It's been awhile between posts but life has been hectic here with school holdiays! I know holidays are meant to be relaxing and a time to recharge your batteries, but with 4 children around they seem to be busier than term time. Not that I'm complaining...it has been lovely to be out of routine, have some sleep ins, and good times with the family!!
In the first week we still stayed here at SAH and had reading week. We tried to spend as much time as possible studying. I'm researching how to cope with living amongst poverty, and how this can impact any ministry people may have! Its a bit depressing reading about it all, but I think it will be really helpful, and hopefully reduce some of the shocks, living in Ethiopia and 3rd world conditions may bring.
Despite trying to read, we managed to still spend some time with Shane's parents who were visiting,go to the museum, find some playgrounds and do a few jigsaw puzzles, (which we typically discovered were missing pieces ).
In the second week we headed down to Phillip Island which we absolutely loved. We were reminded how much we will miss the beach, and spent everyday near the water.
We found a creek running into the ocean and built a bridge over it, and had boat races down it, then we spent hours searching rock pools for crabs, and of course Shane had a surf everyday, as his old body would allow. Nothing like a crash course in fitness!! I went for a 30 min 'jog/walk' one day that became over an hour when I got lost in the scrub bordering the ocean. I kept finding myself on cliff edges not being able to get down the beach, so I headed inland, and found myself in a paddock with a black bull!!! Didn't know I could speed walk til then!
We also managed to see the penguin parade which was outstanding!!!. Victor Harbor council should so get on board and help the few volunteers that try to keep Granite Island penguins going because little penguins are super cute, interesting and made us all laugh with their waddling!
We also went to a koala sanctuary which had the added interest of rangers climbing a gum tree 15m high to remove a koala from the enclosure.Apparantly the girl kb was becoming sexually active and her Dad was in the same enclosure. Try explaining that concept to your 4 and 6 year old!!! Finally we visited a farm and saw sheep shorn, the kids milked a cow, went on a horse wagon ride, watched sheep dog in action, and then tried cracking a whip - only Mum and Dad got to do the last one, and while Mum didn't make the crack, at least she didn't end up with the whip round her head and ears like Dad did!@!!!
The boys slept in a tent at the shack for a night, toasted marshmallows on a fire, and we played lots of card games. All in all it was a fantastic week and we felt refreshed to start the final 7 weeks here. Info about our final learning projects and courses will come in the next few weeks.
Enough from us for now.
Blessings to you all
Naomi, Shane and co.
