SMOi

2012-02-04T19:25:00.000-05:00

Africa does not need me.

2012-01-26T06:01:00.000-05:00

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.

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.

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.

Praise!

2012-01-20T02:52:00.001-05:00

We Follow The Man

2012-01-15T05:45:00.000-05:00

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.

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.

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.

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.

We Have Arrived

2012-01-12T02:55:00.002-05:00

	Memphis to Newark to Brussels to Kilgali to Entebbe… all in a day and a half's time.

	Dear Faithful Prayer Partners, 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. 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… :) 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! Please keep praying for… our paperwork for residency that is still processing. Pray for us to trust God's timing! us to get plugged in with ministry to nationals. We want to be intentional during this unknown amount of time in the capital as we wait. the little ones on our team to adjust well. This extensive transition is hard on the 3 year old, 2 year old, and 3 month old. mine & Robert's marriage to strengthen during this time. Pray that we press into Jesus and lean on each other during whatever challenges that come our way. Please let us know how to pray for you too. We are committed to praying for those who pray for us! Maridith Lane {Pictures, L to R: Bobby sleeping on the plane, the map on the plane ride, me enjoying one last Starbucks latte!}

Before It's Too Late

2012-01-11T06:59:00.005-05:00

Getting There Before It's Too Late: (essentials for everyone)

This update, i want to say some things that are essential. No quick overview this time.

We're staying a couple days in a mission guesthouse that had a sign on the kitchen wall with the following inscription:

"The Gospel is only good news if it arrives in time!" -Carl Henry

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.
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.

She is in hell now. All those fresh graves and the several in between hold the remains of people who are all in hell. Most of them had never heard the Gospel. Why? And how can we as Christ's Church change that?

Those were not rhetorical questions. Leave a comment.

'til the whole world hears,
corey reid pendergrass

But have not love

2011-12-30T14:02:00.002-05:00

if 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

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....

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...

1 John 4:19" We love because he first loved us."

contentment or overwhelmed?

2011-12-30T13:50:00.002-05:00

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 yet

could i give it all away?

2011-12-30T13:35:00.003-05:00

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?

Joyful All Ye Nations Rise

2011-12-24T01:52:00.004-05:00

Killing a Goat: (essentials for the skimmers)

Enjoy our December 2011 video.
All four of us are healthy and enjoying Christmas together.
Wrestling (corey's ministry) has been low in attendance.
English and Computer classes (Racheal's ministry) is off to a great start.
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!

Sharing It with Your Neighbors: (details for the readers)

Dear fellow rejoicers,

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).

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.

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?!"
"Going inside the tree," i replied calmly.
"No! You must not!"
"Why? It's just a tree."
"There's something in there. Get down right now!" (The word they used for "something" implies a demonic presence.)
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.
"No. I want to see the inside of the tree."
"Aren't you afraid of the demon?" (Now they used the word "demon" no longer simply implying.)
"No. I believe in Jesus. He will protect me."
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.

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.

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.

Merry Christmas from West Africa!
'til the whole world hears,
corey reid pendergrass

Worship.

2011-12-20T17:33:00.001-05:00

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. 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.

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.

2011-12-20T17:32:00.001-05:00

Baby #2

2011-11-02T09:41:00.000-04:00

Giving Birth (essentials for the skimmers):

Watch our latest video: Episode 5
We're back in our country of residence.
We've been kinda sick, nothing too serious, but haven't been able to get out and about much since our return.

Catching the Baby (extras for the more detail oriented):

Dear brethren and sistren,

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.

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.

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.

Prayer ReQuests:

Life with a new baby in West Africa is stressful to say the least.
Thank God for River's health. He's been sick the least since we got back.
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.
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.

'til the whole world hears,

corey reid pendergrass

quiet, steady perseverance

2011-10-13T13:39:00.002-04:00

Patience: an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay......

a quiet, steady perseverance...

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...

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...

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....

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....

I want it to be said of me that i had a' quiet, steady perseverance' through this trial

words are just so hard sometimes

2011-09-13T18:21:00.003-04:00

So 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?

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?

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..

Year Three

2011-09-13T17:52:00.002-04:00

Hello Friends,

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.

Anna is doing well. She has a lot of responsibilities at the school and she fulfills them well.

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.

Peace

Summer Daze

2011-09-07T13:45:00.005-04:00

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.

Here are some photos from our recent travels... enjoy!

Bobby with Rhys and Ryan, dear friends and SWO family

Ocracoke Lighthouse, North Carolina

Ocracoke Island, North Carolina Outer Banks

Gator hunting with my dad - Lake George, FL

Coffee at sunrise, about to watch Bobby surf - Crescent Beach, FL

Seperated

2011-08-19T06:13:00.003-04:00

Dear you,

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).

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.

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 very popular in other parts 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.

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.

Prayer ReQuests:

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!"
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.
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.
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).

'til the whole world hears,

corey reid pendergrass

Does God laugh?

2011-08-12T00:16:00.002-04:00

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...

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....

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....

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....

A Time to Mourn

2011-08-01T02:22:00.005-04:00

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

(Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

Dear friends and family,

For a few months you've known that there has been a serious illness in our family. During that time my daddy-in-law, Randy Roberts, battled a very aggressive cancer. Last Tuesday, he died. It is our belief that Randy is now with his Maker. Though it's been a stressful time (That's very understated.), we praise the Lord for Randy's life.

We wanted to send Racheal and Fisher to yesterday's memorial celebration in North Carolina, but it didn't work out. Instead, we've asked Racheal's oldest brother, Randall, to come help her in Dakar while i, corey, can't be there. We'll be flying him there in a few weeks.

So this Sunday, Racheal and Fisher (and River, as if he had a choice) are headed to Dakar where there's better medical care for birthing babies. They'll be there for about two months; Randall will come in to help Racheal get around and watch Fisher while she's in the doctor visits (No kids allowed.). I'll join them in early September, pending River's progress. After the birth, Randall will return to the States and the four of us Pendergrasses will return to our home in Usus land.

Prayer ReQuests:

Pray for Racheal traveling alone with a watermelon growing on her belly and a near 2-year-old on her hip. Plus luggage. Yikes.
Pray for River and Racheal's health. They're doing fairly well.
Pray for Racheal's family in the States and us in West Africa grieving the passing of her father.
Pray for me, corey, as i'll have to be without my precious family for about a month.

'til the whole world hears,

corey reid pendergrass

A Story You Need to Read

2011-07-13T13:42:00.002-04:00

Read all of our posts at The Hoovers:Liberia Bound.

Again, apologies for the silence, but blogging just hasn't been at the top of my to do list since I've been home!

Quick update:

Life has been good since returning to the U.S. I've gotten into pre-natal care with some midwives in Chapel Hill. Everything looks great for baby and me! I have been able to spend quality time with family. The only downside is Kyle's absence, but that is all about to change in approximately 30 hrs.! Kyle returns home tomorrow evening! YIPPEE!

Kyle's remaining time in Liberia was fruitful and we are so thankful that he was able to return for these last 6 weeks. Kyle and I wanted to share a story from these last few weeks in Liberia. A word of caution before reading- this story is hard to fathom for our American minds but it is very real in Liberia. Satan is at work in visible ways in Liberia and we wish we could say that this woman's story is unusual, but unfortunately it is not. That is why, among other reasons, the work of the Gospel in Liberia is so important. This is a story that I think will bless you and open your eyes to the reality of life for Liberian Christians.

This story is taken from an email from Kyle to his mom a few weeks ago.

During our time here in Liberia - there have been several occasions when I've had opportunities to see a little deeper into the real lives of Liberians. One of those came a few days ago when I was sitting in the office with Joe S. - my Liberian counterpart and all around great man. He is an elder in a small church plant along the "Guinea Road" which in this literal society is THE 10 km road to the Guinea border. He is level headed and a very good elder - and as such usually finds himself in the middle of things. Sometimes he shares stories with me - and on this day he shared with me a situation going on with a young lady that had just come to his church. This young lady was running away from her grandmother who had inducted her into one of the secret witchcraft societies that underlies everything here in Liberia when she was 12 - taking her away from her parents. Witchcraft here is not the tree hugging type like it is in the USA - its very real and involves human sacrifice and cannibalism. Over eight years she gave her little brother to the leaders of her sect for sacrifice - and probably others not of her family - she was asked for her sister and she refused - she was asked for her mother and she again refused. She then had to flee at age 20 for her life - and with no family she was on the streets. She made her way to the Guinea Road church where some of her family were and she confessed her sins and became a believer. She said she wanted to have a Bible - and asked if anyone could provide her with one - so she can read it and for just a bit of comfort - Bibles are not easy to find here. I went home that afternoon and was thinking about this story and how I wished I had a Bible to give - but all I had was my own and well - I wasn't ready to give it up yet.

In the evenings I have been (trying) to clean up our house at our little place in Ganta at which point I found a Bible someone (Kyle's mom) had insisted I take "Just in case". It was that little blue NKJV Bible with the flip cover and tiny letters (and magnifying glass) you stashed in our stuff before we left. I gave it to Joe yesterday. Its now in the hands of that young woman.

Just goes to show - you never know what and how things will work out - and for us Reformed theology folks - that God's Providence works in large and small - and in over-packing luggage.

Thank you for being insistent!

Kyle is returning tomorrow with more photos and stories to share from his last few weeks in Liberia. Please be praying for us as we process this journey and turn our eyes towards what God may have in store for us for the future. We look forward to seeing many of you in the coming weeks!

In Christ Alone,
Kyle and Jessica Hoover

Vagabonds

2011-07-07T08:02:00.000-04:00

Receiving Our Crate... (essentials for the skimmers):

Watch our latest video: Episode 4!
We are all pretty healthy.
We are being more intentional about having meaningful conversations with our neighbors.
After 9 months of waiting, our crate has arrived!
Happy USA Independence Day

...with Nothing Lost or Stolen (extras for the detail-junkies):

Dear friends,

Well, we made it back to West Africa and have been been getting resettled. It's been an eventful month since we got back.

Racheal will be flying to Sengeal to deliver River. However, the airline wasn't going to let her on this late in the pregnancy, but our diligent mission personnel wouldn't take 'no' for an answer and they were able to get special permission.

A few days ago our crate arrived. We had shipped it on September 24, 2010, 9 months ago. There were many items like major appliances and tools that we were looking forward to. There were tons of things like toys and clothes we'd forgotten about. There were some things like a DC-to-AC electricity inverter that will be so helpful. There were some things like a fish tank vacuum siphon that made us wonder why we put it in the crate. All-in-all, it's been a fun exciting time. It's funny to think about most of the problems and struggles of the last several months we've spent in West Africa. Most of those headaches from the Enemy could have been alleviated by something in that wooden box. However, let us not assume that we are now out of the Enemy's reach.

Prayer ReQuests:

Praise the Lord for our time in NC and being able to return here.
Pray for Racheal and River in the last two months of the pregnancy.
Pray for Dave, Gabe, May, Goose, and Macy who we're building relationships with. Pray that those relationships would allow for a solid sharing of the Gospel.
Pray for Racheal and Fisher and River as they will travel to Senegal soon. Pray for corey as he will have to wait another month after they leave.

'til the whole world hears,

corey reid pendergrass

How do i find the joy again?

2011-07-02T14:41:00.002-04:00

So tomorrow will make it four months that i have been in this country. It is hard to believe that it has been that long. I have been thinking about what to write on here for some time now, it is hard sometimes to decide just how open and vulnerable to be on here. There are times that i think that i am supposed to just suffer and make it through without asking for others prayers or support. A friend of mine reminded me that this way of thinking is not only foolishness but is also Satan trying to beat me down. Of course this job is hard, of course there are challenges, there are times that i feel like throwing in the towel and giving up. Times that i question why i came here at all, how God could use someone like me.....I was warned that these things would happen, i did heed these warnings and think about how to deal with them.....but thinking and doing are two very different things....

there is no perfect missionary mold....we are look different and act different, we all handle stress and culture shock differently....it can be very tiresome always having to be the one to change...change how you dress, change how you eat, change how you speak, change how you look at the world...sometimes i just want to scream no i will not change anything else about myself....just take me as i am......but i was reminded through Paul that i must become all things to all people in order that they may know and hear the gospel....I must figure out how to let go of the American way of doing things and the Tricia way of doing things and some how figure out how to do things the God way.....

I have no idea what the next months or weeks hold for me, I try sometimes to imagine what it will be like but it seems that my imagination falls short....It is easy to get wrapped up in what your idea of something is and forget that there are other people involved who may have other ideas of how something should be....this is when i must trust that God is in control, even when i don't agree, even when i get frustrated and feel like my time here is being wasted.....

'the battle is in the mind" if we could ever gain even a small glimpse into the workings of a human beings mind, i think we might be blown away by what we find...i think it would point to the grandness of our God....but i have realized that for a christian this is where the war we wage on sin can be won or lost....this is where the battle to have joy every day and in every situation is won or lost....it is a choice to see the good in a situation....

Back in West Africa

2011-06-10T02:28:00.000-04:00

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

2011-05-06T13:25:00.000-04:00

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

Time Lapse

2011-04-17T14:58:00.001-04:00

More from the Hoovers at The Hoovers:Liberia Bound.

You know those videos where they speed up time and show you a 24 hrs. of a bustling city in 30 seconds? That’s kind of what life feels like here. Last week I talked about the lessons we’ve learned in 6 months of being here. I don’t think either of us can believe that we’ve been here 6 months already. It’s a crazy feeling!

Last week was an eventful week! The largest EQUIP supported health facility, Saclepea Comprehensive Health Center, had a staff strike! The strike was against the Ministry of Health not EQUIP, but it still effected us because Saclepea is a large facility (80+ staff, in-patient and out-patient, maternity and isolation wards for TB and Lassa Fever). We had to make sure that critical patients were cared for and transferred if there was a need. At this point the strike is still going on, but is supposed to be suspended for one week while county health officials and the head of the Ministry of Health try to work out the issues.

Thanks so much to those of you who spent time in focused prayer for Ivory Coast. Last week French forces arrested Laurent Gbagbo and turned him over to the forces of the opposing side. I haven’t heard what they decided to do with him, but it didn’t seem to help the overall violence in the country. The bottom line is that this conflict is along tribal lines. That makes it a perfect storm for widespread genocide no matter who is in charge. Please continue to pray.

This week we continue to tackle the beast that is meeting the water and health needs of Nimba County. We pray that we do this with the Gospel on our lips and in our hearts. We also turn our eyes toward the death and resurrection of our Savior- He is after all the reason we are here. We pray that Easter will be alive in your home, but more so in your heart. We pray that we all would experience Easter in the dusty corners of our hearts that need cleaning out (hopefully you won’t find any hand sized spiders like I do here!).

Weekly Prayer Needs:

Pray for our hearts to be focused on the Gospel.

Pray that we would run with endurance this crazy race.

Pray that our marriage would be guarded and guided by God.

Pray for all of the little projects that we are invested in here. Pray that there would be fruit and that we would have wisdom as to how to continue.

Peace Folks,

Kyle and Jessica

What comes after the excitement is gone?

2011-04-17T11:19:00.002-04:00

So i have officially been here for 46 days. This is the longest that I have ever been out of the country. It seems as though the newness of this adventure has worn away. I remember being in Virginia and thinking about all the places that the people around me were going and how incredibly exciting it was. I wondered though what would happen when all the excitement wears away and people now longer introduce you as the American, what are you left with? Well i will tell you, you are left with the day to day task of continuing to follow the Lord in obedience. I am learning more and more about how to actually live out this Christian life, in a place that I sometimes feel so alone it physically hurts, but the Lord has been gracious to me showing the He is what will sustain me.

