord for some sunshine this morning, and that it is not so cold. There is still a chilly wind blowing, but it is nice for drying the clothes. Judy was here practicing computer so I printed out some more exercises for her. Also read a chapter in Deuteronomy, prepared goody bags for Mike’s children, and made a popo (papaya) pie. Amos’s girls helped Daddy take things up to the top of the airstrip so he could try to send and receive e-mails. It took quite a while, but he was finally able to get a good connection.. Nehemiah called Daddy and said that he will be coming back here in April as things get pretty dangerous over on the islands at election time. While he is here, LBC is supposed to ordain him and send him back to Kavieng. The church there wants him to stay on permanently as their pastor. Worked off and on today on checking over the discipleship booklets. This afternoon, I cut up the other popo, and added sesame seeds to the leftover pie dough and made four tortillas out of it. February 26. The cold winds blew and howled all night, and blew and howled, and blew and howled, and blew and howled. And all day today, the sun hid itself from the cold while the cold winds blew and howled, and blew and howled, and blew and howled, and blew and howled. It must be winter here in the tropics. About the only people that can be seen outside in this harsh weather are the young boys, having a great time playing together with little if any concern for the weather. This morning, I was encouraged through a little Bible study in Deuteronomy 20:1-4. Then Daddy and I started making a shopping list, but had barely gotten started when Dallas came. It was nice to see him, and we were happy to get a report from him about their situation and about the work there in Jiwaka and Minj. Dallas has been fighting boils on his legs. They started while he was in Minj and have continued to spread. Jiwaka apparently is a lowlands province, and the Minj area is a big, open, flat valley. The weather is hot, and they don’t get much rain. It is a swamp area, and the people get water for their gardens from the swamps. However, they also get drinking and bathing water from the swamps. Unless they get rain, the drinking and bathing water is not very sanitary. Mosquitoes are abundant. The house he stayed in is small so would not do for both his and Mike’s families together. Wenera’s house is bigger, but they have lots of family that come and go. Dallas did not seem discouraged about the work, and he and Elise are still praying about going back or going to another place. He does not feel that it is the Lord’s will for him to stay here. He did, however, agree to teach SCMS in Mike’s place as long as he is here. At nap time, I went into a sound sleep and slept about two hours. Didn’t even realize I was that tired. After nap, we moved the kitchen table to the side, and I washed the floor. (Anna Jean had swept it yesterday.) We have planned to have a time of fellowship tomorrow with Mike and family; and Dallas thought about coming to visit again tomorrow with his family, so we invited them too. We were thankful for a brief period of sunshine this afternoon, and thankful that the winds have died down this evening which helps it to feel a lot warmer too. Dallas, Elise, and Dalista came by this evening. They were looking for Mike and family and thought they might be here.; but then somebody told them they thought they went to Marivo which they may have done as they weren’t here. But we enjoyed a nice little visit with Dallas family anyway. February 27. Praising the Lord for sunshine and some blue sky this morning. We did go outside for a short while, but the winds are still strong and chilly so didn’t stay out long. Mike came around after LBC lotu (church service) this afternoon, mainly to get his picture taken for an ID card. Mike is already doing a lot of rethinking since Dallas explained to him about the health and land situation there in Minj. It was going on 8:00 when Mike came this evening, and then only his wife was with him. He went back and got the children, and Elise and Dalista also came with them. Dallas didn’t come because he and Amos had gone to try to encourage Javin who had some coffee plants stolen. By the time Mike and the rest got back, it was going on 8:30, but we enjoyed a short time of fellowship together. We sang a couple songs, led by Mike. Daddy read I Peter chapter 1 and Mike shared some verses from Psalm 71 as a thank you to us for still serving the Lord in old age. Daddy closed in prayer, and then we gave little gift bags to the children and a note and money gift to the family. They had decided that, at least for now, the Lord would have them to go to Minj. A couple of the children had itchy rashes which the parents said is going around both among the children and adults. They had a strange name for it, I don’t remember what it was. We figured the rash must be something like the fifth disease. “13) Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. 