Interesting thoughts....

2006-08-25 3:52:08 pm
Just something God has been teaching me lately...
"For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor. To this present hourwe are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; we toil working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered we try to concilate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now." (1 Corinthians 9:13) (Please read whole chapter for context) Why do we (I) desire this? For some reason we seem to thrive off of the hard times or difficult situations. I desire the challenge, the test, the refining. I cannot immagine living a "normal", "typical" American life. The church seems to thrive under persecution. Maybe thats what Christians need these days. It sickens me when I hear people claim to be Christians, yet they have no clue who God even is. They never read the Word, and they live like the rest of the world, exemplifying a so called "CHristian life style". Can i just say thats crap. If someone is going to claim be to a follower of Jesus Christ, they ought to live like it. "You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."
It is so easy for us to control our lives, and in our flesh live in the safety of our own control. We make our plans, and why is it that they never seem to fall through? We plot out our future, yet we have no clue what the future brings. God has really taught me alot about this...read this carefully... "Come now, you who say, "Today or tommorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit." Yet you do not even know what your life will be like tommorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, "if the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that." But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; and all such boasting is evil. Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin." James 4:13-17 This was really convicting and revolutionary for me. I would always make my plans and run with ideas of mine without fervent prayer, but God is in control...not me.
As an encouragement ... "Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "You shall be Holy, for I am Holy." "
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Things at the orphanage are going well. We had our meeting and it is official... I am Racheal Roberts... medecine woman. ;) In the mornings im still taking out the little ones and the special needs children. They are so much fun. We (Tammy, Mariam and I) are starting to get to work on Christmas stuff for the kids. Sounds early doesnt it, but believe you me we we probubly just make it. We have to measure all 500 kids, take pictures of them, and have each of them make christmas cards for their sponsors. Its going to be a big task, but so much fun. Yesterday it was discovered that I know computers well, and i spent all day in the computer lab refiguring every computer. lol. It was fun. And tonight i get to build Katchas computer, which I am really excited about. I really love that stuff. I know, I am a nerd. :) We're trying to think of extra curricular activitie we can do with the kids and one of our ideas is to give some of the girls hair wraps. ( you know with string and beads) Im teaching Tammy and Mariam how to make them so we can all do it a the same time. We're also trying to get some girls together for a crochet class, but we cannot start that until we figure out the Christmas card schedule. Ok, so your going to laugh at me... remember in an earlierpost how i mentioned the machine guns going off at night along with the shot guns??? Well yesterday I was in my room all afternoon because i had really bad stomach pains and i heard the machine guns again...i thought to myself, surely if machine guns were going off everyone would be screaming...so i sat a listened and looked, and to my utter amazement/emmbarrasment i realized the it was my ceiling fan. lol. I mean it is 20 feet above me and 20 feet away from me. Who would've thought? Tammy was laughing at me so hard, and i do admit i laughed at myself also. The shot guns are real, but not the machine guns... oh my goodness. Im ridiculous. ;) Well Yon, Yen and Linda all returned to Denmark and we are awaiting a volunteer next month. Please pray for them as they return back home... for their safety and dedication to Christ.

I Got a Fever. And the Only Prescription Is South America.

Dear Faithful Prayer Partners,

For you left brain folks, here's the rundown:

1. Saw my doc about the knee today. I switched doctors again, and the surgery is moved up from September 13th to the 8th! (PTL) Looks like i'm going with the cadaver's ACL graft.
2. I'm going to SWO this weekend to help out to help out with the kids and watch UFC 62 on Pay-Per-View. Pray for the kids.
3. We'll have commissioning service at Mt. Vernon Church, my home church, in Boone, NC on September 10th. Yes, i plan on being ready by then.
4. Cornerstone Christian Church, my folks' church, is commissioning me as well on September 24th.
5. The going away party (of which yall are invited to) is also September 24th starting 5:30ish, at Tanglewood Park, shelter #3, in Clemmons, NC. Please come prepared to join us in the Lord's Supper. If possible, bring your addition to the pot-luck feast. If not, no worries. Come anyway. RSVP if you can, but it's not necessary. Tell the guard you're with us and they'll let you in free. BYOB (Bring Your Own Bible)
6. The doc says i should wait about 10-12 weeks after surgery before i can go to Ecuador, and that will put me leaving at the first of December. Based on what my old doctors said, i was shooting for about 6 weeks. He said that my graft would be at it's weekest at 6 weeks. He also thought it'd be better to wait in Winston-Salem where he could keep an eye on it, as if the doctors in Quito weren't as good. I happen to find that unacceptable. He said that it would be my choice when i leave the country, but he recomends waiting. I still hope to leave by late October/early November. We'll just have to continue to play it by ear. (For my bosses, if you'd like to talk with me more about this, i'll have my cell on me the rest of the day: 336.972.1784)