Being stripped of everything that is familiar has an interesting effect on a person. In America I was a very independent and most of the time busy person, but here I can not really go anywhere by myself and I have a lot of hours to simply do nothing. This has afforded me the benefit at really taking a hard look at the things that I have been taught.

I listened to a David Platt sermon the other day and something he said struck me as genius: "Our contentment was never designed to be fulfilled in external circumstances, but by the internal working of Christ in your life." I have often wondered what it actually looks like to be content. Does it happen when you finally receive all the desires of your heart or can it be more than that...I would say that it has to be what David said, because our circumstances change with every waking hour and I think it is our choice to either focus on those or look into the eyes of our Maker and trust His heart.

I never thought I would have to continuously remind myself that this is what I wanted, I can remember last summer always giving my introduction to campers and saying i will be living in Brazil for the next two years, it always sounded so cool. Now that I am actually doing it and I fell the strain of being away from the people I love the most, and attempting to learn this language that I do not understand. The coolness is now gone, and I am simply left with the task ahead.

Even though I have never ran a marathon i look at this journey like that, at times the run is easy and fluid and then there are those moments where i am telling myself to just continue to put one foot in front of the other....that is where i am at, trying to continue to walk the straight and narrow.

I go to skype with some of the SWO people yesterday while at their Staff Orientation Weekend, it was such a blessing to my heart, because I know that when these people say " I am praying for you" they actually mean it, they are genuinely concerned about how the state of my heart is. Even though it is hard for me sometimes to admit my struggles, I have seen how the body of Christ will uphold you during those times, and it is oh so glorious...

Prayers for Ivory Coast

2011-04-11T07:00:00.000-04:00

Quick Update:

Last week went as usual with the exception of Kyle’s Birthday! (just in case you hadn’t heard!) Many of you will be receiving our newsletter this week. Much of the information is pulled from our rantings on our blog, but other pieces are (including a few pics for your fridge!) straight from our heart. Those of you who get our newsletter- read it, enjoy it, and post in on your fridge and remember to pray for us!

In other news…

The refugee situation continues to change and there are differing reports coming out of the Ivory Coast. At one point there were reports of a surrender on the part of the defeated, former president. Then there were reports that Gbagbo has not surrendered and was simply using it as a ploy to re-arm his troops. Meanwhile, thousands continue to flood into the more Southern Counties of Liberia. We’ve been extremely aware of the lack of press that this is making in light of events in Japan, across the Middle-East, Libya and now Nigeria. The situation needs much prayer- the future of the country is unclear, but there is one thing that is clear- many are suffering.

So this week I thought I might call upon everyone that reads this blog to spend a few minutes praying for the situation. I know it’s really easy to read the stories on the BBC or read our blog and say to yourself, “What a sad thing that is happening in the Ivory Coast!” and then go on with the day. I’m saying that to myself just as much to anyone that reads this blog. The fact of the matter is that this is a real matter of prayer for us here. We pray that this week it might be a matter of prayer for you, your small group, your ladies Bible study, men’s prayer breakfast, etc…Lift the people of the Ivory Coast up to our Father this week.

Pray for peace. Pray for mercy. Pray that the violence would end. Pray that through this suffering many might come to know the Father.

Peace Folks,

Kyle and Jessica Hoover

Read more about the work that the Hoover's are a part of in Liberia, West Africa at The Hoovers: Liberia Bound!

Short Week

2011-04-04T10:00:00.000-04:00

More on the journey at The Hoovers: Liberia Bound!

We had a short one last week because we stole a couple of days of rest at the beginning of the week- but somehow when you have a short week it always ends up being crazier in the end. You have to cram 5 days into 3 days! We’ve come to expect this and we are hanging on here in Liberia with each passing week and standing in awe of God’s ability to sustain through even the most unexpected of situations. It doesn’t take being a missionary in the middle of nowhere Liberia to experience God’s grace and sustaining love in our lives. I hope that you’re experiencing that right where you are.

Staff meeting, spiders, new faces, lots of laughter, even more headaches and a few bumpy car rides, Liberian English ruining our vocabulary…that just about sums up the week.

This week Kyle heads back out to New Yourpea to finish a few things on the water system that he installed a couple of weeks ago. Plus, someone (and it isn’t me!) has a Birthday this week. He doesn’t really want to talk about it, but personally I do, because he’s a great man and 30 is not something to cry over- not that he’s been crying over it just misting a little bit- and I think that 30 is going to be the best decade yet for us! I’m not going to mention that I have a couple of years left in my 20s…that makes him feel bad. phhhhttttt…Leave him some Birthday love on the blog this Wednesday and read tomorrow’s post to find out about his Birthday present.

Weekly Prayer Needs:

Pray for us as we travel this week

Pray for rest and endurance to continue this race.

Pray for our marriage as we struggle to carve out time for one another here.

Pray for those that we serve and serve with to see and hear the Gospel clearly

Peace Folks,
Kyle and Jessica Hoover

Weekend Away

2011-03-28T10:00:00.000-04:00

Read more about the Hoover's daily journey at The Hoovers: Liberia Bound!

Over the weekend we made a break for it to Monrovia. Kyle’s eyes were beginning to look glassy and I feared I was losing him to the dark side. It was time for a little R&R. We’re feeling much better- amazing what hot water and internet that moves faster than a tree sloth can do for the soul!

Last week was an interesting week. Kyle went to the village where they are transporting refugees to the camp (they call it a way station) to oversee the installation of an emergency water system. Can anyone else put “emergency water system installation” on their resume? Didn’t think so!

I spent a couple of days in maternity ward of Saclepea Comprehensive Health Center (SCHC) and got to see a couple of births and work with some expectant moms! I have to say that I was incredibly impressed with the midwives at SCHC. They have been doing this for years and I learned a lot just watching them. Just my element! Also exciting news is that I was able to finish all requirements to submit for certification with DONA International as a birth doula! I will FINALLY be certified! Kyle is happy about this because he thinks the hoops that I have had to jump through are ABSOLUTELY ridiculous- in some ways he is right…but it’s what you do! Soon and very soon I can put CD(DONA) behind my name…Ahhhhhhh….

We’re headed back up to our Ganta home either today (Monday) or Tuesday morning. We hop right back into the thick of things. The majority of the refugee influx has moved to the south (another county is now being heavily impacted) as fighting has moved south towards the capital of Cote d’Ivoire. The situation in Ivory Coast is increasingly desperate and civil war is imminent. The international press is giving little to no attention to the situation in light of Libya, Japan and the riots in the Middle East.

It’s hard to remember in the midst of all of that is going on in the world that God is always, eternally, now and forever in control. Through our time here in Liberia we have been reminded how little control we have over this world. It’s easy to think in the perceived safety of our daily lives, routines and schedules that we exert some little tidbit of control over everything that happens. That is pride folks. Dirty, stinkin’ rotten pride and God hates it. Sorry to be so blunt- but we live with people who have been through decades of civil war. There is no pretense of control here- lots of other issues- but no pretense of control. No, God is the one that has numbered the hairs on our heads and holds everything together. Living here in Liberia we are reminded just how tenuous life is. It is a lesson that I hope Kyle and I won’t soon forget.

So in that light we move forward- trusting that God has us in the palm of His hand. Won’t you trust Him with us?

Weekly Prayer Needs:

Pray for continued rest in the midst of busyness and craziness!

Pray for safety as we travel

Pray for wisdom as we look towards the future

Pray for a vision for ministry that reaches deep into the needs of those we encounter on a daily basis.

Pray for our marriage as we daily seek to honor God through the gift of marriage.

Peace Folks,

K&J

Left Behind

2011-03-24T06:26:00.006-04:00

Right below my window men park their carts loaded with bright-red freshly-picked strawberries for just pennies a kilo. Strawberry season has been in its prime for the last few weeks, and I am eating them up as quickly as I can before the goodness is gone. Last night on my way home I bought a whole bag of 'em to cut and freeze. I thought if I can fill my freezer full, I could extend strawberry season for myself just a little longer. I took out my knife, washed the cutting board, turned on the music ... now where were those strawberries? I looked everywhere. I just had them! Did I put them in the freezer already? bathroom? closet? More frustrating than loosing my strawberries was the fact that this absent-mindedness seems to be infecting me more and more often - 30 years too soon! How could a kilo of strawberries just disappear like that?

Today is Thursday and I don't work until noon today. I decided to go for a walk by myself and explore more of this endless urban neighborhood of mine. I discovered a new bakery and bought some bread. I find myself buying a lot of stuff just because I want to practice arabic. It's one of the few things I can do confidently, so I always end up buying lots of stuff. On the way back I decided to walk into my favorite little shop at the corner to say good morning to Yousef, friend I've made there. "Good morning!" says I. Then I thought I'd just ask.... "You haven't seen a bag of strawberries lying around, have you? He grins and says, "These?" He ran to the back of the shop and brought back a bag full of strawberries. There they were! I had visited that shop after I had bought my strawberries and just left them behind on the counter.

So I was able to come back with breakfast and got a good laugh out of it... I needed that. It's been depressing lately. Everyday another friend makes the decision to leave at the end of the school year. Finances are not right, the school's new direction isn't agreeable, family issues need to be attended to. There are many legitimate reasons. I just long so deeply to have a community here that it breaks my heart to see people go - and even while these people are still here for now, it is impossible to prevent the mental switch that happens when you find out someone, especially those with whom you've been through the storm with, will soon no longer be a part of your life. I find myself questioning my calling to be here next year. Is God still in this? Has he abandoned this school? Is there even a purpose behind all this? I feel like I'm being left behind on a sinking ship. My mind trails off again thinking about what it would be like to go follow my own path - to drop this cross and live my own life. It seems to work out for everyone else!

Then He brings me back... I don't even know how to describe it. I find myself crying often. Crying out for Him to take me and grab me tight and hold me to Himself. I ask for His joy and His peace to fill where understanding, reason and earthly comforts have left a gaping hole. His is the life I want. His is the life more abundant. His is the life that is eternal. I believe this and I hold onto that truth like its an oxygen tank. How my heart echos David's psalm after psalm after psalm. Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again - My savior and my God! There is nothing sweeter than when I taste the Truth of His Word.

So as I sit here his morning - having tied my shoes, put the last few things in my backpack and finished up my bowl of strawberries, I am reminded again that I am not walking out this door and going to work for a man, or a board, or a school or even the students - but for a Father who loves me. I work for the perfect boss, I learn from the perfect Teacher, I submit to His perfect administration. If He is for me, who can be against me? I am exactly where I need to be, held tight by His perfect Will. He'll let me go through dark days of my life for sure, but He'll never leave me behind.

Can a rainbow lead you home?

2011-03-19T07:16:00.002-04:00

I have been running since right after high school. I hated it when i was in high school, mainly because it was someone else telling me to do it, and not for myself.....then when college started i was terrified of gaining the "freshman 15"....so i took up running, which at first was very disheartening....i could not even make it one mile without panting like an old woman trying to climb a steep hill...but i kept at it, since then i have run in a few 5K's...nothing all that spectacular...but i love it...i have kept running these last 7 years because it keeps me on the straight and narrow....i know that may sound crazy but it does.....i spend my time running with God...just me and him pounding out the frustrations on the day or crying over the brokenness i feel...somehow when i am done with that run, things just seem more simple, not quite as huge and unstoppable... honestly when i first felt the call to missions...this was on my mind, and I said God but what if i want to run wherever you send me....what if there is no where to run? I know it sounds silly but until i was willing to give that up, I could not surrender...but then if I could trust God with my life, why couldn't i trust Him with this little detail? I also love running because when i travel all i need is my trusty pair of running shoes and a good road and i am set...so of course when i got to Brazil this was on my mind...where could i run, would it be safe? could i go alone or would i have to rely on someone else? God did not leave me hanging though...he provided an awesome track just a short walk from the apartment i am staying at....i have only been there twice with my friend....but the other day I wanted to assert my independence and try it out on my own....so as we walked to the track i payed close attention to the roads and made metal markers...so after my first lap my friend said she was going back and said that is cool, i know the way back....knowing in my head that i really only had a vague memory of which way to go....so after she left i stood there thinking that maybe this wasn't the best idea I have ever had...no phone, can't speak the language, don't know the address of the apartment....but as all of this is running through my head i turned around and over the entire city was the most beautiful rainbow i have ever seen....not just the half ones, but a full half circle...it took my breath away...and at the at moment I heard God whisper to me...I will never leave you...so i ran one more lap and me and God walked back home...so cool

to God be the Glory.....

2011-03-14T17:43:00.002-04:00

So i have been in Brazil for almost two weeks now...It is amazing how quickly time has gone by...of course there are moments when it seems to drag on and never end...This is the longest that I have been out of the country and I am beginning to feel the effects of it. I am living with a Brazilian family. they are great, but learning to assimilate to a new culture and a new language and a new living situation all at the same time, with very little sleep has been a big test for me...God is working on my patience big time. I have been to four church services so far. I used to love to go to church, it brought great joy to think about all my friends i got to spend time with and of course meeting our dear Father there, but now my stomach fills with knots and this little voice inside my head say, it is pointless, you won't understand them. But i go anyways and trust that our Father who is the author of all languages will provide a way for me to worship Him. one of my favorite parts of church is the worship music but not being able to understand the words has provided some frustrations for me. Last night though there was this moment, it was small and insignificant to most, but a song was being sung and the words were no longer foriegn but simple and straight to my heart...He is Glorious...three simple words but to my overwhelmed heart they were mighty and full of the power that i needed....standing in the back of the church and being able to sing in unison with my Brazilian brothers and sisters was just the encouragement that i needed!

No Two Days are Alike but Every Day is the Same

2011-03-14T05:18:00.004-04:00

Wanna read more? Head on over to The Hoovers: Liberia Bound for more updates on refugees, pineapples, and the work of the Gospel in northern Liberia!

Welp, another week has come and gone in northern Liberia. It’s honestly been a blur. A blur of craziness- every day is different, but full of the same problems and hurdles. Liberia is not the place to come if you value doing things in a timely fashion or expect things to go as planned. You will not survive if that is the case. If you don’t believe that ask Kyle- a guy inquired about working here via email the other day and well, Kyle shot him straight- Liberia is not for anyone that can’t go with the flow.

We did have a public holiday on Wednesday- Decoration Day! That is the day that everyone goes and puts flowers on the graves of their loved ones. I actually think that is a day that we could use in America. A day to set aside to remember the one’s we love that have died. Someone want to start a petition for that? Cuz, petitions seem to work so effectively.

Last week I spent some time doing a little field work. By field work I mean playing with kids. I’ve been getting to know the kids that I am starting a Bible Club for and so far my favorite is this little guy named Martin. I don’t have a pictures of him yet because once you break out a camera in front of Liberian kids you have to be prepared to take everyone’s picture…multiple times. But let me offer up a description in lieu of a picture. Martin lives down at Hope for the Nations (rehab for malnourished kiddos) and he has a huge head. Not just huge because of malnourishment issues, but like huge because that is the way he looks- like a funny lookin’ kid (FLK, if you will). Martin, the FLK, has a head the size of an adult, but a body the size of a 3 year old. He’s been malnourished so who knows he might be 17 there is no real way to know for sure, but nonetheless he is one FLK. He is also a funny actin’ kid, the other day when I was having some of the kids help me with a small work project (yes, I do enlist child labor on a regular basis- it’s what missionaries do) and most of the kids are more than eager to help- obnoxiously eager at times- and in walks Martin. Martin, all 3 feet of him, struts around the place (without any pants on mind you) scoping out the work and doing what only can be described as “supervising”. Not once does he make a motion to help or act eager like the other children. Nope, Martin struts around the place, checks out the lay of the land, tips his proverbial hat to me and with a spring in his step exits the building.

I’m in love.

What a man.

