Mary PruittP.O. Box ^9Aparri, Cagayan 1318Philippines

Dear Friends in Christ,

PPR 21 1982Forwarding Agents:

Mr. & Mrs. Bob Pruitt2784 So. River Rd.

CrnntP Pass, op 07526

MFBBACF FROM MAPYPhilippine Mission Churches of Christ

January, Fehruarv, *^^rch, 1PR2

C-reetings again from the land of heat and rice. How nice it is to he hack with mv familyhere and to he at work here again. T praise the bord for the time T had in the States, andiill the love that v.'as shovm, and the times of sharing and praying together. But T am sureglad to be back liome. One of the greatest blessings of being in Cod's familv is that nomatter where vou go, you have family.

There have been some changes in the family here. Some children were returned to their families and some have come live with us. Since the last newsletter we have gained three. nionisio{l yt.) came just before Christmas. Men-chtta and Felipe ioined our family in February, ^^enchita is Q vears old andv;as abandoned in the market by her mother to beg food and take care of herself, She was there 3 days before the nolire took her to the social worker -she brought her to us. Menchita is a verv intelligent g,irl and i^rants to

learn. She ia alwavs asking thoughtful nuestions about the Lord and the Bible. V.'e pray that soon she will accept Christ as her Savior.

^ Feline was 1 1/2 monthsold and weighed 5 lbs.

when he was brought tous. His mother hadbeen trying to sell

him. Because of neglect (he had no clothes or name) his body wascovered with diaper rash and he was on the edgeof nnuemonia. Praise the Lord he now is a fat,healthy, smiley hahy and will he able to growun where he is loved and can learn of the T.ord's love.Thank you to all of vou who have helped make this Home possible so that we can hein thesechildren. We sing a song about Jesus being alive, and our being alive through Him. T always think of how manv of our children would not he phystcallv alive if it were not for theI.ord, and you, who love the Lord and give so that they can be alive, pbysicallv as well asspiritually. Thank youf

1, thank, t,bP-Lor.d_fo_C...tilE--pnQxl-4ob that-.Joy Collins did of directing the Home -while T wa-s-in.the States. Everything was in good order when T got back, and what a help that was. Tpraise the Lord for .giving her the strength to carrv on while I was gone. Now she is verybusy mending and making costumes for programs."e are thankful that our electricity is now 24 hours. That means that we always have running water also, for which we are very thankful. T sometimes wonder how we got along without these conveniences. Our wash house and store room are next on the agenda, hut we arewaiting for the building permit before beginning the construction. The bulldozer has beenworking well and the ground is leveled and readv. Meanwhile we are using mv office as astore room and the washing machlne(Mavtag wringer washer) and dryer are sitting on the porchand being used there. Ve are thankful for what we have and hopeful for what we need. TheLord has been supplying very well through all of you and we praise Him and thank you for it.Before I arrived hack here two more of our young people were baptized. Praise the lord fortheir committment to Him and pray that thev, and the others, will all be powerful lights ofCod's love and will serve Him.

We will he having our first marriage in the children's home the end of this month when ^'an-gie, our mid-wife, marries Joemar, the young man from the Seminary who has been holding ourservices for us. Joemar lust graduated and we praise the T.ord for his love and faith in theTx>rd and that he will be loining us in this work, filling a verv important need in our homefor a man around the house and one who is a spiritual leader.The Seminary just closed the first of March with in graduates and 4 getting two vear certificates. We praise the I.ord for these dedicated voung people who have really committed themselves to the work of the Lord and we ask your prayers for them as they start out in theirnew lives of service.

This last Saturday we had our kindergarten closing program. We have 10 t.-ho graduated andgoing to first grade in June. Seven of them live in the Home and three are workers*

children. They had a beautiful program and are all excited about going to school next vear.We will have three graduating from 6th grade and will have 6 in high school next vear.This month I spent a week in Manila and Cehu. Vp had our annual missionarv g^t-together inCehu at the home of Ray and Tmogene Carlson. Wlint a good time of fellowship and sharing together in song, the Word and praver. An extra blessing was being able to see several peoplethat T had met when T was there in 1974 with the Traveling College. There were 26 of usthere for the meeting, including *^ark and Pauline Maxev from Japan.

V

I have vecn verv busv running around and attending nrojtrairR since T returned. The childrenhave been having* many nrograms at Rchool. Thev will have their closinp April 1. T alsospent two weeks in ^anila in February, takinp, the two little ejrls that have Cerebral Palsvto the Elks Cehebral Palsy Center in Manila where thev received free therapv. '-'e were trained to continue the therapy at home and must take them hack every three months for check-un.T thank the Lord for this free help that we can pet for our pirls. Already there is muchimprovement in them. Our only expenses are travel, room and hoard, Apain T am thankful weare able to stay at the Baptist Guest Apts. which are very close to the Center. Ve can alsodo our own cookinp there and that really helps with the expense.

