Back at the Hall of Justice...

Adjusting back into the states "life" has had its challenges, even after only a few weeks away. But, alas, we have made some significant strides and are on our way to "normal-hood". With that, the obligatory Birthday costume party with some supporter friends. And of course, what else is there to dress up as when everyone else is a popular Superhero Friend (Superman, WonderWoman, Batman)? Well, obviously, the less famous (relatively unknown, really) YET much adored Superfriends-- THE WONDER TWINS. We were lucky enough to score most of these priceless pieces at Walmart, Value Village and Goodwill... and with a little Soboll creativity- TADAAAA- E & J Wonder Twins!! Note: Eddy is wearing entirely women's clothing- boots, power belt, purple jumpsuit... good times.

Adjusting and planning...

Well, go back to Africa means that we have to do some work here. We still waiting about the green card and we have to support raise a little. We are having some important meetings here about a home front for us. We are talking to people and our lideres about what to do.
Adjusting has been a challenge... Africa still in our hearts and we know that God has the right timing and this is the time to be here but not just in body but our hearts and mind.
We know that this is the year of release, the seventh year of the 2000 and Deuteronomy 15 talks about that. Please Lord release us from anything that is making us slaves of this World or Sin and release us to your destiny!!!
Blessings....

Salem again...

We are back in Salem!! We got in on Monday afternoon after 18 hours of flights. We are pretty much tired from the trip and with the 10 hours of timing change we have to re adapt. Leave Sudan was hard we felt like we are leaving behind our home to a world that we don't belong anymore. We loved this six weeks that we spent in the Capital the people, the vision, the passion, God moving and the reality of making differnece in a Country that is desperate for help and Hope.
Now we are unpacking our house and getting ready to start this new season, prepare to go again, moving to Sudan.

Going home...

This is our last one from Africa, we are heading back to the Sates tomorrow. Our hearts are broken, our minds are asking:"why to leave??" and the feelings are that we are leaving home to a different place!! WE LOVE HERE!!!
Today we had a amazing meeting about opportunities to Jess to work.. Seems promising!!Encouraging for both of us!! We are going to the last time to the Market to buy our last stuffs on the list and go visit a friend. We have to clean our home, the owners are coming tomorrow, so we will give them their house back clean!!
The pics are from the habub that happened here last April, unbelievable huh???Are you ready for this??

Internet Relief!

The air conditioner is whirring behind me, blowing cool air on my back as I write this quick update... A needed respit with temperatures pushing 110 outside. The city seems considerably quieter now that Ramadan is well underway. No eating or drinking from sun up to sun down, not even swallowing your saliva(hence the incessant spitting). Most of the souqs (markets) are layden with men lying haphazardly on any surface, fighting off heacdaches and fatigue- evidence of their fasting.

We must plan our days ahead of time as public transport CEASES from 6-8pm ( Time to eat!). It's great if you have a car as there are then NONE on the road making commutes a dream. For those of us without, if we don't make the bus at 4-5pm to return home, we won't make it back there until after 9pm. So it is now 5:05 pm... we have to catch our bus now, or it's going to be a late night with lots of tea drinking at the muhata (bus station)...

We'll miss this place-- home on the 23rd!

At the Pool

Another warm day in the city... and we gleefully accepted an invitation from some ex-pat friend's for a visit to their private club with a swimming pool. I had heard rumors of women being able to swim, only to have my hopes dashed when our friends said they changed that a few months ago. Nevertheless, Eddy could at least enjoy it! And I could sit in the garden by the Nile. A short walk in the sweltering heat and before long we were seemingly transported into an almost classy hotel/club. Although there was just enough garbage and delapitated buildings to remind you of where you really were. And as we got settled the true reality of where we were set in... Our friend, a female, wandered into the swimming pool area to assist her son with his goggles. Quickly a guard came out of one of the said buildings and politely explained... "This club is now run under Islamic law. No women are allowed near the pool. You must leave this area immediately." Aside from her 4 boys, no one else was there. She was completely clothed and had come to the pool to help her son.

Public Transport

We went to our nearby muhata (bus station) in Souq (market) Bahry (suburb)... found the right bus: the drivers wait, their buses lined up down the street for about a half mile; the doorman to the bus stands outside and yells as fast as he can the name of the buses destination... ie: Bahry,bahry,bahry,bahry... making an almost undefinable noise... and with about 100 buses with different destinations--well, the place isn't quiet! No problem... Returning home to Bahry, however, was an educational process for us. Standing on a busy street, multiple lanes of cars and buses... we couldn't tell where the buses were headed. So we proceeded to stop EVERY bus we saw, made sense, which was A LOT. Then we would yell--as they yelled their destination, really fast, almost unintelligibly--our destination right back... About the 10th bus someone explained, a la charades, that each destination has a hand signal that the doorman waves out the window as he drives by... Wave one way- across town, another way- across the river, point down- downtown, etc. All that to say, how funny it must be to see 2 kawajas (foreigners) frantically yelling and waving at buses... good times!

