road trip

Operation: Año Nuevo: (essentials for the skimmers)

• My knee is on the fritz, but a visit to the doc and a x-ray prove say it's still intact. Just some pain from hyper extending it.
• My wrestling team is doing so-so. Currently 8-12, but i've had some stinkin' awesome conversations about the Bible and Jesus with them.
• Racheal's also had some good conversations with people that come in the coffee shop.
• Christmas was flippin' awesome. Racheal and i got each other djembes. Oops.
• We are hours away from beginning Operation: Año Nuevo. (*itinerary tentative)
• The SMOi website has been updated. Check out the new missionaries!
• If you have an extra 3 minutes check this video out.
• PrayeRequests below.

Operation: Ano Nuevo: (extras for the readers)

Dear amigos y amigas,

Christmas was grand. We had some good times with the various branches of my side of the family. It was the first time i can remember at some of the gatherings that we sang, read, and shared what Christ had done in our lives. It was a nice escape from the radio, news, retail outlets, and the economy exploiting the Savior's birth for it's own financial endeavors.
So here's the very flexible itinerary for our "Operation: Año Nuevo" ("Operation: New Year") road trip:

• December 31 - Leave Tobaccoville.
• December 31 - Spend the new year with the Mulroney family in Chattanooga if the car makes it.
• January 1 - Pick up Bobby and Maridith Lane in Memphis.
• January 2 - Arrive in near Dallas for the Echelon meeting to fast and pray about going to West Africa around 2011.
• January 5 - Leave the Echelon meeting. (Bobby and Maridith fly back without us.)
• January 6 - Arrive near Las Vegas to visit Racheal's brother, Randall and his wife, Fiona.
• January 7 - Visit the Grand Canyon with Randall and Fiona. (They return to Las Vegas alone.)
• January 9 - Spend the night with Racheal's Uncle Tony in Houston.
• January 10 - Go to Racheal's brother Ryan and his girlfriend Jacqualine near Tampa. Spend the night.
• January 12 - Arrive at Racheal's parents' house in Key West. Relax. Hang out.
• January 17 or 18 - Return to Tobaccoville.

Alas, the road trip has yet to begin and it has already had an obstacle. We had smoke momentarily coming from the steering column on the Buick tonight. We were hoping to leave at 5am tomorrow, but we'll need to get this looked at before we head out as it might cause an electrical fire.

PrayeRequests:

• Please continue to pray for Nick Diaz. His next hearing is 1.5 years away; so he's got at least that long as a missionary behind bars. He is in the largest prison in Peru which was built to hold 10K inmates, but currently has about 20K and growing. Nick shares a 10'x20' cell with 41 inmates. He gets 2 meals/day that he has to pay for. He is allowed visitors on certain days, so if you're in the neighborhood... But, praise God that Nick has begun to share stories with other inmates from the Bible and has found some other Christians. Some of the inmates have begun asking him questions about Jesus.
• As many of you know, Greg, the pastor my parent's church has resigned. I don't believe it's appropriate for me to share all the details i know, but, to put it lightly, he has undergone some serious legal accusations. Please pray for this church (350+ members), Greg's family (wife, Beth, and 6 kids), and the testimony of Christ in this community.
• My grandfather Satch White has suffered a heart attack. He also has some non-cancerous growths in his stomach. He needs a quintuple bypass open-heart surgery asap, but cannot until the bleeding is stopped in his stomach. That won't be stopped until he has the growths removed.
• Racheal's friends: Richard, Darla, Casey, Tyler, and Liz. Pray that the Lord would move them in obedience to Christ and that they would give up the idea of Christianity as a culture and begin to experience the freedom from sin that is in Christ.
• The Buick. 'nough said.
• We plan on picking up some hitchhikers so pray that God would send us some so we can tell them about Him.

†il the whole world hears,
corey reid pendergrass

another one

Bread and Butter: (essentials for the skimmers)

• My ACL (knee) continues to heal properly, thanks to your prayers. It will be at least a couple more months before i can run on it.
• I'm still working for Pendergrass & Holder Plumbing.
• Ewnay otosphay. (pig latin)
• My wrestling coaching career is off to a fair start. We're 7-6 so far... and i gave up a team point by yelling at the ref. Ooops.
  
• Racheal is still working at Foothills Juice and Java. Lots of good conversations about God going on there.
• Been sharing at a few churches about my experience overseas.
  
• PrayeRequests below.

Spice in the Soup: (extras for the readers)

Dear you,

Do you know the "muffin man?" Evidently that's my new nickname in the plumbing world. A couple of weeks ago i spent my lunch break with a homeless guy in Greensboro, NC. "Bubba" and i had a good conversation on as he shared with me from his surplus in gifts of food including a cup of coffee, a Hardees Thickburger, and some Panera Bread Co. muffins (hince, the nickname). I was dressed in some tattered work clothes so he even suggested a shelter i could go sleep at.

This was my first Thanksgiving with family since 2005. It was so stinkin' great. My wife has been so accommodating as we spend the holidays with my side of the family. However, we will be taking a much needed roadtrip around the country in January to visit her side as well. Covering over 6000 miles, we hope to pass through Chattanooga, Dallas, Las Vegas, and Key West. I'm really looking forward to this. I hope God will bless out times with my new family.
In the meantime Racheal and i have been buzzing around in North Caroline at a few churches, sharing about our experiences overseas. It's been fun meeting other parts of the Body who want to support and encourage missions.

