SIM Ethiopia has 150 missionaries plus spouses and children. Lots and lots of children. (I almost feel guilty at only having had four). These folks, plus several hundred Ethiopian employees and their families, are my patients. How to get to know them? Go on a five day residential conference and all get into a swimming pool together, on New Year's Eve. We knew before we arrived here that there was pretty much a three line whip for attendance at the biennial "Spiritual Life Conference" (SLC) from 30th December to 3rd January at a "resort" 120 km (that's 2-3 hours drive) south east of Addis.