Pastor Corey's Trip to Bangladesh

Hi Friends,
I am traveling to Bangladesh.
I can't write a ton about it on the web ;)

Here is what I do know.
I am leaving my home Feb. 24th. I will arrive in Dhaka Feb. 26th, except for you all it will still be Feb. 25th- I don't understand the international dateline, but someone told me I will be a day ahead for a while.
The city I am arriving in is the capital. Bangladesh still has a very rurual population- I have read as much as 70% are rural. The country has 160 million people.
You should check it out on google earth- it is an amazying contry- criss-crossed by rivers.
The society is very hierarchical from what I am told. Almost caste-like.
The country is the size of Iowa- with less corn.
So what am I doing while I am there? I am basically a tourist that is learning a great deal about non-profit NGO work going on in the country, specifically www.symbiosis-int.org Symbiosis International's work.
They work to help educate people and meet "the least of these" with the love of Christ. Only percent of Bangladesh is Christian. Could you imagine if only 1% of the USA were Christian? Wouldn't you want people from other places to visit you and encourage you- so you didn't feel isolated? I would.
My convictions are that God loves people in Bangladesh just as much as God loves people in Palouse- and that somehow our life in Palouse is really, eternally tied to the lives of people around the world- including Bangladesh. As the Jesus Creed says "the Lord is one"- there is only One God of all people.
So I am going half-way around the world- to have the love of God reach deeper corners of my heart. I am fully expecting God to show me his deep love for the people of Bangladesh. I am going to meet people of faith and worship and pray with them.
I will be touring a fair amount of the country. So the week that I am on the ground in Bangladesh will include much travel.
Please pray for safety on the roads- as I have heard the traffic and roadways are somewhat dangerous.
I am called to be a missionary....and so are all Christians. My mission field is Palouse, Washington and the surrounding area. I am not called to International missions. So then why go to Bangladesh?
Because- 1. I was asked nicely. 2. When I asked I had a deep peace from God that I should go- kind of the opposite of what I expected. 3. I need a bigger world-view to serve Palouse better- and a bigger view of God to serve Palouse better. 4. God has something in store for me and I won't know until I get there. 5. To encourage Bangladeshi Christians and to be encouraged by them.
So I am going to miss my family dearly. Pray for us- and watch out for my wife and kids. I am going to miss the church family.
I really want Lent to start well for the church. So I hope people get on board- and nobody skips church on March 1st. I have always thought it was funny that some people use the pastor being gone as a reason to miss church. As if that has anything to do with a person's relationship with God.
Anyways.
My return trip will include a 24 hour layover in Singapore. I will be meeting up with the Corrigans- who worshiped with us in Palouse this summer- Maxine Skipper's daugther- Angel currently lives in Singapore.
I will land back in the Palouse on the morning of March 7th- and I am praying for the Spirit to prepare me to preach and teach on Sunday March 8th at PFC.
if you want to know more- about my trip- email me.
Blessings, Corey