tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33048571102152283292024-02-02T11:19:54.836-05:00SMOiSMOihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458588128034304543noreply@blogger.comBlogger357125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304857110215228329.post-83704994945556760682013-02-03T05:10:00.000-05:002013-02-03T05:11:18.048-05:00So long for nowTo whom it may concern,<br />
Racheal and i have new blogs. We are no longer using the SMOi Blog as our primary blog site.<br />
Racheal has <a href="http://www.pendergrassclan.com/">a new website</a> (including her blog) for our family. (Note: If you ever want to go to that website by manually typing the URL, you <i>must</i> put www. infront of it. Not doing so will not take you to our site.)<br />
I (corey) have <a href="http://wild-oaks.blogspot.com/">a new blog</a>. (Note: The URL has a dash between "wild" and "oaks." Omitting this will take you to someone else's blog.<br />
Thanks!<br />
'til the whole world hears,<br />
coreyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304857110215228329.post-20599086063308189392013-01-17T02:38:00.000-05:002013-01-17T09:23:13.515-05:00Setting Captives Free<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Being in prison yesterday was quite eye opening for me. I've done prison ministry once or twice in North Carolina. Inmates are fed three hot meals a day, they receive standard clothes, a bed, and an organized laundry service, and they have access to books, running water, TV, sporting equipment, board games, and limited (but at least some) communication with the outside world.<br />Here in Susu Land it is different. We walked through a series of heavily guarded gates and checkpoint as expected. An open sewer drained through the entire prison compound in the middle of the cement ground. The stench clued me to what we were stepping across as we passed the "women's area" and the "men's area" proceeding to the back of the prison compound. Razor-wire coiled around the top of the perimeter wall. We went through a final door into the "youth area." We passed by a guard in mismatched military fatigues. In any other world, i might suspect that the inmates had overthrown the real guards and dressed themselves in their clothes. However, any olive green outfit seems to be acceptable as official military uniform. Soldiers in the same detachment where digital camo, hunting (Mossy Oak brand) camo, the old standard (Woodland) camo, and plain solid green. Alas, this knowledge was ironically comforting to me, since it reassured me this was probably a real guard, not an imposter. Whatever short-experienced "comfort" i just felt was melted by the fact that was the last guard we encountered as we rounded the corner of a few buildings into an area far from the sight (and perhaps hearing) of the wardens. We were warmly greeted by about 130 young men. They were socializing around in the yard, taking turns using the restroom behind a curtain in the awful smelling latrine. Most were half naked, tattooed and scarred. They didn't look terribly sick, but were definitely skinnier than most people in Susu Land. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I was wearing some Old Navy blue jeans and a quick-dry collared golf shirt. </span>Bill, Josh, and i stood out like the cream in an Oreo. These teens were given one meal a day, and i imagine the food pyramid was not consulted when the menu was set. Most of them have the clothes on their backs, tattered and torn. One showed me his shorts he was wearing, full of holes. He had worn the same shorts for four months now. He didn't own a shirt.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">They noticed i had some books in my hand. Their curiosity overcame their inhibition and asked me what i had brought. I was swarmed by most of the guys trying to shoulder in and get a peek. I showed them a handful of Scripture calendars, which quickly got passed around and disappeared in the crowd. Then a showed them my New Testament in their language. I announced i'd like to read to them from God's Word. The quickly ushered the three of us to the only bench in the yard and ordered us to sit down and read.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bill and Josh prayed to themselves. I read Mark 5 -the story the man possessed by Legion, but set free by Jesus. For a while, except for the sound of my voice, you could have heard a pin drop. Eventually about 30 of them stayed locked in to the story. Others lost interest and one-by-one trickled away. At one time about 10 feet away an intense argument broke out, and i thought it was going to turn violent. The listeners couldn't hear me, so they shushed the fighters. I continued reading. When i finished telling the story i asked questions about what they learned. I asked them why the demons were afraid of Jesus. The repeated back to me that Jesus was more powerful than the demons.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">They had understood.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Then i read Acts 16 -the story of Paul and Silas in the Philippian jail. I asked them what the people in that jail had to do to be saved. The young men repeated back that they had to believe in Jesus.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">They had understood.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One of the young men begged me for my New Testament. I gladly gave it to him in exchange for his promise to share it with others.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">No, we didn't have an "altar call," but Truth was know that day. You can't rush into these things here. Last night, i imagine many of the young men lost sleep pondering about Jesus, the healed man, Paul, Silas, and the jailer. Lord willing we will return next Wednesday.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Would you pray for us? </span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304857110215228329.post-12973466636318887542012-11-01T05:02:00.000-04:002012-11-01T06:19:57.740-04:00Things that make you go hmmm... part 2<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A while back we shared several short stories from our musings about life West Africa to tickle your funny bone. Here goes round two:</span><br />
<ul><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o2v8OX3MBKc/UJI6CVyRIeI/AAAAAAAAAFA/m7UpraiBe6Q/s1600/PIC_0891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o2v8OX3MBKc/UJI6CVyRIeI/AAAAAAAAAFA/m7UpraiBe6Q/s320/PIC_0891.JPG" width="320" /></a>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One day i was pulled over by a traffic custodian (there's another name for it, but our organization's policy requires me to remain apolitical) who told me i went the wrong way through the roundabout. I knew i hadn't, but i played along. He told me he could let me go if i gave him a little money. I told him i wouldn't be able to do so for two reasons: (1) I work for our organization who has a policy against bribing such traffic custodians. (2) The job of traffic custodian is a respectful and honorable job. If i were to give him money, his honor and respect would decrease. He replied, "Hey! You're right. Here's my partner. Give it to him."</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Speaking of roundabouts (aka. "traffic circles"), the rule here is that people entering the roundabout have the right of way over the people already in it. How often do you think that causes a traffic jam? Every. Single. Day.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A few days ago Racheal was running full steam on the treadmill at a local gym. The city power cut off and she ran into the control panel and about flipped through the mirror in front of her. Lucky for us, our gym offers muscle memory confusion training.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I asked some of my friends the other day why they like Obama so much. They told me, "Because he's from Africa." I told them that recently Obama produced a birth certificate to prove he was born in Hawaii and that most US Americans believe it. They looked at me as if i was crazy and they started to giggle. Even so, no one from the American Democratic National Convention seems to be slandering these guys as members of the most radical conservative "birthers" movement. Why do you suppose not?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A couple weeks
ago i was sitting in the waiting area at the local telecommunications
office in order to get my internet turned on at home. It took all day
long. To break up the boredom, about mid-morning, just after the city
power cut off and the company's onsite generator cranked up, one of the
company's employees in a suit and tie ran out of a back room yelling
something about a fire and a propane leak. You should have seen the
chaos as 100+ people screamed and jumped to their feet and flooded the
front door. Then all of a sudden the employee who started the whole
thing, just began laughing and told everyone that it was a joke.
