Pray for brother corey

From the heart of kori wawa, a letter to you dated 3-28-07:

The Word of God (essentials for the skimmers):

• I’m learning so much about Biblical missions and jungle life.
• I bid farewell to Bobby Lane who is going to witness to the Yaminahua
• We search for options as the visits to Puerto Arturo haven’t been effective.
• Prayer requests.

Our Opinion (extras for the non-skimmers):
Dear people who talk with God on my behalf,

Its very humbling to think how many times i’ve witnessed to lost people with my opinion instead of the Word of God. In an effort to plant churches among the indigenous communities, we’re learning to share stories from the Bible, word-for-word, and encourage discussion among the people. The Word is sufficient. For instance, we might share the story of creation and then ask, “What is God like in the story?” One might say that God is good. Another indigenous person might say that He does whatever He wants. Another would say He’s powerful and creative. These are all right answers according to the story. The cool part is that i didn’t preach/teach a word of my opinion or what i think the story says. The Word is enough! And as such, the group will have taught themselves to study the Word and will not be reliant or dependent on me when i need to leave them. Also, since we are repeating the stories to the people until they memorize them, if they ever do accept Christ as their Savior, they’ll have already memorized hundreds of verses of Scripture!

This week we’re wrapping up our house to sleep in. It stands about 3 meters high, roofed in leaves, no walls, no nails, and held together by ropes made of tree bark orvines. It’s quite lovely.

Saturday, March 23^rd, i bid farewell to my right-hand-man once again, Bobby Lane. He and his partner Efrain, headed north via bus to Pucalpa where they will continue by river to the Yaminahua people who have not heard the Good News. There is a Peruvian pastor who is sharing the Gospel with them and says they have showed much interest. He also reports that he is alone in reaching them as the harvest is so ripe. That’s where Bobby & Efrain come in. They will head up river as soon as theivr understanding of the language is enough. Most people in this people group do not speak Spanish.

Intermission of letter:

3-30-07 Our visits to Puerto Arturo have proved ineffective as almost all the men of the village have left to work in other towns, leaving their families behind for a couple of months. We don’t speak with the women alone since it is culturally inappropriate. Señor Angél is the only man consistently around but is loosing his mind and can’t unsterstand the stories unless they are in his heart language, Quichua, which we don’t speak yet. Therefore, Alex & i have decided it best to move to another site for our ventures. This week we tried Otilia, a community of about 400 people that’s closer to the city than Arturo and slightly more modern in that they have electricity and a water system (kind of). The vice president of the community and her husband rejected us saying they couldn’t help us. We left the house and prayed about it, asking that the Lord’s will be done, not failing to remind Him that if we couldn’t find a home we would not have a place to sleep nor food to eat. After being instructed to return to the same house, they welcomed us in! They are showing interest in the Bible stories & want their children to hear as well. Praise the Lord! Lord willing, we will return to Otilia next week.

Prayer Requests:

• That Bobby & Efrain would learn the language fast & reap abundantly. I will not see Bobby for several months.
• I have a skin infection that is not fun & harder to lose than anything i’ve had in 7 years of wrestling.
• That God would move in hearts of Otilia. Edgar & Selmira are the family we stayed with.

Thank y’all so much for the prayers and encouraging letters! I don’t know if y’all got the update i sent a month ago asking y’all to write encouraging letters to the other entrainees (Spanglish for other team members?), but they haven’t received any from y’all. I ask that you consider these South American missionaries as much a part of the Family of God as you do me. They are your brothers. Please write a letter if you haven’t to at least one of them. They are Vicente, Martin, Alex, Jesús, Lucio, Edgar, Caleb (the Peruvians), Levi (Ecuadroian), Marshal, Alex, and Jeff (US Americans).

Love y’all,

†il the whole world hears,

corey reid Pendergrass

In the Beginning, God...

This is an update received in a handwritten letter from corey dated 3/11/07:

The Bath: (essentials for skimmers)
We built a typical jungle house.
My health is improving.
I'm learning Quichua and shared the story of the Creation with the family in Puerto Arturo.

