In the Beginning, God...

This is an update received in a handwritten letter from corey dated 3/11/07:

The Bath: (essentials for skimmers)
We built a typical jungle house.
My health is improving.
I'm learning Quichua and shared the story of the Creation with the family in Puerto Arturo.

The Bubbles: (non-essentials)
Dear the Church,
It's really amazing to see the power of prayer at work through our God Who exists outside of time and space. Get this: God is all knowing so He knows the prayers ya'll are going to pray before ya'll pray them. Therefore, He doesn't need to wait until you pray to answer. I don't know how long these letters take to get through the 3rd world mail, to the USA, to North Carolina, to my family, to an electronic format, and sent finally to your inbox, but it probably takes weeks. Nevertheless, my prayer requests are being answered, often within the day i send them to ya'll! Example: Last time i asked for prayers concerning my declining health, namely my feet. After giving the letter to my boss to take to the post office, about 15 minutes had passed when a girl working with the Xtreme Team brought us some medical supplies, including bandages and creams for my feet! Within a few days my cuts had healed up without any infection and i can run again with the other men during our exercises, something i've not been able to do in weeks. That being said, be encouraged to pray all the more in faith, without doubt, as James 1 says, believing that the Lord has perhaps already answered your prayer!
The last couple of weeks an indigenous brother, Senor Manuel, came and lived among us. He taught us how to construct a large house completely out of trees and leaves we found. It's held together by ropes we made of vines and tree bark and sits a few feet off the ground on stilts. The 12 of us built this house together to serve as a common place to meet. "Manly" indigenous river communities have a "man-house" like this where the men meet. This week we started our own houses to sleep in. Much smaller than the "man-house", ours will sleep 4 men. When we were setting the poles for the foundation, i noticed we had not measured it. (We don't have tape measures or rulers.) After measuring the corners with a vine, i figured it to be out of square. I talked to my guys and explained the Pythagorean Theorem. They admitted it wasn't square, but then asked why it needed to be so. For the life of me, i couldn't think of a good reason. We're not going to plumb it or tile the floor. They were right. I tell you this so you can understand i must remove my cultural goggles that i've used to see the world for the last 23 years. I must do so in order to win more for the Gospel. (I Corinthians)
Alas, these 3 months of training are not all classroom, separated from the real world. As i said in the former update, i'll be going to the community of Puerto Arturo, an indigenous village accessible only by river. There's no electricity, cars, plumbing, or cookie dough ice cream. This particular weekend was special because we got to share our first story,The Creation. We share Bible stories orally, then ask questions. We don't share our opinions or thoughts. The Word is enough. This method equips the people not to be dependent on us, especially after they memorize the stories too. One day, Lord willing, we will move on and perhaps, not return. They will need to be an autonomous church, if a church at all. They will have to rely on the Word of God and the Holy Spirit alone.

Prayer Requests:
Pray for the salvation and discipleship of Angel, Arora (his wife), Segundo, Noe', Jaeme', and many others in Puerto Arturo who hear these stories. Pray Alex and i would be wise as we share, knowing when to speak and when to let the Spirit speak alone.
Pray continually as i study Quichua. I understand so little now.
Pray for my bowels again as i haven't had continued success in this area in 2 months. It's very frustrating and discouraging.

I love ya'll with all my being.
til the whole world hears,
corey reid pendergrass