Everyone in the room except me began to laugh with this guy as if he
had done something funny. I began to wonder what lawsuits might arise if this was to happen in the USA.</span></li>
</ul>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304857110215228329.post-29964344016262029322012-10-11T15:38:00.001-04:002012-10-11T15:48:45.746-04:00A Place to Call Home<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Finding a Home: </span></u>(essentials for the skimmers)</b><br /> • Enjoy our October 2012 video, "A Place to Call Home."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/51234848?title=1&byline=1&portrait=1" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="500"></iframe> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://vimeo.com/51234848">Episode 9 - A Place to Call Home</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user14026226">corey pendergrass</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /> • We have moved to the capital city in Susu Land. We are at a better place in Gospel outreach and as a family.<br /> • Our summer volunteer, Joe, did an outstanding job and was an invaluable help to our restart in the capital.<br /> • We are sharing the Gospel with our new neighbors. We are looking to partner with other like-minded missions here to reach the lost in this urban setting.<br /><span style="font-size: large;"><u><br /></u></span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Truly Finding a Home: </u></span>(details for the readers)</b><br /><br />Dear brethren and sistren,<br /><br />It has been three months since our last blog update and four months since we created a video update. <i>Too long!</i> That sort of period is rare for us as we typically try to blog once a month an produce a video every two months. Alas, moving a family of four and renovating our new house, not to mention trying to get out and meet our new neighbors so we can shine in the darkness, we have neglected some of our other tasks such as keeping our prayer partners apprised of our recent developments. Nevertheless, we experienced the results of your prayers still. Please accept our apology for not sharing as much as we hope to. We will do our best to stay on the ball with our updates in the future.<br /><br />Moving is tough. We are so thankful we did it, but anyone who has packed up their life knows it's not easy. Praise the Lord for helping us in this time. Compared to our efficiency in getting setup, we were pretty amazed at how fast and well things came together in our new house, compared to our former. Example: If a sink faucet in the old house, it meant a four-hour round trip to the nearest decent hardware store. If a sink faucet breaks in our new house, it means a four-minute walk down to the corner hardware store.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Other than that, most of our ventures and prayer needs are described in the video. Enjoy and thanks for praying!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />Let us know if you wish to come to Susu Land. We could use the help!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">'til the whole world hears,<br />the Pendergrass clan</span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304857110215228329.post-27706850990695271292012-06-15T12:29:00.000-04:002012-06-15T12:29:59.565-04:00In Transit<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<u><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Being an Impromptu Electrician:</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">(essentials for the skimmers)</span></u></div>
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<li>Enjoy our May 2012 video, "In Transit." </li>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/IYaqXkDrYmI" width="560"></iframe>
<li>As our Susu language gets better and better, we are turning our focus towards more opportunities to reach the people with the Gospel.</li>
<li>We believe we will have the most opportunities in the capital city of our country, so we're moving.</li>
<li>Joe, one of corey's wrestlers when he coached in NC, has come for 7 weeks as a volunteer.</li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><span style="font-weight: bold;">Not Setting the House on Fire:</span> (details for the readers)</u></span><br />
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Dear brethren and sistren,</div>
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Recently we were offered a change of scenery and we're excited to accept. On June 1st, we moved to the capital city. Our new residence promises some creature comfort perks like electricity and water. We praise God for this blessing as we will be able to afford to keep our refrigerator cool and we'll have enough water to take baths and wash clothes regularly. But, this transfer is by no means about luxuries. It's about doing what's best to minister to the needs of our family and the Susu.</div>
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As missionaries, we really stress the need for our target people groups to worship in their heart language. Whether that be German, Mandarin, Quichua, Cherokee, or Susu it's vital for that people to worship the living God in a language that resonates with their heart. However, what many US American missionaries forget (at least we did) is that our heart language is English. We must worship Christ in our heart language too. The capital city has a fellowship of expatriates that meet weekly to worship and study the Word together. As we'll continue to seek avenues to <a href="http://www.esvbible.org/search/Proverbs%2027%3A17/">sharpen iron</a> with our national brothers and sisters in the Susu tongue, it's encouraging to know we too can praise Christ in <i>our</i> mother-tongue.</div>
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Furthermore, we are looking forward to a wide-open gamut of opportunities to share the life-saving message of Christ with any of our 1.5+ million new neighbors. Practically, we aren't quite sure exactly what we'll be doing for the next year and a half before our three-year-term ends, but we anticipate that we will be able be more effective at building relationships and reaching the Susu for the Kingdom. This move will hopefully decrease our time spent on day-to-day "survival" and increase our time spent reaching the lost.</div>
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Please pray for our transition to our new home. Pray for our family to be strengthened in the Lord. Pray for us to recognize new opportunities that the Father gives us to bring Him glory.</div>
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'til the whole world hears,<br />
the Pendergrass clan</div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304857110215228329.post-91009319262637861882012-03-15T04:17:00.001-04:002012-05-17T14:08:59.982-04:00Season 2 Premier<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold;">Reaching Out:</span> <span style="font-size: 78%;">(essentials for the skimmers)</span></span><br />
<ul style="font-family: arial;">
<li>Enjoy our February 2012 video, kicking off "Season 2" of our video update series.<br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hSVnpOO8OpA" width="560"></iframe></li>
<li>Our main concern/focus now is ironing out the kinks in our language learning. Please pray as there are quite a few!</li>
<li>A few volunteer teams are coming and going.</li>
<li>Daniel is a new volunteer here for six months.</li>
<li>Racheal's ESL classes are going well. Next quarter she is looking to start a computer class.</li>
<li>The wrestlers are taking a break from wrestling to work... but have invited corey to work with them!</li>