PrayeRequests:

• It's evident that Satan and his demons are not going to take this lying down. He's had control over these families in Ecuador and Peru for thousands of years now, ever since their ancestors left the line of the patriarchs in Genesis. He's not ready to give them up. I've already been under attack, not just with circumstances as persistant as waves in the ocean that are hindering my going, but also by demonic encounters (If you want to know, ask and i'll tell you the story.). I understand these usually increase in frequency and severity once a missionary is overseas. Please pray about that.
• Please pray for Dr. Jennings, my new knee doctor, to fix it exactly how God wants him too and understand why i need to leave when i do.
• I'll be needing to acquire a plane ticket soon. That's always fun. By "fun" i mean aggravating and expensive.
• Praise Him for the surgery date change. I know it's not next week, but every second counts when people are dying without hearing the Gospel over there.
• Ask Him for the souls of those in South America. Pray this clay vessel would hold together long enough for them hear the Gospel from these lips.

Thank yall so much for the prayers!

Love yall,

†il the whole world hears,

corey reid pendergrass

Try Not to Poop Your Pants Laughing

We had a few days around the house before Lena headed off to school. Good thing the cameras were rolling.

Click here to view the video.

Notice the unimpressed dogs.

pure and undefiled religion

2006-08-22 1:29:17 am
"Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep ones self unstained by the world." James 1:27
I am slowly, gently walking down an old dirt road. The palms and the pines are softly swaying in the breeze. The sun is bright , and high above the breath taking mountain tops. I am surrounded by young abandoned children, and in each of my hands... a precious child clasps on to be loved, to be cared for. I look to my left as the child glances at me with those big brown eyes. His heart searching for his mother, someone to love him and show him compassion. His mind wondering if anyone loves him, or if he's even wanted. Pondering why he was left behind. His body bruised and blistered, covered in dirt... his face, his hands. With snot running down his nose he looks straight into your eyes, and lifts his hands as high as he can like he is trying to grasp the entire universe in his arms. With a broken heart, and a tear in your eye, you think of Christ walking through the streets, see what you see. Visiting orphans and widows... and this sense of satisfaction overwhelms you. Knowing that your doing the work of your Savior. Peace and joy inexpressible overwhelm you. God is surely in this place.
The little boys name is Serio. I wish i could hold him in my arms all day. I wish i could kiss his little face and tell him everything is going to be ok. I love to hold him in my arms and pray over him, pray for his future and for his spiritual life. He's only two years old, but if i can do anything for this child, i can get on my knees to the Lord in prayer. 1 John 5:14-15
DSCF1866.AVI
Everything is going well here at the orphanage. Tonight I had dinner with Mandy and Amber which was a huge blessing. Then after leaving them my roommates and I went up to Yon and Yen's house (two danish volunteers ...married) for some good fellowship. But.. on the way i saw three wild horses, that came down from the mountain. And of course... i either wanted to pet it, or ride it... so in order to do that i had to catch it. Well, it was interesting. First i tried the Daniel Ritchie approach of gently coaxing it in, but that didnt work. And when it started to walk away I tried to sneak up on it, but it started trotting away, and so i ran after it, and well... that was embarrasing. I almost fell down the mountain lol. Horses are really fast. :) It is one of my goals to catch a horse while i am here. Atleast to pet one that is wild.
My knee is much much better. I can walk perfectly on it, but when i run it puts way to much pressure and weight on it. It only hurts badly when something bumps it or if a kid sits on it. (obviously from experience)
This afternoon, Tammy, Meriam and I took two of the kids to town so that they could by something with the money there sponsors gave them and after much shopping one of the girls had spent all her money and when we went to the grocery store for some food, Tammy looked at me and said, "I think she has something under her shirt", In disbelief i went over to her pulled up her shirt and snatched out a bag of juice mix she was trying to steal. I was hacked! I apologized to the lady at the counter and put the juice back. But you know what, the most frustrating thing was that i couldnt communicate with her why that was wrong, i couldnt explain that all she had to do was ask. These kids have no concept of money or the way things work in the "real" world. I wish i could explain it to them. Someday... hopefully soon.
Tommorrow at 10:30 i have my meeting with Katcha, so Tammy, Meriam and I will finally know what we are officially doing. Tammy and myself are doing medicines, so please pray that God would guide us in the distribution of medicines and that these kids would get healthier. Oh gosh, There is a boy here named Watson, that got his toe mauled by a tractor. Amber said it looked like his toe was pealed like an apple. So, he went to the doctor and got some stitches, but it doesnt look good. His toe seems to be swelling and ripping the stitches out. I clean that thing twice a day and Im not sure if the peroxide is eating away at the stitches or what... Anyone a doctor?
Please continue to pray for the spiritual battle that goes on for these kids souls, for their health and education. Please pray for guidance of the leaders here at emmanuel and a refocus. Please pray that my spanish would improve so that i can share the gospel affectivly with these kids.
dependent on your faithful prayers,
Rach

