Friday, December 31, 2010

Sorting through the issues, what is really important?

It would seem that no matter where we go, no matter what group of Christians one talks to, a few things are pretty constant: pride and division. I praise God that there are exceptions to that statement, but God knows that His people are more divided today than even in the time of the Corinthian church, which Paul chastised for the following of "Paul, Apollos, Cephas(Peter), and of Christ" .The fact that I feel justified in admitting that disgusts me, and grieves me greatly.

For the great majority of our family's interaction with "denominations" (which are many) we find that the heart of your average church-goer is struggling for the answers to some tough topics. Sometimes they look in God's Word, but most of the time it is an intellectual discussion and arguments about Koine Greek tenses. I am not seeking to pick any fights, nor exercise my prowess (or lack thereof) in debate, and I believe that most of the time such debates are unprofitable anyway.

Do not misunderstand me.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

The tracts have arrived, reaching our family members

I just checked the porch to see if our mail had arrived, and was pleasantly surprised to find a couple of large boxes with my name on them. You see, it takes some rather heavy boxes if you are looking to pack 5,000 postcard Gospel tracts. Upon initial inspection, everything seems to have turned out quite well.

Now we get to hit the streets to share this message of eternal life with others! You see, Key West has a town motto: "One Human Family." In fact, they offer free bumper stickers that say,
"ALL PEOPLE ARE CREATED EQUAL MEMBERS OF ONE HUMAN FAMILY" 
to which I must agree. I believe that we are all created by God as equally fallible and sinful members of the human race. So, on this point we agree. 

The sad part is that when you ask those involved in the "movement" what this means, it is all about their attempt to stem "homophobia" which is a silly word. Such a great theme for the Gospel message, and they use it as a platform for promoting sin, what a shame. Homophobia? I have never met anyone who was scared of homosexuality or homosexuals. Not once have I seen a man run away from a gay man due to fear, or women guarding their purses in fear that the lesbians will steal it. What a silly word, homophobia!

All that silliness aside, I am reminded that we are one human family. Those who choose the sin of homosexuality are no different than those who

Friday, December 24, 2010

Good turnout for Christmas Eve

We had a few questions earlier in the week as to if we were having a Christmas Eve service, which we were not. Of course, the more I thought about it, and the more people asked, we decided it would be a great idea. We had 26 in attendance tonight, of which 10 were first time visitors. Most of them we met while doing our Bible study and singing Christmas carols out on the chapel steps.

It was wonderful to sing songs about the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ some 2000 years ago. This story may be ancient, but it lives on today and so does the Lord Jesus! We talked about why Jesus had to come, all the way back to the garden of Eden and the introduction of sin into this world. What a gracious and merciful God who would send His only begotten Son into this world to die and thus pay sin's penalty once and for all.

A brother gave testimony also of the pain associated with Jesus' birth and life, and ultimately His death. Mary's pain in child birth, the pain of so many families whose children were murdered in Herod's attempt to kill the King of the Jews. He spoke of the pain of Jesus Himself as he was rejected by His own created children, of the painful death of the crucifixion. Surely this time of year reminds us not just of the birth of Christ, but also reminds us of His life and death, and His resurrection from the grave which gives hope of eternal life for those who will repent and trust in Christ by faith.

So, we had a great time, and look forward to continuing the relationship we have started in this community. Even the visitors remarked of the genuine love of Christ shown by the local saints. We felt a great spirit of confirmation that the Lord is going to do a great work here, and we are humbled yet again to have a part in it, by God's grace. We hope you have a great Christmas, and that Christ is the celebration of every day of every year of our lives, and that the story and  the salvation of Jesus Christ is proclaimed throughout the earth. We look forward to the day when Christ will come with power and glory, as the King of Kings. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Mark

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Website for the chapel

With all the news and upcoming plans for outreach and ministry, we thought we would put up a website for the chapel. You can find the chapel website HERE with updated service times and current events. We thank the Lord for giving us the opportunity to share the Gospel in this community, to labor together with other Christians, and to help in any way we can.

If you have any relevant information to add to the chapel site, pictures or testimonies of God's work in this community, etc. please email me at cowperthwaitefamily@gmail.com

Also on the website are downloadable copies of Gospel materials designed for this community, and we will try to upload message notes and such as they are available.

Now, off to bed. We have 2 kids on the mend from a tough cold, a mommy who needs and deserves some sleep, and many opportunities in the next few days to share the Gospel and the love of Jesus Christ in Key West. Praise the Lord for His faithfulness, His mercy and grace to those who humbly seek Him.

