Happy Reformation Day!

To whom it may concern,
Thanks for your prayers regarding the IMB's decision to advance our application process at this time. Two days ago we heard from the Board that we have been invited to the Candidate Interview Conference in December in Richmond!
This is great. However, it still does not mean that we are for-sure headed overseas in June 2010 (which is the earliest we could go). It doesn't even mean that we've been appointed by the IMB for overseas service. It simply means that we can potentially do both and that we have a "job request" reserved in our name in west Africa.
So, please continue to pray for our application process and for the vast lost among the "S" people.
There are a few things that could happen that would prevent us for reaching west Africa by June.

1. Inadequate funds - Please be praying for the upcoming Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, the annual offering that represents over half of the IMB's sending funds. They have had to turn down more applicants in recent months than ever before because of the recession. There is a "cap" on how many missionaries can go during a given amount of time. We've already been told that we will likely be pushed back to the September 2010 or November 2010 Field Personnel Orientations (FPOs, which last two months before overseas deployment). This would be heartbreaking.
2. Moral failure - We know we are not above temptation. Please be in prayer for our stamina against the Enemy as there are some sins that would forfeit us from taking the great commission to the "S."
3. Incomplete paper work - So far we've done everything up to par, but it's a lot of paperwork and documentation. Please pray for us as we get forms submitted on time and for the IMB as they process those forms in an organized manner.

Above all please pray that God would bring the Gospel to the "S" how He wants to and when He wants to. Obviously, we would leave next weekend if the Board would let us, but that's not God's timing. We hope we can attend the FPO in April 2010 and go to west Africa in June 2010. However, God may desire that that spot on the roster be filled by someone else going to a people group in more need at this time. If so, we will wait... patiently.

Thanks again for praying,
'til the whole world hears,
corey reid pendergrass

PS. For more info on Reformation Day, click here. Thanks for having some gumption this day in 1517 Martin Luther.

What WOULD Lottie Moon Do?

2500 shotgun shells fired: (essentials for the skimmers)

• New photos! Albums: Fisher's first week, Dates and such, Fisher's 1st vacation, and SHOOT DOVES
• Fisher is growing like kudzu.
• We chose a people group to work with for next 3-4 years! At this point, we will call them "S" since we were asked not to share their name for security purposes, but it is an unreached people of over 1,100,000 in west Africa. PRAY FOR THEM.
• After submitting everything to the IMB we are waiting to hear back from them. We have not secured a job yet but we are faithful that God will work in this. We should hear something by October 30.
• Last week Racheal took Fisher to Key West to visit Gramps and Nonna. My dad took me to Argentina to dove hunt for a few days.
• Check out SMOi's newest missionary, Anne Tully.
• I read/heard a cool blog entry a few weeks ago by Abraham Piper about parenting like God. You may want to read or hear it too.
• We were given the privilege of speaking with a Sunday school class of Brookstown Methodist Church. Thanks for inviting us!
  
• PrayeRequests below.

1507 dead doves: (extras for the readers)

Dear prayer warriors,

Thank you all for praying with us over the decision of where to go overseas and with what people group to serve. We've finally made that decision after reviewing various IMB "job requests" from around the world. For security reasons we'll refer to this people group as "S" for now. Please be praying for these people of west Africa who have less than 0.02% born again. Compre that with the 35% of Americans that claim to be evangelicals. Now we wait a few days while the IMB "matches" us to that job request and decides whether or not to send us there. We should hear something by October 30. Please join us in prayer!

Several months ago my dad won a dove hunting trip for two to Cordoba, Argentina at an auction. Therefore, we made a "bucket list" venture down to South America for a few days. We enjoyed the rich culture of Buenos Aires for a day and then proceeded to a lodge in the country. We hunted for 3 days, and together we dropped some 2924 doves. It was like a video game. They just kept coming and coming. Thousands of them.

Don't think for a minute that Racheal was going to let me leave her alone with our son for a week while i scooted off to South America. No! Thanks to my in-laws generous gift of a plane ride her and Fisher spent several days in Florida. I missed them. A lot.

In any event, it's that time of year for chicken stews and fall colors. I missed this in Peru. I hear west Africa has a chicken stew, but it's not the same. Fisher is growing so stinkin' much! He's already mobile and can shove himself around with his legs. Not bad for 4 weeks old! Also, we are very grateful for all the gifts we've received thus far on Fisher's behalf, including clothing. But, in case you get the urge to buy us baby clothes, know that he already has about 40 outfits. If you really want to send something, call Racheal to find out what we need (336.978.1740).

PrayeRequests:

• Praise God for allowing us to apply to the IMB.
• Pray for the "S" people. They need Jesus whether we'll be the vessel that brings the Gospel or not.
• Pray that the IMB would process our application asap. If we are appointed by October 30 then we'll go to the 2-month orientation in Richmond in April followed by deployment in June 2010. If not, then we've been told that we will have to wait until the next orientation. That would be at least 3-4 months longer to wait while more "S" die without the opportunity of hearing the Good News! PLEASE PRAY DAILY UNTIL THE 30TH OF OCTOBER.

Quote of the Month:

Upon arriving to our hotel in Buenos Aires i announced, "There's a bidet! I hope i have to poop before we leave!" Alas, we left before i had the chance, but when we got to the hunting lodge it was evident that our God is a God of second chances.

In the words of Casting Crowns...

"Sing un-
†il the whole world hears,"
corey reid pendergrass