So long for now

To whom it may concern,
Racheal and i have new blogs.  We are no longer using the SMOi Blog as our primary blog site.
Racheal has a new website (including her blog) for our family.  (Note: If you ever want to go to that website by manually typing the URL, you must put www. infront of it.  Not doing so will not take you to our site.)
I (corey) have a new blog. (Note: The URL has a dash between "wild" and "oaks."  Omitting this will take you to someone else's blog.
Thanks!
'til the whole world hears,
corey

Setting Captives Free

Being in prison yesterday was quite eye opening for me.  I've done prison ministry once or twice in North Carolina.  Inmates are fed three hot meals a day, they receive standard clothes, a bed, and an organized laundry service, and they have access to books, running water, TV, sporting equipment, board games, and limited (but at least some) communication with the outside world.
Here in Susu Land it is different.  We walked through a series of heavily guarded gates and checkpoint as expected.  An open sewer drained through the entire prison compound in the middle of the cement ground.  The stench clued me to what we were stepping across as we passed the "women's area" and the "men's area" proceeding to the back of the prison compound.  Razor-wire coiled around the top of the perimeter wall.  We went through a final door into the "youth area."  We passed by a guard in mismatched military fatigues.  In any other world, i might suspect that the inmates had overthrown the real guards and dressed themselves in their clothes.  However, any olive green outfit seems to be acceptable as official military uniform.  Soldiers in the same detachment where digital camo, hunting (Mossy Oak brand) camo, the old standard (Woodland) camo, and plain solid green.  Alas, this knowledge was ironically comforting to me, since it reassured me this was probably a real guard, not an imposter.  Whatever short-experienced "comfort" i just felt was melted by the fact that was the last guard we encountered as we rounded the corner of a few buildings into an area far from the sight (and perhaps hearing) of the wardens.  We were warmly greeted by about 130 young men.  They were socializing around in the yard, taking turns using the restroom behind a curtain in the awful smelling latrine.  Most were half naked, tattooed and scarred.  They didn't look terribly sick, but were definitely skinnier than most people in Susu Land.  I was wearing some Old Navy blue jeans and a quick-dry collared golf shirt.  Bill, Josh, and i stood out like the cream in an Oreo.  These teens were given one meal a day, and i imagine the food pyramid was not consulted when the menu was set.  Most of them have the clothes on their backs, tattered and torn.  One showed me his shorts he was wearing, full of holes.  He had worn the same shorts for four months now.  He didn't own a shirt.
They noticed i had some books in my hand.  Their curiosity overcame their inhibition and asked me what i had brought.  I was swarmed by most of the guys trying to shoulder in and get a peek.  I showed them a handful of Scripture calendars, which quickly got passed around and disappeared in the crowd.  Then a showed them my New Testament in their language.  I announced i'd like to read to them from God's Word.  The quickly ushered the three of us to the only bench in the yard and ordered us to sit down and read.
Bill and Josh prayed to themselves.  I read Mark 5 -the story the man possessed by Legion, but set free by Jesus.  For a while, except for the sound of my voice, you could have heard a pin drop.  Eventually about 30 of them stayed locked in to the story.  Others lost interest and one-by-one trickled away.  At one time about 10 feet away an intense argument broke out, and i thought it was going to turn violent.  The listeners couldn't hear me, so they shushed the fighters.  I continued reading.  When i finished telling the story i asked questions about what they learned.  I asked them why the demons were afraid of Jesus.  The repeated back to me that Jesus was more powerful than the demons.
They had understood.
Then i read Acts 16 -the story of Paul and Silas in the Philippian jail.  I asked them what the people in that jail had to do to be saved.  The young men repeated back that they had to believe in Jesus.
They had understood.
One of the young men begged me for my New Testament.  I gladly gave it to him in exchange for his promise to share it with others.
No, we didn't have an "altar call," but Truth was know that day.  You can't rush into these things here.  Last night, i imagine many of the young men lost sleep pondering about Jesus, the healed man, Paul, Silas, and the jailer.  Lord willing we will return next Wednesday.
Would you pray for us?