14) They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing.” (Psalm 92:13,14) February 23. A very cool day today. Daddy kept a fire going for the first few hours of the morning, but I still had a jacket on in the house most of the day. Wan came later in the morning and worked outside — made a new garbage hole cover as the old one had broken; replaced a rotten brace on the clothesline; dug and extended the ditch on the east side of the house. I worked on the outline course throughout the day and finished getting both teacher and student copies properly set up. February 24. An even colder day today with rain and howling winds. Had two jackets on all day, and the temperature inside couldn’t quite get into the 70º mark, and that with the wood stove doing its best to put out heat. Enjoyed a Bible study in Deuteronomy 18 today, a comparison of Moses and Christ, a prophet like unto Moses. Also prepared some more practice pages for Judy’s computer practice. Mike and Lawrence came by for a short visit on their way to the village of Marivo to visit Lawrence’s grandfather (Taqita’s father). This afternoon and evening, I revised the “Kisim Bek” course (How to Lead a Soul to Christ) for SCMS. Later, I wrote a couple more computer exercises for Judy. February 21. A warm night again, and a warm morning, but overcast. Stayed overcast nearly all day, and the rains started about mid-afternoon. It is still raining now — going on 10:00 p.m. Continued working today on the Grade 1 Bible lessons, and finished the last section of lesson 4, which will end the Bible lessons for the first 13-week term. Then I started proofreading and finding visuals to go with the stories. Wan came by this morning when we were outside getting a little fresh air. It is the first we’ve seen him since he went to town a few weeks ago. He said he has been back for a week, but has been sick and too weak to go out anywhere. Said he got sick while he was in town, and there are lots of others getting sick. Most everyone is getting pretty much the same symptoms so we figure it is probably the new strain of COVID. We were surprised that Daddy didn’t get it last month when I had it. The students finished classes early today because Daddy was having a hard time teaching as he kept getting a tickle in his throat. He called Mike and asked if he could come early and teach his classes. We were surprised that the call went through as Mike doesn’t usually get reception down at his house. Mike said he would come, and he did. Wenera also called and wanted to talk with Mike right away so Daddy had Mike call and talk with Wenera as soon as he got here. Wenera wants Mike to come right away. The students are ready for school. Mike told him he plans to come when we go to town. Mike stayed and fellowshipped for a while after the students left. We will miss his fellowship. Mike has handled things wisely to help provide for himself and his family while he is at Wenera’s. February 22. After the rain during the night and the early morning fog, the Lord blessed us with sunshine for the morning. I was happy to get out in the sunshine for a little while. The sunshine was a special blessing too for laundry day. Judy was a blessing too in her willingness to prepare some veggies for us before she practiced computer. I spent most of my computer time on the Bible lessons. Finished proofreading the set of eleven lessons that are all part of unit one. Printed all the worksheets and coloring pages for those lessons as well. With the veggies that Judy prepared, plus some browned onions and ground beef, and seaweed, I made a pot pie for the next several days of dinner. The second half of the evening, I started getting course 6 properly organized in the computer so I have both a teacher’s copy and students’ copy. February 18. We wondered if it were going to be sunny or rainy today, but the sunshine finally won out. We were very thankful for the sunshine as Sunny had come and washed the clothes and hung them out to dry. She also prepared carrots and uxai* for our dinner and then swept the floors. Before she went home, she practiced keyboard. Bonita came this morning also and practiced computer for a while. Most of my time today was spent working on Bible lessons for YSCA. If I can get ahead on those, I’ll get them all printed out for the first term and try to get all the visuals and worksheets together for teaching. For dinner I made Spanish rice. There was quite a stack of dishes to wash this evening *Uxai – a very delicious vegetable of a somewhat mealy texture and with a taste somewhat reminiscent of corn. February 19. It was a warm night, and a warm morning. So nice to see the sunshine once the fog lifted. Daddy woke up with a fever this morning and was feeling somewhat weak. After breakfast and quiet time, I spent time on a study in Deuteronomy 13, and then tried to organize the SCMS files in a good order. Afterward, I went outside, soaked up a little sunshine, and trimmed dead leaves off the bird of paradise flowers. We saw at the Pacific Garden Hotel that their bird of paradise plants were eight or nine feet tall. Ours are only about half that size. Maybe they need more shade instead of full sun. While I was out, Matusa’s wife came along. It was good to see her. Then Nuandauro’s younger brother came by. He had come and stayed with his sister for the night. His name is Matin. Most of the rest of the day, I worked on the Bible lessons for school. This evening, Wenera and Nehemiah both called. February 20. It was a quiet day. The Lord sent us rain the first half of the morning. Then the sun shone, and it was warm the rest of the day. Most of my computer time today was spent working on Bible lessons. In the evening Mike came to talk and stayed a good while. He and his family are ready to go to Minj and serve the Lord alongside Wenera. They plan to divide out their gardens, coffee gardens, and other property to family members to take care of. Taqita and all the children are very excited about going too. He will begin by ministering in the elementary school and then other ministries in the church. February 16. After breakfast and Bible reading, there were a number of little tasks to do this morning — get the bed made, fold the clothes, collate the lessons I had printed out yestereve, and put the pages in the students’ notebooks. And then there was the bigger task of putting hardware on the schoolroom cupboard doors for latching them. What took the longest was trying to find bolts the right size and nuts the right size to fit the bolts. A little before noon, I made chicken-tater patties for dinner with the leftovers from the past few days. I took a lot longer nap than I had planned so didn’t get to wash my hair this afternoon as scheduled. While Daddy was teaching SCMS classes, I printed out the next 30+ pages of the notes for Revelation class. This evening, I got the last piece of hardware put on the school cupboard, and cleaned the cupboard all up with hot soapy bleach water. After our devotions together, I finished my prayer time for today and started writing another Bible primer for the school children. February 17. After collating the lessons I printed yesterday, the rest of the morning was spent in the schoolroom organizing all the school things — papers and teaching supplies filled up the cupboard; extra supplies were put in small boxes on another shelf; Bible story pictures were put on one end of the desk; supplies that won’t be used right now were put in a box under the desk. Mike was the only one who came to work on the classroom, and he, with a little bit of Daddy’s help, got a lot accomplished — a section of the wall cut out for the door, the door frame put on, and the door installed. Elijah had come somewhat early and spent the morning cutting firewood. It was after 1:00 before the work was done so once again we had a late nap. My nap was shorter today, too, because I needed to wash my hair before class time. Dallas arrived back at his home early this afternoon. Mike stayed for a while this evening to talk. Mike plans to go up to Minj with his family in March, when we go to town, to help Wenera with the school as well as carry out other ministries. Nehemiah has reported that there have been a total of 38 souls saved in Kavieng alone since he has been there. Liberty Baptist Church has given him permission to stay for a short time and disciple them, but it appears that the people of Kavieng want him to stay much longer. They are going to build a house for him. There are two churches supporting Nehemiah financially to stay in the work there in Kavieng. February 14. The night was warm, and the Lord sent us a little rain just before dawn. As soon as I had had breakfast and quiet time, we got down to business in the schoolroom. Daddy and I worked on the cupboard until Mike came. Then Mike helped me work on the cupboard. A little after noon, it was finished, except for the door for the top section. Oops! How did that section get so crooked? Oh well, too late to fix it now. When Nuanda and Amos came, they started working on the door frame for the new entrance into the schoolroom. After we finished the cupboard, and the others were still working, I gathered up all the pieces of plywood and lumber we hadn’t used and put them away in the storage room. Then I swept the schoolroom floor. Before the three men left, Daddy had them help him put the recliner on a piece of heavy plywood so it could be moved out and reclined. The linoleum was getting in a mess from the chair moving around on it. It had been pieced together in that section of the room but never taped. so they washed off those pieces of linoleum and taped them down along the edges. It was 1:00 before everyone had left and we sat down to eat and after 1:30 before we settled down for nap. This afternoon, I studied the rest of Deuteronomy chapter 9 and wrote in journal. Then I worked on revising the first two English Bible Primers for first grade readers. February 15. This morning, I did the laundry while I was preparing and eating breakfast and also doing my Bible reading. After my prayer time, Daddy cut the cupboard door down to size and helped me put the hardware on and attach it to the upper cupboard frame in the schoolroom. So all we have to do now on that cupboard is put a latch on each of the cupboard doors and wash the cupboard. Then I’ll be ready to organize all my papers. Bonita came, and we talked with her for a while. She wanted to know when school would be starting and if she could practice more computer. Later, I started Bible study in Deuteronomy chapter 10. Then went out and brought in the clothes before getting the leftovers out to warm up for dinner. Finished the Bible study this afternoon after nap. Printed out more outreach pictures and outlines for Bible Epistles outline class. Rex found out today that a church in Mendi is paying for him to go to Bible school so that he can be their pastor in Mendi when school is completed. He will go where Nehemiah went for Bible school which is a three year course. He will be leaving tomorrow. So we will be down to four in missionary training class. Mike stayed after classes and talked about the work up in Minj. Mike wasn’t in church on Sunday because he was sick, and neither was Taqita because one of the children was sick. God is the song of those who fear Him, and He is our God. He is the one who does great and terrible things for us exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think. “The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.” (Exodus 15:2) Note: Please pray especially for the ministry right now and for the protection, strength, provision, and encouragement of those who are going out from Owena to do the work of the Lord in other areas. There are some things Mom and Dad shared that I’m not able to include in these posts. Satan is working hard to hinder this work, but God is so much greater than Satan. |
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