Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Adios, Puerto Maldonado. Hola, Pucallpa.

What: (essentials for the skimmers)
  • I got the results from my MRI on my knee and the results say...(drum role, please)...SOMETHING IN SPANISH! Muah ha ha ha!
  • All my photos are on my new flickr.com account! Come, see, enjoy. Here's the photos from the Chayahuita trip.
  • Jeff and i are moving (photos) to the city of Pucallpa. NEW MAILING ADDRESS BELOW!
  • Jeff and i are preparing to head to the Tigre River!! Quichua land!
  • Let me know if you are a Skype user so we can call for free.
  • PrayeRequests below.
Why : (extras for the non-skimmers)

Dear The Who's Who,

That's right, i got my results back and my medical vocab in Spanish is low so i really can't say for sure what has happened to my knee. I've tried to get them translated several times and can't seem to get Peru to work with me. Torn ACL or not, i feel fine to travel by bus, boat, piggy-back, etc. on the next voyage. My knee feels okay and pops and aches like the rest of this earthen vessel. Time to suck it up and share the Word.

For those of you who have long been waiting for all the pictures, they are up and running on my Flickr account. If you want to see the Brewsters' kids (which you do), you'll have to get a Flickr account yourself and become my Flickr friend. Those photos are protected from strangers.
Coming back from Yurimguas, i landed in the metropolis of Lima. I was welcomed by Joe and Megan Brewster, my new bosses. That's right. I'm leaving the Pto. Maldonado team and moving to Pucallpa. We've actually been planning this move for a long time but are making it now as Joe and his family of four are returning from their State-side furlough. I'm really excited about being on the Pucallpa team!

That means my address is changing. Please, don't mail me anymore in Pto. Maldonado. Here's my new address:

corey reid pendergrass *
Apartado 89
Pucallpa
Peru
*If sending a package, please add "(or Joe Brewster)" in case i'm out of town and someone has to show their ID to receive it. Thanks!
Also, if you are still trying to send mail or packages to the trainees, send them to the old address:
Jeremy Taliaferro
Apartado 111
Pto. Maldonado
Peru
Speaking of which, i want to thank those of you who have sent gifts for the trainees. We have been so blessed by the giving of these needed items by numerous ministries and families that it has become impossible for us to keep up with all the sources, praise God! The draw back is that we have been unable to send out thank-you cards. Please forgive us! Also thanks for writing them! What a blessing. Those who have received letters really appreciated them. Several trainees have not received letters yet. There names are:
  • Isaac
  • Fausto
  • Eno
  • Amparo
  • Tatiana
  • José
  • Eliaser
  • Fernando
  • (Sorry, Sixto was unable to continue the training.)

Some stories for your reading pleasure:

In the last update, as you remember, i had just sent away the prostitute-intruder from my room. When i finally made it to Pucallpa, i was preparing my new home. I thought it a good idea to install a porch light to be able to hold late night chats. Knowing that a white light would attract the skeeters, i negated buying one. However, i recently had heard that red lights don't attract bugs. Now, i know what you're thinking. No, i did not put up a red light! Instead i opted for a more culturally-sensitive green one thinking it might have the same affect…on the bugs, of course. Soon after, a local friend and pastor informed me that in Peru the green lights have the same meaning as the red. Sure 'nough! Soon after I started taking notice of all the motels in town with their green light bulbs shining the way to skanky establishments. I suppose that you could say that in just a week I went from naively inviting prostitutes in my room to going into business for myself. (That was a joke, for the frozen chosen who weren't aware.)

Jeff and i were traveling via bus from Pto. Maldonado to Cuzco. It's not uncommon to see someone in the isle demonstrate a product to sell or give a speech in order to incite donations in order to make money. On this particular voyage a man told us he had nothing to sell, just some information on where to buy some books. He demonstrated 5 books about the history of the universe and world, highlighting the evolution of man and the Big Bang theory. He informed us we humans actually descended from bacteria. He wrapped up his shpeel giving us a few God blesses and a reminder to pray for God to guide our bus driver safely. He then proceeded to pass out his books and collect a fee from buyers. The Lord stirred in me. I knew exactly what He wanted me to do. The man took his seat. I left mine. I faced the passengers from the front of the bus and told them the Lord has given me a Word for them. "I am a messenger of God. I am hurt that i have heard two lies this morning. The first is that this man told us he didn't want to sell us anything. But, how many books did he sell?! How many?! The second lie is he spoke of god blessing us like it had meaning. Then he rejected the Word of God and told us we came from bacteria! We did not come from bacteria! We are children of God, the Lord! Listen to the Word of God!" I then recited the story of the creation. The people locked eyes with me. They nodded in agreement when i told them that God formed the man from the dust and breathed life in them.

PrayeRequests:
  • We gave Wadee, a Thai lady in Pto. Maldonado, her first Bible. She had never heard of Jesus. Pray this Buddhist woman and her culturally Protestant German husband (who should be getting a Bible soon also) will find Christ through His Word.
  • We're dealing with some minor health issues (infected toe, sore throat, diarrhea, etc.) that need to be cleared up before we leave for the Tigre River. Pray those clear up in the Lord's timing.
  • We'll be starting to learn the Quichua language again. Eeep!
  • We've got about 20-30 stories from the Bible we're going to memorize in Spanish. Eeep! Eeep!
  • The students are still in the heat of training in Pto. Maldonado.
Quote of the Weeks:

"Hey Jeff, why don't you get up and share the creation story with 'em or something." -me as i unsuccessfully tried to ignore the direction of the Lord to prophecy on the bus. How often do we do that?

les amo,
†il the whole world hears,
corey reid pendergrass

0 comments:

Post a Comment