<li>Year One of our missionary term was probably the most stressful and difficult thing Racheal and i have had to endure. Pray for 2012 and beyond.</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Taking Hold:</span></span> <span style="font-size: 78%;">(details for the readers)</span><br /><br />Dear fellow ambassadors for Christ,</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">As we survey the task before us, both the <a href="http://www.joshuaproject.net/people-profile.php?peo3=15141&rog3=GV">1.3 million</a> Susu people and the <a href="http://joshuaproject.net/great-commission-statistics.php">2.84 billion</a> unreached people on planet earth, we can't help but come to the realization that this is a task too big for a handful of missionaries. The neat thing is, i think that's the way the Lord intended it. He left us with His Spirit and some instructions to disciple the lost. In hindsight, He might as well have told the twelve disciples, "Jump to the moon," or "Swallow the ocean." In <a href="http://www.esvbible.org/search/matt+28%3A18-20/">Matthew 28:18-20</a> He gave them an impossible task that they could never accomplish on their own strength as individuals. They needed to unite with the rest of the Body of Christ and rely on Him for guidance, strategy, provision, and wisdom. So do we. So do you.<br /></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2pQ7smWoU90/T2Ir5HwaxyI/AAAAAAAAAEo/EhEbVb34m8M/s1600/IMG_3105.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720182737048618786" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2pQ7smWoU90/T2Ir5HwaxyI/AAAAAAAAAEo/EhEbVb34m8M/s400/IMG_3105.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 400px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Meet Daniel. He's a bachelor. He's a former airplane mechanic and a handyman. He's got his whole life ahead of him. What did he do to kick it off? He sold whatever he couldn't fit into one backpack and came to Susu Land. He's giving up the next six months to come be a slave to Christ (that doensn't sound too appealing to most US Americans.) in order to serve among the unreached. Daniel writes, "<span style="font-size: 130%;">I am not perfect. I make alot of mistakes but God's grace is sufficient. God has been so Good. I am greatly delighted to be apart of his work and his Love.</span>" It's true. He came here with a clean slate, knowing nothing about the Susu, and said, "What can i do to help?" We need more volunteers. We need more Daniels.<br /><br />Racheal has been really encouraged while teaching English at the local Wisdom House. She's finishing her Level 2 class today. Lord willing, this out reach will give way for opportunities to share Christ's message. We know a really good Book in English (as well as their heart language) that we'd like to recommend to them.<br /><br />Please pray for our continued language learning. We are moving along at a steady pace, though not where we'd like to be. We have come so far, yet there's so much we don't understand. Please pray for our strategies as we tackle the Susu tongue and don't get discouraged or complacent.<br /><br />As always, thanks for lifting us up. We wouldn't be here if not for our pray support.<br />'til the whole world hears,<br />corey reid pendergrass</span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304857110215228329.post-90280586471716855162012-02-04T19:25:00.000-05:002012-02-04T19:25:34.069-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />the Laneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559019319319523709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304857110215228329.post-17986454188806690412012-01-26T06:01:00.000-05:002012-10-13T02:20:25.447-04:00Africa does not need me.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">As I sit here in this old house on the banks of Lake Victoria, I am impressed with all we have found in Africa. I have seen a family of five running errands on a 125cc motorbike, I have held a small child fighting for his life against the HIV he inherited, I have danced my praises to God when I did not understand the language, and I have found a new dependency upon my Savior.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> Three weeks ago I arrived in Africa, not knowing the details of the task I had committed us to. My pride and education tempts me to dream of CPMs, EVexplosions, and all manner of “missionary” success scales. Truth is, Africa needs me not. Farm boys? They have millions. White people? Thousands. What do I bring? The Gospel? I see God working everywhere. God did not bring me here to DO, but to BE, to be with HIM wherever he maybe working. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">You might say, but why Africa? Can you not be with him at home? At one time, I could. But now I can’t. Not when I was told go. Yes, there was a time when my obedience looked a lot like Jerusalem, but that task has changed to the Ends of the Earth. So, shall I change? Some change their location, and not their heart. We call these tourists. Some change their heart and not their location. HE calls these disobedient. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>the Laneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559019319319523709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304857110215228329.post-3472505415133604312012-01-20T02:52:00.001-05:002012-10-13T02:20:25.448-04:00Praise!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1M_9k3nN56MrPbdGd_fMylhDoHqipZTPuOjv2CZj3wQYp9N6XdGlf80EKaByDODDBrcS1utDUqQ-vtCezVnyCjqKQe2-COXmT8GjZs_6iE-h2wCetAOa2nRnopZYRf_XGdA81KDdknwww/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-01-20+at+10.43.10+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1M_9k3nN56MrPbdGd_fMylhDoHqipZTPuOjv2CZj3wQYp9N6XdGlf80EKaByDODDBrcS1utDUqQ-vtCezVnyCjqKQe2-COXmT8GjZs_6iE-h2wCetAOa2nRnopZYRf_XGdA81KDdknwww/s640/Screen+Shot+2012-01-20+at+10.43.10+AM.png" width="544" /></a></div>the Laneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559019319319523709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304857110215228329.post-81745472115693936212012-01-15T05:45:00.000-05:002012-01-15T05:47:09.382-05:00We Follow The Man<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #f3f3f3;">God has been so good to us by allowing us to live here in Africa. As many of you know, it was three years ago that we felt sure God was leading us in this direction. We knew that we were making our way to Africa step by step, there were so many details to work out, but we took it a day at a time. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #f3f3f3;">Two things came as a great surprise. First, we did not know we would be here so quickly. With the changes in the IMB and my need for graduate hours, I honestly thought it would take six months to a year longer than it did. The second great surprise was Uganda. Never, did we think that we would even visit Uganda, let a lone live here for a year and a half. I believe that Uganda will turn out to be the best possible situation for the long-term plan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #f3f3f3;">We have made many good friends here already. I have enjoyed my time with the Ugandan men who work for the Baptist Mission here in Kampala. Last week, a man named Chicongo took us out for driving lessons. He was a patient and joyful man. He helped us make the adjustment to the British side of the road and the African side of traffic, a challenge to say the least. The men here have also helped me learn some Luganda language phrases. Luganda (or Ganda) is a language spoken by ten-million people; most Luganda speakers live in the Buganda region of Uganda. The language is widely spoken in and around the Capital, Kampala. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #f3f3f3;">I am excited to learn this African way of life and language. God has brought us here for a purpose, even if we only see the path ahead as dimly lit, still we follow the Man. </span></div>the Laneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559019319319523709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304857110215228329.post-8208828018799507322012-01-12T02:55:00.002-05:002012-01-15T05:48:13.081-05:00We Have Arrived<br />
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<span style="color: #886000; font-family: Times; font-size: 28px;"><span style="display: block; width: 503px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Memphis to Newark to Brussels to Kilgali to Entebbe… all in a day and a half's time.</span></span></span></div>
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What a whirlwind the past 4 days have been. We woke up in Memphis last Wednesday, were in Belgium by Thursday morning, took off from Rwanda Thursday night and landed in Uganda on Friday morning… only with one carseat missing, which showed up today! An exciting way to start a new year, I'll say. I am humbled to say that Robert and I are 4 days old in Africa now and are loving the road God is taking us down. </div>
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We are currently in Kampala, which is the capital of Uganda. We will be here from anywhere between 2 weeks to 2 months, waiting on our residency and work permits. In the mean time, we are learning Ugandan culture, dabbling in the Lugandan language, finding our way around town, learning where/how to buy groceries, and attempting to drive on the LEFT side of the road. Notice I didn't say "wrong side," Kate Webster… :)</div>
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Thank you so much for praying for us. We are still working through some jet lag (we are 8 hours ahead of EST), but we are adjusting to African very well. All of us have been amazed at how God was preparing us while serving in Central and South America… a lot of similarities so far!</div>
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Please keep praying for…</div>
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<b>*our paperwork for residency that is still processing. </b>Pray for us to trust God's timing!</div>
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<b>*us to get plugged in with ministry to nationals. </b>We want to be intentional during this unknown amount of time in the capital as we wait.</div>
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<b>*the little ones on our team to adjust well.</b> This extensive transition is hard on the 3 year old, 2 year old, and 3 month old.</div>