Maria

Deloris

16 Months

*^farin

Theresa

2 1/2 vrs

Our Cerel>ral Palsied cirls

Because postape rates are so hiph I have finally decided that T cannot mail the newslettersfrom here. T will not be able to include the personal ntes that T wrote to many of you.T will try to send letters to you now and then. My parents will be the ones mailinp thenewsletters now,

T want you to know how thankful I am to all of you who have shared In any way in,the workof the Home. T do not always pet a personal letter to you, hut T am thankful and praise theLord for y^u. We must all work topether in accompHsldnp_the spreadinp of the_

Mary PruittP.O. Box ^9Aparri, Cagayan 1118Phillppi nes

MFSSAGF. FROM MARYApril, May, .Tune 1982

6 3o3,

JUL 19 1982For';ardlng Agents:

Mr. & Mrs. Rob Pruitt2784 So. River Rd

Grants Pass, OR 97526

Dear Friends In Christ,

I did not plan to wait until the last day of June to write this newsletter but now Iguess I can give a complete report through June. As T am writing this I am again InManila with Maria Delores and Maria Teresa for more physical therapy training. Wecome back every three months. We praise the Lord for the wonderful progress thesegirls are making, especially Maria Teresa. T hope that by the next newsletter I willbe able to tell you she is walking. We have been praying for these girls and for ther-apy for them. The T.ord has given us an added blessing by sending us a retired physical therapist who has worked more than 30 years with cerebral palsied people. She-has volunteered to come out once a week and work with the girls. What a blessing andhelp she has been. Much of the girls' improvement is a direct result of her help.Praise the T.ord with us and pray that we might also be able to help her grow in herrelationship with the T.ord.

School has started and with it a lot of ex-^ _ citement and work. Lola .Toy(Joy Collins)hasI been busy getting uniforms readv. We haveS 6 in just' graduated from our kindergarten. One of them

Is having to repeat the first grade. They arei" enjoying it very much. All together wehave 11 in elementary and 6 in high school.

1 Two of these are In our two high schools in' . Tsabela, and three are first year. How an-

\ y \ xious we are for the time we have a Chrlst-^^.7 '^fph school on the property where the||H( ^RSiP^ i \ Home is located and will not have to send

the children to Isabela or put them in a pub-

rejoiced and praised the Lord the the IXth.new

Our First Graders accepted Christ as herSavior and was baptized. She was alwavs eager to learn and asking me questions and what joy filled my heart as T baptized her into Christl But how sad we were when she left May 16 to return to her mother. Me arehappy she is again with her mother but sad that we have no contact with her. Ve justpray that she will remember her love and commitment to the Lord and His love for her andthat some day she can get further teaching in the Word. How we miss her!

We were also saddened by the return of Lydia and Nelia to their mother - not becausethey returned to their mother but because we love and miss them. Also because Lydiawill probably not receive any education now*.They are Negritos and there is no schoolwhere they live. Tydia is a very bright girl and we had great hopes for her. We arethankful her mother is a Christian, and also thev live somewhat near and we will haveopportunity to see them now and then.

The T.ord ha.s hies.sed with the of Samuel. Heis two years old and weighs 16 lbs. Samuel is the 6th of 7 BR^B^^BBII^^^^Bchildren in a very poor family wfio live off of their rela-tives. Because of his health condition the social worker rec-^BBi^^omtnended the mother bring him to us for a time. He is from BBHBP^ IBIquite a distance away and so we have no contact with them un-less they come to visit. TTut we pray that somehow we will be BTable to share the love of Christ with them. Samuel has a n|^i^H ^had hare lip and cleft palate and we are looking into gettingsurgery for him. There are groups who nav for these tvpes ,yof operations. We prav we can find a good doctor and that BnSamuel will be able to live a normal life. is a sweet if ^hov and in many ways leminds me of Roger. ' * y

The summer was very busy. Again there was the VBS Clinic f. W mVBS s held all around the Cagayan Valley all summer. There B Mwere not enougli teachers for all the places who wanted them. fc.-M IT 'Many new Bible studies v;ere started because of the showing BbIK mIIof the movie ' Jesus", which Frnle Rutherford has been doing. 3We praise the Lord for these, and for our new brothers andsisters in CTirist. Samuel

Our First Graders

Samuel

Apa i n -wo had tlio three vnutls camps and the Young Adult's Retreat. There vrere 31 ban~tlzed during these camps. We prav thev vlll remain strong in the l.ord. Also the student preachers went out in groups of two for concentrated evangelism and teaching 6.more v;ere added to the. harvest. Ifow we praise the l.ord for these who liave come to llim,and pray they will remain strong and firm and he His shining lights.