Things that make you go hmmm... part 2

A while back we shared several short stories from our musings about life West Africa to tickle your funny bone.  Here goes round two:

• One day i was pulled over by a traffic custodian (there's another name for it, but our organization's policy requires me to remain apolitical) who told me i went the wrong way through the roundabout.  I knew i hadn't, but i played along.  He told me he could let me go if i gave him a little money.  I told him i wouldn't be able to do so for two reasons: (1) I work for our organization who has a policy against bribing such traffic custodians.  (2) The job of traffic custodian is a respectful and honorable job.  If i were to give him money, his honor and respect would decrease.  He replied, "Hey!  You're right.  Here's my partner.  Give it to him."
• Speaking of roundabouts (aka. "traffic circles"), the rule here is that people entering the roundabout have the right of way over the people already in it.  How often do you think that causes a traffic jam?  Every.  Single.  Day.
• A few days ago Racheal was running full steam on the treadmill at a local gym.  The city power cut off and she ran into the control panel and about flipped through the mirror in front of her.  Lucky for us, our gym offers muscle memory confusion training.
• I asked some of my friends the other day why they like Obama so much.  They told me, "Because he's from Africa."  I told them that recently Obama produced a birth certificate to prove he was born in Hawaii and that most US Americans believe it.  They looked at me as if i was crazy and they started to giggle.  Even so, no one from the American Democratic National Convention seems to be slandering these guys as members of the most radical conservative "birthers" movement.  Why do you suppose not?
• A couple weeks ago i was sitting in the waiting area at the local telecommunications office in order to get my internet turned on at home.  It took all day long.  To break up the boredom, about mid-morning, just after the city power cut off and the company's onsite generator cranked up, one of the company's employees in a suit and tie ran out of a back room yelling something about a fire and a propane leak.  You should have seen the chaos as 100+ people screamed and jumped to their feet and flooded the front door.  Then all of a sudden the employee who started the whole thing, just began laughing and told everyone that it was a joke.  Everyone in the room except me began to laugh with this guy as if he had done something funny.  I began to wonder what lawsuits might arise if this was to happen in the USA.

A Place to Call Home

Finding a Home: (essentials for the skimmers)
    •    Enjoy our October 2012 video, "A Place to Call Home."

Episode 9 - A Place to Call Home from corey pendergrass on Vimeo.

    •    We have moved to the capital city in Susu Land.  We are at a better place in Gospel outreach and as a family.
    •    Our summer volunteer, Joe, did an outstanding job and was an invaluable help to our restart in the capital.
    •    We are sharing the Gospel with our new neighbors.  We are looking to partner with other like-minded missions here to reach the lost in this urban setting.

Truly Finding a Home: (details for the readers)

Dear brethren and sistren,

It has been three months since our last blog update and four months since we created a video update.  Too long!  That sort of period is rare for us as we typically try to blog once a month an produce a video every two months.  Alas, moving a family of four and renovating our new house, not to mention trying to get out and meet our new neighbors so we can shine in the darkness, we have neglected some of our other tasks such as keeping our prayer partners apprised of our recent developments.  Nevertheless, we experienced the results of your prayers still.  Please accept our apology for not sharing as much as we hope to.  We will do our best to stay on the ball with our updates in the future.

Moving is tough.  We are so thankful we did it, but anyone who has packed up their life knows it's not easy.  Praise the Lord for helping us in this time.  Compared to our efficiency in getting setup, we were pretty amazed at how fast and well things came together in our new house, compared to our former.  Example: If a sink faucet in the old house, it meant a four-hour round trip to the nearest decent hardware store.  If a sink faucet breaks in our new house, it means a four-minute walk down to the corner hardware store.

Other than that, most of our ventures and prayer needs are described in the video.  Enjoy and thanks for praying!

Let us know if you wish to come to Susu Land.  We could use the help!

'til the whole world hears,
the Pendergrass clan

In Transit

Being an Impromptu Electrician: (essentials for the skimmers)

• Enjoy our May 2012 video, "In Transit."
• As our Susu language gets better and better, we are turning our focus towards more opportunities to reach the people with the Gospel.
• We believe we will have the most opportunities in the capital city of our country, so we're moving.
• Joe, one of corey's wrestlers when he coached in NC, has come for 7 weeks as a volunteer.

Not Setting the House on Fire: (details for the readers)

Dear brethren and sistren,

Recently we were offered a change of scenery and we're excited to accept.  On June 1st, we moved to the capital city.  Our new residence promises some creature comfort perks like electricity and water. We praise God for this blessing as we will be able to afford to keep our refrigerator cool and we'll have enough water to take baths and wash clothes regularly.  But, this transfer is by no means about luxuries.  It's about doing what's best to minister to the needs of our family and the Susu.

As missionaries, we really stress the need for our target people groups to worship in their heart language.  Whether that be German, Mandarin, Quichua, Cherokee, or Susu it's vital for that people to worship the living God in a language that resonates with their heart.  However, what many US American missionaries forget (at least we did) is that our heart language is English.  We must worship Christ in our heart language too.  The capital city has a fellowship of expatriates that meet weekly to worship and study the Word together.  As we'll continue to seek avenues to sharpen iron with our national brothers and sisters in the Susu tongue, it's encouraging to know we too can praise Christ in our mother-tongue.