Bye-Bye!!

We wished Mom well on her flight back to the states, along with friend Candyce... What a pleasure it was to be here with a team and with family! The locals yelling "ma-ma" aside from the usual "kawaja" (foreigner). Here are a few pictures. We've moved out of our original "hotel" and are staying in a guest room next to a friends house. It's pretty basic, but it's cheap! We are working on our visas, which need to be extended and starting to research more for when we return here next year. Eddy had the privilege of preaching last Sunday at a refugee pentecostal church. We're excited to be on our own for a bit and see how we do here! God is good!

Colors of Sudan!!

What about some internal healing in our team??? Jes's Mom always love to paint. Many classes and learned alot about colors, drawing and lots about painting. After the divorce, five years ago, she stopped painting. Here in Sudan, the color are from the fruit stands and ladies with their colorful clothes. Few days ago, Mom set in the porch of our flat and painted the bus station and Market. Water color!! What a cool view om a artistic prospective. Today we went out to the market and Mom and Jess painted few fruit stands. She told us she lost this five years ago. She love it but just didn't have the desire anymore. She is healed!!! Was so much fun to sit few ours and see in a piece of paper the colors of Sudan!!! People surrounded us and lots of smiles and encouragement about what they were doing!!! Praise the Lord!!! To finished her time here in Sudan, today during the closing of the Staff Conference, the leader of YWAM Sudan washed the feet of the internationals!! Mom cried and still touched about in..."no one ever washed my feet before!!!" she says!! Blessings!!

Some pics...

Not always, but today we could update some pics!! Mom, Us and Marlin!!!Thanks for your prayers!!!

Port Sudan!!!120F

We are just back from Port Sudan!!! We were there for a short time but so worth it!! We had time to be with the tribe that we want to work with and God was so faithful to show us the way and the people! We were welcome everywhere and we could talk to a director of the hospital of the people group!! We went south to Suakin where is the port that takes pilgrims to Mecca!! What a great time of prayer!!! There was very hot, around 120 F!!!We came back to Khartoum and visited two refugies camp, ministrying the children and praying for the sick. In one of the camps more than 100 thousand people are living there in so bad conditions. no water, no eletricity and nothing to do!! In the bus coming back to our flat, the question comes to our minds: why are we going back??? Hard ground but fruitful! This week is the YWAM Staff Conference. YWAMers coming from Darfur, South and Khartoum will be here. Will be a great time to see some old friends.
We are ready finding our ground here, we don't want to go back to the States!
Sorry for no pics yet, we will place some as soon as we can!!Blessings!!!

Africa...

As the plane rolled to a stop, we could see the damp tarmack beneath us. The Muslim woman sitting next to me had talked about the start of the rainy season- lowering temperatures in the city, making life a little more pleasant. We gathered all are belongings, including my well loved pillow, and made our way down the steps and onto buses. Huge swarms of large moths were gathered around the lights and in the buses, kids playing and dodging them as we drove to the arrival area. Although cooler than we had remember, the warm moist air seemed to cling to our skin. We glanced at eachother and the overwhelming reality sunk in... we had made it to Africa.

As I write this I can hear the Islamic prayers echoing through the houses around us. Our visas were issued, our bags weighing over 400lbs were searched, and we walked out of the Airport with absolutely everything we came with and not a penny extra spent on fees. We spent today resting a bit and fellowshipping with some good friends. We are headed into town now, still needing to confirm our lodging and firm up some plans... while we'd love to jump into things and get going... we have to remember and respect that this is Africa.

Pyramids...

Well, the longer part of out trip is done, we are safe in Kairo with all our bags and stuffs, everything worked fine!!! God is GOD!!! Long flight but so good to feel that we are getting closer to the dream. On Friday, early morning we are leaving to Sudan!!! Please, pray for our safety and with the customs and all the airport stuff!!
Blessings!!!!!!

Visas...

God is faithful, our visas came today!!! We ready copy them and we are on the way to Africa. The doors for the country are shot and no one can come in now as tourist and we are coming in!!! praise the Lord!!!
We are doing good, little stressed but alive.
Thank you for your prayers!!!

Mr. Davidson...

