"Road Goes on Forever"

• Mulroneys/Chattanooga, CHECK
• Lanes/Memphis, CHECK
• Echelon gathering/Dallas, CHECK
• Randall and Fiona Roberts/Las Vegas, CHECK
• Randall/Zion National Park, CHECK
• Randall/Grand Canyon, CHECK
• Uncle Tony and Aunt Elizabeth Anuez/Houston, CHECK
• Lindsey Jaramillo/Graceville, FL, NOT YET
• Ryan Roberts and Jacqualine/Tampa, NOT YET
• Randy and Rene'e Roberts/Key West, NOT YET

Got see some new photos of our trip thus far.

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