Monday, December 20, 2010

A wake up call to husbands and fathers

Brothers in Christ,

I know many of you are working very hard to provide for your families. I know many of you have multiple jobs and enormous debt hanging over your head. There is hope, and by living according to God's Word you can find your way out of any situation that seems insurmountable. I have walked this path in the past, and God has shown me how to be all I should be for His glory. I often fail, am weak and humbled each time I look back to see how far I have fallen. Still, I want to share this with you all. Take it as a warning, an offer of help, but don't walk away without seeking the Lord's will in every part of your life. This may be the most important day of your life, the day you examine every particle of your life in light of eternity.

These videos should be watched together. Please take 10 minutes and see the lunacy behind the modern man's common role in regards to his family.  

Click to watch>>Change the world video  and>>> 99 Balloons video

To all you fathers and husbands that tell me that you know your family will be OK without you, that you need just a little more money, this video is for you. Watch the "99 balloons" video, and then the "Change the world" film and tell me that God wants you to disregard your family one more day. Another car or better cell phones will not save your marriage. Only you being the man God called you to be will suffice. Step up and be God's man TODAY!

If I can be of assistance

Sunday, December 19, 2010

A sister in Christ writes...

We recently received  this email from a dear saint who was commended into the Lord's care to labor for Him in Zambia in 1958. Alice White served in medical missions, but began her ministry here in Key West many years ago. We hope you are encouraged by this lovely email sent to encourage us in the Lord's work in Key West. 
~Mark

Dear Mark and Sara,

I just about jumped up in the air to read in Assembly Care Ministries that the Lord has called you to Key West! My great-grandfather and his brother built the chapel there, my grandmother and her family, including my mother, Ruby were brought up in the assembly and were very active in many areas of out reach there. Mother went to 5 schools in the city for 30 years, a different school each afternoon for afterschool Bible stories. From the time I was 11 years old I lived in Key West, taught school there and in 1958 was commended to the Lord’s Work in Zambia (then Northern Rhodesia), where I have served Him since 1959.

Please keep in touch and let me know what is happening in the assembly there. Be assured of my prayers and the prayers of the other missionaries here at Chavuma. And pray for us also! We have an urgent need for a hospital Administrator/Accountant (or one of each?!), doctors and nurses as the medical work is large and we have a huge work with HIV/AIDS patients both in the hospital and in the villages.

Most of my grandparents brothers and sisters moved to the Miami area during the depression. My parents met in Miami, and I was born in Miami Beach. My father died when I was three, and my mother managed a small hotel in Miami Beach until 1945 when we moved to Key West where my grandparents were living. Our home was 616 Caroline Street, next door to the old post office on Simonton Street. After I finished college at Bryan College in Tennessee, I returned to Key West and taught 2nd , 3rd, and 6th grades at Poinciana school for 4 years. During that time my mother bought a house on the corner of Waddell and Vernon avenue, by the beach, and my grandparents came out there to live with us. 

The Lord clearly showed me that he wanted me in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) so I came here in 1959. My grandparents, uncles and Mother continues to live in Key West. After my grandparents and one of my uncles went to be with the Lord, I returned to Key West in 1971 for 2 years and got my RN from the Community College on Stock Island and then returned to Zambia. Mother remained in Key West, and in 1979 the Lord led us to sell the KW home, and Mother came to Zambia at age 71. 

Up until 1999 when she had several TIA’s she taught ladies’ Bible studies, Sunday School, girls club, Religious education classes in both primary and secondary school and did the mission accounts. She was ill out here for several years, and went to be with the Lord in 2008, almost 101 years old! 

I would love to meet you and will try to answer any questions you have about the assembly.

Yours in Christ,
Alice

Friday, December 17, 2010

Giggling Samuel 10 months

Just thought this  might be a lift to someone's spirits tonight. Who can't enjoy a good game of spit the block and make the baby laugh?

Updates from Key West

Key West Updates
Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,

With the Christmas holiday creeping closer on our calendar, we have been busy about town laboring to make known this Christ whom we celebrate. Many celebrate with decorations, ornaments, songs, food, and dozens of other traditions. We are happy to have the open door to speak of the Lord Jesus Christ in public at this time of year with relatively little conflict. Even those who do not have faith in Christ will still listen as the story is told from God's Word. Many will attend services and pageants at local churches where the Scriptural accounts are read and songs proclaiming the birth of the Christ child. 

