Fun in the Sun

Fun in the Sun has been running over the Easter weekend for a number of years.  Organised by an American family, many of the missionaries around Jos head out to the Miango Rest Home (however that sounds, we're not all old and decrepit) on Maundy Thursday for a time of relaxation, fun and celebration of Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection. 

Coming from Britain we felt very much at home as several activities had to be rearranged because of the rain.  It’s taken quite a bit of getting used to the dry season as we’ve been able to plan outdoor activities secure in the knowledge that they won’t be rained off.  Now the rains are approaching and we’ve had two good thunderstorms already.  I enjoy the weather here, even when it rains it’s exciting, but driving along an unfamiliar “road” (more like a string of huge potholes joined by slivers of thin tarmac) in torrential rain, catching the lightning out of the corner of your eye and wondering if this really is the way to Miango as there are no road signs, is not the best way to start a weekend of fun in the sun.  

The good thing about the rain here is that it doesn’t usually last that long.  A lot of water falls in a short space of time then it’s over (unlike Scotland where it can and does frequently rain all day).  By teatime it was dry again and we could join the other families on the basketball court for some “beach” activities.  I discovered a hitherto unknown talent.  I can actually keep up a hula hoop for a reasonable length of time – sometimes I surprise even myself, even if as Fraser so kindly points out, I expend a lot more energy doing it than most of the children who make it seem effortless.  

Rain may have meant that the Good Friday service by the campfire was relocated to the fireplace in

View from Easter Sunday sunrise service

the lounge but climbing up Mount Sanderson to the sound of African birds at 6am on Easter Sunday was a great experience.

With films each night, hikes, plenty of friends for James and Ruth to go off with (we didn’t see much of them over the

Friday's walk

weekend) and someone else to cook the meals, it was a good break.  

The Miango Rest Home (MRH) was founded with the express intention of providing somewhere in-country for missionaries to rest, relax and recharge before heading back to their place of service.  Now it’s used by many Nigerians too and is in fact one of the honeymoon capitals of the country but it still fulfils its original purpose.