Wow, volunteers riding Harley??? Well, this time was Jess's Dad that came visit us. Buck, Rick and Jay came from Hawaii to see us in Salem with their Harley's. They've been traveling in Oregon and stopped by for a day or so. So good to see them and see that they are seeing so many things that reflect the Glory of the Lord in this beautiful State.
Our days are going fast in this last stretch before leaving to Africa... if you don't know where in Africa, let us know!!! We are preaching this week twice to a camp with junior high and high schoolers from Dallas, OR. What a great time to invest in teens lifes about missions and tell them what God is doing in our life's!! We spoke in our Church today and was amazing!!! So good to see that we have another church that wants to partner with us in this, not only a church, but we have been seeing that this trip and our lifes are bringing people closer to God. People are committed in praying for us, OR, WY, MN, WI and Eddy's church in Curitiba are with us. So good to feel that God put us all together for the same purpose!!! The body of Christ comes together to is reaching out the lost and the needy... Thank you our family in Christ, thank you for our families in Brazil and Hawaii that are totally in support in this, and believing on the calling that God put in our hearts!
Please, pray for our visas, the Government just changed the rules few weeks ago and no Tourist visas are being process anymore!! Our visas are in the process but we don't know what can happen now!!! We are going!!!
We have all the money that we need to get there, just the few things that we need to bring with us still needed but God is faithful!!!
Thanks Dad for your visit!!!

Back "Home" in Salem, OR

We are back in Salem after a 5-week road trip. What an incredible time of BLESSING! Such generosity!! So good to see friends! How faithful is our God! Here are a few pictures from the last part of our trip and our summer newsletter... Jeff and Heather in Minneapolis... The Nicholson's in WY... Bar-b-queing... We will be here in Salem 2 weeks and then we leave for Africa.

SOME WAVES...

In Wyoming we had time to see some friends and do some of the old tradition... water skiing!!! Water temperature around high 40's and lots of wind..not to good, but we did it!!!
We left to Wisconsin on the 5th and we spend four days with Johnstons. They are our supporters and intercessors. We went to lake Michigan, the Lake of blue waters. We spoke last Sun, on the 8th at the Brillion Community Church and was great!! What a Church with a Mission focus, a little community that know about the great commission and what to obey the call!!! Thank you Pastor Ken!
After spend those days in Hilbert we went to Mineral Point, this southern Wisconsin historical town. What a cool place. There we visited Jess' good friend Michelle. Cool time to see a new ministry, the Big House for youth in town. Mich and her Dad take care of the Ministry. Mich wants to start some ministry related to well digging in Sudan. We will be searching that in our August trip to Sudan. back in Minneapolis, we will stay here another week.

Trees!?!

More photos...
We rescued more than 75 trees and plants from the landfill.











Here's the crew digging and planting 35 trees!
Since we're just outside city limits- fireworks every night : )
Our dear friend Matt and Eddy get comfy at the kids table while visiting Western Frontiers YWAM base in Meteetsee, WY.

On the Road again... with Photos!

A few pics for your viewing pleasure : )
Our Welcome night at YWAM Salem- Eddy sporting Nigerian clothes, Jess in traditional Sudanese garb and Gunter,Eddy's Dad, Egyptian. (We were asked to bring an ethnic meal... Sudanese, Brazilian, Hawaiian... Sushi it is!)
Eddy and Gunter in Bush Park, Salem, OR.












On the Road- midway through Idaho.
Cody, WY... Home of Buffalo Bill, the Cody Rodeo, and Jeddy Team Geocachers!

On the road again!

WYOMING! Our roadtrip is underway and we're at our first pit stop- Cody, WY. We're staying with some of Eddy's friends, they have a large fifth wheel we now call home- for the week. We're keeping busy with their 5 kids, serving around their house and reconnecting with old friends. We'll post some photos soon of our time. Eddy's dad, Gunter, is here as well and he'll be staying in WY for a month. It's been fun seeing Eddy in his old stompin' ground and hearing testimonies from his time of ministering here from 2000-2003... the fruit continues!! I'm holidng out for a night at the Cody Rodeo, where Eddy spent every night of the summer praying and ministering to cowboys-- I'll have to russel up some high waisted wranglers and boots... I'm afraid flip flops and capris just won't do it.

The Evasive Green Card...

We arrived 30 minutes early, dressed appropriately and ready for any degree of questioning... Paid for almost 2 hours of parking- you never know how long things will take with the government! And... after about 15 minutes we were unlocking our car to head home- well spent parking money- argh... Eddy wrote down some info, gave his fingerprints and took some photos; that's it. Now we wait- best case scenario: They send us a green card- hip,hip, hooray!! Worst case: Within the next 2 months we have an interview. All in all however, the process has gone incredibly smoothly and quickly and we only expect that it will continue in the same manner. We praise God for the way that he has provided and taken care of us! Africa is still very much a go, now we start the visa process and roadtrip.