I was reminded as we gathered to worship this past week of the song, "Joy to the world" which includes the lyrics, "Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ. While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains, repeat the sounding joy" I am reminded that should we keep this message to ourselves then even the rocks will cry out! How great a privilege to serve the Lord in this mission field, where people from many nations  come to vacation. What a blessing to be able to speak to the local artisans, performers, and those in varying fields of work and play, about our Savior's birth. With all this in mind, we have designed a Gospel tract for Key West. Mark took this picture and wrote the text, focusing on the town motto, "One Human Family". This was edited for us by Justin Humes and we just ordered the first shipment of 5,000 to give away as a sort of souvenir Gospel tract. 

We will be putting together other materials for this outreach and

Monday, December 13, 2010

Open Casa Night- a success!!

On our first "Open Casa Night" at Key West Gospel Chapel, we met folks in a rather unexpected way(as the Lord often allows). We were driving along looking for the hardware store, when we saw a family with 6 children walking, a man and wife who just LOOKED like Christians, if you understand what I mean. I am not sure if I worded that right, but they just arrived for supper! Praising the Lord for the little things today. He is worthy of our praise!!!! We also invited our new friend from the shell store, and just missed Will, the juggler at his daytime workplace. (5pm)

We had an awesome time. Gary and Sue Martin and their 6 children are a family from Ontario and were only in Key West for the day. When we saw them they were headed home in their 20+ year old 24' motorhome (TINY!!!) to make supper. They just left after a great time of food, prayer, fellowship, and unity in the body of Jesus Christ. The children played together and our kids made some new friends, even if we don't get to see them again this side of eternity. I love this town, and hope we can be an encouragement to many more as we reach out with the love of Christ to share the Gospel and encourage the Christians of Key West, Florida!!
Gary, Hector, James, and Mark

Brothers James and Hector are out on the streets sharing the Gospel tonight. We all had a good time of prayer and fellowship, then sent out our Gospel team, and bid farewell to our new friends. They will be making their way home to Canada over the next few weeks, enjoying fellowship with friends along the way.

Gary and Sue Martin from Ontario
We pray the Lord continues to bring people into our lives, to bless them, to share the Gospel, to build up the body of Christ as the Holy Spirit leads. Our desire is to walk every step of every day in the spirit, and not fulfill the desires of the flesh. Pray that God will be glorified as we seek to serve Him in this way, as His ambassadors. What a privilege it is to serve our Lord!(8pm)


Saturday, December 11, 2010

Humes update- Jocelin is headed home!

We cannot express how much the outpouring of love and support has meant to our family at this time. The comforting emails, calls & texts from so many of you have been a great blessing. We're also thankful to Mark and his family for fielding many calls and emails on our behalf, and for sending out updates when Jocelin needed to be transferred to Portland for possible surgery. We are happy to report that exams and tests all came back clear, so surgery will not be necessary, and she is being discharged today.

Thank you for your prayers. We have cried many tears – both in joy over Jocelin and Shiloh, and in grief, missing our sweet Elim. But we do not grieve as those who have no hope (1 Thess 4:13), and we know that the Lord uses all such things to accomplish

Humes update 2PM Saturday, 12/11/10 (neat date, huh?) Jocelin going home!

Just got this email from Justin. Praising the Lord yet again, as He is bringing the Humes family back together again after having to spend a few days apart. In Justin's own words:

We cannot express how much the outpouring of love and support has meant to our family at this time. The comforting emails, calls & texts from so many of you have been a great blessing. We're also thankful to Mark and his family for fielding many calls and emails on our behalf, and for sending out updates when Jocelin needed to be transferred to Portland for possible surgery. We are happy to report that exams and tests all came back clear, so surgery will not be necessary, and she is being discharged today.

 
Thank you for your prayers. We have cried many tears – both in joy over Jocelin and Shiloh, and in grief, missing our sweet Elim. But we do not grieve as those who have no hope (1 Thess 4:13), and we know that the Lord uses all such things to accomplish His purposes and for His glory. 
I found this quote today by C. H. Spurgeon:
 
"I am afraid that all the grace I have got out of my comfortable and easy times and happy hours might almost lie on a penny. But the good that I have received from my sorrows and pains and griefs is altogether incalculable. What do I not owe to the hammer and the anvil, the fire and the file?"
 
And so our God lovingly conforms us to the image of His precious Son, the One who willingly suffered and laid down His own life for us.