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<b>*mine & Robert's marriage to strengthen during this time. </b>Pray that we press into Jesus and lean on each other during whatever challenges that come our way.</div>
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Please let us know how to pray for you too. We are committed to praying for those who pray for us!</div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC TT';"><b><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffcc; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222;">Maridith</span> Lane</b></span></div>
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<i>{Pictures, L to R: Bobby sleeping on the plane, the map on the plane ride, me enjoying one last Starbucks latte!}</i></div>
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</tbody></table>the Laneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559019319319523709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304857110215228329.post-78967872352072281192012-01-11T06:59:00.005-05:002012-01-11T07:51:57.736-05:00Before It's Too Late<span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Getting There Before It's Too Late:</span> <span style="font-size:78%;">(essentials for everyone)</span><br /></span><br style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;">This update, i want to say some things that are essential. No quick overview this time.</span><br style="font-family:arial;"><br style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;">We're staying a couple days in a mission guesthouse that had a sign on the kitchen wall with the following inscription:</span><br style="font-family:arial;"><br style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >"The Gospel is only good news if it arrives in time!"<span style="font-size:85%;"> -Carl Henry</span></span></span><br style="font-family:arial;"><br style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Those words have been quite sobering. Only a few days ago the 15-year-old daughter of one of our national friends got sick and died. We were able to help the family transport the body back to her family in their village. There are two graveyards in this village --one for so-called "Mohammed followers" and the other for "Jesus followers." The latter was the resting place for only one person. The former held too many to count. When the Usus bury their dead they lay them prostrate in the ground and line sticks across the mouth of the hole. They cover that with leaves and then a mound of the dirt. Within a short amount of time the wood rots and the dirt falls in. I looked around me as they laid her body with those of her ancestors. Within that wooded area i counted seven fresh graves of people that had only passed away within the last couple months or so.<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">What i'm about to write here will be a hard pill for some of you to swallow, but i ask that you let me know so that we can talk about it in private.</span> <br /><br />She is in hell now. All those fresh graves and the several in between hold the remains of people who are all in hell.</span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" > Most of them had never heard the Gospel. Why? And how can we as Christ's Church change that?<br /><br />Those were not rhetorical questions. Leave a comment.<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" ><br />'til the whole world hears,<br />corey reid pendergrass<br /></span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304857110215228329.post-40346511357861004922011-12-30T14:02:00.002-05:002011-12-30T14:15:29.289-05:00But have not loveif i speak in the tongues of men and of angels, BUT HAVE NOT LOVE, i am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. and if i have prophetic powers and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if i have all faith, so as to remove mountains, BUT HAVE NOT LOVE, i am nothing, if i give all i have and i deliver up my body to burned, BUT HAVE NOT LOVE, i gain nothing.... 1 Corinthians 13<div>before i went to the community i prayed that God would open my heart and help me to love the people of Marajai even if i was only there for a few weeks......i know that as a missionary love should be like blood in our veins...but we are human too....and it is hard to love people who are unlovable...it is hard to open yourself up again and again knowing it will hurt when you walk away and leave them behind....</div><div>like the old saying goes ' it is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved before'..always thought that to be a sappy romantic thing, but i think it came true in my life...i let the people of Marajai into my life, i loved them as much as i could...and yes it hurt the day i left and a few days after...but when i look back on those pictures it brings a warmth to my heart and a smile to my face...i have never met a person who said that they regretted loving too much...now i am sure you could find plenty of people who would say they have not loved enough...</div><div>1 John 4:19" We love because he first loved us."</div>Triciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06145053493593977017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304857110215228329.post-54884744357353097872011-12-30T13:50:00.002-05:002011-12-30T14:01:39.672-05:00contentment or overwhelmed?i read this book recently entitled "Jumping through fires" by David Nassar....he had a quote in there that made me stop and think...it was even worth writing down...so i decided to share it...in the quote he is talking about a popular secular book where a woman marries the good man but lives a life of regret because she was afraid to risk it all for the man she really loved..."she had been taught the safest best is the best one. the character lives a life full of regret because she settled for a good man instead of the right man. People read this book because they could relate to someone who gave up on their passions and dreams, because it was just easier to do what looked safe...it is all throughout the Bible...from Jesus asking a fisherman to drop his nets to him putting the same choice before Paul, it's in the story of the rich young ruler and the incredible saga of a teenage girl named Mary who didn't want to play it safe....When it comes to living out the rest of your life, are you looking for contentment, or are you looking to be overwhelmed? Whoever you end up with, or whatever you end up doing with your life, just make sure it makes your heart beat fast...God's plans are not always the safest"... this is what my journey here has been about...and it is not over yetTriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06145053493593977017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304857110215228329.post-45724749576863891522011-12-30T13:35:00.003-05:002011-12-30T13:50:40.612-05:00could i give it all away?So I finished my first adventure into the community in the jungle....it has taken me a bit of time to unpack all that the Lord taught me in that time...I thought before coming here that i was not a selfish person, not that i go out of my way to give sacrificially but i am not stingy either...then i was shown in the by the people that i lived among what not being selfish really looks like....they share everything in the community, from food, to clothing, to water, nothing is considered only yours...my partner and I usually take our showers in the creek, but some nights that is impossible...so we walk over to a family's house and they allow us to use their water...this would seem like a very normal thing, but this is a family of about nine to ten people, and that is all they get for a whole day..they use it for washing dishes, taking showers, washing clothes, and to cook with...and every time they willingly give it away to us....not thinking of what will happen the next day if they don't turn on the pump and have no water....i realized that most of the time when i give i do it out of my abundance and not out of my poverty...it reminds of the story in Luke of the widow giving the last two coins she had to live on. I want to be like the widow but i find myself looking more like the rich people....i never give until it hurts...i never have to go without because i have given it all away...Why? why can't i live my life more like them, why can't i give it all away without expecting anything in return? When will i learn to love like this?Triciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06145053493593977017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304857110215228329.post-69016655776092959952011-12-24T01:52:00.004-05:002011-12-24T03:18:24.490-05:00Joyful All Ye Nations Rise<span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Killing a Goat:</span> <span style="font-size:78%;">(essentials for the skimmers)</span><br /></span><ul style="font-family: arial;"><li>Enjoy our December 2011 video.