Our Hippo Holiday on Lake Lewi

We took Hannah, Dovie, Zoie, and Mercy on a 2 day fun-filled holiday to rural Ethiopia. The adventure to Awassa is a wild, donkey darting 4 hour drive. You can even spot camel along the way. We chose a beautiful lakeside resort called Hotel Lewi. Hannah and I visited there a few weeks before with our Visiting Orphans team for a special dinner. It poured rain on the drive from Addis Ababa, so spotting the camels and mud huts, I promised the girls, was nearly impossible. We forgot to check the weather report for the weekend. Despite the rain, the monkeys came alive when we arrived at the hotel. A huge monkey walked right into our room and grabbed Zoie’s cracker box and walked back out. We laughed so hard, but had no idea if they would attack us or keep their distance. The colorful monkeys were bold and brave grabbing food off our plates at breakfast, even stealing the sugar dish. We had a ball cheering the monkey’s on, even though they were a terrible nuisance to the wonderful staff armed with sling shots.

The sun came out on Saturday and the girls played in the (freezing) pool. We met four men from Saudi Arabia at dinner the night before who invited us to join them on a hippo boat ride. We were thrilled to set sail on a 2 hour ride to hunt down hippos!!! We passed near the Hawassa fishing docks and scattered fishermen. The mountains surrounding the lake were stunning. Everywhere we looked, the wildlife was straight out of an Animal Planet episode! I honestly thought it was a scam, but soon we were 10 feet away from a herd of hippo floating in the water munching on the tall grass. They were huge!!!!!! The boat driver kept reminding us to “balance” as we zipped from side to side taking photos! It felt like we were REALLY in Africa! We all felt a little nervous when the massive “King of the Lake” opened his mouth wide to disapprove of how close we were to his family. Our boat driver respected the hippo’s grumpiness as a sign to leave.

We serve God best as passion-filled people. It’s so important for our family to love big and serve the needs of the people here as missionaries, but we also need to take time as a family to just have fun. “ The thiefs purpose is to kill, steal, and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.” (John 10:10) Satan’s attempt to drain our energy during our mission-adventure in Ethiopia is the real deal. God wants us to live life to the fullest with joy, passion, and zest!!! I’m thankful for the reminder in Awassa that God loves His beauty. He loves to brag. He created the hippos and the beautiful sunset we enjoyed each night resting behind the mountains. Our mini holiday re-energized our family to go back and face the day to day challenges on the mission field. He is the Life Giver.

The remainder of our time in Awassa was amazing … we met up with our friends Sammy, Boomsie, and Jael who spoiled us at the incredible Jamaican family-style restaurant, One Love and spending time worshipping on Sunday under a straw hut canopy near the lake!! We are thankful for the time we had enjoying God’s nature and fellowship at Hotel Lewi.

Lord, help me to live each day with passion, for in living well, I am humbly opening myself to the challenge to live dead.