 "In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:6-7)

 Still praising Him, for He is worthy to be praised!

 Justin, Jocelin & the girls

207-691-2850

37 Stirling Road

Warren, ME 04864

Your life, your soul- by Nathanael Pena

Your life, Your soul!

Recently, while reading through the gospel of Matthew with my wife, Jesharelah, I was surprised to notice how extreme is the call to follow Jesus. Jesus hits every nerve as He tells us that if we want to follow Him, we cannot both have our life & not have our life at the same time. These verses truly are drastic.

For instance, in Matthew 16, Jesus just finishes explaining that His life will soon come to a close, that this world was not for Him but that He would suffer much persecution. Jesus alleged that He would actually experience organized attacks from the elders, chief priests, and scribes. He explained that He would be killed and that He would rise again. And in the context of this discussion about His death, He begins to explain what it will mean to follow Him.

Peter replies by saying that this isn't the kind of life he wants. Actually, he doesn't even want this kind of life for His Savior. But Jesus reproves him: "Peter, you are minding things of the world, not things of God." As soon as He says this, He turns to His disciples and tells them something that many of us Americans have forgotten

Douglas baby birth announcement

This announcement just came in from Johnny and Kelly Douglas in Baldwin City, Kansas. This family are colaborers in the Gospel work, and have moved from Texas to help the Baldwin City Gospel Chapel. This is their 7th child, with 5 sons and 2 daughters, the Lord has truly blessed this family. We thank the Lord for their friendship and praise the Lord for putting these faithful laborers into His harvest field. 

Mark Cowperthwaite

With much joy, we want to announce the birth of our daughter Lilly Jane Douglas!
 
She was born November 30th and weighed 8lbs. 8oz.
 
Lilly Jane "jumped" feet first into this world.  She was born breech with her 2 feet descending first.  The birth and delivery went very well with no complications for which we give glory to God for His great mercies.  We were also very blessed by God to have an excellent midwife who was competent yet very calm and reassuring.
 
The boys dote on Lilly as they were all hoping for another sister and Cheri absolutely loves her baby sister!
 
We truly give thanks to Jesus for delivering another child to us!  We are greatful for His love!
 
In Christ and with love,
Johnny and Kelly Douglas
 
PS Pictures of the family will be coming soon.
 

Friday, December 10, 2010

John Newton on "The death of an infant"

This was passed on by brother Jim Collins. I appreciated the sentiments from John Newton. As our family remembers the loss of our beloved Joshua and now seeing the Humes family deal with the loss of their precious daughter, Elim, I thought it was appropriate to post here. 


The death of an infant

(Letters of John Newton)

My Dear Friend,
I must leave a line to tell you that we sympathize with you and your wife in your severe trial. (The death of an infant.) But, at the same time, I rejoice exceedingly in the Lord's goodness, enabling you to be resigned and satisfied with His will, despite all the feelings and pinchings of flesh and blood. 

If you can now believe and say, "He does all things well"--with what transport would you say it, if the whole plan of His wisdom and love was unfolded to your view? He will condescend to unfold it to you hereafter--and it will fill you with admiration. It is an affliction, to be cordially rejoiced in, when the Lord, who cares for us--intimates His will by the event.

Healing and wounding are equally from His hand--and are equally tokens of His love and care over us! "The Lord gives--and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord!" Job 1:21

You are in the wise and merciful hands of One who prescribes for you with unerring wisdom, and has unspeakably more tenderness than can be found in all human hearts taken together! He weighs all your painful afflictions with consummate accuracy! You shall not have a single grain of trouble more, nor for a single moment longer--than He will enable you to bear, and will sanctify to your good.

We know all things are dispensed to us by infinite wisdom--in number, weight, and measure--with a far greater accuracy than any doctor can adjust his medicines to the state and strength of his patients.

The flesh will feel the sharp affliction--but faith and prayer will lighten the burden, and heal the wound. Daily your sense of the Lord's goodness will increase, and the sense of pain will abate--so that you will have less sorrow, and more joy, from day to day.

What a blessing to be a Christian--to have a hiding place and a resting place always at hand! To be assured that all things work for our good, and that our compassionate Shepherd has His eye always upon us--to support and to relieve us.

I am affectionately and sincerely your friend, brother and servant,
John Newton

Key West arrival and Cowperthwaite family updates.