Furthermore, we are looking forward to a wide-open gamut of opportunities to share the life-saving message of Christ with any of our 1.5+ million new neighbors.  Practically, we aren't quite sure exactly what we'll be doing for the next year and a half before our three-year-term ends, but we anticipate that we will be able be more effective at building relationships and reaching the Susu for the Kingdom.  This move will hopefully decrease our time spent on day-to-day "survival" and increase our time spent reaching the lost.

Please pray for our transition to our new home.  Pray for our family to be strengthened in the Lord.  Pray for us to recognize new opportunities that the Father gives us to bring Him glory.

'til the whole world hears,
the Pendergrass clan

Season 2 Premier

Reaching Out: (essentials for the skimmers)

• Enjoy our February 2012 video, kicking off "Season 2" of our video update series.
  
• Our main concern/focus now is ironing out the kinks in our language learning. Please pray as there are quite a few!
• A few volunteer teams are coming and going.
• Daniel is a new volunteer here for six months.
• Racheal's ESL classes are going well. Next quarter she is looking to start a computer class.
• The wrestlers are taking a break from wrestling to work... but have invited corey to work with them!
• Year One of our missionary term was probably the most stressful and difficult thing Racheal and i have had to endure. Pray for 2012 and beyond.

Taking Hold: (details for the readers)

Dear fellow ambassadors for Christ,

As we survey the task before us, both the 1.3 million Susu people and the 2.84 billion unreached people on planet earth, we can't help but come to the realization that this is a task too big for a handful of missionaries. The neat thing is, i think that's the way the Lord intended it. He left us with His Spirit and some instructions to disciple the lost. In hindsight, He might as well have told the twelve disciples, "Jump to the moon," or "Swallow the ocean." In Matthew 28:18-20 He gave them an impossible task that they could never accomplish on their own strength as individuals. They needed to unite with the rest of the Body of Christ and rely on Him for guidance, strategy, provision, and wisdom. So do we. So do you.
Meet Daniel. He's a bachelor. He's a former airplane mechanic and a handyman. He's got his whole life ahead of him. What did he do to kick it off? He sold whatever he couldn't fit into one backpack and came to Susu Land. He's giving up the next six months to come be a slave to Christ (that doensn't sound too appealing to most US Americans.) in order to serve among the unreached. Daniel writes, "I am not perfect. I make alot of mistakes but God's grace is sufficient. God has been so Good. I am greatly delighted to be apart of his work and his Love." It's true. He came here with a clean slate, knowing nothing about the Susu, and said, "What can i do to help?" We need more volunteers. We need more Daniels.

Racheal has been really encouraged while teaching English at the local Wisdom House. She's finishing her Level 2 class today. Lord willing, this out reach will give way for opportunities to share Christ's message. We know a really good Book in English (as well as their heart language) that we'd like to recommend to them.

Please pray for our continued language learning. We are moving along at a steady pace, though not where we'd like to be. We have come so far, yet there's so much we don't understand. Please pray for our strategies as we tackle the Susu tongue and don't get discouraged or complacent.

As always, thanks for lifting us up. We wouldn't be here if not for our pray support.
'til the whole world hears,
corey reid pendergrass

Before It's Too Late

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

Joyful All Ye Nations Rise

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

Baby #2

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

Seperated

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

A Time to Mourn

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

Vagabonds

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

Back in West Africa

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

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

'til the whole world hears,

corey reid pendergrass

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

Settling In

Being Prego (essentials for the skimmers):

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

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

Dear friends,

Just kidding, no twins. Gotcha!

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

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

Prayer ReQuests:

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

'til the whole world hears,

corey reid pendergrass

...Here We Come

Rice (essentials for the skimmers):

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

Sauce (extras for the more detail oriented):

Dear friends,

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

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

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

Prayer ReQuests:

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

'til the whole world hears,

corey reid pendergrass

First Days in West Africa

For the skimmers:

(since our last update in November...)

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

For the more detail oriented:

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

Praises:

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

Prayer ReQuests:

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

Ready or Not...

Preparation (essentials for the skimmers):

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

Perspiration (extras for the readers):

Dear Bride,

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

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

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

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

PrayeRequests:

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

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

'til the whole world hears,

kori & Rach

Orientation

Meat (essentials for the skimmers):

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

Potatoes (extras for the readers):

Dear people under grace,

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

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

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

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

16492 MLC Lane
Rockville VA 23146

PrayeRequests:

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

Thanks for reading,

'til the whole world hears,

kori

Back in FL

A Job Well Done (essentials for the skimmers):

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

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

Dear people under grace,

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

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

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

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

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

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

PrayeRequests:

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

Thanks for reading,

'til the whole world hears,

kori

Up the Tigre River

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