The Bubbles: (non-essentials)
Dear the Church,
It's really amazing to see the power of prayer at work through our God Who exists outside of time and space. Get this: God is all knowing so He knows the prayers ya'll are going to pray before ya'll pray them. Therefore, He doesn't need to wait until you pray to answer. I don't know how long these letters take to get through the 3rd world mail, to the USA, to North Carolina, to my family, to an electronic format, and sent finally to your inbox, but it probably takes weeks. Nevertheless, my prayer requests are being answered, often within the day i send them to ya'll! Example: Last time i asked for prayers concerning my declining health, namely my feet. After giving the letter to my boss to take to the post office, about 15 minutes had passed when a girl working with the Xtreme Team brought us some medical supplies, including bandages and creams for my feet! Within a few days my cuts had healed up without any infection and i can run again with the other men during our exercises, something i've not been able to do in weeks. That being said, be encouraged to pray all the more in faith, without doubt, as James 1 says, believing that the Lord has perhaps already answered your prayer!
The last couple of weeks an indigenous brother, Senor Manuel, came and lived among us. He taught us how to construct a large house completely out of trees and leaves we found. It's held together by ropes we made of vines and tree bark and sits a few feet off the ground on stilts. The 12 of us built this house together to serve as a common place to meet. "Manly" indigenous river communities have a "man-house" like this where the men meet. This week we started our own houses to sleep in. Much smaller than the "man-house", ours will sleep 4 men. When we were setting the poles for the foundation, i noticed we had not measured it. (We don't have tape measures or rulers.) After measuring the corners with a vine, i figured it to be out of square. I talked to my guys and explained the Pythagorean Theorem. They admitted it wasn't square, but then asked why it needed to be so. For the life of me, i couldn't think of a good reason. We're not going to plumb it or tile the floor. They were right. I tell you this so you can understand i must remove my cultural goggles that i've used to see the world for the last 23 years. I must do so in order to win more for the Gospel. (I Corinthians)
Alas, these 3 months of training are not all classroom, separated from the real world. As i said in the former update, i'll be going to the community of Puerto Arturo, an indigenous village accessible only by river. There's no electricity, cars, plumbing, or cookie dough ice cream. This particular weekend was special because we got to share our first story,The Creation. We share Bible stories orally, then ask questions. We don't share our opinions or thoughts. The Word is enough. This method equips the people not to be dependent on us, especially after they memorize the stories too. One day, Lord willing, we will move on and perhaps, not return. They will need to be an autonomous church, if a church at all. They will have to rely on the Word of God and the Holy Spirit alone.

Prayer Requests:
Pray for the salvation and discipleship of Angel, Arora (his wife), Segundo, Noe', Jaeme', and many others in Puerto Arturo who hear these stories. Pray Alex and i would be wise as we share, knowing when to speak and when to let the Spirit speak alone.
Pray continually as i study Quichua. I understand so little now.
Pray for my bowels again as i haven't had continued success in this area in 2 months. It's very frustrating and discouraging.

I love ya'll with all my being.
til the whole world hears,
corey reid pendergrass