Speaking of amazing men, Kyle is hanging on for dear life. Somewhere in the last 4 months he became the person that everyone calls for the answers to life’s most burning questions like, “Mr. Kyle, when are you coming to the office?”, “Mr. Kyle, where is my money for unloading the truck?”, “Mr. Kyle, Mobile 3 needs new bushings…so we need some money.” “Mr. Kyle, Mr. Kyle, Mr. Kyle, MR.KYLE!!!!!” I think God’s preparing him for children…yeah, I’ll stick with that answer.

So that leads us to this week. A week where the only certain thing is that life in Liberia is full of uncertainty…and weird smells…really, there is some weird smell in our house that I can’t find and it is driving me crazy. Arggggghhhhhhh….so pray for us, mmmmkkkkk?

Weekly Prayer Needs:

Pray we maintain sanity.

Pray for rest.

Pray for communion for us as husband and wife and with the Lord

Pray for us as we minister to those around us who need to be touched by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Pray for vision and purpose as we plan for the next 7 months and beyond.

Peace Folks,

Kyle and Jessica Hoover

Runnin' On Empty

2011-03-07T06:45:00.002-05:00

Read more of the everyday in Liberia at The Hoovers: Liberia Bound.

In the last week we’ve felt like a pinball machine being shot all around Liberia. Ganta to Monrovia, Ganta to some of the border villages, back to Ganta from Monrovia, back from the border villages only to turn around and go back out. We’re exhausted. Kyle especially.

The situation in Ivory Coast continues to deteriorate and it doesn’t look like our work will be letting up any time soon. UNHCR is establishing a second camp and the rumor is that there could be up to 12 camps established. The total number of refugees in Nimba could be close to 200,000 by the end of the month! We’ve definitely seen the direct effects that it is having on the clinics that we support and the water points that EQUIP is responsible for. Our facilities are stressed and resources are scarce. Please pray for us as we respond to these needs.

EQUIP has been distributing jerry cans for safe water storage among the Liberian host population and the Ivorian refugee population.

Remember the bats? Yeah, this is Frankie, aka Batman. Totally non-refugee related, but still relevant to our life in Liberia- note the sport coat he is rocking on a Monday morning- our drivers are class-eeeee

On a non-refugee note, I (Jessica) had a great time last week taking two of our Liberian staff to Monrovia to do a presentation. Genni and Lawrina are our Reproductive Health Supervisors and they work with traditional midwives in the communities surrounding our 23 health centers and clinics. They are constantly working on strategies to improve the rate at which women give birth safely in the clinic. Their success has been impressive, so impressive that the big wigs with USAID wanted to hear about it! So me and our Medical Coordinator, Kristen took them down to Monrovia to present! They did an amazing job and received extremely high praise from a very tough audience! It was a really proud moment! I wish I had pictures, but in the rush to leave I left my camera here in Ganta- boo-hiss!

So that is a brief overview of the last week- minus the giant spiders and detailed accounts of bumpy car rides and sketchy nights sleeping in illegal gold operations- wait what am I talking about? I’ll safe that for another post…if you’re lucky.

Weekly Prayer Needs:

Pray for our sanity- really it’s quite stressful right now!

Pray for Christ to overflow our hearts and out weigh our stress.

Pray for the current Franklin Graham Festival that Samaritan’s Purse is putting on across the country this month. Pray that it would be a fruitful work that leads to dedicated disciples of Christ.

Pray for rest and refreshment for our bodies, hearts and mind.

Peace Folks,

Kyle and Jessica Hoover

and the adventure begins....

2011-03-03T14:10:00.003-05:00

So after waiting for three long months to recieve this beautiful little stamp in my passport, I have finally made it to my first destination. The time I spent waiting was not wasted on me though, God and I had some very sweet time together. I was also there to help out in some family situations that would not have turned out so good if I were not there. I learned a lot about being flexible, not that I am a master at it, but I have gotten much better. God also taught me about being happy in the situation that He has placed you. I can not expect Him to change my location if I can not serve Him with a happy heart in the current situation.
I think that because of all the waiting and anticipating I was very excited when the day finally came to pack my bags and get on that plane. It was years of prayers, and prepartion to reach to this point, and to see the end result was so glorious. brings me back to a familar verse that says that God wants to give me the desires of my heart, especially when those desires are ones that are the same as His.
I will be living with a Brazilian family for the next couple of months before I make it up to Manaus. Pray that I have patience in learning this new language, and boldness to share even if I do not have the words.
Pray that I will learn to be even more flexible when things do not go my way, knowing that God has my best interest at heart.
Pray that during these next few days of Carnaval God will help the people of Brazil to see past all the glitz and glamor and see that they are in desperate need of the Father.

When Things Don't Go as Planned

2011-02-28T07:14:00.001-05:00

For more on this unplanned journey visit the Hoover's regular blog: The Hoovers: Liberia Bound.

We’ve been here in Liberia four months. Four months in which nothing has gone as planned. Nope, our plans have been flipped upside down by a few thousand (try 50,000+) refugees milling around Liberia’s eastern border. This past week we began to hear about fighting on the other side. Everyone take a deep breath and be reassured that we are in no immediate danger. Kyle and I are a long way from the border, 5 hours away to be exact, and the fighting is in the Ivory Coast not here in Liberia.

The fighting has however sent a rush of refugees over the border into the areas surrounding our clinics. The last month or so felt like a stale mate as far as the refugee “crisis” was concerned. This feels as if a dam has broken that had been holding thousands of refugees back. One of our colleagues that went out to our Buutuo clinic, a hotspot for Ivorian refugees crossing over, reported thousands of refugees packed like sardines into a local school to sleep.

We’ve had such an unusual experience in the time that we have been here. Lots of curve balls have been thrown our way and it’s left us wondering what it is that God is trying to accomplish through our hands here. The needs are great. The work is plenty. Pray that the Gospel can be made known through our lives and through this situation. We are praying for peace in Ivory Coast and continued peace in Liberia.

Weekly Prayer Needs:

Pray for peace in Ivory Coast and for peace to reign in our own hearts.

Pray for rest for us.

Pray for safety wherever we may travel.

Pray for wisdom on the way forward in our ministry here.

Peace Friends,

Kyle and Jessica Hoover

...Here We Come

2011-02-25T11:42:00.000-05:00

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

February Flying By!

2011-02-21T08:02:00.001-05:00

We've slacked on posting here on SMOi, but not on our regular blog. Check out everything else that has been going on here in Libera at The Hoovers: Liberia Bound.

Welp, here comes another week. A week in which we promise to be better at blogging. O.k., we’ll really try- I retract my promise.

I (Jessica) wrapped up the Clinical Management of Rape training on Friday and there are now 17 clinicians trained to treat victims of sexual violence in Nimba County! Kyle’s WATSAN team has been working all over Nimba repairing water points and even doing much needed repairs to the roads. Last Friday refugees began to be moved to the camp. So yeah, we’ve been busy!

This week is the monthly staff meeting. We’ll share the highlights at the end of the week!

Weekly Prayer Needs:

Pray for our family as we miss them and they miss us!

Pray for our travels all around the county and back and forth to Monrovia

Pray for our relationships with those we work with that they would be fruitful for the Gospel.

Pray for us as we endure the heat of Liberia- without A/C or a fan.

2011-01-27T08:21:00.006-05:00

our faces during our first taxi ride...

heres a few pictures... one of the first things i noticed was in the airport in delhi everyone sat on the floor though there were plenty of chairs....

2011-01-27T08:20:00.000-05:00

Hello my friends! I'm writing to you from my new home in Kalimpong. We live in a little house up on the side of a mountain that is 6800 feet above sea level! Its real hazzy this time of year- but hopefully by February the haze will clear away and we'll have a nice view of the mountains. We've spent the last week down in the plains doing our trainings, and adjusting to life here. Though, some thiings I'll probably never adjust to like the taxi rides [people drive like crazy people. your life will flash before your eyes. and you'll wanna cuss. also, people honk their horns constantly..... :) its good. reminds me to pray. Also, we eat with our hands here. My hand hand always smells of curry and rice.

The time in training was really good. We memorized and learned how to teach bible storying, as well and the vision for Church Planting. Very humbling, for much of the teaching is very simple bible knowledge that I didn't know. There were times I wondered what I was doing here... if maybe there was big mistake. But, its good. Lord willing, I will spend this season always in prayer- begging the Lord to do what only the Lord can. I desperately want to see people come to know Him. I'm learning to sit under his mercies that (praise the Lord), are new every morning. I'll be working with two other girls here, as well as my girl Allyson. We're planning to at some point soon take a trip into another state to do some work for a week or so. It was hard leaving my other two girls in their city... but, the girl they'll be working with is AMAZING and I trust that they'll learn much from her.

Please continue to pray for me to be faithful, I love you guys.

Hannah
[what is man that you make much of him? that you set your heart on him, and visit him every morning and test him at every moment?] job 7:17-18

Hello Again

2011-01-24T15:13:00.003-05:00

It has been many months since I have posted here. I’ve spent some time hiding in a hole as far the internet goes, but have realized that there is a fine line between wise discretion and being too fearful to function.

Today I was reading in Hebrews 1 about Christ being the final revelation to mankind. God spoke to us in many different ways by the prophets throughout B.C. history – but now Christ has come as a fulfillment of that history. He is perfect and complete, radiating the exact nature of God. We need not look to other revelations! It is all in Jesus! What a contrast this is to the way of thinking here. These people do not see Jesus as a final revelation, but as just another stepping stone to a man who claimed to be God’s finally revelation, robbing Jesus of the name only He deserves. I feel like the letter to the Hebrews could function also as a letter to these people, who stand upon the same history, yet refuse the truth in the same way 1^st Century Jews did.

I have had numerous conversations that leave me feeling discouraged. I feel like there is absolutely no way for Truth to even make sense to these people. They are held so tightly by their mindset. Only the power of God can break down this wall. Please pray that He will do this! Please pray for boldness for me, I get discouraged and fearful so easily. Please pray for those here who have placed their faith in the Truth, that they will remain strong in the Truth of Jesus just as the writer to the believing Hebrews wanted his readers to do.

In other news, I have decided to stay another year here. I see God working, and feel like he is still using me here. There is also a girl involved J . The school is going through rough times. Experienced teachers often come expecting thing that aren’t here. They find themselves working harder for less recognition, less results, and less money. Mr. Mabry had a recent quote posted – “Just as Jesus performed what in his culture was the work of a slave, so we in our cultures must regard no task too menial or degrading to undertake.” This is the attitude I need to take! I am here to serve. I am here out of obedience. And HE gives JOY that recognition, results and money to not even come close to resembling.

Special Reminder: It's Monday!

2011-01-17T11:00:00.000-05:00

More info about the Hoovers and their Liberian life can be found at The Hoovers: Liberia Bound!

In case you had forgotten. Yes, that drowsy feeling and the lack of energy or desire to work signifies that it is indeed a Monday. Yes, having a “Case of the Mondays” is a worldwide epidemic.

On to other business. We are all moved out of our 1st Ganta home and into our 2nd, more spacious, less outfitted, but still livable Ganta home.

As promised here are some pictures:

Our daybed lounging area. Complete with mosquito net.

Make shift kitchen. Unfortunately this place doesn’t have a built in kitchen. We’re making do. So far we’ve had black beans (a Hoover staple), Burger night (with the last of the ground beef from Monrovia), and the infamous flat bread pizzas.

Our kitchen table/multi-purpose workspace. Note the lappa with hens and baby chicks.

Bathroom, we are proud to say that the toilet seats in this place are actually attached to the toilet. Major improvement!

We hung a little art. Our friend Jerry is running for office in his district. He’s already the unofficial mayor so I think this is a step in the right direction for him. He will be what Barack Obama never could be, except in Liberia. In case you can’t read the sign says,

“G. Jerry S. Tompoe,

The Vision for the People,

The Leader for the People’s Heart!”

We know Jerry. We are inclined to say this is true. By the way one of Jerry’s twin daughters is my name sake. Yes, he informed me of this last time I saw him.

Sorry about the lack of pictures of the bedroom. The space is great, but I couldn’t get in shots to do it justice, but believe me it is more than adequate.

What about last week? Did we do anything other than move?

Our colleagues got back which was a relief and a welcome change. Patti’s bags finally made it which meant a small package from home! Thanks Mom for sending along a card, skirts, a movie and lots uh love.

Refugees are still here. They probably aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Please continue to pray for us as we work to provide assistance to Ivorians and Liberian’s in need. I plan to do an update on the work and situation very soon, like later this week, so watch for it.

I wish I could show you how hard Kyle’s team of men are working to respond to the refugees as well as all of the normal work they would be doing. His WATSAN guys are some of the hardest workers we’ve met here in Liberia. Kyle really desires to build their knowledge and capacity to care for the needs of their own people.

We’ve also been “working” with some of the young leprosy/TB fellas. We are praying about how to provide financial planning training/discipleship/practical skills with them. It isn’t easy because there are a lot of negative cultural beliefs and practices that permeate the way these guys behave and respond to the “white man”. Pray that we would be firm and sensitive to the needs of these young men.

We have a new doctor, a Mr. Chris Carpenter, coming to work with EQUIP. He arrived in Monrovia Sunday evening. He’s making his Ganta debut sometime in the next couple of weeks! His sole role will be to address refugee health needs. WAHOO! We are so happy to have him coming. Read his blog, Backpacks and Stethoscopes, to find out more about what he will be up against in the coming weeks!

The week stretches out before us and if we’ve learned anything we have learned that Liberia is full of surprises. Almost three months in we know that for sure!

Weekly Prayer Needs:

Pray for us as we work long days and have short nights!

Pray for us as we actively try to disciple and teach God’s Word through our words and actions to those around us.

Pray for our attitudes to be guided by the Holy Spirit.

Pray that our marriage would be growing and healthy despite exhaustion and little time for one another.

Pray that we would be steadfast in our personal walk with Christ.

Peace Folks,

Kyle and Jessica Hoover

2011-01-10T23:25:00.004-05:00

oh, this has been an overwhelming season of life that the Lord has brought me through, and i'm sure that it will be completely different but just as much or more impacting in the next phase overseas where i will be serving in India. There is no way i can put into words the emotion and growth that the experiences and trainings i've been through in this process of learning what it means to follow Christ and trust in his amazing gospel. This season has been full of excitement as we had a glimpse of what it may look like to fend for ourselves in living and traveling abroad. We've hiked, repelled, lived off of spam and sausage, and learned more clearly God's calling on every christian's life to make disciples who make disciples in the context of whatever culture you are in, doing this all by the spirit of the Lord and the example of wisdom and understanding that we acquire from his Word. We've also dealt with much pressure as we learned how to handle ourselves as appropriately as possible in hostile situations that we may very well run into while serving abroad.
7 days from today I'll be catching a plane to India. I'm excited to go. This semester has really taught me to not just live and work in the [ministry world] but realizing that I need to be sharing and discipling and serving the Lord in every aspect of my life, whether I'm here in Kansas City, or far away in another land. Or in a ministry type position or just living "normal" life. My purpose remains the same always- to bring glory to Christ, to proclaim His name. I'm grateful that the Lord is giving me this opportunity. Its surreal. But, I'm grateful.

How Many Ways Can You Say "Monday Update"

2011-01-10T06:00:00.000-05:00

Read more about the Hoover's time in Liberia at The Hoovers:Liberia Bound!

Last week was the first “official” week back in the EQUIP office after the holidays. We’ve spent many “unofficial” days at the office and working all over Nimba county throughout the holidays. Needless to say last week was a busy one!

Kyle is very popular around the office. I’ll leave it at that. You can just call him “Mr. Moneybags”. We had expected our colleagues from the States to be back this week, but unfortunately a luggage problem kept them detained in Monrovia. So we’ve continued to hold down the fort here in Ganta.

The fort is hurtin’…we need them to get back!

