It's all about the bridge

The first cable stretches across the Yabus River - April 24, 2009
Securing the cable

Lots of good teamwork

These two crazy guys test out the first two cables

Two cables across the river! Praise the Lord!

During this past month we've been absorbed with the bridge work. With only 9 days left before Phil and his family fly out of Yabus, the guys are pushing hard, spending most daylight hours at the river. Consequently, the bridge is coming along beautifully, thanks to a great team of workers and Thomas Simon, Stephen Adamu, and Phil Greene, three of our SIM teammates.

Over the weekend they secured two of the four cables. As of today, the third is in place. I can't express how exciting it is to hang out at the bridge site taking pictures and finally get a good idea of what this bridge will look like. Hopefully these pictures will give you an idea too.

KEEP PRAYING!

part of life

Bethany and I have a ritual. We figure out about how much time we will spend in Sudan for our next rotation (usually about 3 months) and then we go to the store in Nairobi. We buy things that we'll need during those three months and then we bring them home. A large fight then ensues. Since we are limited to 30 Kg per person, we have to weigh each item going with us. Are Q-tips or shampoo more important? Too much of one item and not enough of the other and you might have a problem. Is Bethany's umbrella or my soccer cleats more important? Well, you get the picture. It is usually a pretty good fight.

Now as hard as we try to pack well, sometimes we don't pack enough of an item. While sometimes we run out of something benign like chocolate drink mix, this time it is serious. I ran out of deodarant. We have 2 weeks until we leave Sudan and I am working long, hard, hot days on the bridge. Bethany has some extra deodarant but can I go down to the bridge smelling like flowers??? Certainly not. That is, until she forces me to sleep in another room.

Progress at Unity Bridge

Phil and Eli continue to work hard. The best news of the week was that they finally chipped and hammered and burned enough of the huge stubborn rock to put the deadman anchor in on one side. So the work is moving quickly now. Today they poured concrete into the second anchor. They're such a great team. Even though they work long hours in the hot scorching Sudan sun, they manage to stay positive and keep smiles on their faces. (Written by a very proud wife.)

Bridge work forges ahead

Eli and Phil have been working hard these past three weeks. We have had multiple draw backs and road blocks but we remind ourselves that this is God's bridge and its construction is on his timetable not ours. Please pray that a large crew of 25 will show up for work tomorrow and that PHil and Eli will take care of themselves as they work long hours in the 100 degree heat everyday.

A sweet season of my life

I still can’t believe Emily Greene, one of my best friends ever, lives in Yabus with me right now. We’ve been close friends since high school in Kenya and no matter where we live or what’s going on in our lives, we've shared it with each other.

The best part of her being here is that she can see and experience my life in Sudan for herself. And nowwe’re living our lives side by side. Four days a week we do preschool together for all the kids (see picture above.) This morning Emily and I sat in the shade and sung in harmony like we always used to do, while our kids played.
As many of you can guess, living in such a hot and rural part of Africa is not easy. Yet Emily and her family have adjusted beautifully and smoothly. They’ve been here almost 2 weeks. Phil and Eli go to work on the bridge every morning and Emily and I hold down the fort back home with our kids. I’ve been so encouraged by the sacrifice Phil and Emily have made to come spend two months in Yabus with us to help finish the Unity Bridge. But Phil isn’t the only one in ministry here. Emily has encouraged and blessed me immensely since she’s been here. She has observed my roles here and affirms that God is using me in special ways too. That is a huge comfort.
I have had many lonely times since coming to Yabus, but am currently soaking up this precious time with Emily.

Pool parties at our house!

Baptism in Belatuma

On Sunday the Uduk church in Belatuma, a village an hour drive from Yabus, baptized 217 Christians!!! What an exciting time to watch so many people commit to follow and obey Christ with their lives.

Here the people are lining up for their turn to be baptized. There were 24 church leaders baptizing at the same time.

Evan's 3rd birthday

Tuesday was Evan's birthday. He had such a fun day. At breakfast we sang to him and he opened a small gift. At lunch we stuck a candle in his rice and sang again. Throughout the day friends dropped by to give him candy or some type of gift. After supper we ate chocolate cake and he opened a few gifts from our team and family. Evan is such a big kid now. I can't believe how much he's grown up!

A great day in Yabus!

It was a wonderful day today. We welcomed the Greenes who patiently have gone through two weeks of traveling in order to get here. Their plane was cancelled on the runway in Kenya to bring them up North so they spent a couple extra days in Nairobi and finally arrived today. It was a busy time but I believe they are almost moved in. Bethany has been fighting strep throat for the last few days and is currently bed-ridden. She has slept the full day and is still tired. I get stares from both Sudanese men and women as I carry Josh on my back around the compound. It takes a ton of energy to do what Bethany does. After only a couple of days I am ready for her to be better ASAP.
Along with the Greenes came a roll of the most beautiful cable I have ever seen. It took five of us to unload it from the plane into the truck and then a few more to unload it from the truck to the ground but 1 of 4 rolls now lies on Sudanese soil. We need these four rolls ASAP to finish the bridge. Mmmm, how I love logistics in Africa.
Just wanted to quickly update you all on what/how the Fader fam in Sudan is doing.
Please pray for a speedy recovery for Bethany as the survival of all the Fader boys hinges upon it.
- Eli

The Latest News

Many of you may be wondering how the ICC’s arrest warrant for the President of Sudan has affected our lives. In many ways, we are so isolated that there is little to no affect on our daily lives and we are continuing to work as normal. We are safe and never feel threatened by the people of Yabus. However, please continue to pray for peace and unity for Sudan.
-The Faders

Animal lover

I just had to post this picture of Evan with the puppy. Our neighbor's dog had puppies and Isaac and Evan have each picked one they want. They're only a few weeks old and their eyes just opened.