PrayeRequests:

• Please pray for my coaching. I'm in a serious spot to be a role model to these boys. I'd love introduce them to my Lord.
• Please pray for Racheal and i as we learn what marriage is. I really believe this trip in January will give us some much needed quality time in the car to not have any burdens on our plate except keeping a travel budget.
• Nick Diaz, a Peruvian who just finished the Xtreme Team training to become a missionary, just received a gut check. He has only been a believer a few years and was in trouble with the law before. He has already served 2 years for this issue, but was re-trialed and has been sentenced to 30 years. His fiancee is of course devastated. Before the sentencing Nick shared that he is prepared to be a missionary in the prison like Paul. Please pray for Nick as they try to reverse this sentencing and also prepare for his new mission assignment from the Lord, wherever it may take him.

†il the whole world hears,
corey reid pendergrass

3rd Menstruation

In case you were wondering, it's Racheal's and my third menstruation. We've been married for 3 months.
Some of you may say, "Corey, don't you mean 3-month anniversary?" No, for that would be an oxymoron since "anniversary" comes from the Latin "ano," meaning "year." You can't have a third month-year. That makes no sense.
You could however say we're having our first "quad anniversary," or quarter year. Perhaps that would sound more kosher than a "menstruation."
Nevertheless, we're excited for many more menstruations and anniversaries to come!
Love yall,
corey

'Tis the Season to Be Jolly

FALL, la, la, la...

(I think this song isn't really about Christmas. Think about it...)

Pad Thai: (essentials for the skimmers)

• Racheal and i have some new photos. Enjoy.
• The ACL is recuperating.
• TEOTE.COM has moved to TEOTE.ORG and has a new makeover as the homepage for Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters International (SMOi, formerly known as TEOTE Missions). Please check it out.
• We got jobs. Thanks for the prayers!
  
• Buy WWLMD shirts. They're now on sale for $10!! Oooooo!
• Wrestling season has started and i'm the new assistant coach at Reagan High School.
• PrayeRequests below.

Chopsticks: (extras for the readers)

To whom it may concern,
Racheal and i have been busy exploring the happenings of the Forsyth, Stokes, and Yadkin Counties' boarder triangle. Hanging Rock State Park is gorgeous and makes for a fun Sunday afternoon date. We've also discovered a local Spanish-speaking church in King, NC. Perhaps it will be an avenue for ministry to the Latino community in the near future.

I've been working on SMOi's website like crazy these last few weeks of unemployment. I hope you can check it out.
Also during the last few weeks, as you know, Racheal and i have been jobless (and therefore moneyless (which Gmail's spell checker says "moneyless" is a legit word, which is funny to me)). However those days are over. Racheal was applying as the local YMCA's aquatics director, which was supposed to be a shoe-in, but alas the Lord shut that door. The next day she stepped into a nearby coffee shop and chatted with the owner (who is a believer) for a couple hours and he gives her a job. We believe God worked this out so that she can have more time to minister to those around her in the coffee shop.
On the other hand, my search for job was very grueling. Alltel, Dick's Sporting Goods, Rosario (hospital translators), Pizza Hut, Auto Zone, People Helping People (working with people with special needs), Burger King, Metro Nursing (more translation), Yadkin County Schools (ESL teacher), Baptist Hospital (chaplin), and Advance Auto Parts have no use of a guy with a bum hind leg, lots of experience in the jungle, and a degree in Philosophy and Religion. Yeah, i know; that's bizarre. It seems God shut the door for me too...a lot. In spite of my desire to be an independent man with a respectable job (Notice a trace of pride?), i crawled back to my dad to ask for a job as...a plumber (Perish the thought!). He hired me, and i actually enjoyed it, despite my foolish pride. Today i was supposed to have 2 job interviews (as a Spanish tutor and a front desk guy at the hospital), but i was talking with God this morning and the conversation went something like this:

Corey: God, who should i work for?
God: Pendergrass and Holder Plumbing.
Corey: Really? [since i wanted to be independent from dad]
God: Yes.
Corey: I must be talking to myself. God, You wouldn't have said that. I'll ask Racheal.
...later this morning...
Corey: Racheal, who do you think i should work for?
Racheal: Your dad.
Corey: Really?
Racheal: Yes.
Corey: God told me the same thing.

See how that works? Looks like i'm working for Butch.

If you buy a What Would Lottie Moon Do shirt, i'll be your friend forever. Okay, so my friendship is not quite so conditional, but you should still buy some shirts. Available sizes: Youth S-L and Adult S-XL. If you want one/some please tell me your color and size preference. $10/shirt + $2 domestic shipping.

PrayeRequests:

• Please pray for my relationships with my co-workers at Pendergrass & Holder Plumbing. I've already had the chance for a good conversation with Steven.
• Pray that Racheal would have many opportunities as well at the coffee shop.
• Pray that i would be able to build relationships with the wrestlers at Reagan and God would use me to disciple them.
• I suppose it's time for us Christians to stop whining about the election results and start praying for our new president. Please join me in asking God's guidance on Obama's future decisions for the US.
  

Quotes of the Week:

"Imitation crab meat: the string cheese of the upper class." -me

"It's the shekhinah light of the Lord! ...Oh wait, that's just the sun behind frost on the windshield." -Lorne James

†il the whole world hears,
corey reid pendergrass

Young Mans Christian Association

Young man..
theres no need to feel down
I said, Young man...
Get your self off the ground

Young Mans Christian Association. YMCA. Who knew? Not me.