KAVU

I also received this letter from Kori Wawa dated 3-4-07. Please print these off, read them, and pray for the Tigre Quichua people and the XTreme Team. ~Lena
Dear friends & foes,
There's too much good stuff to skim through. Please read. Wednesday, the 21st of February (i think), 12 men set out on a 16 mile hike with all the equipment they could carry to use for the next 3 months. They also carried a week's worth of food. Also, it was raining. I was among their number. We've been split up into 3 groups of 4 guys, mine named KAVU, an acronym of our names. (I spell my name with a "K" in Spanish.) Our destination: a plot of jungle left untamed thus far. It will be our home for the next 3 months as we are in this training period.
So far, we've been sleeping in tents & cooking by campfire. Living is simple but strenuous. By simple, i mean a group of 4 guys gets 50 soles of money to spend on food per week. That factors out to about $4.17 per person per week. Don't worry; food is super cheap down here. By strenuous, i mean hard on the body. Y'all already know about some of my injuries: a torn left ACL (which has given no trouble thanks to your prayers), a torn right rotator cuff (which doesn't hurt too often), & a broken right foot from years ago (which hurts daily). Add to your lists: a cut bottom right foot (thanks to a rock in the river while doing laundry), a cut bottom left foot (thanks to a nail in a board placed by mischievous children while doing laundry in another river), & countless cuts & blisters on my hands (thanks to my machete). One would think that camping out in the woods with 11 other guys, breathing testosterone, & swinging a machete all day would be every 10-year old boy's dream. But, then i remember these flying insects called mosquitoes that are so tough that half of them shake off & fly away after you smack them across your arm. I also had chiggers covering my legs for a few days. I usually wouldn't ask for prayers about cuts & bugs, but when you have nothing but a bottle of alcohol to treat them 'cause someone stole your first aid kit, healing is slow & painful. I am going to buy some stuff this week, Lord willing. But do not despair, Beloved. All is not lost! We got to go on a field trip, if you will, for 24 hours this week. We were sent out in groups of 2 to various communities. Alex, my partner & i went to Puerto Arturo. Lord willing, we'll return weekly to Arturo, a town of 30-some families on the Madre de Dios River, to share stories from the Bible we will memorize. With a Bible in one hand & a machete in the other, we arrived and announced, "We've come to do the Lord's bidding!" Just kidding! But we did carry a Bible and a machete (to work in their crops beside the people). We learned so much of their culture as we stayed with Señor Angél (pronounced On-hel) & his family of 11, including his grandchildren. They served us meat 3 times, something i had not tasted for two weeks! And they speak Quichua & Spanish. Since i'll be going in the future to the Tigre Quichua people, many of which speak Quichua only, i'll need to learn the language. Angél's family will be perfect for this. Praise God!
I love you,
†il the whole world hears,
corey reid pendergrass
(AKA. kori wawa)

Letter from Alex, fellow Xtremer with Corey in English & semi-Spanish

Also, Corey included a letter that Alex, his partner who was mentioned above & is of the Yene Tribe wrote to Corey's readers. This is Corey's translation from Alex's Spanish:
Brother: Alex Sebastian Caleb
For those: To my brothers from the United States:
I have the pleasure of sending this letter to my brothers that are in the United States to request a big favor from y'all. Well, I'm from Perú, from the department of Cuzco, but I'm living in the community of , and I'm 17 years old. Well, my parents are also Christians. And, for that, I want to serve my Lord well. I received Christ as my only Savior at 11 years old, giving my life to my Lord. Well, I'm going to be in training for 3 months to learn many things such as how to be a missionary and how to follow Christ. I want to learn many things from the Bible and many activities to do with the brothers I'm going to visit after my training. Well, after my training I want to visit communities to carry the Word of God and to encourage the pastors that I will visit. Well, this is my plan, but Dios [God] is in charge. Well, for that I want y'all to pray for me. Well, that's all.
Salutations to all brothers of the United States. Well, I want y'all to send me a reply with Brother Kori [that's corey in Spanish/Quechua] please.
Alex Sebastian Caleb
*If you would like to reply to Alex or send letters to other fellow missionaries of kori's, send letters (under 2lbs. & in envelope) with international postage (you can buy standard international letter postage for 84 cents/letter via US Postal Service) to:
corey reid pendergrass/missionary's 1st name
APDO 111
Puerto Maldonado, Perú


Alex's letter in español (as best as Lena can understand his penmanship):
Hermano: Alex Sebastian Caleb
Para los:
Amis hermanos de estados unidos:-T
engo el gusto de mandar está carta a mis hermanos que estan en los estados unidos para pedirles un fabor grande.
-Bueno soy del Peru del de Partamento Cuzco pero yo estoy bibiendo en la communidad de ???? y tengo 11 anos. Bueno mis padres tambien son cristiano.
Y pore so yo tambien ??? ser bor a uni Senor beuno yo ?esihi a cristo couro en undio slavado alos 11 anos entrque to du un vida a uni senor.
-Bueno boy estar en el entrewaunien durante 3 meses paia a pruender muchos cosas cuevo ser misrone ro y causo seguir a Cristo y quiero a prender muchascosa del la bilia y mucho actividades para acertes jugar a hi herman que les bey abvistar despus de mentre memiento.
Bueno despues del mi entrene uniento quiero visitor a las communidades para llezsar la palabia de dios y animatralos a los pastores qui way a visitor.
Bueno a para eso quiero que oxen por uni bueno ese esto todo.
Salides a todos heramanos de los hestados????
Bueno quiero me manden la respuesta con el hermano Kori por favor
Alex Sebastian Caleb

Write & pray for kori wawa's fellow missionaries

Dear Friends:

I just got this note from Corey. Pray for him!