A peak into Bethany's heart

Do you ever wonder why you feel the way you do? As a mom of three little boys who focuses most of my time in the home, during our first two years in Sudan, I've struggled at times with feeling like I'm not doing enough. Like I should be doing more.
This week I've finally realized how serious this lie is. Obviously Satan wants to cripple me and he knows exactly how to get at me. But once I recognize these feelings/thoughts aren't true, I need to replace them with truth. I'm so thankful that God has opened my eyes this week to show me how He's using me. Not to boost my pride or pat me on the back, but to confirm in my heart, my purpose for being here in Yabus, Sudan.
Just in the past 2 days I've:
- helped care for a sick teammate
- deepened relationships by going visiting, sitting drinking tea and coffee together
- gave medicine to several sick children
- last but not least, had the opportunity to talk about heaven with my boys and Praise (our teammate's son.) Afterward, Praise prayed and asked Jesus to help them get to heaven.

I still can't believe God chose me to come to Sudan. It's such a privledge. My prayer and desire is that each day I'll only do what God wants me to do and nothing more or less.

Party at the river

At 5 pm we all piled in the truck to head to the river where the boat used to be. The river's gone so far down that there's a huge sand bar, perfect for playing beach volleyball and soccer. Soon the game headed into the water and everyone was splashing around in the water. We drew quite a crowd but many who were down at the river washing clothes and bathing, joined in the fun. Everyone had a great time.

I forgot to bring towels but this sheet worked just fine to warm them up afterwards.

New "Pampering" ministry

I've wanted to introduce you to my special friend and colleague, Victoria Adamu. She's from Nigeria and has become like a sister in a short time. Together, as the two moms on our team, we've started a prayer ministry, praying together three times a week. And lately we began another new ministry which we're calling "Pampering Ministry."

A few weeks ago we had a team of six come from the States. They brought at least a dozen bottles of nail polish of all different colors. We started taking them along when we went visiting and the women LOVE getting their toes and fingernails done.

When the team left last week, they left us all their nail polish. So yesterday and today, when it finally starts to cool down in the late afternoon, we get our five kids together and venture off in a new direction. We've already made new friends and the nail polish is always a big hit! Who ever knew that nail polish could be a way to open doors to new friendships and a venue to show our love and God's love?

Can you tell who else gets a lot of love?

I woke up this morning and in a rare moment of actually saying the right thing at the right time, the first words out of my mouth were, “Happy Valentine’s Day, Babe!” I was going to take a light day. I would run down and check on the bridge work and then come back and hopefully get to spend some time as a family. As I was loading up the quad bike to take some cement down, a metal digging bar slipped off the bike and slashed my foot open. The cut went deep and soon the appropriate Valentine’s color was flowing. I quickly went back to the house and assessed the damage with Bethany. In the end, we hopped in the pick-up truck and went to the GOAL clinic in town and got stitched up. Now this was not necessarily the most romantic thing we have done together but what can one expect in Sudan? Happy Valentine’s Day.

Team Picture February 2009

We hiked up to one of the large Granite stones in our area and took this team photo.
From Left to Right: Thomas Amrein (Switzerland), Asule Pangomi (India), Steven Adamu (Nigeria), Canberra Marak (India), Joshua Fader (USA), Bethany Fader (USA), Eli Fader (USA), Victoria Adamu (Nigeria), Hallelujah Adamu (Nigeria), Front: Evan Fader (USA), Praise Adamu (Nigeria), Isaac Fader (USA). Not pictured: Phalice VanderPol (USA)

Make Way!

I am not sure how Evan convinced Isaac and Praise (son of SIM Nigerian Missionaries) to parade him around but they all seemed to be enjoying it. We have a donkey cart which we rarely use so the boys have taken it as their own.

Watch Out Sudan!!!

It was only a matter of time before the primal roar, gripping power, exhilarating speed, and macho presence of our quad-bike lured Bethany in. We now have a new quad-bike driver. Watch out Sudan, she’ll be coming your way soon. She, of course, is a very careful driver.

Amana's growing

It's been a few months since I've given an update about baby Amana. For those of you who don't know Amana, he is a 7 month old orphan boy. About four months ago, Haua, his caregiver came asking for help and we were able to start feeding him formula every time she brought him to the compound. The first time I saw him he had red hair - a sign of malnutrition - and measles. But today he looked so good. He gulped down a full 8 ounces of formula and I sent more home with him. I also gave him some new clothes. This outfit he's wearing in the picture I gave him months ago but I don't think it gets washed much. Thank you to all of you who've been praying for him.

Homeschooling is fun!

As we're settling back into life in Yabus, I've started doing preschool with Isaac and Evan again. They get so excited about sitting down with their special pencils at their blue table and for about 45 minutes we practice our ABC's and numbers. Joshua sits nearby and plays on a blanket.

I'd like to introduce you to Emily

6 weeks ago, Zephaniah our guard asked if he could be excused from work to take his wife to the clinic in town to have her baby since she was in labor. Of course we agreed. 10 minutes later he returned saying it was too late and she'd already given birth at home. This was a shock to me, not because the labor was so quick but because Fatna, his wife, is a friend of mine and I'd never even noticed she was pregnant! You're asking me, how does that happen? I have no clue!

The next morning when I asked Zephaniah how Fatna and the baby were doing, he said fine and that he wanted me to give the baby a name. She was a perfect little girl. I felt so honored and took a few days to think about it. I've always wanted to have a daughter to name Emily after one of my close friends. Seeing as I've had all boys, I haven't had the chance. But now I've finally named a little girl Emily in honor of my sweet friend Emily Greene. Emily's parents are proud that she's the only Emily in Yabus. Just last Sunday they dedicated her to the Lord in church and formally gave her the name.