Yes, we are in the middle of the lake in a small white and red boat powering past beautiful islands.  It’s 9:25 a.m. and we just passed out iPods to our boat-mates who are listening to 70’s music and rocking out.  There is a metal canopy that keeps the sun off us.  This definitely is the fun boat with Scott, Rick and us.  Blue sky, green tree-covered islands, brown water.  The captain assured us that there are no crocodiles – only alligators and hippos.  We’re on our way tot he most distant monasteries on the island in the middle of the lake three hours away.  On the way back we’ll stop at a number of other monasteries and a convent.  Heidi is making this so much fun.  I don’t think many tourists/pilgrims have enjoyed their ride across the lake as much as we have.  Melia and Micah are a delight.

Norda Selassie was the fist stop about three and a half hours after our departure.  The circular seventeenth century church has some extraordinary paintings inside.  I have never seen anything like this in my life – the heavy stone pier, the short tower at the entrance, the lava rock steps and then through the gate to see this wonderful church with massive wooden doors each carved from single trees that grow on the island.  The paintings – especially of the holy family and Jesus instructing his disciples and the garden of Gethsemane seemed to speak to me.  There is no way to convey the comforting sense I felt as I stood and looked.  I could spend so much time with these beautiful faces, with the Virgin Mary whose eyes follow you around the church.

But now we are back on the boat again sharing our iPods with Uncle Scott who loves the crazy music and Hailu our guide/boat captain who is listening to Aster Aweke on my iPod.  Soon he tires of the Ethiopian music and asks to here something American.  He asked me if I understood the Ethiopian music.  I don’t know if I can understand any music.  That’s what I like about it.  The boat seems quiet with Uncle Rick napping and our music listeners.  What a perfect day!

Our party went in two boats.  We were in the faster boat.  Because of communications problems this was the last time we were together that day.  After another two hour boat ride – the iPod segment for Hailu and Scott, we arrived at Azwa Mariam.  A short walk took us through dense coffee plants and banyan trees to a little monastery.  Half an hour away walking is Ura k. mehiret.  We didn’t walk but rode our little boat there.  At both these two places the local children converged on us trying to sell souvenirs and asking us to mail them school supplies, etc.  I think more tourists visit these two places.

Our last stop was at a monastery that forbade any females from entering the gaes.  Heidi and the kids stayed at the heavy ancient docks and entertained the monks with their iPods as they watched the sunset.  The men in our group saw the church paintings and then visited the museum.  We saw ancient crowns, manuscripts, metal crosses, communion sets, icons, etc.  The monks were very kind to us.

We loved our time together on the lake and Norda Selassie.  It was a perfect, peaceful day.  We had a table Eucharist after supper.  Melia said she was grateful for all of our new friends.  Micah said he was grateful for the Lilly Grant and that I am a priest.  It was a great day.