For the Lazy ones...
Racheal might have a great job that will fix all her school debt and put some in savings.
Racheal graduates in a month!!! AMEN

For the ones who have time to spare and care...
Last month i went into the stokes county YMCA to start using the facilities and looking into membership possibilities and found out they were looking to hire an Aquatics Director. This person would be in charge of 25 lifeguards and Instructors and would have an Aquatics Coordinator to assist under them. Well, I spoke with the current Aquatics director, then came for an interview with the Executive director, then was asked to come for a third interview from 10:30am- 3pm. During that time i met with the Aquatics director once again, then met with two regional board members of the Y, who drilled me with some very good questions and i them as well. I presented a lot of ideas and they seemed to be intrigued. I then had to do a water aerobics class and meet one last time with the executive director. There are four people total inline for this position, we find out Friday who takes home the cake. Prayerfully it will be me, and i can once again do what i love to do and what I am good at. Water Activities! All the while learning how to do a major budget and lead a fairly large team of adults that are all twice my age with the exception of a few. This position pays 30k per year (more than i have made total in my 22 years of life) and comes with great benefits to boot. I will be surprised if God does not give me this job, because He gave me the op

Save Now

portunity in the first place. We'll see what happens. If not He has reminded me of the desire i have to be around people and the body, which has been extremely encouraging. God will recieve His glory either way. I'll let y'all not que paso.

Love and Marriage

...go together like a horse and carriage.

An ACL Surgery: (essentials for the skimmers)

• I'm married to Racheal and love it! Be jealous.
• I've posted a ton of new photos! Looky, looky. (Sorry, i'm behind on the wedding photos.)
• Had my ACL surgery last Wednesday.
• We are unemployed but hopeful in the search for work.
• WWLMD? shirts are back! Order now and sport yours at this year's SBC Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.
• The new house is done. Racheal and i live in the basement apartment at 6805 Martin Ferry Rd in Tobaccoville, NC.
• PrayeRequests below.
  

A Lottie Shirt: (extras for the readers)

Dear εκκλησία (ekklisia = church),

Honestly there's so much to go over 'cause i haven't written in days. Just know that Racheal and i are doing great and living well in the metropolis of Tobaccoville, NC (population: 2607). My second ACL surgery was fine and i'm in the rehab process for the next few months. Racheal is taking online classes and looking into a job as the aquatics director at the local YMCA. I'm currently on the hunt for a job that uses my bilingual skills as we prepare to go overseas in a yearish. We're looking at South America. We're considering going with IMB again.
We are opening our home for weekly church gatherings. For now, we're targeting the local Hispanic population, so they'll be in Español. No one has come so far, so we might aim for our English-speaking friends.
In order to support ourselves between now and then and get out of debt we are also doing things like selling the WWLMD? shirts. I have attached a photo of the colors: maroon, navy, kelly green (black or white print), and yellow. Available sizes: Youth S-L and Adult S-XL. If you want one/some please tell me your color and size preference. $12/shirt + $2 domestic shipping.

PrayeRequests:

• The local church. We're opening our home to start one.
• The search for work. I just want to be where God would use me the most.
• Ernesto and Angela. A local couple have asked to know more about salvation. The soil looks fertile, if you know what i mean.

On behalf of Mr. and Mrs. corey reid pendergrass,
†il the whole world hears,
corey reid pendergrass

PS. A Job Offer: (for handymen without torn ACLs)

• Teams of 3 disaster relief roofers, no experience necessary
• Available work for the next 6 weeks in Houston, TX
• It pays really well while ministering to the hurricane-hit community.
• If interested, call the contractor (and former Xtreme Team member) Quinten Williams - 601.543.4884
  

Carolina Again

Tater Tots: (essentials for the skimmers)
If you want to receive updates from Racheal and i in the future as we seek the Lord in serving the nations together, please reply by August 9th.
Our new photos!
After meeting me my future in-laws have not disowned me.
Racheal and i hung out in Winston for a week.
Now we're at Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters working the Missions camp.
Don't forget yall are invited to the wedding. August 9th at SWO, Andrews, NC. Mo' info soon.

PrayeRequests below.

Mustard: (extras for the readers)
Dear Beloved,
That's about it.

PrayeRequests:
Keep Levi, Efrain, Lorne, Katie, Linzi, the Joneses, Graham, Jesus Pua, Nadia, Jeff, Christy, Jose, the Brewster, and anyone else down there working in your prayers.
Pray for Racheal and i as we prepare for marriage and serve God through serving the community around us.

In love,
†il the whole world hears,
corey reid pendergrass

“Come and take me to the airport…”

"Come and take me to the airportCome and board me on that plane,'Cause i've got no expectationsTo ever pass this way again." -Johnny Cash, "No Expectations" - the song stuck in my head

Downshift: (essentials for the skimmers)
Feast your eyes! The new Xtreme Team website!
Feast some more! My new photos!
Levi and i are back from the Tigre River. *sigh*
As you know, the last Xtreme Training ended.
I will be in Peru for a couple more weeks wrapping up loose ends.
PrayeRequests below.