KAVU

I also received this letter from Kori Wawa dated 3-4-07. Please print these off, read them, and pray for the Tigre Quichua people and the XTreme Team. ~Lena
Dear friends & foes,
There's too much good stuff to skim through. Please read. Wednesday, the 21st of February (i think), 12 men set out on a 16 mile hike with all the equipment they could carry to use for the next 3 months. They also carried a week's worth of food. Also, it was raining. I was among their number. We've been split up into 3 groups of 4 guys, mine named KAVU, an acronym of our names. (I spell my name with a "K" in Spanish.) Our destination: a plot of jungle left untamed thus far. It will be our home for the next 3 months as we are in this training period.
So far, we've been sleeping in tents & cooking by campfire. Living is simple but strenuous. By simple, i mean a group of 4 guys gets 50 soles of money to spend on food per week. That factors out to about $4.17 per person per week. Don't worry; food is super cheap down here. By strenuous, i mean hard on the body. Y'all already know about some of my injuries: a torn left ACL (which has given no trouble thanks to your prayers), a torn right rotator cuff (which doesn't hurt too often), & a broken right foot from years ago (which hurts daily). Add to your lists: a cut bottom right foot (thanks to a rock in the river while doing laundry), a cut bottom left foot (thanks to a nail in a board placed by mischievous children while doing laundry in another river), & countless cuts & blisters on my hands (thanks to my machete). One would think that camping out in the woods with 11 other guys, breathing testosterone, & swinging a machete all day would be every 10-year old boy's dream. But, then i remember these flying insects called mosquitoes that are so tough that half of them shake off & fly away after you smack them across your arm. I also had chiggers covering my legs for a few days. I usually wouldn't ask for prayers about cuts & bugs, but when you have nothing but a bottle of alcohol to treat them 'cause someone stole your first aid kit, healing is slow & painful. I am going to buy some stuff this week, Lord willing. But do not despair, Beloved. All is not lost! We got to go on a field trip, if you will, for 24 hours this week. We were sent out in groups of 2 to various communities. Alex, my partner & i went to Puerto Arturo. Lord willing, we'll return weekly to Arturo, a town of 30-some families on the Madre de Dios River, to share stories from the Bible we will memorize. With a Bible in one hand & a machete in the other, we arrived and announced, "We've come to do the Lord's bidding!" Just kidding! But we did carry a Bible and a machete (to work in their crops beside the people). We learned so much of their culture as we stayed with Señor Angél (pronounced On-hel) & his family of 11, including his grandchildren. They served us meat 3 times, something i had not tasted for two weeks! And they speak Quichua & Spanish. Since i'll be going in the future to the Tigre Quichua people, many of which speak Quichua only, i'll need to learn the language. Angél's family will be perfect for this. Praise God!
I love you,
†il the whole world hears,
corey reid pendergrass
(AKA. kori wawa)

Letter from Alex, fellow Xtremer with Corey in English & semi-Spanish

Also, Corey included a letter that Alex, his partner who was mentioned above & is of the Yene Tribe wrote to Corey's readers. This is Corey's translation from Alex's Spanish:
Brother: Alex Sebastian Caleb
For those: To my brothers from the United States:
I have the pleasure of sending this letter to my brothers that are in the United States to request a big favor from y'all. Well, I'm from Perú, from the department of Cuzco, but I'm living in the community of , and I'm 17 years old. Well, my parents are also Christians. And, for that, I want to serve my Lord well. I received Christ as my only Savior at 11 years old, giving my life to my Lord. Well, I'm going to be in training for 3 months to learn many things such as how to be a missionary and how to follow Christ. I want to learn many things from the Bible and many activities to do with the brothers I'm going to visit after my training. Well, after my training I want to visit communities to carry the Word of God and to encourage the pastors that I will visit. Well, this is my plan, but Dios [God] is in charge. Well, for that I want y'all to pray for me. Well, that's all.
Salutations to all brothers of the United States. Well, I want y'all to send me a reply with Brother Kori [that's corey in Spanish/Quechua] please.
Alex Sebastian Caleb
*If you would like to reply to Alex or send letters to other fellow missionaries of kori's, send letters (under 2lbs. & in envelope) with international postage (you can buy standard international letter postage for 84 cents/letter via US Postal Service) to:
corey reid pendergrass/missionary's 1st name
APDO 111
Puerto Maldonado, Perú