Our friends Steve and Sandy are here from Atlanta, Georgia. They do ongoing ministry in Saclepea through their ministry, West Africa Crossroads. EQUIP runs a Health Center in Saclepea so we are familiar with the area. Please pray for them as they spend the month of January ministering and working Saclepea.

In the past week Kyle and I have started considering some new and different ministry opportunities. We’ve told you about the TB/Leprosy Rehab hospital/community that our compound is adjacent too. We have had the opportunity to get to know many of the young men that have received treatment or who have come with family members that are receiving treatment to live in the community. Many of them are struggling to pay their school fees and financially provide for their families (many of them live with parents or grandparents that are disabled). The people in the Rehab community, including these young men, have used their skills as artists and wood workers to make items to sell. Carvings, baskets, earrings, they are really talented guys. The only problem is that they would like to sell their things, but don’t have much of a market here in Ganta and let’s be honest Kyle and I can only buy so many baskets. Also, many of them have come asking us for school fees, business start-up money, etc. We don’t just want to give them a hand out. We passionately believe in breaking that cycle here in Liberia and empowering the people, particularly young men, to make wise decisions about money and plans for the future. We are prayerfully considering how to help train them to manage their finances wisely and according to God’s Word and get their products into the hands of interested buyers. We’ll definitely be writing more about this project here on the blog as God opens doors.

Here’s some of the goods that we’ve snagged from our Rehab friends:

Baskets, super practical and really well made!

Carvings- (left) a traditional Liberian guitar (right) what they call the “Hand of Authority” or a hand holding an egg. I’ll let Kyle explain that some other time.

Up close of one of the baskets.

I’ll post more pictures of their crafts along the way.

In other news…

There is no end in sight to the refugee situation. Each day new reports come out of the Ivory Coast, but none of the reports sound like they are heading towards a resolution. Continue to pray for us as we work day and night to meet the needs of those affected along Liberia’s eastern border.

We will finally make our move to the rooms next door to live. We aren’t exactly excited about this, but we are making it work! We will share pictures once we get moved.

Weekly Prayer Needs:

Pray for rest in the midst of extreme busyness!

Pray for the unfolding of ministry opportunities among the Rehab community.

Pray for us as we travel this week. We are trying improve the infrastructure of our clinics which means going 5-6 hours away from Ganta to reach them all.

Pray for our co-workers as they return from vacation. Pray that we can be salt and light as we work alongside them.

Pray for our relationship with those we live with here at the Rehab compound. If you’ve ever lived in an apartment complex you know that their can be conflict…this is kind of similar…kind of…

Pray for our friends Steve and Sandy as they minister in Saclepea for the month of January!

First Days in West Africa

2011-01-08T04:20:00.001-05:00

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.

First Post of the Year!

2011-01-03T11:00:00.000-05:00

2011 is here...for a whole year.

Read the blog all year long at The Hoovers: Liberia Bound.

We welcomed the New Year in by calling family and friends to taunt them about living in the past. After all there aren't that many perks when you live in Liberia. Hitting the New Year 5 hours before our friends and family qualifies as one in this perk-less place.

Kyle was pretty well worn out by New Year's Eve so we laid low (as if there was anything else to do) and have spent more time around our little house than we did in the whole previous two months combined! We learned that indeed we will have to move into the space next door in the coming weeks...bummer...but all in God's plan and good timing. It will be an adjustment as the next door space is not equipped with a real kitchen, but we will make do.

Today everyone returns to work at EQUIP Liberia. Our colleagues that went home for the holiday should be making their way back to Liberian shores and boy are we glad! There is a lot of work ahead between refugees and regular EQUIP work, but that is what we came here to do so we are happy to be back to a regular schedule.

I'm gonna leave it at that for this week...I've got the whole year to ramble on about our Liberian adventures. Next week, once my new computer is here, I think I might just catch everyone up via pictures. I'm still yet to post holiday pictures...sorry...I'm a bad person. Pray for me...

No, really pray for me/us...

Weekly Prayer Needs:

Pray for the work ahead! Between refugees and regular work we are going to be scrambling!

Pray for peace in Ivory Coast- The situation continues to deteriorate.

Pray for our safety and protection as we travel.

Pray that our health would be protected. Liberia is not super conducive to good health.

Pray that ministry opportunities would continue to grow and be revealed to us in our daily work. Pray that we would be bold to take advantage of those opportunities.

Pray for our relationships with those we work with and live with. (we share a compound with six other people.)

Pray for us as we move into our new little "home".

The Holiday in Liberia!

2010-12-27T06:00:00.000-05:00

Read more about the work in Liberia at The Hoovers: Liberia Bound!

Sitting here in Monrovia reading everyone's facebook posts about the snow in North Carolina makes it almost possible to imagine snow outside my own door. White Christmas...sigh...

We enjoyed talking/emailing/chatting/facebook posting with many of you over the last few days. It has made all of our friends and family seem not so far away. We celebrated the holiday with a few new friends here in Monrovia and I'd love to show you some pics. but alas my (Jessica) computer decided to die a violent death on Christmas Eve. I'll upload some pictures soon! Bear with me over the next couple of weeks while I await a new computer. I had just gotten a system of blogging/emailing worked out and it was all going so smoothly...a little too smoothly I suppose...arghhhhh...All that to say that Kyle and I are sharing a computer currently...double arghhhhh

Anyways...

Our holiday was uneventful which in Liberia is a wonderful thing! We were really hoping for some uneventfulness! We have been able to spend some time resting and relaxing before jumping back into addressing the refugee crisis and all the other work that we are responsible for.

What did Santa bring us for our Liberian Christmas?Kyle gave me a new bottle/can opener for Christmas and I gave him a set of three long stem lighters...Romantic gifts, eh?

We had to do our shopping at the grocery. Don't ask.

I hosted my first Christmas dinner...ever...How ironic is that? It was a feast by Liberian and American standards complete with roast chicken, salad (a miracle in Liberia), stuffing (a new recipe that I will definitely be keeping in the repertoire), roasted vegetables, chocolate cake, lambingtons (cake dipped in chocolate courtesy of our Australian friends!), and various other sundry items. Our new friends helped out to make this feast truly delicious and special! Thanks to Nich, Finley, Justin and Ailsa! 3 out of our 6 guests were from Australia and Great Britain and had never had the joy of watching Christmas Vacation...you know...Chevy Chase...the whole bit...a Hoover family tradition. Luckily our friend Justin had it on his iPhone and we were able to watch it on a real t.v.! So we introduced our new friends to a true American classic after dinner!

As I expressed in previous posts this year has been a year to truly reflect on the precious meaning of Christmas. I always spend time meditating on the season, but this year I experienced the season in a way that I won't soon forget. I hope that even though most of you are not far from home this season, and certainly not in Liberia, that you experienced Christmas in a new and fresh way. I ("we" rather because I know Kyle would wish you the same!) pray you have been overwhelmed by God's grace, love and provision through His Son, Jesus.

It gives us strength to go on...courage to be obedient...so on we go to the next week!

This coming week will officially mark two months in Liberia for us! Can you believe it? We will head back upcountry to Ganta on Tuesday. Kyle will be directing his WATSAN team all over Nimba county to respond to water and sanitation needs in the communities directly affected by the refugee situation. Please continue your prayers for Kyle as he has a lot on his shoulders until some of our co-workers come back from holiday to provide some relief.

Weekly Prayer Needs:

Pray for the Ivory Coast. The situation is not improving and there will likely be more refugees in the coming weeks.

Pray for opportunity to minister the Gospel in word and deed.

Pray for the Church in Liberia to be encouraged and grow despite many tribal/cultural barriers and divisions.

Pray that we will be encouraged by other believers working in Liberia.

Pray that we would continue to develop strong relationships with the EQUIP's Liberian staff.

Monday Monrovian Update

2010-12-20T09:53:00.003-05:00

For more Liberian craziness and stories of God's grace read our regular blog The Hoovers:Liberia Bound.

Live from Monrovia this blessed Christmas week! Yes, country has come to town! We are living it up Monrovia style in what we like to refer to as “a proper house”. We were really blessed to be offered the opportunity to stay at the head doctor for USAID’s house over the Christmas break. It is one of the nicest houses in Monrovia. What does that mean? Air conditioning and minimal bugs/snakes inside of the house. It’s awesome.

We’ve come to the conclusion that every week of this adventure is different. It defies description most of the time and leaves us reeling and in need of a good long sleep. Last week was no different. How bout’ I bullet the week for ya? Yeah, lets make this easy…Imagine Billy Joel singing that crazy part from “We Didn’t Start The Fire”

Monday morning rooster crows
Ride to work pothole dodging
WATSAN has a lot to do
Joe Suomie training still
Olive’s malaria makes her very ill
Kristen and Patty off to the states
Refugees flooding through our gates
Monrovia
Dr. Rick’s house
No food in our house
Cars going everywhere
Oil filters upside down
Kyle’s in charge
Justin is back
Dave is himself
Cheeseburger cardiac attack
Santa is a secret Christmas parties
Kyle’s still in charge

I could go on, but for all our sakes I won’t. Unless you beg…you are begging small…here’s a few more

Traffic for no reason
It’s the Christmas season
Dogs behind a Chinese restaurant
Kyle’s in charge of the refugees- all of them

Ok, so for those of you that didn’t get the Billy Joel reference…look it up…I think if this version had a chorus it would go like this:

“We didn’t start the crisis. There were always refugees since West Africa…started…” or something like that.

I’m losing it…Can you tell? This is what Liberia does to you…

I wish I had pictorials for each of those points. My camera died when I tried to take a picture of the pack of dogs behind the Chinese restaurant.

In other news:

We are in Monrovia for a few days. We are house sitting for a doctor and his wife over the holiday. The only downside is that we have to continue with activities in Nimba and addressing the refugee crisis which is growing in the wake of continued violence in Cote D’Ivoire’s capital Abidjan. We will be going up to Ganta and coming back again before Christmas!

We hope to talk to many of you over the holiday. We would love to try out some skyping while we are here if anyone is up for it. We just might have a strong enough signal to make it happen! Email us if you want to give it a try!

For those of that we won’t talk to over the holidays know that we love and miss you. For those of you that have never even met us but read this blog- Thanks…we’re humbled, we’re blessed, we’re blown away that you choose to spend a tiny portion of your time following this crazy journey. Read and be blessed. Ponder God’s grace through these posts. Because let’s be honest- It’s all grace. It’s exhausting- but it’s all grace.

Weekly Prayer Needs:

-Pray for rest and relaxation over the holiday in the midst of craziness.

-Pray for peace to reign in Ivory Coast

-Pray for our ministry of the Gospel to everyone we come in contact with

-Pray for Kyle and I to be drawn closer to one another and to the throne of Grace.

-Pray that we would be protected from the evil one. That peace would reign in our hearts.

In Christ Alone,

Kyle and Jessica Hoover

A Week at a Time

2010-12-13T06:00:00.001-05:00

If you wanna read more about how we are hanging on at the ends of the earth you can visit us over at The Hoovers: Liberia Bound!

Welcome to another week in Liberia!

Last week really kept us on our toes. On Monday we went deep into the far reaches of Tappita (pronounce tap-PEE-tah, a region within our county) to a village called Gblarlay (pronounced BLAH-lay) to take a look at the situation with the refugees from the Ivory Coast. It was a daunting journey over the roughest roads imaginable, but we made it there and back in one piece but not until after we had endured 10 hours of driving (round trip that is!), a nights sleep on the floor of an EQUIP clinic and a motorbike ride to one of the small villages where the refugees are crossing the border

Somehow even though we were in one of the most remote regions in Liberia we managed to find a man wearing this t-shirt:

Some of you may not understand the significance of the shirt, but for those of you that do I’ll give you a moment to pick your jaw up off the ground. Veronica, we will send this photo in an email with the GPS coordinates attached.

The refugee situation is continuing to grow, but appears to be somewhat stabilizing. Only time will tell at this point. There has not been any type of resolution to the situation in the Ivory Coast. If you are asking yourself, “What are they talking about?” just hop on the BBCs website and cruise for stories on the the Ivory Coast. EQUIP is involved with other organizations that are engaged in meeting the needs of the communities affected by this influx of refugees. Pray for us as we continue to respond to the needs of our communities here in Nimba.

I (Jessica) have found it rather interesting during this Christmas season that we are involved with working with refugees..

I feel a blog post coming on…look for it on our personal blog later in the week.

In other non-refugee related news: Some of you have asked for an update on the child that was brought to EQUIP and abandoned. One of the Liberian staff took the boy home for a couple of weeks, but due to certain circumstances was not able to keep the child. He is now in the care of an orphanage. Continue to keep this child in your prayers. He is still in need of advanced medical care.

This week we are trying to wrap up a lot of projects before some of our ex-pat friends leave for holidays home in America and our Liberian friends take a break for the Christmas season. We have our monthly staff meeting and a Christmas Party that promises to be a good time. We will have a couple of weeks “off” after this week. Pray for us as we make decisions about what we will be doing for the holidays. Even though we have only been in Liberia for 1 1/2 months we are looking forward to a time of rest!

Weekly Prayer Needs:

Pray that we will be diligent in building relationships with our Liberian friends and taking advantage of opportunities to share the Gospel.

Pray for us as we work to open doors for local pastors to receive training.

Pray for us as we consider how to spend our holiday. Don’t forget our family during this season that we are away.

Pray for our response to the refugee situation.

Peace Folks,

Kyle and Jessica Hoover

Did I Finish Strong? Did I walk straight? What will be said of me?

2010-12-09T13:22:00.003-05:00

It seems as though this day would never come. The end of FPO. This feeling though in my stomach is vaguely familiar. It reminds me a lot of how the past two summers have ended for me. Anyone who has ever worked at SWO knows what this feels like. You are going strong trying to finish well and pour every last ounce of your energy into these kids and then all of a sudden it is over. Just as quickly as it came upon you it is now gone. You wonder what happened, you wonder if you can gain any of your sanity back, and if these people you just spent the last three months of your life with will become your new best friends when you all part your ways. Is it possible to get that close with a person in just three short months, that can't be true. It is though. It happens. It happened to me again, I am walking away from this experience with not only more tools in my toolbox, but also with more people to love in my corner. these people are now a part of my heart and I don't think I could remove them even if that desire crossed my mind. God has grafted them into my soul. I have once again gotten to experience what true community is all about. So as I look at saying goodbye to these fine people.....I'm just not going to say goodbye...I will say see you soon, because I just know that I will....I heard someone say that as a person in my line of work you get really good at saying goodbye...to friends, to family, to even children one day.....I think that we also become equally good at saying Hello!

Ready or Not...

2010-12-09T05:10:00.000-05:00

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

Grocery Stores, Refugees and December's Arrival

2010-12-04T11:57:00.000-05:00

Last week was a blur of busyness. We made a trip to Monrovia at the beginning of the week. Grocery stores are a glorious thing. We stocked up on a few groceries. Yes, cheese was purchased- cheddar, mozzarella and havarti. The biggest Monrovia surprise was that a few minutes before departing to come back to Ganta Kyle was asked to drive an extra vehicle back here. Six hours and 1,000 potholes later the two cars in our caravan made it back to Ganta! If you are wondering why that is such a big deal feel free to read a recent NPR story about Liberian roads for a better mental image.

On Wednesday we learned of refugees that are crossing over Liberia’s eastern border into Nimba County in the aftermath of the Ivory Coast’s recent election. EQUIP sent a team to the border to assess the need of the refugees and assist the response of other NGOs working in the area. The election results have resulted in violence in the capital city (no worries, it is far away from us!) and clashes amongst the divided Muslim and Christian populations.

So all in all an eventful week. Maybe a little too eventful…

The next couple of weeks will be extremely busy as we complete a lot of tasks in preparation for a short break for Christmas and the New Year. Even though we have only been in country for a short while we are looking forward to a little break. We have hit the ground running and we would like a few days to get our wits about us before plowing forward!

