Back in West Africa

Hey family abroad,
As you know, Racheal, Fisher, River (in utero), and i had to bail on 40/40 in Zambia, because of a family crisis. My father-in-law has stage-4 cancer. We made it to NC safe and sound. The fun thing is our families had no idea. We just showed up and surprised them. It was perfect!
First, for those of you in the Winston-Salem area, thanks for just enough face-to-face support while keeping a respectful distance most of the time. We needed time with her family, and we were able to do just that.
Over the month of May we got fat and healthy in NC. We know this because in West Africa, being overweight is compliment-worthy. "Oh, look how fat you've gotten," is supposed to make you feel better. We ate lots of buffets and ice cream in NC, and when the time was right, we booked our tickets back to West Africa. We've had a very good transition back into our lives here.
PrayeRequests:

• Pray for our loved ones back home. This fight with cancer has been a time of pain for several people, but also a time of spiritual crossroads. May we praise the Father in all of it!
  
• Pray for our adjustments back into West African life. Now we are paying for sleeping in A/C for the past month with our sweat. Fisher has a pretty bad rash/burn from a bite or allergic reaction on his torso, and we don't know what it is, but it's healing now. We have our usual "bowel complaints" again.
• Pray for our time usage. Since we've been back we've been unpacking, fixing busted pipes, buying and installing A/Cs, fixing the generator, fixing the backup generator, restocking the kitchen... the list goes on and on. I feel like the Enemy keeps us busy with temporary things... but at the same time, they are necessary things. What to do?
  

'til the whole world hears,

corey reid pendergrass

PS. I wanted to tell/remind you that there are some cool Sub-Saharan African resources out there for you and your church. AfricaStories.org is an online resource full of video and articles to pray through. The IMB catalog has lots of cheap and free stuff too. I recommend the "Africa Stories Spring 2011" magazine.

Settling In

Being Prego (essentials for the skimmers):

• Watch our latest video: Episode 3!
• Corrections to info given in Episode 3:
• The baby, which we found out is a boy, is due September 17, not 27.
• Racheal has hypoglycemia, not diabetes.
• We went to 40/40 in Zambia, but we received some bad news that someone in our family is terminally ill in the States. We came to NC to be with them for a few weeks.

Having Twins! (extras for the more detail oriented):

Dear friends,

Just kidding, no twins. Gotcha!

As you may know, Racheal had to go to Senegal for a few days to see the doctor. She had to redo some tests we took in our country of residence, but the Senegal doctors proved that Racheal has hypoglycemia (she processes sugar to fast). In short, it's not too complicated to watch and treat. Basically Racheal has to increase her sugar intake, particularly if she's feeling lightheaded. That means she has to always have candy in her pocket...which tastes better than drugs like insulin. Furthermore, she was able to have another ultrasound in Senegal and we found it's a boy!

We went to Zambia in hope of having a month-long training, but we heard that someone in our close family is terminally ill. We left Zambia and came to NC last week. After we have spent some precious time with loved ones, we plan on returning to West Africa in a few weeks.

Prayer ReQuests:

• Pray for our precious time in NC. Pray for wisdom in how to spend this time and wisdom in when exactly to return to our work in West Africa.
• Pray for our family as all this travel puts a strain on all four of us.
• Pray for River Steele as he grows strong. He's probably about 7 inches long.
  

'til the whole world hears,

corey reid pendergrass

...Here We Come

Rice (essentials for the skimmers):

• Watch our latest video: Episode 2!
• We're learning the language and have made some strides.
• Our son has been really sick, but is better now.

Sauce (extras for the more detail oriented):

Dear friends,

Since the making of the above video, we have made two trips to the "village" where we intended to do language learning. Both times the Enemy met us. Our son got sick... really sick. Sleepless nights didn't make for effective language study, so we dropped back and punted, so to speak. We are doing language study from our home in our base town. We seem to be more effective there anyway in language study, relationship building, and functioning as a family.

