Fun with the Hamiltons

We are not urban folks. We love the countryside which is one of the reasons that we love doing ministry in Gesses. We live among villages nestled in the mountains. Yet there are times we crave social interaction with other English speaking families. And so every 2-3 months, we take a full day's drive to Addis. Yet after a couple of days in the city connecting with friends, making purchases and running errands, we begin to find our thoughts returning to the countryside. And so, knowing that we can only truly be refreshed surrounded by fresh air and God's beauty, we planned to spend several days at our friend's home (the Hamiltons) and several days at Lake Babagayu where SIM has a retreat centre. It was a wonderful long weekend.

We were invited to a BBQ held by Ugandans that attend the same church as the Hamiltons. We had met them once before and were warmly welcomed to come to their going away party. We were served freshly BBQed chicken and beef, bowls of steaming rice, peanut sauce, chapatis and donuts. 

Another family also joined us at the Hamiltons so we enjoyed some volleyball and swimming and a time of Sunday worship together.

I love early mornings at the Hamilton home. Weaver birds chatter constantly as they weave their homes from grass in the branches of the acacia tree. Yellow splashes of color flitting from place to place and I wonder: Has God put a song in their heart as they do what they have been created to do or are they singing to one another and living out community

And then Joel's dream came true. He caught his first fish. Early Sunday morning, several in the group went fishing. What a thrill for 2 of the boys to catch their first fish. Joel caught a small tilapia which he kept and fried whole while his friend caught a catfish. Rolf filleted it and it was fried up as well. A tasty addition appetizer and a fun ending to a special weekend.

Sunday afternoon, we headed back towards Addis and stayed at Lake Babagayu. We enjoyed 2 days of swimming in the crater lake, boating and hyena watching. 

Monday afternoon we took the kids go-carting where they had their first opportunity to drive gas powered machines. They had varying abilities in speed which were not easily controlled so while some found themselves careening around corners, others travelled at a more manageable speed. It was certainly a memory that will not be quickly forgotten.