Did Christ Date His Bride? Nor Will I.

Some things God has taught me in the last few years...

Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

They were betrothed (a type of engagement), before their wedding, and divorce was still legally necessary in order that they separate. Hmmm. That means that somehow their betrothal made them legally married, but they still had to keep their virginity until the wedding. Biblical engagement was a time of preparation for marriage, not a final test to see if you really want to marry someone, as is the case so often in western culture. Interestingly enough, this is the type of relationship we currently share with Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:2 I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

We have been betrothed (engaged) to Christ. He has paid the bride-price, His blood. As Christians, we have accepted His proposal. Since He hates divorce (Malachi 2:16), He's not going to divorce us. This is not a trial period. We are His. This is it. We are married to Him. We are His bride. He has not put a diamond band on our finger, but the Holy Spirit is the seal on our hearts. (Ephesians 1:13, 4:30)

Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

We are to mimic Christ's relationship to His Bride in our marriages. How does Christ love His Bride? However He does it, i should mimic it. Well, we've already seen that He has a mentality where divorce is not an option. Also, during this time of engagement, Christ has emotional intimacy with us. It is as deep as we allow it to be. Interestingly enough, before we accept His proposal, we do not share this marital emotional intimacy with Him. Sure, He loves us, but with the agape love that God has for all people, but we are not loved by Him in the sense that a husband loves his bride. Before i entered into this engagement with Christ, i was incapable of having any sort of deep intimacy with Christ, where He leads me and guides me to understand more and more about His mysterious character. Biblical truths were foreign to me. I was incapable of understanding them without the guide of the Holy Spirit.

Furthermore, there was no trial relationship i had with God. Sometimes i see graffiti that says, "TRY JESUS." I can't help but think, "What a load of crap. You can't try Him." The Gospel message is reckless abandonment of my old self in order to place my faith in Christ, taking that leap of faith into the grace of Christ that saves me. Try leaping from one place to another sometime without fully commiting to it, or try throw a rock without committing to it (You people from Snowbird will remember Brody's sermon illustration about the parallels between faith and rock throwing.). It's impossible. You're either doing it or not. Therefore, i either accept His proposal or not. A lost person will never be able to try out Christianity for a little while with the mindset that if they don't like it or things don't work out, they can always go back to their old lifestyle. Once they throw that rock and release it from their hand, there is no bringing it back. It's gone. Our relationship with our brides, if that is God's will, should mimic Christ's relationship with His in this.