I was thinking the other day, "We're not in Tobaccoville anymore." Here were some clues that led me to that conclusion:

• The driver’s license office copied my information from my NC driver’s license to make my new one. I guess they got confused which info was my name and which was my old street address. Now my official documented name is Martin Ferry. (If you think it’d be funny to call me Mr. Ferry, just know that someone has already beaten you to the punch.)
• The plastic used to make our toilet seats is not too strong. When we first arrived in our new house the toilet seat in one of the two bathrooms snapped in two during the first sitting. Luckily, the other seat lasted twice as long.
• Many people here turn their vehicle headlights off at night because it wastes gas.
• I was taking a stroll in the village one day. I greeted a man i had never seen before. He offered his 15-year-old daughter to me in marriage. #1, gross. #2, i’m happily married. #3, i’m monogamous even though this culture is polygamous. #4, i’d like to keep #2 the way it is. So i shouted, “No! I’m married.” That had little effect on the polygamist father and daughter. The girl followed me for a couple hundred yards before i darted into the woods to hide. She couldn’t find me. I’m happy to announce that #2 is still in effect.
• My boss is a 59-year-old, white-bearded, 260-pound Brazilian with a button nose and glasses (He's kinda got the Shaun Connery-thing going for him). The other day some kids got confused and called me by his name. I guess, to them, all white people look alike.
• A very old woman asked my coworker and i for something to eat. She lifted up her t-shirt a few inches to show us her skinny belly, however in became painfully obvious that this woman had never seen a bra. We consented to getting her some bread as long as she put her shirt back down.
• A West African electrician who's doing some work for us is probably one of the best in the country. He's been doing work for our mission for 20 years. The only thing is that on hot days he strips down to his boxers... while he's working. The other day i found him fixing something in my garage... really sweaty... and wearing polka-dotted underwear.
• The village school teacher where we have done some language study doesn't speak English. He has a pair of second-hand black pants that say “MISS SEXY” across the buttocks in silver glitter. He has no idea. I think someone should notify the Salvation Army its screening process needs some tweaking.

Prayer ReQuests:

• Pray that we would be good stewards of our time.
• Pray that we would diligently and whole heartedly devote ourselves to learning the Usus language.
• Praise God for allowing us to "get better" at living over here. It's getting easier. We're learning.

'til the whole world hears,

corey reid pendergrass

First Days in West Africa

For the skimmers:

(since our last update in November...)

• We have finished the two-month orientation with our sending agency.
• We were commissioned on December 9th.
• We were able return to Tobaccoville to spend the last 4 days with family.
• We have arrived in Africa!!!
• We are doing very well and God is blessing our time here.
• We are currently in language learning and starting our first two-week stent in the village to be surrounded by native speakers of the Usus*
• We will spend the majority of the next six months in the village.
• Yesterday, we had to leave the village our second night there and drive to the capitol because Rach’s tooth’s crown she had put on in the States popped off. (FYI: The Peruvian gold crown is holding strong!)
• Our son is doing great, the people here cannot get enough of little “Abu” (his Usus* name).
• Oh yes, we all have received new Usus names!

For the more detail oriented:

• Racheal got to send sometime with her brother Ryan and dad in October but said goodbye to ma in September :( She’s such a strong lady.
• Our two-month orientation was such an awesome time for our own personal growth and the growth of our family. We made lifelong friendships with fellow m’s and are encouraged that we work with a great organization that truly cares for us and what the Father is doing among the nations. We, with many other families were commissioned and sent out December 9th of last year. We returned back to Tobaccoville and spent four short but sweet days with the kori’s family. We had ONE BIG family Christmas (which in our opinion was one of the best Christmases we’ve had so far because we we able to spend quality time with our family, sit and listen to Grandpa Alvin and Uncle Lorne play on the guitar and just enjoy one another. Praise the Lord for our family.
• We flew to West Africa on the 14th of December. By the time we landed we had spent over 20 hours flying, the straps on two carry-ons tore, we lost all of our son’s disposable diapers, kori got cut or scraped by the bags four times, and the airline lost a checked bag. Do you think the Enemy saw us coming? When we stepped off the plane onto African the runway we were met by a fellow m of a separate organization. He was literally a God-send and helped us get through customs and the difficult baggage claim system in the airport. I am amazed at the unity there is between the different sending agencies (families within those agencies). It is encouraging to know that there is a vast group of people all over the country focused on the same goal.
• We stayed in our supervisors home for our first two and a half weeks in country and we praise God for their servant hearts! They cooked for us three meals a day and helped take care of our son, it was so neat to experience our team the way we did because there is no better way to get to know someone then to live with them.
• On the first of the year we moved into our home and have been getting things situated. It was great to spend time with our colleagues and new family, but it is nice to be able to set up our own little place.
• This past Wednesday we left to start our first two weeks of language in the village. We got there and spent one night and a full day of language and culture immersion when Rach’s porcelain crown on her tooth popped off. In order to save the intact crown we had to drive four hours on pot holes to the capitol, then sit in the dentist office, get the tooth fixed and drive back to our home for the night before dark. You see, driving here in the dark is very dangerous because some of the cars here do not have functioning headlights, so it is not wise to drive after dark. We got home last night and stayed up really late talking about the Father with one of the national teachers of the Word who stayed with us last night in our home. It was such a sweet time. Now it is early in the morning and we are preparing to return to the village today to continue our language learning!

