Mary Pruitt

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P.O. Box 49

Aparri, Cagay^ III8

Philippines "

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1977

January, February, ,J^ch,xl97S^" ', ,.

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;2784 S'i I^yer^^,^

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> ^Gr^ts Pass, OR 97526

Greetihig"^.-innthS"' name of "pT^r Lord Jesus...Ohris't^ ' I- would like first .,to express'ray i^anks t all
of ybu^wfo haye/heen suppoidiing this work here in Aparri.. Without"yp^
both"in.^^finances / 5
and prSyers, this work would not be _able to continUie .and be effeotiye. . Thank-yop for .your ^
part in the Lord's work.

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Right now we are .in..^e break between the Spiritual Retreat (for tbie teachers from thp-. two High
Schools' and the . Seiwary)-

6^

summer campo

The Retreat was again a real time

of blessing ,and Isarning'from the; Word of Godv What an uplift it is ix) meet-together with the
children of
^
and groWtogether. We also praise the Lord because, three teachers

one"student were baptized during the retreat.

The 24th Annual Commencement exercises; were held on Feb. 24 with six boys, graduating with ;de-.O grees and diplomas and five ^ris receiving Christian. Education Cetificates. All arn.-now; out working.for the Lord, as they use.,.what they.have learned at the Seminary. Some are now-in
v
church homes, preaching and some are inyolved in ^evangelistic teams or teaching. We praise the
Lord for these fine workers of H i s '

The week of graduation was;, also bur Conference on EyangeliSm,;.va^

leaders in attendance;

church

This included 50 women who came for tfie .Vacation Bible School Cli.nic.

Both the conference and the ^ble school;.ci^^ic wSre a great success

Praise ^e'Lord!

.;

In Decemiber, after a wonderfUlan.d.exci;fcing .C^istma^ for the childreftv this being their first,
we had a Missionary Convention.
of feasting on the Word.

Ihere. were'I8. of us>^; including children^

I praise.

lowship and prayer togetherir

shared, four days ^

'''iM il4^ 'theSe of spiritual refreshment, fel

V ..

..

Ihe second Week of Evangelism, or Spiid.ithai Pb9-sis Waek^:

"

;1bhe two High Schools was th^.

first week of this month. We praise tile-Lord for &e %reat .opportunity to teach the Word to
almost 1,000 students#, daily for 10 months, and'ASomS lof

for four ySara.

There were 7.^110

confessed Christ as Savior and were buried with Him in baptism at Northern Isabela Academy and

12 at Southern Isabels Acaden^. This makes a-..tqtal/.tOf 185 students baptized this year. Alsb
as a result of this week, there were 5'OtHsns" wl^r ^
baptized and" a new church started. Ne :'
praise the,LOrd and ask your prayers for them-'all.

As to the progress of,the;; CAGAYAN CHILDREN'S HOM,' 'we haye" not yet started building.

We are

still waiting the arrival of our architect v/ith the certified drawing so we can apply for the ';'
peimit. We are alsb still waiting the funds needed to ^bhild. Because of our pressing needs Wb
have also been-looking for a house to rent untile wb c^ get our own built. We have found on
with five bedrooms and ,4 baths, but we do not know yet about the rent. We.-.will need funds .for

that. If one-person, class or church would:.lik3'tb'^t^e -this on as a project we would appre

ciate it very much. We estimate the cost.toi be about $80.00-100.00 per" month. The owner is
in the States and as. of.,now.we have not been able to contact him.

We a^also, very anxious ;tb

get started on the building of the home in Lal-lo. Our fira^ .^if ^11 .8, a two story building;
containing about 5,850 sq. feet. It is .estimated that'the home-can bid
at a* cost of $5*00
or $6.00 per sq. foot. If you would like to help '^th
just mahk you gift "for Children's
Home".

Maybe you would like tb buy ohe,. two* oh^more square feet.

On March I3 our family grew from three boys aajd-^one gful to include three more girls.

I have
She had
three girls with her, two of them half-American. The conditions there are horrible and we had
been very concerned about the children, because of the dirt and sickness. When she found out
she was going to be transferred to the provincial prison she asked us to take the two halfAmerican girls with her and another one vho was living with some realtives. We were very hap
py to bring them into our home and give them a chance to grow physically, spiritually, give
written to some of you about the woman in the jail, that we have been ministering to.

v:t-

"bhem an education, and get them away from that horrible enviroranent*

The one who was with her

relatives has not yet arrived, but we expect her soon.. Then on this last Sunday,, the 26th, she
found out she would be transferred the next day.

new members aret

1 (May 25)

So on the 26th we gained another girl.

Sherry Ann, 6 (March 30)) Mary Ann, 4 (Sept 2), Jo Ann, 3 (Dec. 3)

Mary Ann is the one not yet here.

Our

Olivia,

'Please remember us in your prayers as we raise

these children on the Word of God and make them useful citizens.