Mash the gas: (extras for the readers)
Dear Church,
And so it ends. Levi and i have wrapped up my final trip to the Tigre Quichuas, for now. From Iquitos we were able to purchase flights to Lima. At the moment i'm back in Pucallpa for a few days and Levi joined José Chillambo to renew their visas on the Ecuadorian boarder. As for my plans for the near future, i should be back in Lima this weekend and will be there finalizing some paperwork 'til i arrive in the States on the 30th of May.Now for the juicy details from the Tigre: All together, we stayed in the Quichua community of Paiche Playa for a little better than 7 weeks. We had many worthwhile conversations and taught only a few Bible stories as the people showed little interest, and their common drunkenness often betrayed the people's spoken desire to hear the Word of God. In other words, several told us they really wanted to learn the Word, but none came when the bottle was offered next door. It's sad, for obvious reasons, that these people are still on the path to hell without our Jesus. I also feel the human (or should i saw "prideful" or "fleshly") frustration and disappointment of not having any quantitative or qualitative data to show my "successfulness" as a missionary. That's of infinitely smaller consequence compared to the prior tragedy, the fact that they are still lost. That is out of my hands, but may every soul praise God that salvation doesn't lay in the hands of corey, who would screw it up, for sure. To anyone who has ever said, "All your sacrifice and hard work are worth it if just one life is changed," i have news for you. I have failed your standard of worth, but not my God's. "And Samuel said, 'Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.'" (1 Samuel 15:22) All the sacrifice and hard work are worth it if and only if our Lord is obeyed. He was obeyed. Therefore, it has been more than worth it.
As of right now, the Conoco-Phillips oilers are starting a 6-month work in the virgin jungles surrounding Paiche Playa. Thus, all able-bodied males will be away from the community working for the oil company. We don't know what the future looks like regarding the Xtreme Team's work in Paiche Playa and other parts of the Tigre River, but please join us in prayer for where the Lord directs.
As for the upper Tigre, we met several people you should know about. Here's some of the key players:
"Lapiz," whose nickname means "Pencil" in Spanish, is an alcoholic claiming to be an Evangelical Christian in Paiche. I feel like he has a correct idea of Who God is, but in practice, he is very backslidden. God gave me a Word to share with him and he took it all in. Pray that Lapiz would return to Christ in spite of his lack of Christian community and be an example to his lost neighbors. If not, i told him, he needs to stop telling people he's a Christain because he gives Christ a bad name.
Mario Rios is a brother based out of Iquitos that makes missionary trips fairly often with his 20+ -year-old sons. They have a heart for their lost indigenous countrymen have helped plant a number of churches on the upper Tigre River and others places. Pray for Mario to use wisdom in order to plant biblical churches. At least one of his sons, Israel, wants to enroll in an Xtreme Team training ASAP, but our communication is often hindered.
Alipse Valera has worked for some years now on the Tigre and has pastored the church in the Tigre Quichua community of Marsella. He shared with us that he'd be leaving his flock soon, because it's time to see if they can stand on their own. I tip my hat to this sweet brother as i feel that allowing a baby to walk on her own is an opportunity that every church deserves but so few ever have. Pray for Alipse to continue to seek God's guidance in where to go next. Pray for the Quichua church of Marsella to remain faithful and not only learn to walk on her own, but to run for Jesus!
Ronaldo Calderón, a new believer in Christ, thanks to an evangelical visit by Alipse a couple months ago, found us when the river launch we were riding stopped in his home of Lamas Tapishka. He shared his testimony with Levi and so Levi shared the story of Philip and the Ethiopian. Recognizing that he was lacking in the baptism department, Ronaldo asked Levi to baptize him, and so Levi did just that in the Tigre River as his family and neighbors looked on. Pray for Ronaldo to grow spiritually and his faithfulness in Lamas Tapishka, where he has no church yet, would multiply and flourish.
Filipe Carejano is the pastor of the church in the indigenous community of 12 de Octubre on the Tigre. We'd heard rumors that he had a drinking problem, but we refused to listen to gossip. However, when we arrived in 12 de Octubre we found out first-hand as he was passed out on the floor in his house and too drunk to carry on an intelligent conversation. Some of the faithful few from his congregation have decided to leave that spiritual empty building and start another church in town. Please pray that Filipe would be convicted, repent, and reunite with the Christ's faithful church in 12 de Octubre. Thank God for sound-minded sheep that can pick up their cross and press on, even when their human shepherd falls behind.

PrayeRequests:
Besides the above listed requests, please pray for Levi. At the moment we don't know where exactly he will go, how he will be funded, or who his partner will be.
Pray for Robert, Lorne, and Efraín as they are finishing Robert's last trip to the Yaminahuas.

At rest,
†il the whole world hears,
corey reid pendergrass

An Update from Momma Jenn

Hello everyone,

I was able to speak with corey reid yesterday via satellite phone and he advised he and Levi are doing allright health wise, etc. He said he and Levi could really use your prayers regarding the following:
Pray the people in Paicha Playa would come to hear the Bible stories shared and have hearts open to God's movement.
Pray corey and Levi would have discernment and wisdom regarding what to do in light of the currrent state of what seems to be lack of interest in hearing the Bible.
Pray for corey and Levi to reflect the light of Jesus and glorify God in their actions.
Pray for God's will to be known and done.

One fun story from corey:
He had purchased a shotgun a while back and so far, has shot 3 shots. He considers that he has "3 out of 3" kills, although one of them is indirect. He said 2 of the shots resulted in his killing 2 Shanshu birds. The third shot, towards a monkey in a tree, did not seem to hit the monkey; however, the monkey got so excited that it started moving rapidly through the trees and actually fell into the path of some dogs below. They killed the monkey. So, the monkey indirectly went down as the result of the 3rd shot. For any PITA folks out there, don't stress too much...all this killing is a part of survival in the jungle and resulted in a couple of meals...one meal; unfortunately, went to a cat who stole one of the birds.