On another note when did December get here? I looked at my calendar the other day and I was convinced that it was wrong…How did this happen? December, really? Already?

We’ve been in Liberia for over a month now and the Christmas season is upon us! To be quite honest it is hard for us to even imagine being cold right now and since electricity is scarce there aren’t a whole lot of Christmas lights dangling from the eaves of the Ganta neighborhood houses. What we’re praying for is a deep sense of knowing the power of our Saviors birth, life, death and glorious Resurrection in the wake of this very different Christmas season. We’re praying the same for you and your family this Christmas season

Weekly Prayer Needs:

-Pray for rest and focus as we head into each new week.

-Pray for relationships among the ex-pat staff. We truly desire to be a blessing and point towards the Gospel in all we say and do.

-Pray for opportunities to disciple and encourage Liberian believers

-Pray that we would be seeking out daily time in God’s Word.

-Pray for discernment about how to aid the Ivorian refugees through the possible fall-out from the recent election results.

Peace Folks,

Kyle and Jessica

Long Days, Short Nights

2010-11-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

How's the Morning? Read about each morning and day at our regular blog The Hoovers: Liberia Bound.

Every morning when we get to the EQUIP Liberia office we spend time greeting the Liberian staff. We always ask one another “How’s the night?” We were asked that one morning last week Kyle’s response was “Too short!” to which one of our Liberian friends responded “Nights in Liberia are always too short.” I wish someone would have informed us of that before we came here!

We have been so busy this past week that we nearly fall into bed at night. We went deep into the bush for a visit to two of EQUIP’s 23 clinics last Tuesday. It was a bumpy ride that ended with red dirt in our ears- the red dust comes in the windows of the car and you don’t realize you’re covered until you look in the mirror! My brain was mush by the end of the trip due to the constant bashing against my skull that it took. We’re gonna have to get used to these bush adventures! They put American 4 wheelin’ to shame!

The end of the week held another first for us! The monthly staff meeting with approximately 30 Liberian staff from all over Nimba county. It lasts for a couple of days and everyone reports on what is going on in their part of the county. We were able to learn the official way that the Liberian EQUIP staff (and Liberian’s in general) clap for one another. We will have to make a video to show you. It is the best clap ever! Although I don’t think that we can exude the Liberian joy with which they do their clap. Kyle and I both agreed we would have made the journey over here just to learn the clap.

You must be thinking, “When did they have time for Thanksgiving?” Well, we squeezed in somewhere in between our trip to the bush and staff meeting. Unfortunately the first day of staff meeting was scheduled for Thursday which put a damper on our American Thanksgiving. Liberians and Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving on a different day so it wasn’t a big deal to them. We managed (along with our co-workers, friends, fellow Americans -Patty, Kristen and Debbie) to throw together a nice meal on Wednesday evening. It came complete with stuffed chickens that we continuously referred to as “turkey”, mashed potatoes, pumpkin, corn, biscuits, green bean casserole, fried okra and apple spice cake.

This coming week is not going be a slow down for us! We are going to Monrovia for a much needed shopping trip and meetings. When we get back to Ganta we have a couple of meetings and more travelling to do. Pray that our Liberian nights will get longer so that we can get the sleep we need!

Weekly Prayer Needs:

-Pray for our protection and safety as we travel back and forth to Monrovia and the bush

-Pray for our relationships with those that we are working with. Pray that we would be an encouragement to them.

-Pray for us during the holidays that God would work out a way for us to have a special and relaxing holiday while we are away from friends and family.

-Pray that we would have opportunities to invest and disciple those around us.

Peace Folks,

Kyle and Jessica Hoover

2010-11-23T10:17:00.000-05:00

pictures from FPO

2010-11-23T09:54:00.002-05:00

My first post

2010-11-23T09:15:00.003-05:00

These last few weeks have been quite a whirl wind. There have been times of being very overwhelmed. There have been times of pure and utter excitement about what is to come in the next few weeks. Attempting to put into words what i have been doing here at FPO is kind of like trying to describe the color red to a blind man. I have learned so much about what it truly means to be a "sent out" one of God. Not that i have some special calling placed on my life. I am simply living in obedience. Just as God told Abraham to go and he went. I have heard God tell me to go, and so I am going. I have met some pretty amazing people while I have been here. When I first got here I expected to be surrounded by other Journeyman just like me. That is not exactly what happened. There are only seven of us and the rest of the group is made up of couples, some with children, some without, some who are pregnant, some my parents age with college kids, and some that are more grandparent age. It is truly a melting pot of people from every way of life. Which is highly encouraging, it shows that God calls normal people, people who had real life jobs outside of the church. There are times that I look around and wonder why I ever thought that missionaries had to look a certain way, or act a certain way.

Into the Bush

2010-11-22T06:00:00.001-05:00

We’re off to the bush (let’s just call it the sticks for all our Southern peeps) this week. USAID has come to do a tour of the infrastructure at a few clinics. EQUIP Liberia runs 23 clinics/health centers in Nimba county for Liberia’s Ministry of Health (MOH). This is all part of the Rebuilding Basic Health Services (RBHS) program supported by the MOH. Some of the clinics are deep, deep into the bush. Kyle and I will be going along on these trips.

On top of Kyle’s WATSAN responsibilities he will be working with his WATSAN teams on clinic infrastructure improvements. I am working with the RBHS program on maternal and child health. These trips will allow me to see the labor and delivery rooms at some of these remote clinics!

This is our 4th full week in Liberia and we are beginning to get settled into some semblance of a routine. We are praying about ministry opportunities. There is so much need and we want to be discerning about the resources, gifts and opportunities that the Lord gives us. Kyle has a group of men that are his WATSAN team. This provides a cohesive group of men that Kyle will be able to minister too. Pray that he will take advantage of opportunities to encourage and speak into the lives of these men.

Weekly Prayer Need:

-Pray that the Holy Spirit will lead and guide us as we look for ministry opportunities.

-Pray for God’s protection as we drive into the bush. Pray that our vehicles hold up!

-Pray for our families during this week of Thanksgiving. Pray that they would know how grateful we are for their love and support and would enjoy the holiday in spite of our absence.

Peace,

Kyle and Jessica Hoover

Upcountry Living

2010-11-15T08:02:00.002-05:00

Read more at The Hoovers: Liberia Bound

Finally "home"! We made it to Ganta on Thursday evening and were welcomed with a big dinner by our new neighbors/coworkers! Our home is part of a compound adjacent to a leprosy and TB rehab community. We refer to it simply as "rehab" and is run by Italian nuns. The sisters are just precious and we really couldn't ask for better landlords!

Friday, we unpacked our bags and headed into town to get our bearing this involved setting up a bank account and having lunch (jolla rice- basically rice, onions, beans, chicken and lots of spice!). Upon our return to rehab the sisters showed us our first snake by their front door, a dead (chopped in half by the guard) baby green mamba! Yowzers- no thank you- this is the part where Kyle and I go and stuff anything we can find underneath our doors so that we don't have an unwelcomed visitors. We can deal with the lizards on the walls- they eat bugs and won't kill us- but not green mambas on our floors!

Saturday we came to the Equip office and helped out for a few hours. Afterwards we continued into town for our introduction to the open air market. Clothes, rice, produce and the very distrubing bush meat section. Imagine charred animal (chimpanzee arms, deer legs, etc..) parts rotting in the heat. Needless to say I won't be buying a lot from that section...

Sunday we went to church in the nearby village- the leprosy and TB rehab village. Unbeknownst to us it was mission Sunday and we got to go through the village talking with folks and encouraging them to come to church the next Sunday. It was a good way to learn about the community which is right at our back door. This is our "Jerusalem" so please pray that we would be intentional with this isolated community.

We've been able to talk with our family via our cellphones and we have a surprisingly clear connection and good signal! The bonus is that it is only between 5-10 cents a minutes! So don't be surprised if you get a phone call from us one day! It is an incredible blessing to hear familar voices!
Today we start "work". Kyle has a mountain of work ahead of him. He is working on a proposal due at the end of the month for charity water that would given the Equip Liberia's WATSAN (water and sanitation) dept. $150,000 to work with! I'm going to be working on a maternal health project called "Mama Kits" that is meant to improve the rate of women giving birth in the clinics. We've got our hands full!

Weekly Prayer Needs:

Pray that we would continue to get settled in and that we would continue to improve our grasp of the culture and dialect- our Liberian friends are speaking English but it certainly doesn't sound like it sometimes.

Pray that we would be intentional in encouraging the other expats (non-Liberians) towards the Gospel.

Peace,
Kyle and Jessica Hoover

TOO PLENTY!

2010-11-10T05:42:00.001-05:00

In case you missed Kyle's post on Monday from our regular blog here it is! Read more about God's work amidst the people of Liberia at our regular blog The Hoovers: Liberia Bound

It seems since I (Kyle) haven't had a chance to check the email in a week or so (not so bad mind you) I was given the chance to blog for Monday. For the past week I have been supervising the concrete work for a second floor roof addition for the Waines home in Monrovia. To put it gently - things are not built here like they are in the States. Concrete forms are not made out of steel and well cut wood. They are made out of wahwah and bush poles....which work well! In addition to materials - how workers "think" about their work is different as well. Its not about how well things are constructed - but how little work can I do to get paid - wait..maybe its not all that different....

I spent a better part of the week trying to "encourage" them to revisit how they mix their concrete. Little did I know that a small blip in my life when I designed/mixed/inspected concrete would be so handy! For our project we needed "rich" concrete and instructed them what we needed for the mix. When the materials exceeded the usual amounts used to make Liberian concrete out came screams of TOO PLENTY! TOO PLENTY! (translated: TOO MUCH MAN!) When I insisted on a different way to mix the concrete - out came TOO PLENTY! TOO PLENTY! When I stated how much concrete we needed to mix you guessed it TOO PLENTY! TOO PLENTY! God in His Grace allowed my pea brain to calcuate the right amounts that it wasnt too plenty - but just enough. By the end of the week - they were mixing the amounts of materials without prodding - they mixed it in the proper manner (that required more work), and they started to see that quality work is just as important as getting paid - or so I hope.

Thank you Lord for a week to work with Liberians - and may this week lead to a change in their hearts that changes their character as professing men of God, and a change in their culture, country, and this continent. May Your Grace never be TOO Plenty.

#1 Blog Post from Liberia!

2010-11-03T05:52:00.001-04:00

Get more updates from the Hoover's in Liberia at The Hoovers: Liberia Bound!

First things first: We're alive! I know some of you were beginning to have your doubts! Hugs and kisses and immense gratitude for all your prayers and encouragement. the Lord carried us over the Atlantic safely. Boy, were we glad to be done with flying and by "we" I mean me, Jessica.

We arrived to Monrovia at 8:00pm (West African time- 3:00 pm for the East coast of the U.S.). We wrangled our way through Liberian customs and baggage. We were guided through the "diplomats" line because of our wise decision to sport our homemade EQUIP Liberia I.D. tags. This was a relief because it meant that our bags would be searched!(again) David Waines face was a welcome sight when we exited the airport doors. We quickly loaded our bags amidst the chaos and were taken to a wonderful dinner. After a couple of days of airport/airplane food fiery Liberian pepper chicken was a delicious and welcome treat! By the end of dinner we were close to falling asleep in our plates, but our next stop wasn't quite bed. I won't even begin to describe what the other stop was for, but will suffice it to say that I ended up with shoes full of sand. Needless to say, when our heads hit the pillow under the mosquito net that night we were out!

Our first couple of days have been full of firsts. First Liberian driving lessons (defensive driving to say the least), Liberian meals, Liberian building supply stores, Liberian heat, Liberian humidity, Liberian thunderstorms, Liberian roads (a bit bumpy and our vehicles have snorkels. We're working on a few things around Monrovia and by the end of the week hope to be heading to our new "home" up country in Ganta. We are really looking forwardto settling in and diving in to work there. As we've been briefed it is clear that there is much work for both Kyle and I to do.

Please pray for us as our bodies continue to adjust to Liberia. We're still a bit jetlagged and our bodies are trying to figure out what "normal is, imagine that?!

Our blog posts will be spotty over the next few days until we get to where we are headed. Then we will get on more of a regular schedule and maybe even share some pictures. I am sorry that we don't pictures to prove that we are alive and well. For now trust that we are in good health and spirits!

We're here! We're here! We're finally here!

Live from Liberia,
Kyle and Jessica

2010-11-01T23:32:00.006-04:00

Life is going well- the Lord has been so good to grow me, and continues to sustain me. He truly covers my life. Been learning and rejoicing about how the enemy is accusing me before the Father with my sin, and because of Jesus my sin that separates me from the Father is forgiven, and I have LIFE. So, I'm seeking to walk in that life. Romans 8:1 (there is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus) takes on a new meaning when I picture the enemy accusing me before the Lord, seeking to take my life back.

Praise the Lord for his goodness to us!

Training has been going well. We went last week on my first backpackin' trip. It was so fun. It was really cold at night- it was so great that first night we got back to Kansas City, to sleep the whole night through without waking up with cold feet. :) Tomorrow we leave for our transportation training where my team, (one of my girls, Allyson, and three of the guys + me) will travel around America hitting up different points. I'm excited to see America! :)

Leavin'...On a Jet Plane!

2010-10-30T06:00:00.000-04:00

For more updates follow us on The Hoovers: Liberia Bound.

We're leavin' on a jet plane! Today is the day! All the packing, praying, planning comes to fruition. We step out into the unknown. We don't know what the next week looks like. Actually we're not even sure about the next 36 hrs. We will update you as soon as we can. If you're lucky you might even get travel updates! Oh, airport WIFI!

Can we ask for one more thing? Again? Pray?! Please pray for our hearts, minds and bodies to be sustained through this time of traveling and the days ahead!

We're doing it! Finally! Next week the blog will be coming from Liberia! WAHOO!

In Christ Alone,
Kyle and Jessica Hoover

Monday Update

2010-10-18T06:00:00.000-04:00

Like what you've read? Read more of the Hoovers journey at The Hoovers: Liberia Bound

Well, today Kyle is on to the last of the water technologies courses here at EQUIP U.S.A. The filters and the well drilling courses were a big success with many missionaries being trained to take technology that will improve people's lives drastically all over the world! The pumps course is already in progress!

The following video is of Kyle's well drilling team trying out there newly finished well. Well dug, pump installed, now let's take it for a spin! Watch this video and more on our new youtube channel!

Kyle trying out the new well! He thinks he looks like Patton with the boots rolled up and the hard hat...I think, well...nevermind what I think...

Here is a picture of Kyle's entire team + Kieth the head instructor (in the middle)!

It's been beautiful weather here in Marion,NC. Kyle has really made the most of it. 75% of class time is spent outdoors working! I (Jessica) on the other hand have been opening all the windows in the knock-off Airstream, staring dreamily out the window and tip-typing away on the laptop. I've had a lot of last minute projects to finish up before we leave for Liberia. I've emailed, blogged, added to my to-do list and written newsletters until I swear I have tiny bruises on my fingertips! Check your mailbox soon for our October newsletter!

We can hardly believe that we are less than two weeks away from leaving for Liberia! Then on the other hand we are so ready to go!