We are very thankful for all these children, but it does create a problem. We are living in a
very small 3 room apartment, each room about 12^x12', Besides the children, there is Tessie
and myself. That makes 10 of us, when M^ry Ann arrives.. We all crowd in and are a very close
family because-of it. But i t does have its drawbacks. News of our accepting children will
soon be wide-spread and will bring others. Not only do vje need funds for building, but also
for equipment, personnel, food, medicine, etc. We also, need clothes for small children and
babies, especially diapers- If you can help us in any way we will be very thankful. But most
of all we need your prayers-

The children are. growing so fast. It is so exciting to v?atch them change and grow in their love
for the Lord
as they grow physically. Just in the two weeks that Jo Ann has been here she
has changed from a sad-looking quiet girl who could not talk to a happy, singing, trying to
talk big girl, and gets mad if someone starts to eat before we pray. Even Olivia, in Just 3
days has lost scane of her sad look and tries to sing. Michael, Elmer and Ariel are getting
used to the little ones , and are a good-help in watching them. Minda is a good help with the
increased amcsunt of washing "and frpning.
We do have our times of jealousy and trouble, but

praise the lk>rd "fie brings us through them all.

It is such ,a joy and comfort to know that He

loves eabh of us the same and that He is always here to help Us and bring us through if we will
trust IhLm and commit i t all to Him. ..His power over sin and Satan and the love that He shows
to us is beyond words.
Just an example of how the Lord keeps His promises and answers prayers

One day when it was time to eat lunch Michael said he did not want to eat, which he does some
times to cause trouble.
So I told him to go to bed and to our surprise he did<. When he woke
up two hours later he was burning with fever and crying very loudly and his whole body hurt.

After about 30 minutes of this pain and crying I said to him, "Michael let's ask Jesus to make
you well." So we prayed asking the Lord to take i t away. And even though Michael was still
crying I started praising the Lord for healing. When I praised Him immediately Michael stopped

crying, the fever and pain left and he went out and played like he had never been sick.

How_

we praised the Lord and how our faith grew! Michael was so excited and was telling everyone
what happened. The Lord does keep His promises and takes care of His children, Prai^Fis namci
Just as the Lord is taking care of our daily needs ard has taken care of Michael's need for

healing we know that He will take care of our needs for the home. We praise Him because we
will be able to bring in others from worse conditions than the ones vje already have. Many are
abandoned, neglected, mistreated. Please pray with us as we continue to work in this ministry.

Another matter of prayer: We have just received v;ord from Ann Tolliver, the gill I am replac
ing in the office for her year of furlough, that she is getting married and will not be return
ing to the Philippines. Ann .will be going to work in India. This means we are in need of an
office worker, if I am to concentrate my time on the Children's Home. Please keep this in your
prayers. Please keep Ann in your prayers also.
Thank you again to all of you who have been helping us.

How we need the prayers and help.

May

the Lord bless each of you as He has blessed me this last year. What a wonderful year it has
been. I praise the Lord for all He has taught me and done for me. May His name be praisedi
In Christ's service,

MESSA PROM MARY

F^oTbox^

Aparri, Cagayan III8

Philippines

April, May, June 1978

Philippine Mission Churches of Christ

June 16, 1978

Forwarding Agents:

Mr. and Mrs. Bob Pruitt

2784 So. River Rd.
Grants Pass, OR 97526

Greetings to you all in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Let me first express

my thanks and gratitiude to all of you who have been helping so wonderfully with this work
here in Aparri. Hiank you for your financial help as well as your prayers. They have all
been badly needed and appreciated.

The Lord is answering our prayers!

Many exciting things have happened since the last news letter went out.

In April and May we

had three wonderful and large camps, held here at the Seminary campus. There was a total of
178 campers and we praise the Lord that from these I78 we have 3I new brothers and sisters

in Christ, as they came to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior and be buried with Him in
baptism. We praise the Lord for each of these, and especially for one during the Jr. camp
who was our own Ariel. Although he has been with us less than a year, he has grown to love
the Xord and to see his need to have Christ as his Savior. How we rejoiced as he was baptized.
Sometimes as we wait for things to happen it seems that all moves very slowly and our patience
becomes short. But praise the Lord that He does not become impatient with us and continues
to work.

As He worked we saw the answer to many of our prayers.

house and were looking for one to rent.

We were in need of a larger

But the Lord answered our prayers and in a better

way, by making a house available to us without rent.

The last of April the Boudreaux family

went to the States for a year of furlough and so vje viere able to have the use of their house.
They were not sure of their furlough this year and that is why we were looking for a differ
ent house. We praise the Lord for this house with three bedrooms upstairs, and two small
rooms downstairs, off of the kindergarten, that we are able to use for bedrooms also. We
have a nice large kitchen and living room, making it possible for many things to happen at
once, and for very comfortable living. We moved into the house on May 1. Praise the Lord
for supplying our needs, just as He has promised. Thanks to all of you who were praying for
us in this matter.