Much love,

LGP

Dated 2/18/7

The seed, the soil, the sun, & the water (essentials for the skimmers):

The trip to Cuzco was wonderful, 22 hour bus ride. I got to bond with several of the Xtreme Team members.
I ask y'all to pray & write encouraging letters to the missionaries on the Xtreme Team. (*See below for directions).
I just learned that i'll be sent to the Tigre Quichua people group in northern Perú. Please continually keep them in your preayers. In understand almost all of them speak Spanish so i'll be learning the Quichua language as well. Time to pray!
The manure & fertilizer: (extras for the non-skimmers)

Dear rest of the Body,

In a previous update, i mentioned "aggravating rules" i was enduring here on the [Xtreme] Team. Please let me clarify that doesn't mean "bad". The Team's rules are often aggravating, but necessary at the same time. For example, we aren't allowed to go to the store or even walk around by ourselves. We must go as a group of 5. This can be very inconvenient (and aggravating), but is very necessary. Biblically, it gives us constant accountability, guarding us from temptation. Also, it helps build us as a team.

*Speaking of my team, i have a request from all of you, especially the ones who speak Spanish. If you don't speak Spanish, no worries; i'll be more than willing to translate for you. Please write an encouraging letter to at least one of the missionaries in training, telling them how you are praying for them and how you will continue to do so. I invited them to write letters to y'all, as well. I told them that my prayer partners were not just people on the other side of the world. They are your brothers & sisters in Christ as much as they are mine.

Here are their names:

Edgar (native Peruvian, of the Yene Tribe, 27 years old)
Lucio (native Peruvian, of the Yene Tribe, nephew of Edgar)
Alex (native Peruvian, of the Yene Tribe, 17 y/o)
Levi (native Ecuadorian, good friend of mine while i was in Quito, 24 y/o)
Jeff (native Texan, Journeyman with the IMB [International Mission Board], 24 y/o)
Arminda (native Peruvian girl)
Marili (native Peruvian girl)
Marshall (native Louisianan, missionary with "Pioneers", husband & father of 9)
Alex (son of Marshall; his mom & 8 younger siblings stayed behind in Inquitos, Perú, while he & Marshall came to this 3-month training)
Caleb (native Peruvian, 24 y/o)
Vicente (native Peruvian)
Maria
During this training period, we will be living in huts we are going to build. The girls will be living in huts former trainees (including Bobby Lane ) built. We'll be learning about 30 stories from the Bible that we will share with people, most of whom have never heard the Gospel. Most don't have a written Bible in their language or are illiterate; therefore, this oral Bible will probably be the only One they will ever study. Also, we will be learning how to live in the jungle (that's why we'll be living in huts) as well as how Biblical church functions & perhaps, a few other skills that we will need such as medical training. This training session will have the most trainees the Xtreme Team has ever seen. Please pray for the leadership & organization of the Xtreme Team.

More Prayer Requests:

Pray for our health as we are in the jungle.
Pray that we'd maintain a teachable spirit.
Pray we will become the men & women our Lord created us to be.
I love Jesus!

†il the whole world hears,

corey reid pendergrass

Turn the Page

From the right hand of Corey, an update. I'll post in on www.teote.com as well.