1 Timothy 5:1 Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father. Treat younger men like brothers, 2 older women like mothers, younger women like sisters, in all purity.

How far should we go with our siblings? Emotionally? Physically? Spiritually? Now, the Bible doesn't say, "Thou shalt not date." But, in my opinion, dating or courting your sister is pretty gross. God thinks so too.

As an athlete, i've learned that i will play how i practice. 9 times out of 10, if i try to change something on gameday, it's not going to work. I train my mind to play a certain way through repetition in practice. Is it any surprise the divorce rate in western culture is so high (50-51% in the US, i think)? Our culture teaches us that we must enter into trial romantic relationships before marriage. If i do that over and over again, training my mind to test out a member of the opposite sex, through repetition, and then dumping them when things don't turn out so well, i'm setting myself up for a marriage that will follow suit. 50% of marriages have followed suit. Many married people are allowing themselves the option of temporary romantic relationships during (divorce) and leading up to marriage because that's how they've trained their minds to work since their teenage years. Sure, by the grace of God, He can and does change that mindset in so many Christian homes that were started through trial romantic relationships, but should He have to?

Revelation 19:6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,
"Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
8 it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure"—
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
9 And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are the true words of God."

Throughout Scripture we are referred to as the Bride of Christ, but our wedding ceremony/supper has not happened yet. However, we are His Bride because we have accepted His proposal for salvation, and ultimately, for marriage. The marriage ceremony is found here in Revelation, which will happen after the rapture. We are to be ready for His coming, always preparing for this marriage. Interestingly enough, our first physical intimacy is shared with Christ here, at the marriage. What an awesome picture it is to see my Christian friends who share their first kiss on the wedding altar! To really strive to keep physical purity until the time Christ shows us by His own example with His Bride-wow!

Genesis 2:20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said,
"This at last is bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called Woman,
because she was taken out of Man."
24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

Have you ever thought about how profound it is that God put Adam to sleep? Why would he do such a thing? Was it for anesthesia? No, God could have simply made the rib area numb if He wanted to. He knew that if Adam was awake while He was forming a mate for him, he would try to "help" God. "Hey God, can you make her look like this... Think like this... Act like this..." God says, "No. Go to sleep, Adam. I know what's best for you. I'll wake you up when I'm ready to give her to you."

About this Genesis passage, Jim Elliot, while still single, journaled. "No one warns young people to follow Adam's example. He waited 'til God saw his need. Then God made Adam sleep, prepared for his mate, and brought her to him. We need more of this 'being asleep' in the will of God. Then we can receive what He brings us in His own time, if at all. Instead we are set as bloodhounds after a partner, considering everyone we see until our minds are so concerned with the sex problem that we can talk of nothing else when bull-session time comes around. It is true that a fellow can not ignore women- but he can think of them as he ought: as sisters, not as sparring partners!"

My fellow singles, let us now enter into a deep sleep. Let us be asleep in the will of God. He'll wake you up when He's ready to give you your spouse, if indeed that is His plan for you.

Love yall, brothers and sisters,

†il the whole world hears,

corey reid pendergrass

Amazing...

