In the PVBC Campmeeting, June 1983, Bro. Bob Patenaude surrendered to the call of God on his life to prepare for missionary service in China. Since that time, God has used him in that country as well as in Lipa City, Batangas, Philippines, to do a great work for Him.

This past November, the Patenaude's daughter Liberty, who is married to Bro. Amos Pranger, an MK whose family is serving in Russia, gave birth to little girl. Shortly after her birth, Annabeth showed signs of serious problems. On this site, we have kept you updated with information from Bro. Bob regarding her initial prognosis and her subsequent progress. This weekend we received a prayer letter from Bro. Amos, Annabeth's father. This is letter is posted to encourage fellow believers to continue to hold this precious family up in prayer.

As you know, I graduated from the Heritage Baptist Institute, in Cleveland, Ohio, in May; then in June, my wife and I started part-time deputation. We had the privilege of visiting several churches though-out the summer, and fall; then at the end of September, I resigned my job as a carpenter and headed out into full-time deputation.

October was a busy month, so we thought, until November “hit“. In the month of October, my wife and I had the privilege of being a part of five missions conferences, my wife and I were expecting the birth of our first child. My wife’s due date was November 12^th. Needless to say, October was a busy month. However, November hit and we had a meeting the first Sunday of November, in the Cleveland area, (our hometown, trying to stay close for the delivery of the baby). November 7^th God blessed my wife and I with the birth of our daughter, Annabeth Marie Pranger (born at 3:54 pm on November 7^th, weighing 7 pounds 3 ounces and was 20 inches long). Labor and delivery went smoothly, the baby looked perfectly health, but there was some concern because she never woke up to eat, she never cried, she never responded like a newborn child should.

When she was 24 hours old, she was transfer from the Lakewood Hospital (where she was born) to the Fairview Hospital for some further testing. When she was 6 days old the Fairview Hospital realized that they were in way over their head, with her condition. They had been running tests and could not get any abnormal result. They realized that her condition, whatever it was, was just getting worse and worse. It began affecting her lungs and her heart. At one point the doctors said that if her heart could pull through the next two days it would have to be a miracle of God. But we know God, and we know that He is in control, and that He answers pray, and is in the miracle business.

On the sixth day she was transferred to the Cleveland Clinic main campus hospital, where they thought that they might be able to find some answers. They immediately began running even more intense tests to try to get some answers, but the tests kept coming back normal. At 12 days, they diagnosed Annabeth with nonketotic hyperglycinemia (which means in English, she had an extremely high glycine count. Glycine is one of the amino acids in the blood. When a person has a elevated glycine count in the blood and spinal fluid it works like a poison in the Neurological system of the body, causing in her case to cause all of the bodies muscles to shut down. Note: this is not glycemia -- blood sugar. ). They immediately started her on multiple medications and began treating her for this. The doctors at this point don’t know much about this disease, as it is a rare disease, usually found amongst Amish and Mennonite communities, but ,in Annabeth’s case, also even more rare just a random chance. We know and believe that with God there is no such thing as chance. We believe that “all things (good or bad) work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to HIS purpose”. We might not understand God purpose, but He has one, and we are willing to go through whatever it is. Sorry, I realize this is not a sermon, just a prayer letter, and we appreciate all of your prayers.

After a couple of weeks of medication treatment she began making a complete turn around and on the 7^th of December we were permitted to take her home. She came home on several of the medications. Up to date she is one 6 different medications to control her glycine count and also has weekly blood draws to keep an eye on here counts. At this point the doctors don’t really know what to expect as far as long term outcome. We have been told that they just came up with a way of treatment only 14 years ago and there is only a few people that they have been treating. So they really don’t know what to expect. Please pray the God will give us guidance in how to deal with all the things that may come our way with this situation. God has been good to us He has give us the grace to go through these trying times.

December has been a busy month. We had a few meetings scheduled, that we were able to make it to. At the present my wife has not been able to travel with me. She has been staying at our home church in Cleveland. Pray for her as the situation puts a lot of added stress on her. Well praise the Lord, we have January through April pretty well scheduled. The Lord is good. I could go on all day sharing with you the blessings that the Lord has bestowed upon us, but for sake of time, ink, and paper I will not.

I hope and pray that the Lord will continue to bless you all for your pray and support.

Until next time we will be busy for the Master.

Your Fellow Ambassador,