I thank all of you for your prayers and hope you will consider joining us as we welcome corey home. We are planning to have a little 'welcome home' celebration Sunday afteroon, June 1st. We would love for any of you that would like to come. If you plan to do so, please email me and let me know so that I'll have an idea of how much food we need. Thanks.
Momma Jenn

Phone Call from Corey!

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.I Thessalonians 5:16-19 (ESV)

Beloved Petitioners to God on Corey’s Behalf,
I got to talk to Corey yesterday for almost an hour & my folks got to talk to him for another hour. I wanted to update you on what is going on Paicha Playa, Peru among the Tigre Quichua people.
Corey has gotten a shotgun & been able to go hunting with the men. On their trip, they killed two monkeys (or the dogs at least did). Levi has made a fishing spear and gotten to go fishing with the men. They caught approximately 30 fish. They put a poisonous chemical from a tree root into the water which makes the fish surface.
Corey said that people have been listening to the stories that him & Levi have been telling. They have told Part I of Sodom & Gomorrah and the story of the tower of Babel. Corey is hopeful that they will see Tigre Quichuas come to faith in Christ on his final trip there.
Please ask for wisdom in praying for Corey, Levi, and the Tigre.
Pray that God’s Spirit would go down to the hearts of the Tigre & that worship of Him would go back up to the glory due His name.
Levi’s health: he is having referred pain from his internal organs & having allergic reactions to all the gnat bites. Pray both for his infirmaries to leave & for them to have wisdom about treating the infirmaries.
Genuine relationships would be built between the people, Corey, & Levi.
Corey’s betrothed, Racheal Roberts, currently hiking the Appalachian Trail, northbound with friend Anne Tully. They are currently in Virginia.

An ambassador for my brother, Corey,Fellow-ambassador with you of our first-born brother, Christ,
Lena

Quote of the week:
In a conversation about the American conscience of safety as priority, which developed into the topic of kids less than 80 lbs needing to be harnessed in car-seats, Corey says:"That means Lottie Moon would still need to be in car-seat!"

Arequipeño

An amazing woman: (essentials for the skimmers)
New photos! Some are of me in Peru; some are of Racheal on the AT.
We're in Arequipa at the annual Xtreme Team meeting.
Levi is here! I have a partner!
Nate Branson, God bless 'im, is back home in NC.
Lord willing, Levi and i should be leaving for our next and my last trip to the Tigre sometime around the beginning of March.
The trainees have a little more than a month to go.

The 3600+ miles between us: (extras for the readers)
Dear rest of the Bride,
Oh, let me tell you. What a blessing it was for Bob, Lorne, and i. The Nate Branson Peruvian Visit Extravaganza 2008 has sadly come to an end. Here's to you, Handsome Branson.A few days ago we flew and bussed our way to the second largest city in Peru, Arequipa. Here, we're currently in our annual meeting (held last year in Cuzco, as you may remember). This is the time where we get to see the rest of the Xtreme Team's members and hear one another's stories and prayer requests from the past fiscal year. Some of you may remember Vicente from my training. He's here too! What a blessing to see him once again. We'll be here a couple more days for heading back to Pucallpa. En route, we will stop on the 28th to see my favorite band, Collective Soul, in Lima. Be jealous.Guess who else was able to come to the meeting. Levi! My ol' friend from Ecuador and i are partnering up for my next and last trip to the Tigre River before my Journeyman term ends on May 29th. I'm stinkin' pumped! Of note, Levi is Quichua by blood, so it will be interesting to see how the Tigre Quichuas respond to him.

PrayeRequests:
Fausto and his back injury. Not sure what's going to happen. Just pray anyways.
The Tigre Quichuas. It won't be long.
Disunity and miscommunication among the trainees.
Useless outside of Christ,
†il the whole world hears,corey reid pendergrass

Current Trainees:
The ChicosHenry-David -- PeruHeber Saul -- PeruJaire -- PeruRoderigo -- PeruJeff -- TexasSteven "Uncle Remis" -- South CarolinaLorne "LJ" -- Florida
Belis Roderiguez --Peru
Deyvis Sauchez -- Peru
Jorge Limas -- Peru
The ChicasYoli -- PeruBetina -- PeruIsabet -- PeruKatie -- South CarolinaLinzi -- GeorgiaChristy -- OregonNadia -- Quebec, Canada
Matilda Areralo -- Peru
Please be praying for each of them and write them encouraging letters! You can ask them about themselves, what they are learning, what they are growing in, what they are struggling with, and how you can pray for them. You can share the same information with them. Send letters to:[recipient(s)'s name(s)]Apartado 89PucallpaPerú
If you're sending gifts or supplies, please send them to share with group as a whole, not to individuals.