2006-08-17 8:09:02 pm
Everything is going well here. I have been assigned until i have my main meeting with the volunteer coordinater on Sunday, to working in the Clinic. So far here has been my day:
at 5:45 i pass out medications to the boys during circle time (devotional time). Then from 8-12 i play-watch the toddlers, who are amazing!!! I am falling in love! Mom i have three you can adopt :) (Serio, Daniella y Diego) Oh my gosh they make my heart melt. Any how after that i go to help serve the kids lunch (and i take back the previous statement about small portions...these kids eat a ton!!! a lot of rice, corn, chicken , cereal and moonpies...yes moon pies!) Then i have about an hour to do my homework...I am taking two classes on the internet while i am here... Please pray for time managment. Then at four i pass out medicine to the boys again as they eat supper. Then until five I am in the clinic healing their precious wounds. You wouldnt believe the things i have seen in the two days i have been here. Let me make a list for you. Tons and tons of Fungus (in ALL areas of the body), torsolos (worm) its exteremly pain ful and it causes a sist of pus and continues to grow until you squeeze it out. Apparently a painful process (i was called a bruja (witch..lol) when i touched one. There has been ring worm, sty´s pink eye, severe blisters on the feet, many of the kids here are epileptic , and have asma. There were two bad allergic reactions to bee´s but we only have one ...ONE eppi pen (sp?) so we have just been giving out anti inflamatories and pain medicine. I am absolutely loving it here. Please please pray for my spanish. It is gradually getting better as I am learning a lot. I try not to use english at all unless i am completely lost. I have been doing well with it until they ask me an off the wall question, then there is herman... a 4 foot 14 year old boy who knows about as much, probubly more english as i know Spanish and he has helped me a lot.
God continues to comfort me when i am confused, or discouraged. I have found several of the girls to be quite mean , which confuses me because they are the older girls who started going to the Bible study (hopefully they will let God change them...please pray for salvations) But by the grace of God i do not work with them much. Im mostly with the boys and the young children. Im sure that will change sunday when Katcha gets back though.
Today after i left the farm (we took the toddlers there) i was holding Serio and Daniellas hands walking down the dirt road, and as we walked i glanced out at the horizon seeing the beautiful mountains, feeling the cool breeze and witnessing what God is doing through His people here. Realizing what I am here for ... these precious orphans. To show them the love, mercy and justice of Christ. Im at such a humbling place here. Knowing that i cannot do anything for these kids without the help of my Lord, Jesus Christ. Im in awe.
I also realized the womans role here. After getting done with snowbird for the summer, i was ready to come here and work...to cut down tree´s, mow something, tear soemthing down , build something, but no. That is defiantely not omething i will be able to do here...lol. That is the mens jobs. God is showing me so much about my character as a woman. The compassion and mercy he has given me to bestow to these children. The abundance of love God has given me is now focused on these children and i cant help but smile. Please pray for these children, for their health and more importantly that they would see Christ in the way this ministry is run. That Christ would call them to himself into salvation and that they would stand firm and be a pillar in the faith. I miss you all. mama... kisses, daddy...huge hugs I love you two more than you could ever imagine!

Oh the Adventure God brings!!!!

