Saturday morning came all too early for me. At 4:30 I awoke and could not go back to sleep. I sat on the front steps and watched the moon set and the sun slowly climb. At 5:30 brothers George and Dorreck set off on the motorcycle for Karasabai, a village north of Lethem about 3 hours. Otherwise, it was still and quiet.
A period of personal Bible study followed later and by mid-morning I was ready to head out. Guyana Christian University is about a mile from the town of Lethem. It was not yet hot and I headed to town. I stopped at the Takutu Guesthouse to use the internet but found only one computer working and occupied. A bit further was the Savannah Inn and Shop where I picked up some things for meals and the apartment.
On my way back I was excited to see a sign for a local restaurant featuring hot dogs. A quick stop and I found that they were out until at least Monday.
While in Lethem I met two ladies who work with a Bible translation organization. They have lived in Guyana for 35 years and are working with the Macushi and Wapshana tribes to develop Bibles in their native languages. Since our students are from these tribal backgrounds such a translation could be very useful. We will watch the development of the text and hope for great things.
Another half hour and I was back at the school and in the shade.
Although the students have no classes on the weekend some were found studying in the school library and classroom. They are finishing personal biographies which I will post here in days to come
One of our students, Elroy McGarrell has a young 10 month old son who has had a bout of vomiting and diarrhea for a few days. Young Melroy lives with his mother in the village of Nappi. Such GI problems in a small child can be serious anywhere but especially in the savannahs where health care is limited. We received word today that Melroy was slightly better and the vomiting part had stopped.
Mango trees dot the landscape here like oak trees in Alabama. At this time of year they give off their fruit constantly in shades of green, yellow pink and purple. It’s messy to eat a mango put well worth the effort. There is also a coconut tree beside our school building. I picked up a coconut that had fallen and spent a half hour trying to break through the outer shell. It’s a tough and fibrous husk that protects the coconut on the inside.
After breaking away the husk I was left with nut which is similar to what we see in American grocery stores. A bit more work and I enjoyed the cool coconut milk and white, sweet fruit. A nice evening snack.
The Lord’s Day dawned beautifully in Lethem as we prepared for worship. Several of the students went to the creek to bathe before sunrise and now return refreshed and prepared for service. I will be preaching again this morning. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 will serve as my text as I speak on the changing power of Jesus Christ.
66 attended this morning which is a good number at Lethem. Two good sisters responded to the gospel invitation and sought prayers. Our students conducted the services save for the Bible class teaching done by Thomas George and the sermon which I offered.
The singing was amazingly beautiful this morning as it drifted out into the grasslands. Just the purity of human voices is a sweet sound that cannot be outdone.
In all my travels I have never been sick – until now. Sunday afternoon I began to feel poorly and soon had a full blown stomach ache with nausea and vomiting. I will blame it on the coconut. Anyway, God brought me though with nothing more than a bit of inconvenience. By midnight I was fine.