Alex's letter in español (as best as Lena can understand his penmanship):
Hermano: Alex Sebastian Caleb
Para los:
Amis hermanos de estados unidos:-T
engo el gusto de mandar está carta a mis hermanos que estan en los estados unidos para pedirles un fabor grande.
-Bueno soy del Peru del de Partamento Cuzco pero yo estoy bibiendo en la communidad de ???? y tengo 11 anos. Bueno mis padres tambien son cristiano.
Y pore so yo tambien ??? ser bor a uni Senor beuno yo ?esihi a cristo couro en undio slavado alos 11 anos entrque to du un vida a uni senor.
-Bueno boy estar en el entrewaunien durante 3 meses paia a pruender muchos cosas cuevo ser misrone ro y causo seguir a Cristo y quiero a prender muchascosa del la bilia y mucho actividades para acertes jugar a hi herman que les bey abvistar despus de mentre memiento.
Bueno despues del mi entrene uniento quiero visitor a las communidades para llezsar la palabia de dios y animatralos a los pastores qui way a visitor.
Bueno a para eso quiero que oxen por uni bueno ese esto todo.
Salides a todos heramanos de los hestados????
Bueno quiero me manden la respuesta con el hermano Kori por favor
Alex Sebastian Caleb

Write & pray for kori wawa's fellow missionaries

Dear Friends:

I just got this note from Corey. Pray for him!

Much love,

LGP

Dated 2/18/7

The seed, the soil, the sun, & the water (essentials for the skimmers):

The trip to Cuzco was wonderful, 22 hour bus ride. I got to bond with several of the Xtreme Team members.
I ask y'all to pray & write encouraging letters to the missionaries on the Xtreme Team. (*See below for directions).
I just learned that i'll be sent to the Tigre Quichua people group in northern Perú. Please continually keep them in your preayers. In understand almost all of them speak Spanish so i'll be learning the Quichua language as well. Time to pray!
The manure & fertilizer: (extras for the non-skimmers)

Dear rest of the Body,

In a previous update, i mentioned "aggravating rules" i was enduring here on the [Xtreme] Team. Please let me clarify that doesn't mean "bad". The Team's rules are often aggravating, but necessary at the same time. For example, we aren't allowed to go to the store or even walk around by ourselves. We must go as a group of 5. This can be very inconvenient (and aggravating), but is very necessary. Biblically, it gives us constant accountability, guarding us from temptation. Also, it helps build us as a team.

*Speaking of my team, i have a request from all of you, especially the ones who speak Spanish. If you don't speak Spanish, no worries; i'll be more than willing to translate for you. Please write an encouraging letter to at least one of the missionaries in training, telling them how you are praying for them and how you will continue to do so. I invited them to write letters to y'all, as well. I told them that my prayer partners were not just people on the other side of the world. They are your brothers & sisters in Christ as much as they are mine.

Here are their names:

Edgar (native Peruvian, of the Yene Tribe, 27 years old)
Lucio (native Peruvian, of the Yene Tribe, nephew of Edgar)
Alex (native Peruvian, of the Yene Tribe, 17 y/o)
Levi (native Ecuadorian, good friend of mine while i was in Quito, 24 y/o)
Jeff (native Texan, Journeyman with the IMB [International Mission Board], 24 y/o)
Arminda (native Peruvian girl)
Marili (native Peruvian girl)
Marshall (native Louisianan, missionary with "Pioneers", husband & father of 9)
Alex (son of Marshall; his mom & 8 younger siblings stayed behind in Inquitos, Perú, while he & Marshall came to this 3-month training)
Caleb (native Peruvian, 24 y/o)
Vicente (native Peruvian)
Maria
During this training period, we will be living in huts we are going to build. The girls will be living in huts former trainees (including Bobby Lane ) built. We'll be learning about 30 stories from the Bible that we will share with people, most of whom have never heard the Gospel. Most don't have a written Bible in their language or are illiterate; therefore, this oral Bible will probably be the only One they will ever study. Also, we will be learning how to live in the jungle (that's why we'll be living in huts) as well as how Biblical church functions & perhaps, a few other skills that we will need such as medical training. This training session will have the most trainees the Xtreme Team has ever seen. Please pray for the leadership & organization of the Xtreme Team.

More Prayer Requests:

Pray for our health as we are in the jungle.
Pray that we'd maintain a teachable spirit.
Pray we will become the men & women our Lord created us to be.
I love Jesus!

†il the whole world hears,

corey reid pendergrass