GROW
Bend the knee and be blessed.
‘As Paul set an example by fol
lowing Christ's example. (see!
Timothy 4:12)
FOOD AND TOY COLLECTION
‘Aig thanks goes out to Jessie Avalos &
Linda Becker who in October & Novern-
ber organized a donation ative at their
place of work. The food was used to sup-
port the dining facilities of De Mano a
Mano in Juarez, MX. The toys were
passed out at two Christmas parties
sponsored by Mano @ Mano. One was
held in Juarez, the other one in Torreon,
MX. Thank you to all who contributed.
NAVAJO NATION.
Karen Bennington, our Navajo Coordina-
tor, and Jim Bennington, her husband,
have dedicated their time and talents to
help Pastor Norma McCabe work among
her people. Norma works with limited
resources, but the past few years The
Women's association of the Shenango
Presbytery has joined forces to send do-
nations. Bethany Presbyterian Church
‘annually sets up a Christmas sock, cap,
‘and mitten tree, and ROOT Intemational
transports all the donations. Thanks to
all who participate in this effort. On a
more serious note, in December the
manse, at Tuba City AZ (Navajo Reserva-
tion.) caught fire. The fire began in a
crawispace beneath the fireplace in the
living room. Churches and people have
responded. We are grateful for the sup-
Port and how the people have rallied
around Norma. She still needs prayer
and guidance. Norma will be returning to
Kayenta to work part time and part time
with the Grand Canyon Presbytery as a
consultant Native
Churches. She will give 10 hours each
week to enhancing the ministry of the
Native American Churches
for ‘American
CHRISTMAS 2009
De Mano @ Mano sponsored'three Christ-
mas parties this year, two in Juarez2,
and one in Torreon, MX. In Juarez over
500 children were treated to gits, food,
drinks, and a Christian drama. Marlena
Blanco gave the Bible lesson and prayer
and Julio provided the entertainment.
Root International with the financial help
‘of New Wilmington Presbyterian Church
provided the food, drinks and some of
the toys. In Torreon, MX .. 185 children
were presented with gifts and food. This
was all made possible by your financial
support. Thank youl!
BUSINESS PARTNERS.
We want to acknowledge and thank the
following businesses that have helped
with money or goods. Please support
them if you tive in their area.
eee ae haa)
‘SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Starting in the summer of 2009 the
word went out that ROOT was making
Lup schoo! supply packets which were
going to be distributed to the children at
the dining facilities in Mexico. Thanks to
the hard work of Ariel (my daughter),
Karen Bennington, Marilyn Isoldi and
the churches in the Shenango Presby.
tery, we were able to distribute 205
packets. Cella Kellerman, one of our
volunteers in El Paso, placed a label in
leach packet so the children could write
their names. The packets are passed
ut after the Bible lesson so the chil-
dren can do their art project. The pack-
ets are collected after they finish and
stored. This year two more dining facil
ties will be added in Juarez and we will
need at least 100 more packets in
Juarez and 200 in Torreon. As you can
see, this will be an on going project.
‘Thank you for your support, and please
spread the word that we need more
crayons, scissors, and glue. Supplies
can be given to Ariel if you are in the
Mercer area, 724-699-2351, or Becky
in the El Paso area 915-540-8737.
‘The Bread Store
430 Bessemer, El Paso TX 79936
All Trades Electrical Contractors, Inc
1.1005 Argal CT., El Paso, TV 79935
George J Howe Company
629 W. Main St., Grove City, PA 16127We thank God for the tremendous year we
goods and financial support. We
our vision. We are not able to include
ur Navajo coordinator / b
Karen Bennington and her
of plumbing problems at Tuba City Church
‘and Kayenta Church. in October Karen
-was the contact person who Worked with
the ladies of the Shenango Presbytery to
make sure the donations and trailer were
ready to go for the fall gathering. Her hus-
band Jim and volunteer Veron Begay were
‘on hand to load the trailer. Steve then
made his second trip to Navajo with the
fall gathering donations and household
items. On his way he stopped in Tulsa, OK
where our good friend Jim Frey was wait-
ing to donate sound equipment that he
collected for Navajo. Jim has been instr-
mental the past four years in providing us
‘speakers, microphones, mixers and sound
equipment which we have donated to
churches. Jim has been a tremendous
help to us. Steve continued on to Navajo
land worked some more on the plumbing
‘at both churches in Arizona and then re-
tumed to EI Paso. In December we re-
ceived the sad news that the manse in
Tuba City caught fir.
Family Mission located in Warren, Ohio.