<br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/GjJozWyC9qc" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe></li><li>All four of us are healthy and enjoying Christmas together.</li><li>Wrestling (corey's ministry) has been low in attendance.</li><li>English and Computer classes (Racheal's ministry) is off to a great start.</li><li>African Thanksgiving was a great way to connect with our neighbors and share with them why we were thankful to God. Today we are hosting an African Christmas get together. Please pray!<br /></li></ul><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" ><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sharing It with Your Neighbors:</span></span> <span style="font-size:78%;">(details for the readers)</span><br /><br />Dear fellow rejoicers,</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >As this year comes to a close, we reflect on our first year completed in our new West African home (and also Zambia, and England, and North Carolina, and Senegal, and anywhere else we visited since December 15, 2010).<br /><br />We want to thank all of you who support us through encouragement, prayers, and finances, without any of which we would not be here. Particularly, we wish to thank those of you who are giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. This annual offering represents 50% of our organization's budget. Let me be clear that from our point of view, we would not be here without your giving; but from God's point of view, by giving to missions you're not enabling Him to accomplish anything. To put it bluntly, if you're unable or unwilling to help, He'll find someone who is able or who is willing. However, He has invited you to partner with the Body of Christ, the Church, in reaching the nations. Thank you for answering that invitation to fulfill the Great Commission. Thank you for partnering with us.<br /><br />Many of the prospective wrestlers never showed up. A few months ago they appeared excited, but neglected to strain themselves during the fasting month of Ramadan. Nowadays they are in no short supply of other excuses. I have a core group of guys from 10 years-old to 30 years-old who come often. Most of the "all talk, no walk" crowd hang out under a baobab tree daily. It's where i first met the faithful few. The tree is impressively huge. At some point in time there seems to have been i fire that hollowed out the tree. You could probably fit a small car inside the cavity, though the opening is overhead and requires you to climb down into it. Last week i decided to go in to see what it looked like from inside. I started to climb up and by the time i got to the mouth of the cavity about 20-30 people had run over. They shouted, "What are you doing?!"<br />"Going inside the tree," i replied calmly.<br />"No! You must not!"<br />"Why? It's just a tree."<br />"There's something in there. Get down right now!" (The word they used for "something" implies a demonic presence.)<br />Let me pause here and say we live in a part of the world that the Enemy manifests itself very differently than in the USA. To entertain the idea that a living thing like this tree is demon possessed is not ignorant of the scientific and natural world. It's just a realization that the stuff that happened in the Bible still happens today.<br />"No. I want to see the inside of the tree."<br />"Aren't you afraid of the demon?" (Now they used the word "demon" no longer simply implying.)<br />"No. I believe in Jesus. He will protect me."<br />From inside the tree i could hear the people talking amongst themselves. "Who's in there?" "Is he okay?" "Has the giant [demonic] cobra come to get him yet?" I didn't see anything but a beautiful inside of a tree. A few minutes later when i came out the silent look on everyone's face said, "How on earth are you still alive. No one comes out of that tree alive." I told them that Jesus protected me. I told them that demons are afraid of Him. That asked if i was afraid. I simply told them that i placed all my fear in God, and i didn't have anymore fear left to put in other things like demons. I'm very excited to see how this will affect my relationship with the people. More importantly, i'm looking forward to seeing how this will affect their relationship with their Maker.<br /><br />Racheal has started teaching English classes and Computer classes to nationals at "The Wisdom House." That is a facility that is maintained by our organizations. Classes like these allow her to build relationships with her twelve students. Please pray for those relationships. She recently found some ESL literature (textbooks, etc.) to hold classes in four levels of English. Racheal's first Level I class finished this week. Levels I and II will being January 17. Please pray for divine appointments with the students.<br /><br />Please pray for church volunteer groups that are preparing to come to work with the Usus people. Pray that more volunteer team would be touched to come here also and join us in the work God is doing in this people.<br /><br />Merry Christmas from West Africa!<br />'til the whole world hears,<br />corey reid pendergrass<br /></span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304857110215228329.post-76615032687745152432011-12-20T17:33:00.001-05:002011-12-20T17:33:24.443-05:00Worship.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>God requires worship. His command to worship is a command to enjoy the very person of God. The Psalmist says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him” (Psalms 34:8) In Colossians 1:15-20, Paul records an early Christian hymn. These verses were likely recited or sung by the early church, as a declaration of Christ’s divinity. During the fourth century, Augustine wrote, “But let my soul praise Thee, that it may love Thee, and let it confess Thy mercies to Thee, that it may praise Thee. Thy whole creation praises Thee without ceasing…” The nature of God inspires believers to worship.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">In 1971, Schaeffer stated, “Our generation is overwhelmingly naturalistic. There is an almost complete commitment to the concept of the uniformity of natural causes in a closed system.” American culture has become increasingly more resistant to the idea of the supernatural. The worship of God is a supernatural process, whereby the natural meets supernatural. The praises of believers transcend time and space to reach a heavenly audience. The very idea of biblical worship is contrary to American culture. Rick Warren said that the heart of worship is surrender, which is an unpopular word, disliked almost as much as submission…. In today’s competitive culture, Americans are taught to never give up and never give in–so they do not hear much about surrendering.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> Paul’s words are cutting to a culture that idealizes the natural when the Bible teaches that the natural man is corrupt and eternally damned. Only in submission to Christ is salvation found. For this reason, the church must understand the importance of living and teaching the spiritual discipline of worship.</span></div>the Laneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559019319319523709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304857110215228329.post-44984269260920309482011-12-20T17:32:00.001-05:002011-12-20T17:34:30.095-05:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></span>the Laneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559019319319523709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304857110215228329.post-368368374614790702011-11-02T09:41:00.000-04:002011-11-02T10:49:16.840-04:00Baby #2<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Giving Birth (essentials for the skimmers):</span></b></span></p> <ul> <li style="margin: 0px; font: 12px Helvetica;"><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Watch our latest video: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6RxOWNcJLw">Episode 5</a></span></b></span></li><li style="margin: 0px; font: 12px Helvetica;"><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span">We're back in our country of residence.</span></b></span></li><li style="margin: 0px; font: 12px Helvetica;"><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span">We've been kinda sick, nothing too serious, but haven't been able to get out and about much since our return.</span></b></span></li></ul><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Catching the Baby (extras for the more detail oriented):</span></b></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b><br /></b></p><p style="margin: 0px; font: 12px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Dear brethren and sistren,</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font: 12px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Sorry for the delays in getting this episode to you. I know many of you have been chompin' at the bit for some info on the new one.