With all the commotion the last few days, I forgot to write and let everyone know that we made it safely to Key West. Our camper is parked at Camp Horizon, still for sale, now lowered to $8,000 in price, much less than what it is worth and a great deal for anyone looking for such a trailer. We are all settled in to our new apartment at Key West Gospel Chapel, and Mark will be speaking this Sunday, starting a series called "The Ideal Church" looking at the pattern of the local church from the New Testament. 

The folks here have been gracious and hospitable, welcoming us in to town and helping us get settled. We look forward to developing relationships with many local folks, spreading the Gospel in town in many venues, and helping the work of the Lord's church to be built up as we look to Christ as the Head of the church. We are excited to have this work from the Lord, with many brothers and sisters from other Florida churches behind the work here. Many will be coming to teach, preach, and help in outreach efforts. 

We will write more when I have time, thank you for your prayers and encouragement as we have prepared for this transition from itinerant work to more long term investment in a local church for God's glory. Grace and peace to you all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Mark for the Cowperthwaites
207-542-8916

Mail:
Mark Cowperthwaite
c/o Key West Gospel Chapel
720 Southard Street
Key West, Florida 33040

Humes Updates 2pm Friday Dec. 10,2010

Praise the Lord! It seems after many tests that Jocelin may not have to have surgery after all. There is still a chance, but we continue to pray that the Lord will allow Jocelin to heal more rather than undergo another surgery. Jocelin got some good  sleep last night and has been eating well today. We praise the Lord for answered prayer on this and many other fronts. We still do not have a release date for Jocelin, but we thank the Lord that He knows, and that He is in control. 

SaraGrace and the girls are headed to Parkman, to the home of Eric and Susanna Hall for the duration of Jocelin's time at the hospital. The Halls, their extended family, and the body of Christ overall have been instrumental in helping through this tough time. Staying at "the silo" will allow for some of the folks up that way who are very close to the Humes family to minister to some of their daily needs, helping with feeding and watching the children, and I believe it will be a time of encouragement and blessing to all involved. 

Justin and I talked about half an hour ago, and he sounded much better, having also gotten some sleep. He is planning to stay at Maine Medical Center with Jocelin until she is either transferred back to Belfast or released to go home. They are working through the hundreds of email, phone calls, and text messages that have been sent in an attempt to keep people up to date, so please be patient as they have family and others involved in care of the children to talk to first. 

As there have been many who have asked, I would remind folks that cards and all mail should be sent to: Justin Humes 37 Stirling Road, Warren, Maine 04864. Jocelin's mother has been taking care of their mail and will bring all correspondence to them. Our family is also blessed to have Sara's parents helping coordinate our mail while we are on the road. this is a blessing to us, and a great service to the ministry. Edna Dodge is still coordinating meals, but delivery of meals to the Humes will be on hold while they are with the Hall family. 

Again, we praise the Lord for His watchful care and protection over the Humes family, for His grace and peace that passes all understanding. We know that God will be glorified in all these things, and that Elim (A-leem) is with the Lord awaiting the day when Christ will come for His bride. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Mark Cowperthwaite for the Humes family

Email update- Humes family

Friday 12/10/10 945 am UPDATE

I am sorry for those who have received this news before, and also sorry for those who have been missed in previous emails. We will start from the beginning with the birth of Justin and Jocelin Humes' twin girls this past week and run chronologically through all the updates. We have tried to keep everyone informed, but due to many different devices (text, FaceBook, email) I was told some have missed the updates. If you wish to be removed from this list, email Mark at cowperthwaitefamily@gmail.com I will also post this to our blog at www.cowperthwaitefamily.com for those who want to see the latest news please check the blog. 


Below is the email announcement from Justin and Jocelin Humes concerning the recent birth of their twin girls. One baby is healthy, but the second baby died during the birth process. Justin's words come at a time when their family is in transition and grieving. Close friends may wish to send a text message if you have their phone numbers. Otherwise, I think it would be best to give them some time to grieve this loss and settle in with baby Shiloh. The family has trusted in the Lord for everything, and know that He is in control in this time of loss. Prayer would be appreciated on their behalf.