PHOTOS: Uncle Eddy and Auntie Jess taking care of our little nephew, Lakin, in Southern CA... Who knew a kid could eat so many? Truly frightening when he still wears daipers...

Truckin' Along...

Happy June! This month holds big events for the Soboll's! The 6th: Green Card Interview... The 14th: Eddy's dad, Gunter, arrives in Portland... The 16th: Start of our 1 month+ roadtrip to WY, MN, WI and CO... The 25th: Jess turns a whopping 33... whew!!! And around the middle of the month we apply for our visas to Sudan- please pray for favor! And on the homefront, our YWAM base here in Salem, OR seems to be bursting at the seems- three schools are starting this week, bringing in over 75 new people- doubling are current numbers! It's been an exciting time of preparation and expansion... More people being trained for the nations!


We encourage you to take a look at the Sudan Tribune website to keep up to date on what's been happening in the international community regarding Sudan... sanctions by the US, denial of genocide by the Sudanese government, and China's questionable economic investments. We also finally sat down and watched "invisible Children"- an incredibly powerful and painful documentary about the child soldiers in Northern Uganda, most of whom are Sudanese refugees... abducted from their villages and forced to participate in the rebellion. We hope that by becoming more informed, we will all be moved to action!

On a more personal note... We hosted 2 YWAMers from Brazil for a few days, Eddy's former leader, Wellington Oliveira, and his co-worker Gustavo. Most consumer products are cheeper here, so we spent most days going to goodwill, garage sales and computer stores... I (Jess) had a pretty good time... Eddy tolerated it...! Memorial day turned into hiking at a state park- 12 miles and 10 waterfalls later, we were reminded of just how fortunate we are to live here! Our good friend and possible Sudan Photographer, Ryan, joined us for the romp.

And on a more spiritual level... "His power is made perfect in weakness"... What are our weaknesses and how do we respond when they are highlighted? Weaknesses aren't necessarily sins-- rather dis-abilities, inherited shortcomings/personality traits, etc. What are we doing to allow God to prevail in our lives during these times of frustration, struggle or resignation, when our weaknesses seam to be in control? As they say... Life is 1% what happens to us and 99% how we react to it. We're both definitely still learning and ruminating about this...!

Revelations...

We just got back from California. We were in San Diego house keeping/baby sitting Jes's little cousins. Fun time with a 2/half and 8 months old. Jes's Mom was there too. We drove down , was the first trip with our new car making 37 miles/gallon, what a great deal!!!
We had this last week another revelation, this time about marriage. Adjusting has been a great/cool/hard/painful season. Just to see and realize who we are and that we can not hide anymore is not easy. So when the disagreement heaped , we can't look for the fact but for the opportunity. A new opportunity to reconciliation. Same when we sin, not just take us away from God but He expects the reconciliation. Now, we are getting ready to go to Sudan, a place where reconciliation is huge. War for over 21 years, over 100 different tribes and the biggest genocide on the Earth today. so the little part the is happening with us now is the biggest part that will heapend in Sudan in the near future through our life too!! To confirm that, today one of the staff here at YWAM came to us during worship time and told us that God is telling us that this time of our life's is the time that will reflect in Sudan, reconciliation now is the lesson and will be apply in Sudan in the near future. praise the Lord!

The Beginning...

Well, just look at others doesn't help, we have to have our own!! So this will be our Blog, starting today, We will try to update this on the weekly bases. Where we go, new revelations, what's happening and all that good stuff!!
Jess and Eddy will be sharing a life that only the one on top can teach, THE MARRIED LIFE.

Just a start. Yesterday we had this cool revelation after church. On the first miracle performed by Jesus (water in wine Jo 2), we see that Mary tells Jesus that the wine is running out, and Jesus reply that He's time has not come yet... So Mary say to the servants to do whatever Jesus ask them too. A little further on the same "wedding" the wine runs out and Jesus perform the miracle of transforming water in wine. The guest reply that they never saw the best wine being left for the end of a party...
now, the wine represents the blood of Jesus... (I Co 11). We are living this blood right now but is not the best one yet!!! How much have we drank or tasted of He's blood and how much we really want from the new one!!
Hang on there... Mary tells Jesus about the wine and why He responds that He's time has not come yet???? Jesus is thinking that Mary is telling Him to go to the cross... was a prophecy? Yes was and He say that the blood that the people is living is not as good as the blood that he is going to pour on the cross for you and me, "the better wine". And she tells again to the servants to obey Him, prophecy again? YES, she didn't know what He could do, He never did anything like that before. Now, the water the He transformed was a cleansing jars. The water that the jews used for the cleaning on the sacrifice is transformed in wine... so no more the old sacrifice but, my blood!