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font: 12px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span">So there we were in the delivery room. Racheal was a huffin' and a puffin'. River's head starts to come out and the doctor looks at me and says, "Would you like to catch him?" "Uh huh," i squeezed out, unsure of what he meant. He replied, "Put some glove on." So he stepped to one side and i got there just in the nick of time. On the next push, he fell right into my arms. What an experience! It made me thankful we had the baby here. Most western country doctors wouldn't let you do that.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font: 12px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Since then Fisher spilled juice on our computer. Thankfully, we had purchased Geek Squad insurance with accidental protection. They're going to fix it or replace it for free! However, that means no videos 'til we can send it back, have it fixed, then have someone (a volunteer team) bring it back.</span></p><br /><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Prayer ReQuests:</span></b></span></p> <ul> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span">Life with a new baby in West Africa is stressful to say the least.</span></li><li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span">Thank God for River's health. He's been sick the least since we got back.</span></li><li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span">Fisher and Racheal have impetigo, a skin infection. Fisher's has been pretty bad, but it seems to be clearing up with multiple baths daily and topical cream and antibiotics.</span></li><li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span">Corey and Racheal have a sinus infection that will not go away. Corey's has been going on for 6 weeks and Racheal's just started. Sniff sniff.</span></li></ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">'til the whole world hears,</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">corey reid pendergrass</span></span></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304857110215228329.post-71395648425864427162011-10-13T13:39:00.002-04:002011-10-13T13:59:34.609-04:00quiet, steady perseverancePatience: an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay......<div>a quiet, steady perseverance...</div><div>normally when people return from a trip abroad the first thing they say in comparison to the USA is how much more slowly things moved in whatever country they visited...this is true in Brazil as well...i have to ride the bus most days if i don't want to use my God-given mode of transportation(feet)...and there is no schedule for these buses...you just sit and wait...which means you must carve out a pretty good chunk of time if you want to go anywhere...</div><div>this is not the only way that God is teaching me patience right now....details about my job assignment seem to change every week....when i will be training...who it will be with....what i am supposed to do with the time in between....things at home change just as often as well...my friends are moving on with their lives as well....some getting married...some having babies...some graduating college and starting new careers.....all of which i get to watch from a distance...wishing them good luck through messages on facebook...</div><div>things with my own family change constantly as well....sometimes things are good and sometimes they get pretty bad....now is one of those times when things are bad....and for the first time in my life the phrase "God is in control" has taken on a whole new meaning.....these are no longer just words....this is what i cling to....it is one thing to willingly give up control of a situation....it is quite another when that has been taken from you....control is a funny thing you know...i thin we trick ourselves into thinking that we have it but in reality we never did....you can't say God is in control but then try to conduct your life all on your own....</div><div>Even though i don't understand what all this waiting has been for...or why things with my family are what they are....or why i am having to miss out on all these events in my friend's lives...but i know in the end God will get the glory....i am reminded constantly of the verse in Isaiah that talks about God's thoughts and ways being higher than ours....and even if i had the answers to all the Why's in my life...would it really make things any better....</div><div>I want it to be said of me that i had a' quiet, steady perseverance' through this trial </div>Triciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06145053493593977017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304857110215228329.post-88255542099363917632011-09-13T18:21:00.003-04:002011-09-13T18:34:36.769-04:00words are just so hard sometimesSo i know that this may sound a little nerdy but i have been thinking a lot lately about words...you know like communication, the way in which we as human beings express ourselves....before i tried to learn another language i took great pride in trying to speak as though i was very intelligent....now when i try to speak this new language i can't get through a whole sentence without making a mistake...talk about humility...but the most frustrating part is not being able to communicate what i came here to tell people about....i want to be able to tell them about Jesus and what he means to me and what he has done in my life....but i am not able to do this quite yet...which has made me pray a lot more often, but still is frustrating...i was reading the story of the tower of babel the other day and thinking God it would be a lot easier if we all spoke the same language but then i thought would i still be motivated to come over and share the good news with people or would it make me more lazy than i already am?<div><br /></div><div>we are called to be in the world but not of the world...i have heard this phrase so many times but recently i have been trying to digest it's meaning...sometimes i use the excuse that i need to do these things to understand people more, to really get to know them...that is all a lie...i do these things because my carnal fleshly side wins out most times over my spiritual side...also because when i do make the wrong choice the consequences are not immediate and sometimes i don't feel them at all...when did i become so numb to grieving the spirit of the Lord? Can i really see a difference in the way i live my life from the way a non-christian lives theirs? have i tried so hard to fit in and not stand out that i have become invisible?</div><div><br /></div><div>As i have been here in brazil now for about 7 months i have noticed some things that they do quite different from the US of A...one that has been on my mind recently though is about family..back home it is completely normal for extended family to go months at a time without speaking to each other whether you live in different cities or even different states...it is ok to only see family at holidays and that is usually when we are forced...here though it is normal for children to live with their parents until they are married and if a grandparent needs more help then they just move in, or if and aunt or uncle needs help raising their kids they move in too...there is always time for family and there is always space...at first i though this to be weird but now i look at the way we do this back home and i think maybe we are the ones who have it wrong.....the Bible tells us to love our family...to out do one another in showing honor...i think we could learn a thing or two from the brazilians..</div>Triciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06145053493593977017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304857110215228329.post-50988976205012917812011-09-13T17:52:00.002-04:002011-09-13T18:04:23.370-04:00Year ThreeHello Friends,<div><br /></div><div>Year three is off to a great start. I admit I was a bit anxious about what the huge turn over in staff would mean, but we've been blessed with a very flexible, excited, hard working group of people. The atmosphere has definitely changed for the better. I am currently teaching elementary and middle school music and working part-time in the library! Relationships, language ability, and familiarity with the city and culture continue to ripen and deepen. </div><div>Anna is doing well. She has a lot of responsibilities at the school and she fulfills them well. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am also in the "what am I going to do next year" boat. There are so many factors to process and decisions to make, and the calendar keeps moving forward despite my dragging feet. I have to consistently cast this worry about the future upon my Father who has promised to guide and provide. </div><div><br /></div><div>Peace</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Christianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12426872169259021546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304857110215228329.post-27877264141167448732011-09-07T13:45:00.005-04:002011-09-07T14:44:35.179-04:00Summer Daze<div>What a whirlwind the past couple of months have been! Bobby and I have been keeping the roads hot since mid June, hopping around between some of our favorite places. After an awesome summer at SWO, we rolled into some much needed down time together to celebrate our third anniversary in the Outer Banks. Bobby then headed to Dallas to complete another class for his master's and joined me a week later in Florida for a beach vacation with my family. For the past two weeks, we've been at my parents' house, spending great time together. We set this time aside to truly be able to invest in family relationships before leaving for Africa. We will continue this pattern until our stateside training starts in Virginia, visiting with more friends and family along the way. Please pray for us as we make so many transitions... saying goodbye to those we love, making decisions about the work ahead of us, packing up our stuff, and all the while maintaining a solid, loving marriage relationship. One of the hardest things to do while living with our family is to make time for each other, so pray that we would be intentional to do so.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><div></div><div>Here are some photos from our recent travels... enjoy!</div></div></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyudlAELe-FT34Zu8rRbToS_wnILNBZGI7WH59v7X7qn9MNd3BM1bvOPDiZcR7ES4iklWvWziKlyAZm80V3M_oACeRzw1tspwzMfKLrCk8IYS-a3Eltu689QH6WWLl5rcXa8LlZTaCMoyH/s1600/IMG_1082.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span><img style="text-decoration: underline;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyudlAELe-FT34Zu8rRbToS_wnILNBZGI7WH59v7X7qn9MNd3BM1bvOPDiZcR7ES4iklWvWziKlyAZm80V3M_oACeRzw1tspwzMfKLrCk8IYS-a3Eltu689QH6WWLl5rcXa8LlZTaCMoyH/s320/IMG_1082.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649689055095645266" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Bobby with Rhys and Ryan, dear friends and SWO family</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZPthHd1N0FYrk5bJkVHfPBBHqfPvqXMyngbbNW1_7AHPWynvfOvMYrv7x9cs9PakNe170qGIm9_VghrX5y2XQHlzBdCLinynY_iGTRiv_mccMCpUWI0aIJjaCULmfH8ZSNcwCYpgpzX5/s1600/IMG_4585.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZPthHd1N0FYrk5bJkVHfPBBHqfPvqXMyngbbNW1_7AHPWynvfOvMYrv7x9cs9PakNe170qGIm9_VghrX5y2XQHlzBdCLinynY_iGTRiv_mccMCpUWI0aIJjaCULmfH8ZSNcwCYpgpzX5/s320/IMG_4585.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649689051161196834" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Ocracoke Lighthouse, North Carolina</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIj8nFXycYlTGosL9KgrNoIxoJ7ciNjFAJPn2TlNxKkmqamnPc8WvLz7UwRkb_fYoyftQbn5AexVgKoDbq7wMLcx-_YWeiwRFIcT-KZ7_VzN5GnlH0jkpDZt_HMxK-2Agil3a-ypPtFu-m/s1600/IMG_4596.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIj8nFXycYlTGosL9KgrNoIxoJ7ciNjFAJPn2TlNxKkmqamnPc8WvLz7UwRkb_fYoyftQbn5AexVgKoDbq7wMLcx-_YWeiwRFIcT-KZ7_VzN5GnlH0jkpDZt_HMxK-2Agil3a-ypPtFu-m/s320/IMG_4596.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649689049196627282" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Ocracoke Island, North Carolina Outer Banks</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPq0PuvaOm41oF-0YJjmeQeAFTt0WxZUH3kvNEE8l__VYnbth5ZZoljUF1rUeYbE3waCYvrVhZnUgdpzIlVTlGK2-crCa4andyNUtAedWapaymQC6rw779VryBC7YmOj8DWpgcF1llMQeI/s1600/IMG_4654.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPq0PuvaOm41oF-0YJjmeQeAFTt0WxZUH3kvNEE8l__VYnbth5ZZoljUF1rUeYbE3waCYvrVhZnUgdpzIlVTlGK2-crCa4andyNUtAedWapaymQC6rw779VryBC7YmOj8DWpgcF1llMQeI/s320/IMG_4654.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649689039911371650" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Gator hunting with my dad - Lake George, FL</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_S4Nj65VutRHji1FB980Yll7miv1K6DtjslH1WzPxYV7DnBscBfZu6whUmpybK0B0Cfd5bla2Jig1vsZXaow2PxkDEhBdpTr9THsdpbUcqdicHoyd5MOkQ7gh5SrBuXeeOeDxqEa_8k-/s1600/IMG_4668.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_S4Nj65VutRHji1FB980Yll7miv1K6DtjslH1WzPxYV7DnBscBfZu6whUmpybK0B0Cfd5bla2Jig1vsZXaow2PxkDEhBdpTr9THsdpbUcqdicHoyd5MOkQ7gh5SrBuXeeOeDxqEa_8k-/s320/IMG_4668.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649689037840835618" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Coffee at sunrise, about to watch Bobby surf - Crescent Beach, FL</div><div><br /></div>the Laneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559019319319523709noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304857110215228329.post-14759838126303093432011-08-19T06:13:00.003-04:002011-08-22T08:21:25.507-04:00Seperated<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">Dear you,</span><span class="Apple-style-span"><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Racheal left me. She packed her bags, took the kid, and left me. No, we did not have a falling out. Much the contrary. We made a baby. It's been almost two weeks since she left to go to Senegal, West Africa where there is higher medical care. She is due to deliver September 17 or so (depending on which doctor you ask). Rightly so, our mission gives pregnant people two months of maternity leave and one month to their babies' daddies. That being said, i'll rejoin Racheal, Fisher, and River (in utero) about three weeks from now (September 10th, tentative fly date).</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span">I've been stalling writing a blog entry because of the BIG NEWS that's arriving late September. Nevertheless, things are happening here that are so awesome i can't wait to tell you all.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span">The other day i was talking with some young men at the river port in our town that work most days in neck-deep water, shoveling sand from the river bottom to a wooden boat above their head. They then drag the loaded boat back to shore and pile the sand to sell or to mix into cinder blocks. These guys are ripped. I mean, they have muscles popping out of their eyeballs. I introduced myself and asked if they by chance ever wrestled. Wrestling is <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so43Gndfegk">very popular in other parts</a> of West Africa, but not in Usus land. Nevertheless, they had the frames for it. That expressed a desire to wrestle, but had no one to teach them. You could have seen the "divine appointment" light bulb click on above my head. "Well, in the United States i was a wrestling coach." They replied with glee, "Would you teach us?!" Long story, short, we are practicing every weekday at 5pm in a sand pit outside town. Right now is Ramadan (the month of Muslim daytime fasting), so most of the guys have expressed desire to come starting next month. We're already planning the first tournament in mid-December, to be held in the community center a hundred yards from our house.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span">I decided as i learn more and more Usus language, i could still do some ministry in the market/taxi stop, also a hundred yards from our house. I just showed up one day last week and sat on a bench beside a group of men and women, many selling fruit or waiting for their taxi to fill up so they can make their long journey to another city or town. Many of them are drivers themselves that have found it hard to find work during the rainy season, when the roads are totally are almost impassible. They have nothing to do except sit around and talk about the weather... and listen to God's word being read aloud. It's funny. People here are almost all folk-Muslims. It's Ramadan so even the less faithful, are doing their best to appear devout (In Christianity, you might call them "Chreasters," the people that come out twice a year... Christmas + Easter.). So several have asked me to come back every afternoon and read to them. When i get there some unashamedly sit next to me and read over my shoulder, even help me pronounce. Most sit within earshot, facing to one side, trying to not appear to the rest of the market as interested. At this point, we only have the New Testament translation finalized, so i started with Matthew 1 and i'm just reading through. I never would have thought i would start a presentation of the Gospel with a long genealogy. Reading a list of 42 hard-to-pronounce names in any language is not my idea of good time. But, in this part of the world, that genealogy is just as meaningful as the story Jesus feeding the 5000 or the Last Supper. Go figure.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; ">
<br /></p><p style="font-size: 100%; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:130%;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Prayer ReQuests:</span></b></span></p><ul><li style="font-size: 100%; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="font-size:130%;">Pray for Racheal and company. It's been very hard to rest with a fetus that dances all night (I think he got that from my mother-in-law, Renée) and a 23-month-old that wakes up at 5am shouting "COREY! COREY!"
