Lake Wonchi...beautiful as ever

12 days ago we were able to join the homeschool coop for a day of
horseback riding at Lake Wonchi about 2.5 hours outside of Addis. We
used to ride here regularly when we served in Sherkole as it was on
route to Addis. In 3 years, nothing had changed! It was a little
more challenging doing the 5 hour loop with a group and we only had 6
horses during the valley part. It begins with a dusty descent which
takes about an hour. Then another 1-2 hours is spent walking/riding
through the valley. We took a lunch break in the valley. It was a
wonderful time for Kalia and Joel to be with friends and to be honest
we hardly saw them. They were on horses and we were walking so they
were far ahead (which caused me some concern).

The valley is full of little streams that needed to be crossed by jumping or wading so in fact it was much easier on horse. We passed by natural hot spring pools where the locals were sitting in to be healed of different ailments and we passed several places where Ambo water comes from (natural bubbly water!)

After the valley there is a dusty walk up and down and then we reach
the lake where a canoe is waiting for us. Well in the past it was a
dugout canoe and then they upgraded to a row boat that seated a dozen.
Oh yes that is the one change made in 3 years. they now have a boat
that is paddled by 3 men and seats over 30! I was a little
apprehensive....no lifejackets and at least a third of the passengers
couldn't swim! We crossed the crater lake passing by the island where
we have had lunch in the past and continued to the other side.

When we got to the other side, 30 horses were waiting for us and we spent the next 1.5 hours riding up the road leading to our parked vehicles. It was a beautiful day and I was tired but so proud of each of the kids. We weren't sure how it would work with 5 kids but we managed. Kalia, Joel and even Ariana rode their own horses (though for a short time Ariana rode with Mesalech but the saddle didn't actually fit them both). Nadia rode with me and Sonia with Rolf. Kalia said she had to pray a few times when her horse took off and we all thanked the Lord for his hand of protection on the group.