The enrollment in the two liigh schools is up tliis year with close to 650 in NorthernTsabela Academv(wherp Ninda is studying) and more than AOO In Southern Tsabela Academy(vliere Ariel is studying). VTiat an opportunity to reach the young people with the Wordof Cod in this special and sometimes difficult time of life. Prav with us for anotherschool in Lal-lo where the Home is located.

V

The Seminary also has an increased enrollment this year with 90, part-time and fulltime. We have been praying Cor the l.ord to send those who should be there and Hehas sent plenty. Nay they be strong fruitful servants of His.

? -How we praise the Lord for the way He y ' ''has continued to supply our needs.How I praise and thank Him for all of ^ Ohjftyou who have given so faithfully. I ^ Vknow that so many are unemployed or *their hours have been cut and yet you ^continue to give and the Lord contin- Tjues to^ increase May each of youthose who send toys and clothes to =^5meet our needs we give thanks. Re-cause we are working together in the Lord In this work it is able to go on. Not onlywe are getting support from those in the States but even from our sisters in Japan.How wonderful to bo in the T.ord's familv and to share together in His work.

The wash house and store room should be done wben T get back from *^anila. Thanks toall who have made this possible. The T.ord is so good to us!

Again T say thanks, as do tlie children in their prayers each night, to all who are apart of this work. I owe so many of you letters and T ask your patience in waitingand that you will accept this Informal thanks in all the feeling that it is said.Please continue to hold us up in praver. Pray especially for Minda and Flmer who arehaving a hard time resisting the temptations of the world. Pray for their strengthin the Lord and the power of His Word and love in their lives. Pray for all of uswho are raising these children in the Lord, that we may teach them true love and faith,and prav for them that thev will grow to be great servants of our l.ord Jesus Christ.Pray also that we will be able to get a piano for the.Home.

In Christ's service,

Marv Pruitt

PHTLIPPINE MISSION CHURCHES OF CHRISTCENTRAL CHURCH OF CHRIST

lAAO S. OakdaleMedford, OR 97501

Non-Profit OrganizationU.S. Postage Paid

Permit No. 561Medford, Oregon

37

fidv 1 79^2 4;3^3Mary Pruitt MESSAGE FPOM MARY Forwarding Agents:P.O. Box 49 Philippine Mission Churches of Christ M/M Bob PruittAparri, Cagayan 1118 August, September 1982 2784 So. River RoadPhilippines Grants Pass, OR 97526

Dear Friends in Christ,

OSce again it has been a very busy and full three months. How I thank the Lord for each oneof you who has held us up before the lord In prayer for the wisdom, love and patience neededand also for each who has contributed financially as our costs have increased. I never ceaseto thank the Lord for your gifts as I know many of you are hard up and yet are trusting theLord to supply your needs, as you give to help supply the needs of others.Since the last newsletter we have gained 6 children, one has been placed in a fosterhome,and two, who were staff children,..have moved out. So we are now 34.

Elena, almost 10 years old and Richelle^almost 2,were brought to us the same day. Elena has somevery special problems, partly because of neglectand the fact that her mother has mental problems.Elena seems to be autistic, although that is notwhole problem and she does not fit the description exactly, She cannot talV, but maVes manysounds. V^en she first camp she was much like ananimal in many ways, but has learned a lot and wepraise the Lord for this. She now sits ciuletly toeat and uses her spoon, can sit quietly in devotions, knows where the bathroom is, is noticingothers around her and is liaving much better eyecontact. She is about the size of a 6 year oldbut is growing rapidly with proper food. Prayfor our wisdom and knowledge in teaching and helping her.

When we first savi Richelle we were sure she wouldnot live through the night but praise the Lord she

Elena after two months

did, and still does. Although almost 2 years old she. weighed only about 12 pounds and wnstoo u-eak to sit. For several davs she would not eat and was kept alive by the grace of -odand Pedialytc. After about a week she began to eat and has not slowed do^^ yet. ^:hat abeautiful girl ^hB is-becoming. Thar.k you tc all^who were praying eso^rlally for her.Aweek later Gerry, 5 months and fi 1/2 pounds and Felicitas(Fely) at 14 months and 10 1/2pounds joined us. Gerrv's mother is a widow with 3 children under 3 years and was afraid herbaby would die so went to the welfare seeking help. Fely's family had been abandoned bythe father and she being the youngest of 5, was very weak and sick We are thankful thatboth are happy and healthy now, although we suspect that Getty may have mild cerebaral palsy.Next came Joseph at 11 months and very healthy. How nice it is to get a healthy child! Ttiemother had left them and the father could not work and care for Joseph and relatives wereunable to take him.