This-year we delivered over-400 bags of
clothes, plastic hangers and food. In Lou:
isiana Bruce Miley one of our Ministry
workers went to Peart River, LA in No-
‘vember and helped sister Denise Walker
and Sharon Smith feed the people in the
‘9th ward of New Orleans. Their ministry
is called "G.LO.W." Bruce loaded and
unloaded boxes of canned goods and
prepared meals. The building and re
building of homes goes on and this min-
Istry reestablishes hope and faith to
those who need Jesus.
MEXICO
In the beginning of the year, February,
Bruce Miley, Steve Vaden and Rebecca
\Vogan (Mexican Coordinator) were on
their way to Torreon, Mexico with the
president of De Mano a Mano Pastor
Otlio Rosales and his wife Francisca
(Kika). The purpose of the trip was
the work on the roof was begun, the dirt
was leveled, and a pallet fence went up.
to help keep people from dumping on
the property. The outside of the building
‘was painted and the name of the or-
‘ganization written on the outside wall.
‘We have been back at least four times
‘during the year to battle with the gov-
‘emment. The work continues. Every
Saturday an average of 185 children
‘come to sing, have a lesson, pray and
receive breakfast. Itis our prayer that in
2010 De Mano a Mano will be able to
feed the children Monday, Wednesday
and Friday as well. | know with the con-
tinued support of the churches, bust
nesses and individual donations we
receive we can help them accomplish
this.
00}Mexico (cont.)
In Juarez, De Mano a Mano struggled
to keep three dining facilities going, At
times they didn't have enough food
and they had to stop. Another problem
was not having enough dedicated vol
unteers to serve the children. Rebecca
Vogan, who is the Mexican coordinator
sought the help of the churches in PA.
Through the coordinated efforts of
Ariel Thompson, Karen Bennington and
Marylyn soldi
collected and packets were made up
for the children in Mexico. By the fall
205 packets were ready to ship to the
border. It was @ hard year for De Mano
‘2 Mano. President Otilio stepped down
‘and Manuel Romero was elected as
president. Two months later he was
voted out and Kika was elected presi
As president she has & great
responsibilty and works against all
odds with very little. We struggle with
Vehicles that break down, bills that
‘need to be paid and always looking for
‘school supplies were
dent.
more food. Your continued financial
support will Keep the work going here
‘and in Torreon. The vision is to extend
De Mano a Mano throughout Mexico.
PENNSYLVANIA
Through the year, the churches con-
tributed money and volunteered their
time to help ROOT International trans-
port the donations we collect for the
needy. In May we had our annual co!
lection of donations trom Grove City
College. Ericka Damott and volunteers
did @ wonderful job to set up the times
and dates for ROOt to come on
‘campus. Special thanks go out to West
Middlesex Presbyterian Church who sent
over volunteers to Grove City College on
collection day to help. We will be return-
ing this year in May. We are looking to
contact more colleges, which will mean
we wil need more trailers, volunteers
‘and a warehouse. Sounds impossible?
No, with God all things are possible. Part
Cf ROOT International's vision is to have
2 distribution center in Mercer, PA. We
will be providing a community service to
the colleges in the region by collecting
household goods being tossed out to the
dumpsters and they in turn will be help-
ing us support those less fortunate. We
continue to partner with Feed my Sheep
out of New Castle and will be making
new contacts as we grow. This year God
sent us two more steady volunteers, Tom
"His Ministry Helping Hand:
fone of our main contacts in the area
Where we go to get food that we cross
He is
into Mexico. In the spring we were
excited to help, Bridges of Love, put
up a tent big enough to seat 500 peo-
ple. At the head of this ministry are
Leonardo & Rita Cingari. They have
‘monthly tent revivals all over the city
of Juarez, MX. We need to keep them
and other ministries that are housed
in Juarez in prayer. The killings and
kidnappings have increased making
living in Mexico very dangerous.
Please pray for their protection and
for Bruce (our ministry worker) and
his family who also live in Mexico.
ROOT International is looking for an
office/warehouse in El
would be collecting more donations if
Paso. We
‘and Mike Campbell, who Nelp-in every—we tad a warehouse. For now we con
way they can. They have been able to
contact people and businesses in the
community to help us. We were also able
to have our friend Martin from El Paso
drive @ school bus of donations from
Mercer to El Paso.
TEXAS
In El Paso we delivered Christian books
to Martha Williams who used them in her
work at St.Clemeans. ROOT International
‘continues to network with other minis-
tries in the area and was able to give
clothing to a men's home and church
(Vietoria en Jesucristo) We continue sup-
porting Pastor Juan Gonzales with house-
hold items which he in turn takes to
Juarez to his men's home (Centro Victo-
ria Mundial). We have also been blessed
by Don Newburry’s ministry,
tinue working out of our trailer.Financial Report Donations
Fund Raisers Ministries