Weekly Prayer Need: Pray for our relationships with those we will be working with in Liberia. What I mean is pray for the other workers that we will be working alongside. Pray that our relationships would be God honoring and pray that we would be a gracious light of the Gospel to those we might work alongside of that don't yet know the saving power of Christ. Pray that we would find Christian community and that we would be intentional in living out the Gospel to anyone we have opportunity to minister too.

speechless

2010-10-17T23:47:00.003-04:00

It has been a while since I have been on here. It is easy to think that since I am off of the foreign mission field that this blog no longer has a purpose in updating people on my life...but as I sit here at my house, the Lord is just moving in my heart in a neat way. I just read blog updates for a friend of mine from Peru, Solomon...and then the blog of a new friend of mine, Andrew, who is starting a coffee shop with his wife, Gena, in Mexico to reach the climbing community, along with the Mexican people group. I have been continually reminded of how awesome the Lord is and how RICH His love is...and how I want to live a life of love (Eph 5:2) that is marked by the Gospel...ready to go at any time to any place at the leading of the Spirit. I have so much going on from this past week's experience of multi-pitch climbing and being with the OLD Schoolers...that is just another marker of the Lord's refining hand in my life. I am the clay; He is the Potter...

2010-10-13T10:39:00.004-04:00

The Lord has continuously brought this passage before me the past few weeks. Its the first part of Isaiah 43: "But now thus says the LORD, Fear not. For I have redeemed you, I have called you by name. You are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers they shall not overwhelm you. When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel."

This fills my heart with overwhelming gratitude. I have done NOTHING to deserve such love. Its only by HIS mercy towards me that I am a disciple of Christ, that I desire Him. Apart from how He changes my heart I don't desire anything good. But HE OPENS our EYES. He changes our hearts. Its beautiful.

John 15:8 [By this my Father is GLORIFIED, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.]

So, what do I do with that? Will I squander away the grace He gives and gives and gives and gives? Will it be to me a treasure, that I'll go and sell everything I have if I can just possess it? (Matthew 13:44)

Monday Update

2010-10-11T06:00:00.002-04:00

Monday Update

2010-10-04T06:00:00.001-04:00

If you'd like to read more click on over to The Hoovers: Liberia Bound.

In July we were at Equip Canada. October we are at Equip U.S.A. They are different, but the same. Today we officially start the bio-sand filters course. Yes, even I (Jessica) am taking this course. Kyle is taking/assisting with the course. It's gonna be awesome.

We wrapped up our time with friends in Andrews last week. A great big hug and kiss to the Mcsweens. They so graciously hosted us for almost 3 weeks while we were hanging our hats in Andrews. It was such a blessing to have encouragement from our SWO family for an extended period of time.

We've been transient for 3 months at this point. It's been a wild ride and we would be lying if we said that we're not itching for this ride to settle down. Keep in mind that up to this point we have stayed in creekside cabins, a storage shed, with a multitude of friends and families homes and now a beautiful Airstream knock-off. We are trying out our dream of living in an "Airstream" for the next 3 weeks. This too will be awesome.

We're blessed to be spending a few more weeks at Equip. Pray that God would teach us much and that Kyle would be able to help other missionaries grow and learn how to share the Water of Life through the gift of clean water.

Peace folks,
Kyle and Jessica Hoover

Weekly Prayer Need: Pray that we would have focused time with the Lord. Pray that we would find time to be alone and quiet before the Lord as we make the final preparations before leaving in a couple of weeks.

Orientation

2010-09-29T13:54:00.015-04:00

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

Monday Update: Live From SWO

2010-09-27T06:00:00.000-04:00

If you'd like to read more about the Hoovers and the work in Liberia click on over to The Hoovers: Liberia Bound.

This past week in the Hoover history...

We went on a little camp out at the East Fork of the Pigeon River with the Davis' family. It was great fun to go along on the OLD School backpacking resupply. Nothing like encountering 11 foul smelling guys and gals in the middle of the woods and loading them up with fresh food and snickers bars.

We're really starting to get into the nitty gritty details of getting to Liberia. We're waiting on our visas. We've started our series of oral typhoid vaccine. We're finishing up our sheet that lets everyone know how they can send us packages and letters. So much to do!

This next week we are heading back to High Point for a couple of days before heading to Marion for the water technologies courses. We're taking to the highway again, but we are ready to continue on this journey and finally be heading for Liberia on October 30th.

Here are few pictures from this past week:

Kyle (still not quite awake yet) awaiting his extra cheesy cheese grits.

I'm recalling all of my backcountry cooking skills. I love the MSR whisperlite!

Someone ate too many rocks and dirt then proceeded to fall asleep. Camping is tough.

The OLD School girls enjoying breakfast at the East Fork of the Pigeon River

OLD School boys pounding the nutella. It's like a nutella ad. Everyone looks so happy!

We've had a wonderful time visiting our SWO family. It's been fun to catch up with friends and share more about Liberia and the work ahead!

[I miss my mountains]

2010-09-25T12:54:00.003-04:00

Everything is going well. We've been in surveillance training most of the week. We'll be going out tomorrow and Monday on our first transportation training. We'll be staying on the streets of Kansas City tomorrow night. That's exciting.

My girls are doing great. Struggling with juggling homework + classes/ fusion +training. But, the lord has really grown all of us together. I see him teaching them how to deal biblically with community and relationships. Its really encouraging to watch the Lord grow them. Pray that the Lord would capture their hearts and teach them to [fear the Lord, and serve Him faithfully with all their hearts.] [1 sam 12:24]

Please be praying for me to find and take time to steal away and quiet my heart before the Lord. Seeking the Lord with everything that I am, everything that I do, and think is something I've grown to see as CRUCIAL for my life in Christ to be sustained--but its difficult to be disciplined to do so. I'm learning all the more of this war inside me. Please pray that I would be daily reminded that apart from Him- I can do nothing--that everything that I am is His and that I would remain bowed down before Him. I need that more than I need anything. Right now I'm weary. I'm finding myself constantly reminding myself that there IS purpose in training in godliness. I'm so undisciplined. The more I see the struggle the more I rejoice in my salvation- the Lord has been good.

1 samuel 12:20, 21[Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve Him with all your heart. And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. for the Lord will not forsake His people, for His great names sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself. ]

Hoover's Monday Update

2010-09-13T10:14:00.002-04:00

Here's an update. For more check out our personal blog The Hoovers:Liberia Bound!

We enjoyed a relaxing weekend in Andrews. We've dug up all our old haunts, i.e; Monte Alban, Decker's flea market, the Murphy Wal-Mart, the Burger Basket, and the Andrew's cemetery. Don't ask about that last one- date spots are hard to find in Andrews, we had to make do with what we had. We're looking forward to the rest of our time here. Pray for the OLD School semester course that is beginning this week. Check the link if you just said to yourself, "huh?"

Kyle is busily doing math trying to decipher how to use his solar panel (a small one-not a ginormous one that you mount to the top of your house) to charge a 12v battery so that we can have a little light in Liberia. Did I marry the right guy or what?

So that is about it for this Monday morning. We are continuing to make plans for Liberia and tie up loose ends. It just seems like so much of what we have to do can't be done until the last minute. Anyways, we're in Andrews visiting our SWO family if you need us. We'll head out at the end of the month to Marion, NC. As usual we ask for your prayers.

This weeks prayer need: Pray that our marriage would be encouraged and strengthened in every aspect during this time of preparation. Pray that we would be like-minded and love and serve each other with pure hearts.

Peace,
Kyle and Jessica Hoover

update from a week ago

2010-09-05T16:15:00.000-04:00

In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. I tell you, NOW is the time of God's favor, NOW is the day of salvation. 2 Cor. 6:2

"The time is NOW to pursue ALL that the Lord has for you. His ability will equip you to accomplish any task that He places before you. Move forward IN CONFIDENCE!" priscilla shirer

HEllO everyone!

i just wanted to update you all on the step of faith miranda and i took TODAY. we have been praying about renting a building in the town to use for our youth program as well as for the ministry. we have been having many problems with the mayor's office and the community center. there is a new man that works for the mayor's office who does not want us to use the community center any longer. it's just the enemy and God knows best. so miranda and i went today to speak to the owner of this building and he cut us a deal. we have to pay $260 this week with the promise that we will have the full rent by october which is $500 a month. so please be in prayer with us as we wait on God to provide. this is what faith is all about. if we don't use or test our faith it won't grow.
if you fell led to help in anyway just email me. i know times are hard now for everyone but God always has a way to provide for His work.
thank you for all your constant prayers! they work!! i feel them! :)
love you all!
His, mandy

last update-2 weeks ago

2010-09-05T16:10:00.003-04:00

I am back in honduras after being in the states for three and half weeks. being back in honduras has been hard this time, i will not lie. as most of you know, the reason for my trip home was to take my daughter heidy to live in oklahoma and study at a university. what an answer to our prayers. God has spoken to obediant hearts to reach out and help us provide heidy with the best possible education. thank you to the Bullard family of edmond, oklahoma, for opening your home to my daughter and providing her with the opportunity to study and earn a college degree. she is adjusting well and really enjoys being with this precious family. monday, august 23rd, she will be starting classes at the university of cntral oklahoma!! thank you, Father! we see how You made this happen every step of the way. pray for Heidy, please. classes are not going to be easy and she is really going to have to work hard and stay focused. pray for her relationship with God to become more intimate as she learns to lean on Him more and more during this time of change and hard work.
as for me, the adjustment seems to be way harder. i now have an empty nest as you say and am missing having Heidy around. it has been hard but i know God has huge plans for us both in this next stage in our journey. please pray for me to continue to have peace and use the quiet times to listen better and pray more.
since being back, we have all as staff come to an agreement that we really need our own space for the youth group and ministry avtivities and office. a building i looked at before i left for the states is still available. we have all gone and looked it over and we all LOVE it. it will work perfectly for our needs right now. we are desperate for our own space for our growing youth group. the community center has been great but it's just that...a community center. we are not the only ones that use that space. we are desperate to be able to have a space where we can set up chairs and sound system and so on and not have to pack it all up the same day. we want to be able to have more activities and a place to hold meetings and so on. so please be in prayer with us as we seek our Lord to show us His will and bring us His provision. our goal is to hopefully rent the place by the end of the month.
thank you to all of you who give, who pray and encourage me along the path of this adventure and journey. it was SO good to be able to spend time with some of you while i was home. it always encourages me and helps me keep going. i love you all so much!! many blessings!

wonders of wonders!

2010-09-04T20:46:00.004-04:00

Several weeks ago, as part of the ground school training we went downtown Kansas City and did some street evangelism. This was a stretching experience for me-- the Lord really had to do a work in me to build the courage for be to approach folks with the good news of Jesus. But He did it. I remember walking and walking and just mentally reviewing the gospel in my head to remind me so that I would have a desire to share...the streets were pretty empty that night. I remember praying that the Lord would make it obvious who I should talk to... and then I turned the corner and there was a bus stop. I sat down, and within a few minutes a man from Honduras sat down, and I was able to talk to him about Jesus. He was a joy to talk to- very hungry, and was interested... I could talk to him for hours... I had to pull away that night from the conversation because our teams were leaving at a certain time--- so I said farewell.

This morning I went to the farmers market- and low and behold, there he was playing his guitar in the streets at the market! My friend Jenny and I talked with him for awhile, and he asked if he could come to church with us... so pray for him that he would come, and that he would grow to know Jesus. He knows alot of information about Jesus, and the bible, but I'm fairly certain from our conversations that the love of Jesus hasn't been made real to him. So pray for him to come, and for the students and folks that will be interacting with him hopefully long term during our time here in KC.

Back in FL

2010-09-02T19:42:00.011-04:00

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

2010-08-30T21:59:00.004-04:00

The Lord has indeed pulled me out of what was comfortable to me, and is teaching me to worship Him anew. He's engaging my heart in a deeper vision for the lost to know Him. He's blessed me by surrounding me with brothers who I daily hear say, "Jesus has changed my life and I just desire to see people know that Jesus Christ is the good news." He's allowing me to see how this desire has burned deep into their hearts, and encompasses every part of their being. Its not just a routine, or a habit of the christian-- its a desire that truly burns in their hearts and flows out of every conversation. Jesus is our highest treasure-- for He is our Savior, and our Father.

I heard a song by Bethany Dillon tonight called, "Hallelujah." Some of the lyrics say, " whatever is in front of me- allow me to sing Hallelujah." Amen. Though Evangelism is a daunting cloud over me, the Lord is good to begin to engage my heart with a burden for people to know Jesus. Another lyric is, "and only you can see the good in broken things, you took my heart of stone and you made it home, and you set this prisoner free." I like this because I see how my flesh is broken, and I rejoice in that because it reminds me daily to turn to him, again and again. I can't fix myself, and then present myself to Him for his service. Only He can clean me up. Praise the Lord that we really are "agent of reconciliation." (2 Cor 5:18-20)

Bottom Line, Praise the Lord... He's good.

Hoover's Monday Update

2010-08-30T06:00:00.000-04:00

Read more about the Hoovers journey to Liberia at The Hoovers: Liberia Bound

Sometimes God's faithfulness is paraded before your eyes...quite literally.

Last night we were incredibly blessed to be apart of a time of celebration. Our church in Asheville, Trinity PCA, had a dinner, time of prayer and time of encouragement for all the missionaries that Trinity is sending out. We are so thankful for the time that God gave us to share with our Trinity family about what the Lord is, has and will do through this journey to Liberia. As we stood in a receiving line (more like a wedding than a funeral) greeting friends old and new we realized it was a visible display of God's faithfulness and abundant provision for all of our needs. Thank you Mission's Ministry Group! Thank you Trinity family! We hope to see all of you a couple more time before we leave the country. Know that it is by your prayers, support and encouragement that we set out on this mission.

We head back to High Point today. We're going to pass another week in the Piedmont of North Carolina while we wait for the back quarter panel of our car to get repaired. Thanks, Asheville Waste Management for side swiping our car many moons ago. (that was sarcasm)

September is wide open for us. The classes at Equip don't begin until October 2nd. Which leaves us with some time to kill. Keep a close eye on your spare bedrooms and basement apartments. We just might show up on your doorstep!

Finally, for today's update we are instituting a weekly prayer theme. We have been floored by the amount of folks that have shared with us that they are covering us in prayers. Each week from this point on we will share one item of prayer that will be posted alongside all of our other posts for the week. When you see these prayer requests please take just a moment, right then, to pray for this specific need.

This weeks prayer need: Pray that God would speak to us through His Word in a new and fresh way. That we would be able to know with confidence the height, width and depth of the Love of God both personally and as a couple.

Our plane tickets are set for October 30th, exactly two months from today. That's a big deal. Thanks for reading our blog!

The Truth Comes Out

2010-08-27T06:00:00.001-04:00

Read more from the Hoovers at The Hoovers:Liberia Bound

Welp, Friday is here again. We are heading off to AVL on Saturday so all you Ashevillians check your spare bedrooms and basement apartments for the Hoovers.

We've been a bit cryptic as of late about our departure date. We now can share with you what the plan is! A couple of weeks ago Kyle was asked to consider assisting with Equip USA's Water Resources Classes (filters, pumps, well-drilling) in Marion, NC. The problem with that was we had planned on leaving for Liberia around mid-September. The classes are set for the 1st three weeks in October. So folks on both sides of the Atlantic had to be consulted and a decision had to be made. After a week or so of praying and emailing we decided to delay our departure so that Kyle can help teach the upcoming courses.

After that decision was made we were able to begin moving in a definite direction!

Today we are making the final arrangements to set our plane tickets for Liberia in stone. FINALLY! This has been a long time coming. The plan is to leave on October 30th (the day after our 5th anniversary!) and hop a bizillion flights and eventually make it to Liberia. Got that?

Pray that we would use this extended time wisely. God has provided for these extra months in the States. Pray that we would trust that all the ends will be met. I (Jessica) would like to think I was ready to leave yesterday. Evidently God has something else in mind.

Unfortunately this means more blogs from the hinterland. Stick with us...t-minus 2 months!

In Christ Alone,
Kyle and Jessica Hoover

Friends, Family and the Uncertain Details

2010-08-23T09:15:00.001-04:00

Read more about the Hoovers journey at The Hoovers: Liberia Bound!