Praises:

• Praise the Father that we were able to get Rach’s tooth fixed in one day!!!! You don’t know how much of a miracle that is for this part of the world.
• Praise the Father for the great work He is about to do among the Usus* people and in our own personal lives and family.
• Praise for our sending agency and team members who have been there for us, encouraging us all the way.
• Praise God that the people here are so genuine and have not yet tried to rip us off even though they have had ample opportunity. It is so refreshing!

Prayer ReQuests:

• Pray for our team to continue in unity and to pursue righteous living and Christ-like love for one another and the peoples of this nation.
• Pray for a great movement among the nationals and wisdom in how to reach them.
• Pray for wisdom in giving and not creating dependency!
• Pray for our families as we and the grand-baby are far away from them.
• Pray that the Father would open our ears and loose our lips so that we may learn the language and share the Good News with the people around us.

Ready or Not...

Preparation (essentials for the skimmers):

• We have just completed our 8-week "orientation" in Rockville VA with our sending company.
• We have 4 days in Tobaccoville NC with friends and family.
• We move to West Africa on December 14, sooner than expected.
• Introducing for the first time ever, our video update series! See below.
• Please send all snail mail to our new address. Email me if you want it.
• PrayeRequests below.

Perspiration (extras for the readers):

Dear Bride,

What a time! The last two months of orientation have been really special. It is evident that God is preparing us for what lies ahead. We have been mentored by a couple here at the Learning Center who have really poured themselves into us. They usually are incharge of all the missionaries during a given season that are going to Sub-Saharan Africa. However, Rach and i are all that's going this time. It's bad because we wish more would/could go, but wonderful because we have received some intensely focused discipleship from a couple who have been in West Africa for many years.

Fisher is growing fast! He's past walking now and can run fast. (Many of you just thought to yourself, "Huh-oh, better put that on my prayer list.") He's talking a few words too. He can say things that are important to 14-month-olds like "ball," "no," "Bible," and "doo doo."

We've been thinking about a way to get churches (particularly our sending denomination) involved with what God is doing among the "S" people of West Africa. We've decided one of those avenues will be a periodic video update. We hope to produce a five-minute video update every two to three months. This, the first episode, is one of our first attempts at video editing, so bear with us and save your booing 'til the end. ;^)

Click here to view: Episode 1 :: Ready or Not...

PrayeRequests:

• Ask God for good use of precious time with friends and family while in the States.
• Praise the Lord of the Harvest for the harvest that's about to happen. The fields are looking ripe among our people group.
• Thanks for praying during the video, particularly for the peace from violence in our country! Knowing that you would pray in the future, God has already answered your prayers before we could post the video. Since the results of the recent presidential election there has been a miracle and the violency (as far as the news tells us) has significantly declined or halted!

Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son, and praise Spirit, Three in ONE!

'til the whole world hears,

kori & Rach

Orientation

Meat (essentials for the skimmers):

• We were appointed by the IMB September 15 in Brandon FL
• In one week of being back in NC we've had a "Welcome Home" party, Fisher's 1st birthday party, and a "Going Away" party.
• My sister, Bea, is engaged! Go congratulate her.
• Photos from the past 3 months are finally here! Email me if you would like the Yahoo! ID and password to view them.
• After lots of hard work, we have shiped our crate to ship to West Africa.
• We arrived at Field Personel Orientation on Oct 10 in Rockville VA. Then on December 19, it's off to West Africa.
• PrayeRequests below.

