Fun at the Hamiltons - fishing, volleyball, bbq and weaver birds - Sept 13th previously posted without pictures

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 had planned to spend several days at our friend's home (the Hamiltons who returned to Ethiopia) 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 nearby 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.

Yes Nadia did eat the entire steak kabob.  I think Sonia enjoyed walking around with the stick more than consuming the meat.

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.

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.