Also on May 1 our architect arrived with the final drawings of the home and the application
for the building permit. On May 2 they went to Tuguegarao and came back that evening with
the building permit in hand! Hov; vje praised the Lord for that. Some times it takes much
time to get the permit. We praise the Lord for our Christian brother who is doing our archi
tectural work and who was very complete in his preparation so that we were able to get the
perm-it qiiickly.The permit coBt-a:t6- about

about $36,000.00. We know that

be completed. Thanks to all of
you also who have given for the
foot. If you would like to buy

and-theCGs^of the-entire home vrill. be

the Lord will supply this needed amount so that this home will
you viho v;ere praying about this need, and thanks to all of
building fund. The cost of the home is about $5*00
square
some square feet, or help in any other way send funds to the

forwarding agents marked accordlingly.

April 1 we hired a new worker, Esperlita Pascua, who is a registered nurse.

Lord for her and her dedication to Him and the work we are doing.

We praise the

Esperlita is a great help

in all areas, as v;ell as nursing. She has just returned from, a month of training in Manila
with the DSSD at the Study and Reception Center for Children there. We have much to leam in
operating a children's home, and we are thankful for opportunities like this one to help us
in our learning.

On May 1 we hired another worker, Glory Morales, who is our seamstress and in charge of the
household duties. Glory is a good hard vjorker and loves the Lord. She is finishing her
studies at the Seminary and will be graduating next February. Praise the Lord with us as we
work together in this project of CAGAYAN CHELDREW'S HOME, bringing help and life to many who
otherwise would not have a home, love, education, and even life. Pray with us also as we
carry out our most important task of bringing these children up in the way of the Lord and
in the love and Word of God.

I praise the Lord for the good workers and help vje have in the home and for the wonderful way
the children are growing and changing. It is a real miracle, to see God's working in their
lives every day and to see them develop.

How gloriously and wonderfully man is made!

As you can see the Lord is answering our prayers and we are moving in His work.

As we grow

and as we start the building, our funds are going to need to grow also. The cost per child
is $30*00 per month, which includes food, medicine, clothing, schooling, salaries, etc. If
you would like to support a certain child, write to me or my forwarding agents and we will
be sure that the progress of that child is made available to you, as well as pictures and
letters.

I have just returned from a week in Manila, and on the day I returned classes started in the

Seminary and all other schools. This year we have two in Grach' 1 (Elmer and Sherry Ann), one
in Grade 5 (Ariel) and one in Grade 6 (Minda). Michael is again in kindergarten and also Jo
Ann is giving i t a try.

We are a busy house in the mornings with everyone getting reac^ for

school and office.

Just now as I was writing tlxLs we had a visit from the DSSD District Supervisor and she brought

us four children to take care of (and we do not yet have our license!). They are Negrito
children, whose village was involved in a military encounter vjith the NPA (New People's Aipiy)
and were
ing they
barracks
sister.

separated from their parents. When they were bringing three of them to us this morn
found out that the parents of the brother and sister were possibly being held in the
here in Aparri, So they checked i t out and fo\md them there. With them was another
Since children are not allowed to stay in the barracks they brought them to us.
They

are Junior, about 7) Lydia about 4, and Imelda about 2.

There is also another little boy,

Judy, about
whose parents have not yet been located and are believed dead.
So Judy may be
staying with us permanently, but the o"drers vjill be with us only until their parents are re
leased. Please pray for these little ones, that they may be comforted and that we may be able
to teach them the love of God while they are here. Their background and life style are very
different from the way vie live. Their homes may have one or two walls, they have no furniture
and eat' only rice and meat, as the are able to kill. It will be hard for them to adjust, but
with God everything will work out fine.

I would like you to pray with us concerning our need for a bull doser for the clearing and

leveling of the property, so that we may be able to begin the building.

It is very expensive

to rent or hire a bull dozer but we knovj the Lord can provide the funds. But we also believe
that He can make one available to us for little or no cost.
VJe are praying for this and are
looking into the possibilities. Please pray with us that those vjho have bull dozers will be
favorable in helping their people in this way.

As you can see our expenses are rising daily. We have had to slow up some of the prepatory
vjork at the property because of lack of funds, and are also looking for other ways vje can cut
back on expenses in the Seminary and other work because the funds are not enough to cover all
the costs. Please pray with us that the Lord will supply and increase the income of the mis
sion so that we can continue to carry out the Lord's work in all areas.
Please continue to pray with us about an office replacement.

We know that there is someone

who can take this work and serve the Lord in this way, and so we continue to praise the Lord
because that person will be coming at the right time.

Pray for me as 1 continue in this work

as well as the work of the children's home.

1 want to say thank you again to all of you for sharing with us and being concerned about the
Lord's work and the people here. How 1 praise the Lord for sending me here to work for Him.
How I praise Him for how He is working in my life and in the lives of the children.

1 praise

Him for your love and wanting to show that love by helping us here to meet the needs of the
people here, especially the children. It is truely wonderful to be able to turn to the Lord
for all our needs and know that vje have them because He has promised.

hold us up in your prayers.

Please continue to

May the name of God be praised and glorified,'

In King Jesus' sejyice