Lima Lime

Brotherhood: (essentials for the skimmers)
Back in Pucallpa. Lima was...Lima.
Rosalinda dropped out of training, too, dag-gum.
A friend from SWO, Nate "Hansom" Branson, surprised me with a visit to Peru.
Bobby Lane is in town, too. Woot woot!!
Racheal and Anne have reached NC. Keep on truckin'!
Fausto ain't here yet because he broke his back or something

The Landside: (extras for the non-skimmers)
Dear souls who've recognized their gross futility outside of God,
As yall know, i've been in Lima since the last time you heard from me. We were able to finally return this week. While in Lima, the Lord did not let me hands be idle for long. One of the greatest ministries a brother or sister can do to assist someone who the Lord has sent out is to pay them a visit. That is exactly what Nate Branson is doing right now. He's in Peru for 3 weeks visiting Bobby and i. I didn't even know until the day he showed up. Props.
I'm currently in Pucallpa, after having to fly from Lima ('cause there was a major land side that made us turn the truck around after 12 hours driving toward Pucallpa) where we are helping out with the training.
In other news, my partner-to-be, Fausto, has recently damaged a couple of his vertebrae in a freak swimming accident and won't be in Peru for at least a couple months. What to do? What to do? Levi's coming back (so i hear)! I bet the Lord's going to work something out. He always does.
PrayeRequests:
Racheal and Anne, on the Trail.
Fausto and his (apparent) role model, myself, to heal.

The quitters, to be able to seek the Lord's Will back in the States.


Quote of the Week:

"I'm convinced that American Christianity today is more influenced by capitalism than the New Testament." --Robert Lane
Decreasing,
†il the whole world hears,
corey reid pendergrass
PS. Also, i wanted to thank all of you who sent birfday salutations. Sorry for those of you who called that day. I was out working with the trainees.
Trainees:
The Chicos
Henry-David -- Peru
Heber Saul -- Peru
Jaire -- Peru
Roderigo -- Peru
Jeff -- Texas
Steven "Uncle Remis" -- South Carolina
Lorne "LJ" -- Florida
Belis Roderiguez --Peru
Deyvis Sauchez -- Peru
Jorge Limas -- Peru

The Chicas
Yoli -- Peru
Betina -- Peru
Isabet -- Peru
Katie -- South Carolina
Linzi -- Georgia
Christy -- USA
Nadia -- Quebec, Canada
Matilda Areralo -- Peru

Please be praying for each of them and write them encouraging letters! You can ask them about themselves, what they are learning, what they are growing in, what they are struggling with, and how you can pray for them. You can share the same information with them. Send letters to:
[recipient(s)'s name(s)]
Apartado 89
Pucallpa
Perú

If you're sending gifts or supplies, please send them to share with group as a whole, not to individuals.

last sprint. ready, set…

Going: (essentials for the skimmers)
¡Nuevos fotos! Enjoy.
We're in Pucallpa.
Levi and i are preparing for liftoff. Official countdown 'til the bus leaves: 110820 seconds and counting (that's about 1 days and 6 hours for those of you who don't measure long periods of time in seconds).
Just under 4 weeks left for the trainees.
Send my mail to the States! (Address below)
I'd rather not worry about it, but if you'd like to know the approximate time before i'm back on American soil, go here.

Coming: (extras for the readers)
Dear family, friends, and foes,
Our bus leaves tomorrow night at 7 (Peruvian time = add and hour or three).
This may be my last entry before the big dance. We'll stop in Tarapoto (see attached map) before trying to catch a boat going towards the Tigre River.
We'll be trying to fly out again, just like last time, with the oilers. That's pretty iffy at this point.
We should be coming out of the Tigre in mid-May.I should be on US soil again May 29th or 30th.
See you soon.
Muah.

PrayeRequests:
That God would give us opportunities in the the voyage.
That God would glorify Himself in my life every dang moment.
That the Quichuas like Carlos and Giovani would listen to God.Quotes of the Week:"This hotel's pool is so shallow you couldn't drown in it to save your life." --me

"Don't drink gasoline and then pee on a fire." --Brody Holloway giving some good Christian advice"Whoever said 'It doesn't matter who wins or loses, just that you have fun.' probably was a loser." --me

Useless outside of Christ,
†il the whole world hears,corey reid pendergrass

Another One Bites the Dust

Sorry. Another trainee quit, dangit.

:-) : (essentials for the skimmers)
Still in Lima.
The trainees are dropping like flies.
My lady embarked on the Appalachian Trail this week.

:-b : (extras for the non-skimmers)
Dear brethren and sistren,
Seeing the brothers, Jim Shoemake and John Campbell, from Mt. Vernon, in Limawas quite a blessing! I was honored to get to spend a day with them. It's always great to see folks for back home. We hungout in Lima and got to sharpen each other's iron, so to speak (Proverbs 27:17). I thanks my Jesus.
As many of you already know, Racheal (my fiancée, for those of you who have been in a coma for the last couple weeks) has just begun to hike the Appalchian Trail with our friend, Anne Tully. They have started in Springer Mtn., GA and will hike to Mt. Katadyn, ME (see attached map). They look to be done in Juneish. I'm really stinking excited of my baby doing one of her life-long dreams. Yes, there was that female hiker who was killed this month on the AT, but the suspect is in costudy. No, i'm not worried. Racheal could beat up any woman i know (minus my sister, Lena)
and most men too. Besides, they're both packing heat and i'm not talking about their camp stoves.
In other news, Andy has left the Xtreme Training in Pucallpa. I'll just bite my tongue.
PrayeRequests:
Racheal and Anne, on the Trail.
The quiters, to be able to seek the Lord's Will back in the States.


