Steve is still not feeling so good; he is coughing and still has a runny nose. Today was the day for the monthly evangelist and church leaders’ class. Steve decided to let Timothy teach the morning session and then open the floor for questions and discussion for the second session. I think Steve did as much talking with the questions as he would have if he had just taught the whole thing. I went out at noon to help with the T-Shirt distribution and to help pay the transport. The cost of food has increased a lot because the farmers are just now beginning to harvest their crops; everyone is complaining about the cost of food. Timothy’s wife Rita usually cooks for the men but in view of the rising food costs we decided to give the men the money we would have spent on ingredients for Rita to cook. This way they can stop on their way into town and buy whatever they want to eat before they head home; if they needed the money worse than they needed to eat they could pocket the money or just use a little of it. We thought it was a good idea, Timothy thought it was a good idea and he thought that would take a lot of work off Sister Rita. Well, let me tell you, many of the men were not happy about the change and they were quick to voice their disapproval of the plan! Some said they did not want to buy food in Kulkpeni or Sambu on their way home; others did not want to eat before they got on the bus and one said his stomach was sensitive and he had to eat on a schedule. Please! It appears that we will go back to our original way of doing things.
Twenty-five men attended this month’s class and 28 baptisms were reported. Not bad considering we are still under Covid restrictions. Steve and Timothy filled our calendar for next month. Several villages are cut off by water and the men crossed the swollen rivers in canoes. We still have plenty of villages to visit.
Papa Zachariah, the older watchman, grew okra on the front part of the mission property. He had extra and asked if we wanted to buy some; of course we did. Zorash also bought some from him; he does not know that a couple days ago she went to the field and helped herself! Ha!
Four volunteer tomatoes came up in the front yard in an old baptistery that we had filled in years ago. I have been watching them diligently and was excited that they were growing so well. I weeded them by hand and was waiting for them to get big enough to transplant. A couple days ago I noted that their leaves were curling and turning yellow. I then remembered that Nazo had been spraying weed killer. I asked him if he sprayed my tomatoes. He said, “I am sorry for that! I was spraying the weeds and it must have gotten on them.” I told him that I wanted to watch them and see if they would die because sometimes if the spray was not plenty they could live. This afternoon when we went for our walk the tomatoes were completely gone. Someone, I suspect it was Nazo, had taken a hoe and removed the tomato plants and totally cleaned the whole bed! Now really what are you thinking? Nazo had already gone home for the day or I would have asked him who took out the tomato plants.
Have a great day!
In His Service,
Steve and Kandie