<br /></span></li><li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >Pray for Racheal and i as we are apartt. That we would use this time to seek the Lord. That our minds would be quickened against the Enemy. That we would be able to glorify the Lord even when half of us is 450+ miles away.</span></li><li style="font-size: 100%; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="font-size:130%;">Pray for the wrestlers in Usus land. Pray that this sport would give way to build relationships. Pray that those relationships would give way to the Gospel.</span></li><li style="font-size: 100%; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="font-size:130%;">Pray for the men and women at the taxi stop. Pray for them to understand God's Word as i butcher the Usus language (I've been told that may be a blessing in disguise as people have to listen more intently than if i read perfectly).
<br /></span></li></ul><div style="font-size: 100%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span">'til the whole world hears,</span></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span">corey reid pendergrass</span></span></div></span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304857110215228329.post-68093153302915004062011-08-12T00:16:00.002-04:002011-08-12T00:45:04.973-04:00Does God laugh?So i know that usually i try to post things that are serious and meaningful and hopefully a little bit wise...but i think that sometimes we need to just laugh. So on that note i will share a little story about my experience with the bus system here in brazil. my sweet little town in Georgia never gave me the experience of riding a bus along side my fellow americans. So when i got to brazil and found out that besides my own two feet this would be my main mode of travel...lets just say i was a bit nervous...it took me almost two months just to muster up the courage to venture out on what of these riding death traps....i call them this because i think the bus drivers have the idea that because they are the biggest object on the rode they are allowed to take up as many lanes as possible and honk loudly if anyone dares to get close to them...In the first city i lived in my friend helped me learn the bus numbers and routes....and i became an expert, mainly because i was forced to take one to school and back everyday....i digress...the buses there were always on time...give or take a few minutes. so when i came to manaus of course my first question was about the schedule of the buses....i was told that there is no schedule...you just go out to the bus stop and wait sometimes for a few minutes sometimes for a few hours...it is always good to have a book on hand, or your trusty kindle....In order to help this problem i try to be flexible about what bus i want...as long as i get to my destination....even if i have to go around my elbow to reach my butt...i still get there, and prayerfully in one piece...<div>There was one day recently that i decided to be adventurous and take a new bus...thinking that i had seen it at the mall previously....When i boarded the bus there were plenty of seats available...quite a rarity around here....so i found my seat and made myself comfortable...as comfortable as you can get in leather seats that stick to your legs because of the sweltering heat....looking out the window and trying to find the usual markers to tell me where i am in the city....SSo after riding for about an hour i noticed that I was beginning to see the same markers i had seen in the start of this trip...this is when it dawned on me that this bus was not going where i wanted it to....no big deal...i get lost a lot...even in foreign countries....i thank my mom for passing on this gene....</div><div>So i finally got to a familiar place and started the waiting process all over again...all the time dreaming of the quarter pounder from mcdonalds....yeah we have those here....My bus finally came and i found my seat....during the ride a nice gentle man came to sit next to me...we did not speak at first, i jsut kept watching my landmarks....then he handed me a piece of paper...of course all in portuguese...with these cute little drawings of indians at the top....the only would i could make out was natural...so of course i thought that he must be an environmentalist who wanted to inform me of the efforts brazil is making to conserve the amazon rainforest... SO i listened to him talk for a while only understanding every third word or so that he said....then it dawned on him that i was not brazilian and did not speak his language...so then he hands me another paper...this one has a calander on it, and as i turn it over i see a tiny picture at the top...bringing it close for inspection...much to my horror i realize it is a man and a woman standing next to a sign in their birthday suits...no fig leaves here folks....this is when in the movies a cartoon lightbulb would be above my head and start shinning with all it's might....he was telling me about a nudist colony that he was a member of and of course wanted me to join as well....the worst part about a bus full of people is that if you happened to choose the window seat...you can go no where fast...so i was forced to listen to this man continue to explain to me about where i can find other places to be free of clothes....At this point i couldn't tell if my face was red from the heat or from the embarrassment.....the mans finally left and of course i polietly thanked him when i really wanted to crumple the paper and throw it back in his face.... it does make for a great story though now....</div><div>So when i finally reached my destination and walked through the mall to see those glorious golden arches, I was a little out of breath and in desperate need of some food....so i preoceeded to order, which is always a fun, and when i say fun i mean horrible, test of my language....I tried very hard to say the word for quarter pounder with only cheese...and the lady answered back: you want only cheese and bread? i said no, cheese bread and meat...i like the quarter pounder because it is the only one that they put two pieces of cheese on...and they put one on the bottom and one on the top...so i may have a bit of a love affair with cheese...we all have our weaknesses....anyways...when my order finally came i looked at the tray and much to my dismay there layed a tiny sad little ordinary hamburger with only one slice of cheese....i thought about telling her she messed up but i was so famished by this point...because of my adventurous bus ride, i just brought it to the table and sat down....as i said my prayer i asked God to make me grateful that i got to eat this food at all, and that even though it wasn't what i wanted hopefully i will still be satisfied at the end....and that is exactly what happened...the burger was just the right size...it reminded me that sometimes i think i know what i want and i try so hard to get it but God really knows what i need and if i would only trust Him then He would love to give me just that....I know it seems a little funny to use a story about a cheeseburger to talk about God, but I think even God laughs sometimes....</div>Triciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06145053493593977017noreply@blogger.com1