Quote of the Week:

"Don't worry. I got Lola with me." -Racheal. "Lola" is Racheal's .22 pistol.
Heart,
†il the whole world hears,
corey reid pendergrass

Trainees:
The Chicos
Henry-David -- Peru
Heber Saul -- Peru
Jaire -- Peru
Roderigo -- Peru
Jeff -- Texas
Steven "Uncle Remis" -- South Carolina
Lorne "LJ" -- Florida
Belis Roderiguez --Peru
Deyvis Sauchez -- Peru
Jorge Limas -- Peru

The Chicas
Yoli -- Peru
Rosalinda -- Peru
Betina -- Peru
Isabet -- Peru
Katie -- South Carolina
Linzi -- Georgia
Christy -- USA
Nadia -- Quebec, Canada
Matilda Areralo -- Peru

Please be praying for each of them and write them encouraging letters! You can ask them about themselves, what they are learning, what they are growing in, what they are struggling with, and how you can pray for them. You can share the same information with them. Send letters to:
[recipient(s)'s name(s)]
Apartado 89
Pucallpa
Perú

If you're sending gifts or supplies, please send them to share with group as a whole, not to individuals.

Proud Mary Keep on Burnin'

:-) : (essentials for the skimmers)
New photos!
WWLMD? shirts are now available in more colors (including darks) and wife-beaters.
Trainees are under spirtual attack.
I'm headed to Lima for a couple days.

:-b : (extras for the non-skimmers)

Dear followers of the Way,
Betrothal is wonderful! I recomend it. If i tried putting it into words, i know it'd be an understatement.
I've been blessed to be able to help with the current Xtreme training. However, we've already had 2 guys, Chris and Cody, quit. We implored them to stay, but they're gone. Please pray that God would strengthen the ones left to keep their hand on that plow and not look back.
Tomorrow i will be bussing it to Lima. As my wingman, Efraín, Bobby's partner will acompany me. We have to do some paperwork and some old friends from a team from my home church, Mt. Vernon, will be in town! Can't wait to see yall!
Fausto, my partner, has plans to be in Peru around the 3rd of February with all the money he's raised! PTL! That means we should be able to go back to the Tigre River after the annual Xtreme Team meeting.
If anyone wants a WWLMD? shirt, let me know. Please include your size, color, and address.


PrayeRequests:
The trainees.
Fausto.

Trainees:

The Chicos
Henry-David -- Peru
Heber Saul -- Peru
Jaire -- Peru
Roderigo -- Peru
Andrew -- Missouri
Jeff -- Texas
Steven "Uncle Remis" -- South Carolina
Lorne "LJ" -- Florida
Belis Roderiguez --Peru
Deyvis Sauchez -- Peru
Jorge Limas -- Peru

The Chicas
Yoli -- Peru
Rosalinda -- Peru
Betina -- Peru
Isabet -- Peru
Katie -- South Carolina
Linzi -- Georgia
Christy -- USA
Nadia -- Quebec, Canada
Matilda Areralo -- Peru

Please be praying for each of them and write them encouraging letters! You can ask them about themselves, what they are learning, what they are growing in, what they are struggling with, and how you can pray for them. You can share the same information with them. Send letters to:
[recipient(s)'s name(s)]
Apartado 89
Pucallpa
Perú
If you're sending gifts or supplies, please send them to share with group as a whole, not to individuals.


Quotes of the Weeks:

"I pity [street dogs] so much i could just shoot them in the head." -Lorne James

Mucho amor,
†il the whole world hears,
corey reid pendergrass

WEll, Shoot Fire and Save the Matches!

Pursuing Him: (essentials for the skimmers)

New photos! Between Trips, 1st Training 2008, Raquel
Jeff is ministering to the Ashenikas now with his new partner, José. My new partner, Fausto, may be accompanying me to the Tigre Quichuas someday.
I'm engaged. ...I know, i know... just read below.
Pursuing her: (extras for the non-skimmers)

Dear house of God,

The Down Low...
During the last trip to the Tigre in Novemberish i got to thinking about my ol' friend, Racheal Rene’e Roberts. She's a sharp gal, got most of her teeth, and the same call on her life to the unreached as myself. It just made since. I called her up and asked her to fast with me starting Christmas night. After a few days of the Lord confirming His Will in unmistakable ways, He told us He wants to glorify Himself in a union between us, and i realized this was no ordinary week. After receiving the blessing of my folks and hers, i sent a her a letter through expreso postage and patiently waited 'til she received it. She called me before opening it and i read it to her over the phone last night. Thus, i proposed to the love of my life. We went from being siblings in Christ to lifelong companions almost overnight. What a ride! Please celebrate with us and give praise to our God! It sure goes to show, when the Lord says something, you best do it.
The big day is August 9th, 2008 at Snowbird. Be there!
Thanks, Queen Racheal!

As for Fausto, he's stuck in Ecuador trying to get raise support in order to come here. As you know, we don't go to the communities without partners, so i'm stuck in Pucallpa for a while also. Nevertheless, it appears the Lord will not let my hands be idle for long. I've been able to teach and work with the current training. May the Lord use me however He pleases!
PrayeRequests:
That God would glorify Himself in our marriage.
That i would stay focused on the task here in Peru 'til my term ends.
That's it.