Much love,
Lena P

Water: (essentials for the skimmers)

The light training period ended today.
After a trip to Cuzco, the "Xtreme" training will begin
I was robbed... twice... in the same week.
Prayer request below.
Black-cherry Kool-Aid Mix: (extras for the non-skimmers)

Bobby has acquired a banjo once again and so he & Jeff Hill, who plays the fiddle, & i, who sing on good days, performed for the local pentecostal church on Saturday, 1/27. The thoroughly enjoyed it, so we were told, though we have not been invited back. I'm living with members of that church, all men, one of which i room with, is the son of a wonderful family who feeds me. Sadly, their son, Samuel, lied to me saying he needed to go see his girlfriend who was in a far away city, very sick in the hospital. Therefore, he needed a lot of money (about $200) to go by plane & he could pay me back at the end of the month when he collected his paycheck. Eager to help a brother in need, i consented (it embarrasses me to tell you that). Turns out, his girl wasn't sick at all & he has no job & thus apparently never intended to return the money. During that time, while he was "away", my medical kit disappeared. There is a chance he was not involved but the clues certainly point to him. Samuel's family was very embarrassed to hear all this. Do pray for all of us involved.

Well, tomorrow i'm going to Cuzco via bus (a 21 hour voyage, i hear) with all the members of the Xtreme Team for about a week. There, we will meet & share about the last fiscal year. After that comfy stay in a hotel, we will return to Puerto Maldonado for possibly the toughest 3 months of my life.

In other news, i'm turning the unripe young age of 23 on the 10th of February. This morning, Bobby commented that my hair is thinning on top. He's right. I feel like a 40+ year-old man with all these aches and pains. If you sent a card/present & you're not Grams, i have not received your birthday wishes yet. If you were unaware of my birthday approaching, no worries. I will forgive all who send letters tardy. If you forget my b-day or mailing info/directions in the future, they're still on teote.com on my profile.

Prayer Requests:

that i would be wise in all dealings, namely in money, so that i would handle the resources our Lord entrusts to me Biblically.
that a new "bowel complaint" would "sober-up".
I love y'all so flippin' much,

†il the whole world hears,

corey reid pendergrass

Puerto Maldonado at Last!

Corey's handwritten letter to everyone dated 1/27/2007 Welcome to the Land of Motorcycles. By that, i mean the town of Puerto Maldonado, Peru, home to about 150 K people, at least half of which evidently own a motorcycle. You can ride any of them as a taxi, to anywhere in town for one sol, about US $0.30. They do have a law here that no more than two people can ride a motorcycle at a time, which didn't apply back in Ecuador. Once i saw 6 or 7 people on one motorcycle in Quito, mostly children! Dead serious! No pun intended. Peru has that beat with the minivan service acting as buses here in Puerto Maldonado. Two days ago i was one of 24 people in the minivan!
I left Ecuador, miraculously forgetting nothing, sadly saying goodbye to several people i now miss. The old folks at the church in Pesillo gave me parting gifts such as rotten onions, dried beans, and various grains of which, i was told were for baking bread. Though i had no use for any of the gifts, they were as the widow's two mites, all the people had to give, and were thus, gold to me.
Once in Peru, i did get to spend an afternoon with Lorne James, longtime friend from Snowbird and fellow missionary here in Peru. We met up in the capitol, Lima, and he was a blessing to me.
Now, as you know i'm in Puerto Maldonado in training. Currently we are improving our Spanish. By "we" i mean missionaries including Jeff Hill, a texan; Edgar; Arewinda; Alex; Lucio; and Marilin, all of whom are indigenous believers and speak some Spanish, but not too well; and myself. We are studying the book of Genesis and having various hands-on classes such as music lessons, taught by Bobby Lane; and wood working, taught by Jodi, another Xtremer.
Prayer Requests:
*Patience in classes, getting to know new faces, waiting to be sent out to unreached communities, aggravating rules, and blood sucking insects (which the Lord saw fit to put 100 times as many mosquitoes as there are people in this town in His infinite, unhuman wisdom.)
*Health in the spiritual and physical sense. I predict my doctrines about church, the Body of Christ, and other areas may greatly change for the better as i'm shown Scripture i'd never taken notice of before in the past.
*Wise decision making.
PS: If you want to reply to me (corey), do so at my snail mail address and i will reply to each one, via snail mail. That address is corey reid pendergrass
Apartado 111
Puerto Maldonado, Peru