What not to bring

I was looking through some old photos and had to post this one. Often items get sent as gifts with great intentions but land in the wrong place. A ski-mask in Sudan makes about as much sense as spinach to our four year old, Isaac. "What AM I suppossed to do with this?" After explaining to Abdul, who is a great student, how to put the mask on and explaining why one would wear it, I snapped this photo. We laughed and went our ways. I am not sure what he decided to do with it.

Keepin' Busy

Part of what has been occupying my time while in Kenya has been renovating our office. Our team in Sudan has grown from 7 missionaries in 2004 to over 50 missionaries in 2008. The office, needless to say, needed to be expanded. We converted a bathroom into an office, tore out some walls, put internet and power lines in, and painted. I hope it serves the growing needs of both office staff and missionaries. Here is the freshly removed bathtub from the future office.

Weekend family fun

Yabus' flooding river

This is the time of year in Yabus when the river level rises so high that it even floods the old bridge (which is why it's so important we build the new one). One of our teammates rebuilt the pontoon boat we used for crossing the river last year and it's helping transport children to/from school, help people and their goods get to market, and for any medical needs. Please keep praying for more funds to come in for the bridge project as it is such a GREAT need.

Also visit our bridge blog: http://www.yabusbridge.blogspot.com/.

News from Yabus

Our dear friend and teammate, Katie Montgomery, returned to Nairobi from Yabus yesterday. She came over for dinner last night and came to visit again this morning. We've so enjoyed hearing news and stories from Yabus. Katie also brought many pictures and video clips of friends greeting us and sending their love. It was so encouraging to be reminded of our Sudanese friends who miss us and are waiting for our return.

We are now more eager than ever to get home, but also know how to pray more specifically for our colleagues and friends in Yabus. This is a picture of one of our neighbor friends enjoying the picture album we sent with pictures of baby Joshua so our friends there could see our newest addition. You can tell they love him already!

Joshua's paperwork moving right along!

We spent most of Tuesday at the Embassy applying for Josh's passport and social security card. They did tell us that if we wanted his middle name to be Daniel instead of Danzel, we would need to get his birth certificate ammended. Otherwise his middle name would be printed as Danzel on all official documents. We didn't want that.
So yesterday, Wednesday, Eli set off once again for the Sheria House thinking it might take another 5 visits to get the birth certificate fixed. But he came home later in the afternoon beaming because it had been done in ONE day! Yay!
Today Eli went to the Embassy once again to turn in the new, revised birth certificate and thankfully didn't have to wait as long as we did on Tuesday. However, now we've been told that the passport picture we had will not work and we need to get a new one. So this afternoon when all three boys are up from their naps, we'll trek down to the photo place to try one more time. The joys of having children abroad!

Getting the Birth Certificate

As part of our adventures in Africa comes the necessary paperwork that must be obtained. I have spent the last two weeks in a couple locations downtown Nairobi, getting a Birth Certificate for Joshua Daniel. It was a new adventure so I didn't mind the matatu rides (local buses) downtown or the fact that it took five trips to get the needed document. It was a good experience as I went from counter to counter, filled out paper after paper, explaining and bargaining so that I could get 6 Birth certificates. Other missionaries have encouraged us to get multiple copies at the start so we don't have to go back later. All went well and I actually enjoyed the experience but I believe the adventure has just begun. As I rode home on the matatu and pulled out the completed copies of Joshua's offical Birth Certificate, I noticed they have written his name as "Joshua Danzel" instead of "Joshua Daniel". Is it worth another five trips to fix it? I suddenly like the name Danzel.

We're enjoying our three precious boys!

Enjoying Baby Joshua

Joshua Daniel Fader

Please enjoy our newest addition to the family. He is a healthy 8lbs and 6oz and sleeping very well. Bethany is healing well and resting. He was born at 6:30pm on July 10.

Precious time with Grandma "Mimo"

The whole Sorensen family is together! Bethany's mom flew in on Sunday and the rest of the family arrived on Tuesday. These rare times of being together as a family are so precious and special, so we are enjoying every minute. The boys have been thrilled to have so much attention as you can see in the pictures.

Alumni Rugby game

We spent last weekend at our old high school, Rift Valley Academy, where Eli and I met. It was Alumni Weekend so we got to see old friends, went to a lovely banquet, and Eli got to play in the big rugby game. It was a huge highlight of the month for him. He played great and somehow made it off the field with only a few minor scratches.

Fun in the pool

Today it was actually warm enough to head to the pool. The water was freezing but it didn't seem to bother Isaac much. He jumped right in and swam for a good 30 minutes before he got out with teeth chattering and goose bumps all over his body. It took Evan a little longer to get in, but he took the plunge too. Eli and I both stood as lifeguards but hoped we wouldn't have to dive in. I couldn't even dangle my feet in the water - it was that cold!

Fun at the playground

Playground photos

Today I took Isaac and Evan to a playground at a nearby shopping center and they had such a good time. They're sure missing their friends in Sudan. All the kids around here are still in school during the days so they get bored.

"Uncle Stan's" visit

My brother Stan came to spend the weekend with us. He's in 9th grade at Rift Valley Academy where Eli and I both graduated from high school. The school is only an hour away so he got a ride with someone on Friday and spent 2 days with us. We had a great time laughing, relaxing, eating lots of good food, and enjoying being together.

I'm always so thankful when we can see family since it's so rare. And I want Isaac and Evan to know their uncles, aunts, grandparents, etc. In two weeks my mom will fly in to Nairobi and my sister and dad will join us a few days later.

Back in Kenya

We are now in Nairobi, Kenya waiting for this new baby. Bethany is now 35 weeks pregnant and nearing the end of her pregnancy. We've had a smooth pregnancy so far and have about a month before his due date - July 13. We already miss our friends in Yabus and are sad that we'll be away for so long but we also trust that God has some neat things in store for us while we're in Kenya. We are enjoying the much cooler weather, great food, and Internet access. We are on Skype and our username is ebfader if you want to chat.

Eli's birthday on June 6th

My friend Hakima

This is my friend Hakima. She owns a little tea and coffee shop in town. Our friendship began the week we arrived in Yabus on our first trip to the market. We went to have tea and just "happened" to go to her shop. I started going to visit with her to practice my Arabic and very quickly a sweet friendship developed.

Look at the details in this picture. We're standing right outside our shop in town. Just notice the donkeys in the background and the lovely scenery with the mountains. The beauty of the place strikes me daily and I still can't believe we have the privilege of living and working in Sudan.