Time flies when you're havin' fun!

We've been spending time with family around the Raleigh area this past week. For me (Jessica) it is the longest I've been around the part of the world that I grew up in, in many years. I have missed the scenery and people, but not the humidity. I suppose the Lord is preparing us for the intense heat and humidity of a typical Liberian day so I will simply be thankful.

Last week we were in limbo. We've been uncertain about our departure date which has left a bunch of the details up in the air that we hoped to have pretty well set at this point. Just another opportunity to trust God's providence along the road of this journey! However, things have begun to clarify themselves and we are confident that we will have a departure date set in stone this coming week. Sorry to be so cryptic, we will share more this week once things get set!

We're heard from many of you saying that you received our prayer cards! Once again our postage goes unwasted! Yipee! Now the Hoovers can take up residence on your refrigerator! Thanks again to Tanya McSween for doing the photography and design work!

A big thanks to my cousins (Wayne and Linda Elms, more like an aunt and uncle to me) who had us up to their lake house over the weekend. It was a little slice of heaven. Jet ski, fishing, steaks, Journey on DVD, George Strait on the stereo and dessert to boot, and an unexpected fireworks show...now that is what I call Lake Livin'! Thanks Wayne and Linda!

This week we head back to High Point, NC and then onto Asheville over the weekend! This week should be an interesting week around the blog so be sure to check back for all the news! We love each and everyone of you that is following this journey. Our hope is that through these daily logs you would see the grace and goodness of our Lord and be drawn closer to the Source of all life through these posts.

Peace Folks,
Kyle and Jessica Hoover

new beginnings

2010-08-22T16:42:00.002-04:00

Well, August finds me in Kansas City, MO. Several times I've found myself thinking- "I, Hannah Morgan am in Kansas City Missouri. This is crazy." Its been really good. The Lord has been very gracious to establish me into this program, and community here. For those of you who don't know I'm working with FUSION. You can go to www.gofusion.ws for more information. We're here on campus of Midwestern Baptist Seminary for the fall, where the students are taking classes and in training with Fusion- and then in the January of 2011 we''ll go overseas. I'll be leading a team of 3 girls to South Asia. Ground school is over- and starting tomorrow classes begin. I'm excited to begin building relationships with the girls on my team, and to begin serving them, encouraging them as they are seeking the Lord in this time.

I love it here. I keep praying that I wouldn't just be content because it has been easier than expected to become immersed here in this community, or just because I enjoy what I'm doing-- but that I would find my joy in the Lord so that even when it does get harder I would still rejoice. The Lord has been reminding me the past few weeks of why I'm here- the gospel. This isn't about me. He's growing in my heart an urgent desire to share the Truth, the hope I have in Jesus that others don't have. Fusion is giving me an avenue to do so, so I pray that this year would be a time of the Lord stripping me of myself and that He would use me to reflect the Truth. The Fusion creed is becoming a cry of my heart---

As a follower of Christ, I am called not to comfort or success but to obedience. Consequently my life is to be defined not by what I do but by who I am.

Henceforth, I will proclaim His name without fear, follow Him without regret, and serve Him without compromise.

Thus to obey is my objective, to suffer is expected, His glory is my reward.

To Christ Alone, be all power, all honor, and glory that the world may know. Amen.

Big News

2010-08-16T06:00:00.001-04:00

Please read our blog today over at The Hoovers: Liberia Bound

We are excited to share all that God is doing along the roadside of this journey.

Back in Seoul

2010-08-14T04:59:00.005-04:00

I flew back to Seoul two and a half weeks ago. I was surprised and blessed to find a co-worker/friend on my flight. I quickly settled in to both my apartment and my classroom, unpacking and reacquainting myself with friends as well as meeting the new staff members. Students began to trickle in--some to buy supplies and some just to say hello. Seeing students from last year reminded me of relationships God has allowed me to build, which made me think about opportunities He will open up this year with new and former students. The excitement built and I had a hard time sleeping as the first day of school quickly approached. Now--the first week is behind us and I am exhausted but happy.
Last year, I unintentionally came across a red light district here in Seoul. My eyes were filled with tears as I thought about how hard it would be to accept God's grace if you didn't feel like you could ever be "clean" enough to gain it. Ever since then, God has given me a heavy burden to pray for these women. He has pointed me in the direction of a prayer walking ministry, which will restart soon after breaking for the summer. Also, he has been allowing me to push on a door to volunteer with the Night Light ministry in Bangkok, Thailand over Chusok break in late September. This is something that Rachel Carpenter and I are praying over and I would appreciate your prayers as we sort out the details and make a decision.
I was really excited and blessed to receive a package from camp--I love love love getting these letters--I only let myself read one at a time...to stretch it out! Thank you sooooo much for the very American package and the thoughtful encouragement!

Up the Tigre River

2010-08-07T12:02:00.005-04:00

Coco Helado (Cold coconut milk) for the Skimmers:

• Family is doing great, all healthy and going strong
• The Natives of the Tigre river have striked against the oil company and are not allowing any boats to pass, we have been unable to get to Paiche Playa and time is running short.
• Kori and I will have been married for two years this Monday the 9th!
• The first democratic elections are going on in our country in West Africa. Please pray for their future president.
• Susan Taliaferro we need your phone numbers. We're in Nauta waiting for the Parro again, read details below.

Boiled Fish and Green dry plantain's for the Interested Reader:
Parro Strike/Blockade:
Its long, but you have gotta hear this!

The biggest news as of late is our journey to Paiche Playa (the village kori lived in while he was a single missionary to Peru). We left Iquitos at 6am on the first of August headed towards Nauta by taxi then on to Paiche Playa via Launcha (river boat). We arrived in Nauta and met the rest of the Xtreme team who were headed out to different communities along the river to share stories from scripture with the people. We all took the same launcha packed with 30 other people up to a village called Puerto Orlando. In the night the launcha passed one of the town a team of guys were going to and they had to wait with us in Peurto Orlando and get a peki-peki down river to Nueva Mira Flores. We arrived in the village at 930 pm. The village was silent and the stars were more beautiful than any I have ever seen. I followed the guys with Fisher in his wrap across me chest, a bucket on my head and a bag filled with our stuff in my left hand. As we ascended up the muddy, slippery bank i thought to myself, please Lord don't let me fall with Fisher like this. We safely got up to the top and I followed the guys to a fairly large hut. They began to yell for someone to come out and with no prior notice this family opened their house to us in the middle of the night. Eight of us crammed in the front room of the hut and slept well until morning. The guys went on their way and kori and I stayed with the family waiting for the next Lancha up River. The week before there had been a strike on the Tigre River that lasted for 10 days but we had recieved information that the Parro had been lifted (which it had) so we anticipated a launcha any day up river.
Our first full day in Puerto Orlando a helicopter came to the village and dropped off a 3 months supply of food and water for the people. It was a gift from the oil company to the people to either buy their silence for destroying their land and polluting the river or to keep their silence. Am I allowed to say that? Well... we worked all day bringing food and water from the shore to the center of the village as the people distributed it evenly to each family. Kori hopped on a boat to help bring in water to different surrounding villages.
The next morning i awoke to the CB radio (or something like one) to the peoples of Santa Cruz proclaiming to all the launchas and towns that the Parro was in place again with greater force. The Natives of Santa Cruz were infuriated by the oil company trying to buy their silence and declared that the parro would persist for another month. I was so discouraged. Paiche Playa is a 2.5 day trip up the Tigre River and if the strike were to last a month we would not be able to encourage the believer "Lapiz" in Paiche or share the gospel with the others. We waited in Puerto Orlando for three days. Praying for God to break through this barrier.
In my mind i thought, well it would have been nice, but there is no way now. I had given up, not anticipating the power of God through prayer. As i prayed I realized I did not believe God would lift the Parro. Why would He, for us to spend a week with the people? Kori's faith challenged me during this time. As i prepared a departure plan back to Nauta, kori was convinced we would have a launcha up river. I didn't understand his thought process. That night after having listened to the radio for hours waiting for the parro to be lifted we realized that only 5 lanchas go up the tigre river. Three of them had passed the point of the parro when it had been lifted (and could not return down river) and another one had passed us going down river. We knew that if we did not catch the fifth Lancha we would be stuck their for a week at the least. We decided to catch the next lancha that came by going back to Nauta. We talked through the situation and decided to go back until it had been lifted. That night we slept waiting for the 9am boat.
At 7pm we were abruptly woken up by a woman yelling "aren't you going to Paiche? The boats here!" I was so disoriented i couldnt really understand what was going on. We got on the boat after dragging our half packed luggage to the launcha and kori said "We're going to Doce de Octubre" That didn't mean much to me because i had no clue where the villages on the river are. He looked at me with disappointment as though i should be excited. So realizing i didn't understand he said "This boat is passing Paiche through the parro!" I couldn't believe it. I didn't have an ounce of expectation for God to take us to Paiche after hearing the discussions on the CB radio. God made me realize the little faith i truly have that He will establish His plans. I was convicted hard.
We spent the next two days on the lancha sitting in our hammocks reading and journaling. After a while its hard not being able to get up and walk around. And boiled green plantains... please Lord, I've had enough. Its like eating chalk. And the ladies would not leave me until i sucked the eye balls and brains out of the fishes head. ( i had thrown the first head over board not realizing and they were so offended) whoops. As we headed up river the boat was full of hope. Kori got to share Christ with four different people and I got to know the intimate parts of Edith's heart. She says shes so close to giving her heart and life to God but she's not ready yet. Please prayer for Señora Edith.
Two days passed as we traveled farther up river as we approached the town right before the village where the strike had been set, the people had fear in their eyes and urged the Duña (or owner of the Lancha) not to go. Edith was close to the owner and knew she had to get more passengers if she were going to return to Nauta, but she was determined to pass through. As we approached Santa Cruz 30 native women lined the bank in full indigenous wear (Grass tops and skirts) with their spears in hand. It was like something out of a book. The only woman I have ever seen that mad is my own mama when i would disobey. Up until this point I didn't realize the gravity of what a "parro" really was. These Peruvians mean business. As we got closer kori and I looked at each other and thought "surely she is not going to dock this boat". As we got closer to shore the Duña came to us and said "stay out of site, we'll only have more trouble if they know there are tourists on board." This was the only time i have ever seen kori truly concerned about any form of danger. I was running through scenarios in my mind of how to defend my family. “Machete… to dangerous. I could throw luggage at them… ineffective. Solid wooden indigenous paddle… perfect!” We sat still but ready as the Duña had the workers on board lock up the openings. She went to the bow of the boat and stood behind a half door (you know the ones that open at the bottom or top). The native women yelled and yelled and refused to listed to a word she said. She kept asking them to let her pass because she was a Peruvian and this is her land too. But because she was a “Mestizo” or half breed they did not consider this her land.
After about 30 minutes of intense arguing they explained she was not allowed take any passengers and was not allowed to leave! Apparently the “Apo” of village chief had banned the people from playing futbol and all had to be ready to fight if someone dared pass the cable they had set across the river. An hour passed as we sat there not knowing what was going to happen. Then four women snuck on the boat and explained that we had to take them with us because they had a small baby and the mother was unable to breast feed due to HIV. They explained to food was running out and it was urgent that they got out of there. So the Duña told them not to tell anyone and at 6pm we would sneak down river. “This woman is crazy” I thought. “She’s gonna get us killed”. By 6pm the entire launcha was filled with women and at 7 all lights were turned off and the men pushed us off shore as we slowly drifted down river. I have only prayed this hard once in my life. 45 minutes passed with no alarm, no one was following us. After two hours of complete silence the engines were turned on and we began our descent back to Nauta.
We are here in Nauta until Monday and if the Parro has not been lifted by then we will return back to Iquitos.

Prayer Requests:
• Please pray for Edith, that God would continue calling her to Himself and that she would accept His invitation of Salvation.
• Pray that the seeds God used kori to plant in the hearts of those people would take root.
• Pray for the peoples of Peru who are yet to hear the gospel of Jesus
• Intercede with us as we cry out to God for the peoples of West Africa as we prepare to serve there
• Bea is in FPO right now preparing for overseas service as well
• Continue to lift up the young men going through Training that God would continue to teach truth to their hearts and that they would be willing to live it for the rest of their lives
• PRAISE GOD for his faithfulness, provision and protection.

‘til the whole world hears,
Rach

At the training camp

2010-07-20T12:11:00.002-04:00

Sideways Rain

Had a great time at the family reunion at Hatteras, NC! Miss yáll!
Rach got her root canal and everything is fine with it, but the lasic never got done.
Xtreme team training is going well
To date no one has sent letters to the guys in training. Please write letters to these guys. Your encouragement to them is crucial.
Please pray for kori and Rach as they try to memorize stories in French (its not going so well)
Rach and Fisher got stalked by a psycho French woman on Ayauascha (the halusinagenic drug used the the local shamans to see spirits)
Fisher is doing great... he is healthy and growing fast. 4 teeth in two coming s we speak.
Photos coming when we get back to the states.... sorry for the wait.

Big Ol' Fat Rain
(stories will be seperated by title for you convinience. if your not interested skip tp next topic)

Reunion:
We had a great time at the beach with the Penderg-s and the Roberts Clan. Got a ton of great pictures and enjoyed the fresh ocean air. Fisher gave most of us Laringitis...thanks fisher.

Surgeries:
Upon arriving in Lima we spent two days getting my surgeries done. The tooth was fixed via a root canal. I was sent to a Dr. Carlos who dug out the canal, then I had to walk 3 blocks down the street with a gaping whole in my tooth to get the temp cap put on by Dr burger. The next day he did the gold reconstruction. I am now officially a gangster, or a red neck one. We spent most of 18 hours trying to get my lasic surgery done. They sent us to over four different clinics spent hours getting tests done and then having them tell us they did the wrong tests. i was so frustrated. The best we could tell is that they were afraid to do an imperfect surgery. Their technology could onlyfix up to -8 but my eyes are now -9 and -8.75 so i would have needed reading classes at the most but they were not willing to do it. So se la vie

First day of Training:
We arrived in Iquitos and spent the first 4 days with J and Susan. During that time we were building our hut at the land and sleeping at their house which has all the modern commenities. The day we began building our roof J ( the leader of the Xtreme Team) decided that that was the day our training began. Suprise! I was unaware that we would be going through training) That afternoon a 1/4 of our roof was finished before we ran out of supplies. J, having said that our training had begun that day decided to "make us deal". Praise God Adam (the leader in training) was able to go out and by the rest of the materials for us to finish our roof. At least the "A" frame (not the sides) was finished. That night it poured (as it does most nights). Fisher and I slept together in my hammock and were woken up by what seemed to be a flood of water from the sky. The rain swept throught the hut as though we were standing right under th cloud in open space. Kori and I weighed whether it would be better to hike out in the storm to the closest home or wait in the hut. So we wrapped Fisher in every blanket we had and wrapped our rain jackets on the outside to protect him as much as possible we laid their sleepless, wet and freezing until dawn came and we could hail a moto tax. We decided to go speak to the powers that be and get a hostel until the roof and floor of the hut were finished. Well, we stayed two nights in a pat by the hour hostel( unless you pay 240 USD at one of the finer hotels , theyre all pay by the hour).