Potatoes (extras for the readers):

Dear people under grace,

As we neared the checkered flag on our Garmin GPS i realized that we were almost "home." However, no checkered flag seems to be in site for the Penderg-s to our true Home, the New Jerusalem. Between Tobaccoville, Hatteras, Lima, Iquitos, Puerto Orlando, Cusco, Key West, Rockville, and soon to come West Africa...we've realized to hold very loosely to the term "home." I think back to Paul with his travels with Barnabus and Silas: Tarsus, Arabia, Damascus, Jerusalem, Syria, Cilicia, Antioch, Caesarea, Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, Phillipi, Thessalonica, Corinth, Ephesus, and Rome. After his murder he got to go home Home. May i always consider this life a temporary passing, but that my true citizenship lies in the Kingdom of Jesus.

At this point, please join us in prayer as we have yet another temporary place. We are at the Learning Center in Rockville VA. We're mostly in classes and seminars and workshops on how to prepare for the field of West Africa. We are surrounded by some 100 people going all over the globe. It is a crucial time of preparation. As we recognize that the church started on the day of Pentecost in the upperroom and has continually spread since that we are simply the next link in the chain as the Gospel is carried to the ends of the earth. Yet some 6,426 people groups have yet to hear of my Savior. That's some 41% of the globe's population! Church get on your knees! The Great Commission in 2000 years has become the Great Dissappointment. Oh if we had only believed in Hell, how we would not be satified with our disobedience.

We feel like the Lord is now, Fall-Winter 2010, reaching into His bag of seeds called the International Learning Center and is getting ready to scatter us over the face of the earth. Pray that we would fall on good soil.

If you would like to write us, please feel free to do so at:

16492 MLC Lane
Rockville VA 23146

PrayeRequests:

• Ask God for good use of precious time with friends and family while in the States.
• Praise the Lord of the Harvest for the harvest that's about to happen. The fields are looking ripe among our people group.
  

Thanks for reading,

'til the whole world hears,

kori

Back in FL

A Job Well Done (essentials for the skimmers):

• Xtreme Training is over. All 5 boys graduated and some are praying about committing to the Team for 2 years.
• Machu Picchu is truly a world wonder, especially when it's your second wedding anniversary.
• We are officially back in the US of A. We're with Rach's folks for 1.5 weeks in Key West.
• We'll have our Appointment ceremony on September 15 in Brandon, FL (near Tampa). If you're in the area, we'd love to see you.
• "From the Penderosa to the Ends of the Earth" going-away party will be September 25 in Tobaccoville.
• Photos coming soon.

Getting to Throw the TP in the Toilet After a Job Well Done (extras for the readers):

Dear people under grace,

Did you know that you have to throw your toilet paper in the trash can in Peru? Though it's not a big deal, it's nice to experience the luxury of the USA of flushing one's toilet paper. Food for thought.

First, we want thank again those of you who participated in this Xtreme Training from afar. Juan, Eliseo, Felix, Nestor, and Pedro all finished their training very strong. Praise God for these young men. It was a pleasure discipling them and learning from them as well.

After we left Iquitos, we made our way southward to the city of Cusco, the ancient captital of the Incan impire. We spent a few days there observing the modern city built on the stone foundations of former temples and palaces of the Incas. From Cusco, we caught the 3-hour train to Aguas Calientes. The following morning we took the bus to the mountain-top fortress of Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. We were among the few visitors allowed to climb the montain behind the city, Wayna Picchu. To attempt to describe the beauty of this place would be in vain: not merely the man-made 550-year-old structures, but much more so the natural majesty of the high jungle.

From Machu Picchu we made our way to Key West, FL via Cusco, Lima, Bogota, San Jose, and Miami. It's been a wirlwind journey, but we are glad to be able to pause for a couple weeks with family in FL. We look forward to sharing our son with his grandparents during this time and taking advantage of some killer cooking. Pray for our precious time with them as we will likely not see them for years to come.

On September 11 we will begin a few days of meetings with the trustees of our mission board. At the end we will have an appointment ceremony on the 15th to begin our term of service that will lead us to West Africa. Please join us at the worship center of Bell Shoals Baptist Church at 6:30pm if you are nearby. We'd love to see you one last time before we leave the country.

For those of you a little farther north, my folks are throwing a going away party at their house on September 25 at 5pm. Please contact my mother, Jennifer, if you would like to attend and find out what to bring.

PrayeRequests:

• Juan, Pedro, Eliseo, Nestor, and Felix - to have wisdom in deciding how God wants to use them to reach the lost
• Praise God for the Peru trip that grew our family so very much in prepartion for West Africa.
• Ask God for good use of precious time with friends and family while in the States.

Thanks for reading,

'til the whole world hears,

kori