My goodness. I have never had such a fun and interesting dia in my life. Monday night I had a massive over night layover in Atlanta, so Anne Tully, Michelle Wilkins, Allison Walters and I hung out and had a blast. We stayed at a hotel and at 3am and i was off for the aero port. Well mi flight to Tegus was amazing! God always seems to put people in mi life to guide me. I happened to be seated next to a man named Jeffrey, who was visiting Honduras to see if his family should join in a mission an hour outside of Tegus. He showed me what i needed to do at immigration and customs and talked about what God is doing in our lives. I was amazed at how simple immigration and customs were. Well any how Mandy Perkins hurt her ankle, so Amber came and picked mi up at the air port. She is such a Godly woman, and so much fun to work with. Well any how we to the taxi to the bus station and as we waited in line i felt something brush up against my back side, so i turned around and this guy was walking by , so initially i thought it was an accident and turned back around. About 30 second later i feel it AGAIN only it was more evident this time. I gave him the meanest look I have ever given. I was mad, to say the least. Well i thought he had left so i turned around and about two minutes later he came back and practically molested my back side. My blood was boiling. If you know me, you know that it takes and awful lot to make me angry or upset, but i was absolutely livid. My first reaction was to raise my fist at him (i know turn the other cheek), but amber stopped me promptly and pointed out that we were the only two white people amongst 100 Hondurans in the worst part of Tegus. So i simply leaned up against the bus while he tried to persuade me that i enjoyed his touvh and that i should go with him. I was furious. But i learned ignoring people while they’re talking seems to make them go away. Well we finally get on the bus and about 30 minutes down the road our bus brakes down because barbed wire got caught in the rear axle, around the tires and in the engine. So as Amber and I contemplated hitch hiking a man that knew amber from a random incident at Emmanuel told us to come with him. He flagged over a tractor trailer and we hopped in after much contemplation about leaving my luggage on their part i said no and we got in. On the way we picked up another hitch hiker and continued on to Juan Carlos’ house (Ambers acquaintance). He was amazing. He didn’t speak any but four words of English..."nice to meet you", but i could understand most of what he said. He was so awesome he bought us some refrescos and took us to meet his mother and his sister and the rest of his family. Then he gave us a tour of the Mennonite colonies in Guimaca. It was so beautiful. I am in awe of the beauty of God’s creation! We got to the orphanage around 6pm (And that is really late for here) in which time i went to Mandy´s bible study for the girls. Some girls were shy and some had attitudes, but over all it was a good first meeting. That night i went to mi nueva casa and met Linda, Yon, Yen and Tammy. They’re amazing! Tammy and I will be here the sam amount of time. I have been assigned to do the boys medicine and play with the toddlers in the morning. I found out that since we have four people on toddlers i can take them on adventure on the property!!! I am so excited. The younger kids are so welcoming! Every time i walk passed the girls yard today the always say "Raquel vas y baila... we love you." Racheal, come and dance, because when i first met them this morning i started dancing with them and swinging them around. I am so excited to experience what God has in store to use me for here at Emmanuel. Last night and throughout today the power keeps going out. Last night there were 16 gun shots before 8:30pm. Insane. And the power was out... so i was walking around in mi new home trying to find my handy dandy flash light my daddy bought me. Dad it has been a huge blessing so far. It has this radio transmitter on it so we we´re listening to Spanish music in the dark and eating our flautas with avocados. I slept really well. I am still waiting to get nervous. I thought i would be nervous or anxious, but i feel some content and at peace. "Be anxious about nothing..." I’m really trying to learn more Spanish and as i am here i realized i don’t know or understand as much as i thought. Please, Please pray for my knowledge to grow. I miss you all please be praying for me.
Raquel :)

Last Two Weeks in a Nutshell, Biggie Sized

It’s been a while since i posted. There is so much to cover. I’ll just give you the highlights.

Working at SWO for their last two weeks of summer was such a blessing. God used me to lead Daniel Page, a Renegade Wrestler, to the Lord. He came to me and said he wanted to get saved. I asked him why. He said he needed Jesus to go to Heaven. He said there is no other way. How great an opportunity and privilege! We had 24 wrestlers come, i think. They are such a great group to work with. I was honored to baptize 6 of them in the creek at the end of camp. It was my first time obeying the Lord in that part of the Great Commission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,” Matthew 28:19. By the way, i believe the Great Commission is given to all Christians, not just a few, including the baptism part, whether going or sending, doing or supporting.

I worked with Steve and Paula King, my bosses for the IMB while i’ll be in Ecuador, during Collegiate Week at Ridgecrest. It lasted about 4 days and we were recruiting for the Xtreme Team and REAP, another IMB mission in Peru. It was weird being around so many students who weren’t missions minded, so to speak –a little frustrating at times.

Back in Winston-Salem with the family, i was able to redo teote.com, which you’ve hopefully taken the time to explore. If you haven’t yet, i invite you to go on a virtual prayer walk through the site. Pray for the missionaries represented there, please.

Last Saturday, we Pendergrass’ traveled to Hatteras for our last family vacation before i leave. We rented a house on the sound side of the island, a couple hundred yards from the sound. I love the Outer Banks. Where else in the US can you go and watch the sun set on one side of your porch into the seemingly endless water, and a few hours later watch it rise again on the other side of the porch from the Atlantic Ocean? Last night’s sunset was gorgeous! Thank ya, Jesus!

That's Lena --> I got a waterproof camera. Be jealous.

On the way down, at Oregon Inlet, I ran out of gas. I stopped a few feet shy of the bridge (good thing i didn’t make it half-way across the mile+ long bridge and then stop and block traffic) on the side of the road. No worries; it was right in front of the marina where they had some gas pumps. So Lena and i crossed the front yard, Cephas and Esther, our boxers, tagging along, which we quickly discovered was a cactus field. Everyone got stuck. These weren’t the big easy-to-avoid cacti, no. These were the ankle deep ones that break off and attach themselves two your clothes and shoes and flesh. We had an interesting time pulling the barbs out of the dogs’ feet and then our own. Enjoy this photo of my leg!