Letters to the boys:
Unfortunately the boys have been in training for 6 weeks and have not recieved a single letter. We really desire for the body of Christ in the states to encourage their brothers who are suffering for the Gospel. Please do not neglect Gods invitation to encourage the universal body of Christ.
Xtreme team
Apartado 151
Iquitos
Peru

Rach and Fisher stalked by a drugged up French Tourist:

It was the craziest thing i have ever experienced (and thats saying a lot ). So... I was bathing Fisher, and because there is only cold water here he was screaming his little head off. All of a sudden i heard someone banging at the door yelling "Abre la Puerta" (Open the door). So it took me a second, but i opened the door half dressed with fisher covered in soap and butt naked. A red headed french woman made the owners wife open the door because she said that someone was hurting a child in on the the hostel rooms. When the owner saw it was me and Fisher she smiled at me and took her leave. The French woman stood there staring at me with crazy eyesa. I let her know that Fisher was fine and that she could leave. I basically closed the door in her face. Well i decided to wipe the soap off Fisher with a towel so he would scream and worry the poor french woman. At first i thought "well i can understand... this is a pay by the hour hostel and she heard a baby crying. I too would make sure the baby was safe. " But for the next hour she walked back and forth across my room passing the screaned window and glaring at me. She kept trying to give a message but she was speaking three languages at once. English, French and Spanish. I kept hearing pieces of information like "the two men in your room want to hurt your son" I looked around and said "No ones here". The next time she came by she yelled profanities at us saying "its fing bs" she kept saying in her borken English. I couldndecide whether i should walk outside and confront her and maker her leave or if i should stay in the room and wait for kori to get back from the hut with the things we needed for the night. I decided to stay in the room and spend time in prayer. After not having seen her for a while i went outside and spoke to the owner about the situation. He explained she had caused a lot of trouble and that she and her partner had been going up the Amazon and had been taking Ayuascha ( the hylusinagetic drug taken by the shamans or spiritual healers in the communities of the amazon jungle. It is said they take this drug to see spirits and these spirits tell them what is wrong with someone and the cure.) I can not help but wonder who or what she saw in my room.

Fisher:
Fisher is growing fast. He is babbling non-sense words and standing on his own for 10 seconds at a time. He has 2 top and 2 bottom teeth and two are cutting as we speak. His diareah has subsided and he entertains himself for hour plaing motorboat and indian with his mouth.

Quote of the month:
"Being on the Xtreme Team means youre going to be Xtremely hungery!" -Juan (Trainee)

´til the whole world hears,
kori and Rach

Monday Update

2010-07-12T06:00:00.003-04:00

Read more at The Hoovers: Liberia Bound!

We're back in school! Medical school that is...sort of. We began our Medical Missionary Intensive (MMI) yesterday evening. The information is like drinking from a fire hydrant! However, before we started the course we had a couple of days to check out Vancouver and make our way over to Vancouver Island. The ferry trip over was gorgeous and Victoria is a jewel of a city. Let's just say that in such an international city we were able to witness some true World Cup celebration from authentic Spaniards! We promise pictures ASAP!

We are finally on a more structured schedule and will have more time to post in the coming days (despite the massive amounts of class and homework!). Rest assured friends and family, we are doing just fine! That's for you, mom and grandmoms!

Keep praying that we will be able to retain the info. we are learning and continue to enjoy this time of semi-relaxation and enjoying each other! More details to come!

It's All Grace,
Kyle and Jessica Hoover

Mini-itinerary
July 11-22: MMI course
July 22-25: Hangin' in beautiful Victoria, B.C. and meeting the Waines' family
July 30: Head back to Vancouver, B.C.
August 1: Journey back down South (as they say here in Canada!)

It's an exciting time to be overseas

2010-07-11T10:09:00.010-04:00

The Lord is truly doing a lot of things around the world. There is evidence of it every time we travel, every time we speak with workers and in our everyday lives here in the UK. This is an incredible time for m work overseas.

Since our last post, we have been on several assignments and made a lot of progress in our local ministry. Yes, the opportunity to travel to interesting places is very exciting, but the chance to witness and be a part of God's global purpose is the real reward. In May, Bryan traveled into an 'interesting' country in the Middle East/Central Asia, a country known for war, genocide and persecution. In the midst of this, however, was the light of the gospel. Lights are appearing all over this region as workers are being bold, ch's are being planted and people are being saved.

Another assignment in June took us into downtown London and Paris. While some may see Western Europe as a less strategic mission, nothing could be farther from the truth. The reality is that large global cities like these are becoming quite multicultural. London, for example, is home to every major religion and most of the worlds' people groups are represented here. The Arab, African, Indian and East Asian people groups are especially populous. With the introduction of these new 'global' cities, we must rethink our strategies for m work. Reaching members of these people groups here means raising national m's in the future as they return to their homelands. This sort of "backdoor" approach to closed countries has proven quite effective all over the world. So as you consider overseas m work, especially consider Western Europe.

On another note, I should also mention that Mandi and I had the great experience of being stuck by the Eyjafjallajokull ash cloud (looks like I just punched the keyboard, but that's the real name of it). We were on holiday in Paris and Rome in April when that thing started burping, and it caused us to be stuck in Madrid, Spain for a week. We ended up driving back to London with another m couple (through Spain, France and Southern England). In hindsight, it was an interesting experience.

Our local ministry here has grown by leaps and bounds. We believe that our calling to overseas m work goes beyond our media work and includes our local community. The British tend to be a bit "stuffy" (by their own admission), so relationships take time and commitment. We have found one "in" to the community through pubs. Pubs are quite social places and we have made many friends there. These friendships are finally starting to produce fruit as we are starting to share the G. Mandi and I play music fortnightly (that's every two weeks for us non-brits) at a local pub and have had an encouraging reception. Many of our songs point towards Christ and we have had lots of good conversations come out of it. We are also very close to starting a house ch here in our home. It has taken a considerable amount of time, but the Lord seems to be opening lots of doors for it, requiring only that we be obedient. More on that as it develops.

We love you all we miss you very much. With summer over halfway through, be encouraged that what you do at Snowbird really makes a huge impact on all who experience it. We absolutely love getting letters and packages from SWO. You wouldn't believe how it lights up our day and encourages us. Thank you for remembering and supporting all of us overseas.

Bryan and Mandi

Training in Canada

2010-07-06T12:02:00.001-04:00

This post and much more can be found at The Hoovers:Liberia Bound!

This week the Hoovers go back to school for "TO DO" Tuesday! Our trip up to Canada isn't all vacation! Nope, it's mostly training classes. We will arrive in Vancouver, B.C. on Thursday and make our way over to Vancouver Island a couple of days later where we will spend the majority of the next 3 weeks in intensive training classes. We will be taking two classes the Missionary Medicine Intensive (MMI) and the Community Health Evangelism (CHE) course.

Here are the descriptions of the classes:

MMI (website description)
MMI is a two-week course designed to equip missionaries with diagnostic skills and appropriate treatments. MMI enables the missionary to do physical exams, and to process the information gathered to come up with an accurate diagnosis, and a recommended treatment.

Photos courtesy of Equip International

or in other words...
A village newborn is brought to you with an infected umbilical cord.
An old man shows up with a badly burnt hand.
Your three-year-old has a fever with a red rash.
And the nearest good doctor is three hours away over washed out roads.
What would you do?

(Hoover's description)
The MMI consists of everything from birthin' babies to sewing up wounds...woah, we're feelin' queasy...and a lot of homework. We'll spend our days learning all kinds of medical terminology and we will spend our nights doing case studies to hone our diagnostic skills. INTENSE!

CHE (website description)
CHE is a five-day course that teaches missionaries to link evangelism with social development. Using CHE concepts, communities in any cultural setting are encouraged to identify their own problems of health, education, agriculture, micro-enterprise, etc, and then create their own solutions for these problems.

Photos courtesy of Equip International

(Hoover's description)
The last week of our training will be the CHE class. This class is extremely applicable to the work in Liberia and we are excited to make the connection between mercy ministry, the Gospel and the culture.

So there it is! Pray that we would be diligent in these classes. That we would stay tuned into the material and would retain as much as possible! That's it for "TO DO" Tuesday! Check out Equip International to read more about the classes that are offered!
It's All Grace,
Kyle and Jessica Hoover

Hoover Update

2010-07-06T11:56:00.002-04:00

This post along with much more can be found at The Hoovers:Liberia Bound!

This past week we...

Moved completely out of our apartment and into a beautiful house with dear friends. Began living out of a couple of plastic tubs and our car. Then on Friday we made the drive over to Andrews, NC for a weekend with our SWO family!

Our weekend at SWO (Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters for all you sayin' "huh?!" right now.) wrapped up today and we are back in AVL with full hearts and a lot of excitement about the days ahead. Well, at lest we will be really excited after we take a nap! SWO is where we met and our SWO framily will always be close to our hearts and minds. We were so blessed to see so many familiar faces and share our hearts with those closest to us. It's amazing how close the Body of Christ can become, truly spiritual ties are thicker than any others, Kyle and I have both experienced that in real and powerful ways. As we were leaving we were overwhelmed by the summer/full time staff's prayers. Summer staff that we didn't even know introduced themselves just to share that they had been praying for us! No wonder we have repeatedly felt like we are being buoyed along by the prayers of the saints! Because we really are! God is surrounding us at every turn with reassurance and blessings!

We also got to have a surprise visit with Kyle's cousins, and aunt and uncle. Kyle's cousin Paige has worked a couple of summers at SWO and is there for SWOX (SWO 2010!) so her mom (Aunt Gigi), dad (Uncle Paul) and (Jordan) made the trip up for the 4th! It was an unexpected and welcomed surprise!

Also, more exciting news! Our friends Harry and Tanya McSween took some photos (ok, Tanya took the photos and Harry ran interference with the elderly lady that owned the property we were taking the pictures on) of us for our prayer card! Tanya is doing the design work too and they should be in your mail box when we get back from Canada! They are going to be amazing and we are so thrilled that Tanya was willing to help out! Thanks McSweens! Check out Tanya's work at McSween Photography.

There are so many more details that we would love to share. Everything from seeing our friends Spencer and Amy's little girls, to sharing in worship time with the SWO staff, to hangin' around a campfire with the Holloways, to watchin' UFC fights at Kahunas with the boys, to enjoying some amazing hometown, Andrews, NC fireworks. Not to mention Mexican food and driving through the river gorge with the windows down. All of those things were gems in a full weekend, but more than anything else that we enjoyed this weekend is the like-mindedness that we share with our framily in Andrews that gives us confidence, and a sense of connectedness to go boldly in the direction that God has called us! We are blessed to look back at God's weaving of our relationships at SWO and to see the tight way that His Spirit interweaves those within His family. We believe and we are blessed.

Enough rattling on about the weekend. If you didn't notice I could have gone on for days, but Thursday is quick approaching! We will hop a plane on Thursday evening for Vancouver, B.C.! So if you need us we will be in Canada until August 1st when we head back to N.C.! Not to worry the blog will be updated regularly! Pray that we will have safe travels and that our brains don't explode from all the information that we will be putting inside of them. "TO DO" Tuesday is going to focus on the classes that we are taking so check back tomorrow for more on the "Why's" of our trip to Canada.
It's All Grace,
Kyle and Jessica Hoover

July 8th and beyond!
July 8th-Leave for Equip Canada Training
July 31st-Return from Canada to NC
August-Hoover Beach Trip, hanging with family! COMPLETE SUPPORT RAISING!
September- Leave for Liberia!

Maridith here.

2010-06-29T15:49:00.001-04:00

Summer school and jobs are in full swing and it is HOT in Texas. We made it back from vacation to the land where everything is bigger and made an immediate transition into our new summer abode. We will be house-sitting for a lady in our church until August, and then who knows where we will live next. It’s always a wait and see game for the Lanes…

Our 3,700 mile road trip of the southeast was awesome. It was my very first time in New Orleans and I was far from disappointed. The food (oh, the food… I gained 6 lbs… whatever), the music, the culture, the everything… it was brilliant. Plus, we stayed in this awesome apartment of some missionary friends of ours for free – holla! We were able to go to a Gulf Aid benefit concert where we heard and experienced the Preservation Hall Jazz Band featuring your friend and my friend, Most Def as well as many other zydeco and jazz bands. This concert was all things NOLA and was definitely the (non-caloric) highlight of the trip.
Florida with my family was good down time at the beach. Spending time at Snowbird was so rich and fun. The trip through Tennessee on our way back to Texas was great as we got to stop and spend the night with Mama and Papa Lane. We cherish every minute we get together with our friends and family as our time in the States will always be so limited.
Please be in prayer for us this summer as we push full ahead with our studies. Trying to finish up our undergrads so quickly in such a short amount of time presents a lot of stress. We know it’s simply what God has for us during this time but sometimes it’s just easy to forget that (because of daily new mercies) we are well equipped for what we do.
And lastly, THIS JUST IN: Bobby will be taking a vision trip of sorts to Africa in October with our dear friend and future boss, J. This trip will be vital during this preparatory phase in the life of Echelon. Bobby and J will be meeting with other missionaries who are already in Africa in order to gain insight to how our team can most effectively hit the ground running upon our arrival there next year. More details soon to come, but please be in prayer for us as we will be raising the funds needed for this trip. Also pray that this trip will harmonize well with Bobby’s fall school schedule. We trust God with each detail.

Thanks for loving and supporting us!

Monday Update

2010-06-28T06:00:00.000-04:00

For more of the day to day of the Hoovers journey to Liberia visit The Hoovers:Liberia Bound.

Things really began to move forward in big ways this past weekend! Saturday was CAHRAZYYYY! Here is the way the day went!

-Up with the birds to pick up our moving van.

-Packed everything we own into the van in an hour or less.

-A drive down the mountain-UHAUL with Kyle and Norb's cat, Corolla close behind.

-Arrive at Ma and Pa Hoovers to find a wooden rolling cart awaiting all our belongings-

Thanks Dad!

-Unload Norb's cat to end the constant meows that Kyle endured from Asheville to Archdale.

-Unload all non-meowing items from truck

-Escape inside from the heat and grab toothpicks to prop open our eyelids b/c naps were needed!

-Trip down the road into High Point to return the truck. Lots of odd peeps at the gas station...do we really need to discuss the NC sin tax one more time? We know you don't like it. Buy your carton b/c it's not going to stop you!

-Quick dinner with the parents at the seafood house.

-Back in the Corolla for the trip back up the mountain! Minus a screaming feline...sniff...sniff...tear.

Wow! It was a hot, busy day, but it is DONE, D-U-N-N, DONE!

Sunday was much more relaxing! We went to church and were blessed by the prayers of our Asheville family. They commissioned us along with another family, the Kendalls, who will be going to serve at the Rift Valley Academy in the Rift Valley of Kenya. We came to Trinity four years ago after many long Sundays of unfruitful searching for a Church. We were discouraged and longing to be fed from God's Word and be part of a growing Body of believers. God richly blessed us with the Body at Trinity. Through God's sovereignty and Trinity we have had rich opportunities (including through a series of providential events finding the ministry of Equip!) and relationships. It is bittersweet to be leaving AVL, especially all of our dear family at Trinity.

Today we are cleaning our apartment from head to toe. No crack will be left untouched! No cobweb will be left unswept! Tonight we will begin invading the Wood household for a week and a half! A big thanks to John and Deb for their kindness in extending their BEEYOUTEEFULL home to us! God is so good!

Here is the itinerary for the next week and a half!
6/28-Clean apartment and move in with the Woods
6/30-Officially our lease is up!
7/2-7/5- SWO Visit!
7/7-Kyle's last day of work at Brooks Engineering Associates
7/8-Hop a plane in the PM for Vancouver, British Columbia.

These are the days that we need all of your prayers to propel us forward. The enemy would like us to grow fearful during these days. Fearful that we are doing the wrong thing. Fearful that our funding won't be there in September. Fearful that the bottom will fall out of this whole scheme, but that's just it. God is doing the work, not us, and we can trust in a God that has gotten us this far and is not in the business of abandonment. Thanks for reading this little blog. It means the world.

Peace,
Kyle and Jessica Hoover

July 8th and beyond!
July 8th-Leave for Equip Canada Training

July 31st-Return from Canada to NC
August-Hoover Beach Trip, hanging with family! COMPLETE SUPPORT RAISING!
September- Leave for Liberia!