Students in Training:

The Chicos
Henry-David -- Peru
Heber Saul -- Peru
Jaire -- Peru
Roderigo -- Peru
Andrew -- Missouri
Jeff -- Texas
Chris -- Texas
Cody -- Texas
Steven "Uncle Remis" -- South Carolina
Lorne "LJ" -- Florida
Belis Roderiguez --Peru
Deyvis Sauchez -- Peru
Jorge Limas -- Peru

The Chicas
Yoli -- Peru
Rosalinda -- Peru
Betina -- Peru
Isabet -- Peru
Katie -- South Carolina
Linzi -- Georgia
Christy -- USA
Nadia -- Quebec, Canada
Matilda Areralo -- Peru

Please be praying for each of them and write them encouraging letters! You can ask them about themselves, what they are learning, what they are growing in, what they are struggling with, and how you can pray for them. You can share the same information with them. Send letters to:
[recipient(s)'s name(s)]
Apartado 89
Pucallpa
Perú

Quotes of the Weeks:

Racheal's dad asked about me, "Does he have all his teeth?" -Randy Roberts

You bet your socks i do!
†il the whole world hears,
corey reid pendergrass

Nappy Yew Hear

A fast: (essentials for the skimmers)

• Jeff is going to be ministering to the Ashenikas now with his new partner, José. My new partner, Fausto, is accompanying me to the Tigre Quichuas, i hope.
• The 1st 2008 Xtreme Training is underway! Live and kickin'!

A feast: (extras for the non-skimmers)
Dear royal priesthood (aka. disciples of Christ),
Fausto, an Ecuadorian and Quichua by blood (not by tongue), completed the last training with José, his countryman and Jeff's new partner. He has a heart to reach the Tigre branch of his own people and so will be partnering with me to visit the Tigre in my third visit. There are some complications i want to ask yall to pray about, though. Even though the Quichua house-churches in his area have raised the finances to send him as a foreign missionary to Peru, his own church, a normal one, sadly, is not 100% set on sending him. The powers that be would rather him stay at home, closer to the authority of his home church. In contrast, we (including Fausto, himself) believe the Lord has called him here. If he is able to come, we face another barrier. The flights coupon the oil company gave Jeff and i to return to the Tigre are in our names. Fausto is not on the list. I will be trying to ask the oil company to change that soon. If we can't get this flight, we would have to travel by land, which took 30 days last time. Since we have the Xtreme Team's annual meeting around February 23, it appears that we won't have enough time in the community to actually make the trip worth it. Please pray God would work all this out.
Some of you Snowbirdians might be interested to know that Lorne James is now an Xtremer. As you know, Lisa Taylor, his boss, had her abduction incident a couple weeks ago and now her and her team need to relocate for safety reasons. LJ landed a job with the Xtreme Team! Including Katie Wilson (also starting training this week), Bobby Lane, and i, that makes 4 former SWO staff that have migrated to the Xtreme Team. These are the seeds of what looks to be growing into a closer relationship between the two organizations. May God be glorified.
PrayeRequests:
• That God would glorify Himself in Jeff and José's ministry to the Ashenikas.
• That God would do what He does in Fausto and my situation in trying to get the the Tigre.
• That God would train men and women of faith in this Xtreme Training period over the next 3 months. Of note, Katie especially seems to had a stressful transition into the training. Please pray all the trainees would find their security in the Lord.
• That's it.
For now, here's the list of the trainees:
The Chicos
Henry-David -- Peru
Heber Saul -- Peru
Jaire -- Peru
Roderigo -- Peru
Andrew -- Missouri
Jeff -- Texas
Chris -- Texas
Cody -- Texas
Steven "Uncle Remis" -- South Carolina
Lorne -- Florida

The Chicas
Yoli -- Peru
Rosalinda -- Peru
Betina -- Peru
Isabet -- Peru
Katie -- South Carolina
Linzi -- Georgia
Christy -- USA
Nadia -- Quebec, Canada

Please be praying for each of them and write them encouraging letters! You can ask them about themselves, what they are learning, what they are growing in, what they are struggling with, and how you can pray for them. You can share the same information with them. Send letters to:
recipient(s)'s name(s)
Apartado 89
Pucallpa
Peru
Also, my mom wanted to testify a little. Enjoy.
Not yet,
†il the whole world hears,
corey reid pendergrass

A story from Jennifer Pendergrass

One morning in November, I woke up with a particular desire on my heart. I told Butch, my husband and corey's dad, that I really wanted to smell corey. I went on to explain that I was really OK with not being able to see corey face to face; however, I had a strong desire to be able to smell him. I thought about how I could remember his smell (which might make some of you think why I desired to experience it); however, I wanted to smell the smell that I could remember. He sort of smiled and said, "I guess you will be able to smell him when he returns." I thought to myself, "I guess he's right." However, I continued to think about it from time to time during the day.

That very afternoon, I checked the mailbox and found a package that corey had sent which contained a wooden bowl he had sent to his grandparents for Christmas. As I checked the contents of the package, I noticed there was a plastic bag inside the bowl which contained something else. I peeked inside the bag and could not believe what I was smelling. It was corey's smell! As I opened the bag, I found a tattered stinkin' T-shirt that was one I knew belonged to corey. There was a little note that read, "The bowl is for Granny and Satch. The T-shirt is for whoever wants to smell corey."

I immediately began to think about how God had known my needs and provided for them many weeks in advance of me even anticipating the need. He had nudged corey on the exact day the T-shirt needed to be mailed. Corey later told me he had initially thought about burning the T-shirt. This old stinkin' T-shirt no longer reminded me of corey so much. It reminded me of the power and love of God and his provision for our needs. It reminded me of His fragrance in my life.

Praise God for all things, even stinkin' T-shirts!