With part of our group gone early this morning, Teresa, Mom and I attacked the main room of the church and stripped all the beds, and took them apart and loaded them on the truck, and we swept and organized all before breakfast. We hired a couple of gals to wash all the sheets and dirty clothes left behind by our friends.Steve and I and the girls decided to move back into that room because it’s tough preparing the other house every night for sleeping. It takes about two hours each evening just to clean up and prepare the room and get the beds in place and it’s very, very damp with a new layer of concrete plaster applied each day.All our beds were moved over and we situated Dale in Paul’s room.It looked so clean…for a few minutes….
Soon as breakfast was over mom announced that the Kirby’s room had to be cleared out so they could put up the wood on the ceiling. All their stuff was moved into the main room and then the guys began preparing for the job. The one thing they had to do was make a hole in the wall for another brace…. The hole went through to the kitchen where I was working. Concrete was flying everywhere. I had to keep lids on everything. I don’t appreciate that kind of crunch in my food!!
Some of the gals went to scrap walls in the orphan house. What a job! They worked until they couldn’t. Just as I got used to the idea of the mess in the kitchen and the mess in the main room, the fundis decided to plaster the two side posts in the main room…. Once again we reorganized the room to accommodate flying plaster. I just had to say, “Memere doesn’t think we have a big enough mess, yet!”
Teresa was on the list for lunch duty… so we were thinking in the kitchen together and decided to use up the leftover rice. Mom had a great idea of making lazy man’s cabbage rolls and so I took Kristen’s magical apron and put it on and got to work… Teresa went and scraped walls J Isabelle helped me and it turned out good. Mom had pity on us and brought us some soft bread. We discovered the white flour has run out, that is why the tough, dry, heavy, 100% whole wheat bread has been so abundant lately. It’s better when Miriam uses some white to lighten it.I have to say, though, that the bread pudding I made out of it was okay and the kids ate it up. We gave Miriam back the beans from yesterday and told her that she had to cook beans longer or it hurts our stomachs. She understood – the beans at lunch were way better. Mom found a big basket of little red plums, about a half a bushel’s worth for a dollar-fifty.
Steve is sick. He’s been lying around, but the noise of hammers drives to distraction… so he found a pile of pine branches outside and he fell asleep out there by the cho. He hasn’t eaten today that I know of, but he’ll be find. Bethany is dragging today, too, but she doesn’t have a fever, just a sore throat.
There is no VBS today because of National Exams, so we are going to go and finish sorting the clothes for a bunch of orphans coming next week for clothes.
So the guys were on scaffolding in the Kirby's room when it decided to break. My dad, Chris and Jon went for quite a ride. Thankfully there are no major injuries.
We read the blog comments by our new pastor and our old pastor today. Advanced course for sure!!! We had to laugh at that, but really, anyone can do what they have to do! The current economic situation is going to show people just how tough they can be when they have to. I guess the thing I am most concerned about is, what do you do, how do you react, and what are your thoughts and feelings when things are rough and the guy you are in the same boat with rubs you the wrong way? What are the thoughts that cross your mind when everyone is working and sweating and there is one person is sitting there watching you and doesn’t offer to help?That’s the tough part. That’s where one must plead for Christ’s grace to carry on. Being wet and cold, or hot and tired, eating food you are tired of and being sick and dealing with dirt and concrete flying around the kitchen, rain on your carefully hand-washed clothes for the third day in a row, etc… anyone can manage it, but what if someone in line for food ahead of you takes more than their share of the fruit and doesn’t leave you any? That is when your Christianity must become real. Sometimes you just have to take a deep breath and dig into the job you hate even though it’s someone else’s turn…and the thoughts that run through your head when you do, let you know just who you really are and it’s time to fall on your knees and plead for God’s Grace once again!
Moving Around
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 at 10:45 - Link
Wow, that must be a trial to be moving sleeping quarters all the time. Having concrete chunks and dust flying around in the kitchen would be a trial, while trying to cook.
I am glad Pastor John wrote you a message yesterday. I had fun talking on skype with him and Sharon. He told me that they were getting their 32" of yearly rainfall all in one day. Ha ha!! There was a huge system that moved into the N.W. and brought lots of rain to OR & WA. It was fast moving and warm, so snow levels were at 10,000 feet. They were expecting rivers to rise sharply from melting snow.
I am sorry to hear that Steve in now sick. I hope it is nothing major. We are praying for a quick recovery. Tell Beth that I hope she doesn't get sick. Tell her to drink lots of water. I really like the picture Abby posted of her. She looks strong and healthy, I pray she stays that way.
How is Leila doing? We hear about most of the other kids but not much about her. I hope she is well and happy.
Please pray for my friend Wanda. On Friday, she will meet with the judge and try and work this whole thing out, avoiding the courts if possible. She is worried because Sabbath begins at 3:45 pm, and these things usually take a whole day or two. She has already told the lawyer that she will have to leave by 3:00 pm, whether things are solved or not, because the Sabbath will soon be starting. Pray she will be firm in her resolve to honor the Sabbath, before these unbelievers.
Till tomorrow,
Jeanne
Greetings!
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 at 08:28 - Link
Hi Angela - we have been reading your blog regularly and really appreciate the frequent updates! We have been praying so hard for all of you and the work that you are doing. We are always so encouraged by everyone's positive attitude! We think of everyone often! May God continue to bless all of the work that you are doing and heal everyone's sickness! :)
Eric, Tina and Ericka Thornton