Today we went deep sea fishing on an offshore charter. How wonderful. I've been before and absolutely love it. I imagine this will be the last time i get to make a trip for many years. I'm still kind of under the umbrella of Butch's wallet and the charter trip is $200/head. When i get back from Peru, i doubt i'll be under that umbrella and won't have a lot of dough to spend on things like this. Nevertheless, what a day! So many fish. I think we caught a total of 285 lbs. between 5 people. I caught a monster wahoo. It will be good eating, let me tell ya.

Speaking of Peru, and my mission trip, i got a call from my doctor's office today! Finally, the call i've been waiting for since week 2 of FPO, 9 weeks ago, when i tore my knee. When is my surgery? Not next week, as i was hoping. No. The 13th of September. 2 days shy of a month, 13 weeks after the accident. Set back. That's the only time i could get in and i had to switch doctors to get that! Plus, it'll be another month or so of recouperation after that before i can leave. Please earnestly pray that one of my doctors' schedules would miraculously clear up. Pray someone would cancel their surgery so i could bump up. I want to get to Ecuador so i can start finding communities that have little or no Gospel presence.

Ay mi madre!

2006-08-10 8:44:05 pm
As I prepare for Honduras I have found myself sitting in either a hospital or a doctor’s office for the past three days trying to figure out what happened to my knee when I wrestled the "staff calf". After many hours and many headaches the doctors found the problem with my knee is... (Drum roll please) ...well they just don’t know, and I have to come back in next week for an MRI. Unfortunately I don't have that kind of time so, I will find out in December when I come back to the states. Please pray for quick healing. I cannot believe it is already here. I leave this Monday, August 14th, for Guimaca Honduras. After leaving snowbird (www.swoutfitters.com), God has continuously been refining me. I went from an amazing Godly community into a place that only discourages, mocks and condemns. I know that I am being molded into His image realizing that this world is not my home. 1 John 3:18 continuously is being brought to my mind. "...Let us not love with word or tongue, but in action and truth." The most effective way to share the love of God is by our actions towards one another. I spoke to an atheist this past week who stated, "I would never convert to Christianity because people say they believe in God and live as hypocrites." It is so important for us to live out what we believe, and pray for each other in our obedience and walks with Christ (Ephesians 6:18). To be stead fast and persevere under trials, knowing that the testing of our faith produces perseverance (Romans 5:3). Please pray for my family and for the people and children at Orphanage Emmanuel, that I would be able to communicate affectively and share the love of Christ in action and truth. Phileo.

Serving Him,
Rach

Address in Equador

Here's my mailing address in Equador. I should use it from October-January. Feel free to send me something there or email me.

corey reid pendergrass

P.O. Box 17-11-6482

Quito, Ecuador

RandomShirts.com

While in VA last month, a t-shirt idea came to me. I submitted it to RandomShirts.com. There's a people's choice award there and you can vote for it! Please go here, sign in and vote for the "Virginity is for Lovers" shirt. If you're not a member, you'll need to sign up. Thanks a bunch. I'll give my winnings to the spread of the Gospel through stuff like the IMB. So a vote for me is a vote for Lottie Moon!
RandomShirts.com is a Christian based organization that produces funny shirts and give the proceeds to support missionaries. Please buy something!

Things That Make You Go Hmmm...

Dr. O'keefe called today and the results from this MRI are in. I still have a torn ACL and some torn cartiledge. But he suggested that i wait 'til after May 08 (my scheduled return from Peru) to have the surgery and wear a brace between now and then. I would be willing to do that but i'm not so certain about how willing my ACL will be as i torture it for the next 1.5 years. Please pray about that since it will greatly affect (or effect? not sure) this mission. However, i'm confident that God's work will happen regardless of what else happens.
Thanks for the prayers,
Sorry for the frequent updates,
Love yall,
†il the whole world hears,
corey reid pendergrass