February 12-14: Bishangari Resort with Selamta Boys, Mom & Bray

On Feb 12th, we took 7 kids age 8-18 (who lost their parents, live in a new family environment now at Selamta, and are sponsored by the Krusi-Beisswenger family and others from the US) to a rustic lake camp/resort. It was amazing!!! Many of the boys hadn’t ever really been far outside Addis, let alone the country. We rode horses and bikes (firsts for most of them), swam (a first for all of them, though some could do it by day 2!), talked, played cards, drank a lot of soda, built Lego vehicles, and visited the wildlife that is everywhere there. There were over 400 species around the lake (over 100 species of birds alone), including hippos, baboons, Colobus monkeys, warthogs (up to 180 lbs and 3.5 feet long), chameleons, camels, herons, swans, kingfishers, hornbills, and wild dogs, to name a few– not to mention tons of insects. The boys, the two Ethiopian volunteer friends, Tesfaye and Ismael (great driver) and the 3 Americans—me, Mom, and my mom’s friend and Selamta volunteer/sponsor, Bray Mitchell—had a fantastic, life-changing experience that none will soon forget. It was so good to be with them all, especially Mom. The boys sponsored by the (from youngest to eldest) Temesgen, Chernet, and Robel. Temesgen. Such a solid crew and so much fun was had by all!