Tuesday December 7, 2010 Afternoon
Dear friends and family,
 
It is with mixed emotions that we write to announce the birth of our twin girls, Shiloh Catherine and Elim Beatrice.  Shiloh was born around 10:45 Monday evening,[Dec 6] and Elim at 2:00 early Tuesday morning. There were complications with Elim's birth which required Jocelin to have a C-section, and Elim did not survive.  We praise God that Jocelin made it through the surgery and is recovering well, and that Shiloh is strong and healthy. We are greatly sorrowed by the loss of Elim, but also find solace knowing that she is in the presence of our Lord in heaven even now.
We thank you for your prayers.
 
the Humes family
Justin & Jocelin
Caedren, Kierah, Hadassah, Tzeitl, Laurel & Shiloh

Thursday 12/9/10 1PM update from Edna Dodge, a sister in Christ, who lives near the Humes and will be coordinating meals:

The Humes family are missionaries who do gospel work all over the US and our friends. They have recently rented a house in Northport for the winter.  They were pregnant with twins and delivered. One of these precious souls has entered the presence of the Lord. We grieve with our friends, and know that many hard days are to come as they deal with the loss of their daughter, the care of a newborn baby, and Jocelin's recovery. Jocelin has been transferred to Maine Medical for further treatment. Please keep them in prayer. 

I have volunteered to coordinate food for the Humes family and am emailing to ask if any of you would be willing to contribute a meal or snack. They have dietary restrictions so I am listing specific meals and snacks that you could choose from. I am hoping to do a meal every evening for atleast 3 weeks. You can drop them off to me and I will bring them. If you would like to visit with them you can schedule that with them but it would be nice for them to just be able to have the food dropped off without feeling obligated to also entertain. If you feel you would like to contribute please email back with a meal choice and I will let you know what day so we don't give them a chicken casserole 4 nights in a row.

Snacks (they don't do sugary foods)
Popcorn (non-microwave)
Organic yogurt (ie. Stonyfield)
natural dried fruit
fruit
natural corn tortilla chips
natural no sugar added applesauce

Meals
Taco salad
Chicken, brown rice, and vegetable casserole or soup
beef, brown rice, and vegetable casserole or soup
boiled dinner
tacos with hard shelled tacos
roast, potatoes and vegetables
Chilli
Beef stew
Mexican style brown rice

Thursay, 12/9/10 7PM update
Mark just talked to Justin regarding Jocelin's condition. They are still waiting on some additional tests tomorrow, but there is a chance she may NOT need surgery. An update on that will come when we get it, but there is no designated time as of this writing. 

Justin will be staying overnight with Jocelin at Maine Med, and SaraGrace is at home with the girls, with Cheryl Hebert helping with the care of the children. Jocelin was not feeling terribly well before she went into labor, and with all the events of the last few days, she really needs to catch up on sleep. Pray that she continues to catch up on sleep, as that will help a lot in the recovery process.

For the time being, it would be best if there were no phone calls, unless Justin has told you otherwise. They are returning calls as they have time, and also text messages. Justin now has his laptop computer with him, and email access, so email jhumesfamily@hotmail.com if you would like to contact them with encouragement and condolences. 

Edna Dodge (email ednadodge@live.com) is coordinating meals for the family and has suggested meals that fit into the family's allergies and food restrictions. Thank you for the love and support of the Humes family as they continue by the Lord's grace through this difficult time. 

Mark Cowperthwaite
207-542-8916

Monday, December 6, 2010

Headed to Key West- updates

We just wanted to send an update concerning the sale of our camper and our trip to Key West. We have not yet sold the camper, and so will be parking it at Camp Horizon in Leesburg, Florida for a while, allowing us to settle in to Key West without the stress of finalizing the camper sale at this time. The saints at Camp Horizon have graciously offered to let us park it there for a short while, so it is still officially for sale while also being useful to visiting volunteers and attendees of the various conferences that are held there. 

In the will of the Lord, we plan to leave Carrollwood Bible Chapel early Tuesday morning headed for Camp Horizon. We will drop the camper there and head to the Fritchey home in Pembroke Pines to visit and spend the night. Wednesday morning we plan to drive to Key West with all our stuff packed in the van. We will be staying in an apartment attached to the chapel there during our time of outreach and working with the saints in Key West.

We hope to have a mailing address soon in Key West so that cards, letters, and packages can be sent directly to us rather than having to be forwarded via Sara's parents (so grateful for their service in this). Please pray for us as we travel, and as we transition our living space. While the kids are excited about Key West and having a "house" to stay in, the camper has been home to them for the last 19 months and it has been "home" for us all. We will send updates as we have time concerning the Gospel work and much more concerning the work of the Lord in Key West. 

Anticipating the return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,
Mark and Sara Cowperthwaite
Nathaniel, Virginia, Naomi, and Samuel