As I am writing this I am In Manila (again), this time with Samuel for the first of his operations on his cleft palate. But I heard Just before leaving Aparri that a 3 month baby,Daniel, was being taken to the Home. The motherCnot married) had left him with the letber,who works, etc.. etc. How we praise the Lord that we can help these children and praywe will be able to help the families also, especially in their spiritual needs.Ja^on has been with us since he was 8 months old, and just after his 3rd birthday went tolive with the Kutherfords, as they are trying to adopt him. We miss him very much at home,but get to see him often and it is nice he can have a regular home.We praise the Lord that we have been able to start 4 Bible studies in our area and we arebeginning to see the Word and'Spirit work in their lives. Pray with us for a great outreach and harvest among these people.

We would like to give a special thanks to all who ^ave given for special needs. We asked forzippers and buttons and 50U so abundantly supplied(and Joy has really been using them).Thank you so much! I mentioned In the last letter about a piano and I praise the Lord forthose who/gave special gifts and we now have a beautiful new piano. The chll^en wait Inline to practice! (Hope It takes a long time for the newness to wear off.) Thank you sovery much!

We do have a few more needs now: We need more sponsors for our new children. Also we coulduse more plastic pants, bibs- especially the larger ones for the older babiGs(heavy plfiticwith sleeves,that can be wiped off after meals), and for the older children we need allkinds of pictures(from magazines) of people, families, animals, houses, room, flowers, etc.They have need of them in school and they are verv hard to come by. especially In the number

we need.

We are also lo>>V-ing into the cost of purchasing a vehicle.As for other areas of the Mission's work: We have a record enrollment in our 2 high schoolsand praise the Lord for His iord working in tl'ie lives of these voung people, Six were recently hantized into Christ at one school. Last week I attended the Teachers Day as thefaculties of both schools met together for inspiration and sharing. We thank Cod that A ofthe teachers accepted the Lord and were baptized (one has been teaching there for severalyears), making both teaching staffs all Christian.The Seminary is very crowded this year with many good students. Plans are in process for amuch needed new Seminary building and we wouJd appreciate your prayers in this matter andthe decisions that have to be made. Also, Mrs. Selby has been very'ill, but the Lord is getting her hack on her feet and we are all thankful for her renewed strength.

Cur Lord has promised to meet our every need. The Scripturealso says He is able to do above and bevond what we can thinkor ask. We. have heen in need of a social worker and also aman to be the father figure and male Influence badlv needed bytbc children. T have been praying for these needs and theLord has answered the prayers in a wav T never expected. TnDecember Cilhert Biireros will be iolning us as a "ocial worker,father figure and as mv husband. T first met Pert in Dpcember1973 when on the Traveling College. I'e were attracted tn eachother at that time and have corresponded through the years.When the Lord brought us together again in March the attractionwas still there. Pert has passed the Board Fxam for socialworkers and 1s presentlv working for '^Mrl.d Vision as a supervisor over a project area. Pert studied at Cebii Pihle Peminary and for many years lived in the home of and worked forRay and Imogene Carlson. The Lord told me many timesgrace is sufficient for vou," and how I have fotmri that to hetrue as I trusted the T.ord and He hrotight me through. Mow Tpraise Him for giving me the extra blessing and icy of Rert.Please join us in prayer as we step into a new life togetherand for all the adjustments that have to he made Bv Rert, mv-self and all the children. And may the lord's v^ork '>e increased as we join together in His work.

V'

.-X'vi

Cllbort Purcros

1 want to thank each one of you for the part you have played in being partners with us inthis work. Without your prayers and support we would not he able to help all these childrenand reach out with Cod's Word to these people. We do have our difficult times when Fatan

-t)Tin7T5r"1:TtaT-s-- nuL our "Lord overconios "each one with "Is power'and^love and wisdom, and x-'cknow it is because of your prayers also. Thank vou so much. Mav the T.ord bless vou withjoy as you are His servants at home and abroad.

"Mow to Him who is able to do immeasurahly more than all we ask or imagine, according toHis power that is at work within us, to Him Ho glorv in the churcH and rhrist .lesusthroughout all generations, for ever and ever!"

In Christ's service.

I

PHILTPRT^^ MTPST'^H CHrP.CHKF CHRISTCEMTPAT. CHT'RCH OR CITRISTlAAO S. OAKDALKMEDFORP, ORRCorj 075m

Marv T>x-uitt

Mon-Profit 'OrganizationU.S. Postage Paid

Permit "o. 5hl*^edford, Oregon