Well, we left Fort Worth on Monday morning. We have had a great trip so far. We have seen God's hand at work providing in every way, including safety and opportunity to talk to folks about the Lord Jesus.
We are just outside Tucson, AZ for the night. We arrived about lunch time and we are staying overnight at Cactus Country RV Park. This is the first internet access I have had, and also the first time to dump, plug in, and have 120V power. There is an outdoor pool, which we took advantage of. It is about 85 degrees today. We hung laundry out to dry and it was done in about an hour. Light wind and wonderful scenery. I will be posting pics soon of the way here and the rest of the trip.
We will all be meeting with a local assembly in Tucson. Justin called ahead to inquire about prayer meeting/mid week services. The handbook said there were none, but we called anyways, and it turns out that not only do they have a mid week service, but they invited us to come to dinner with them. This church has a weekly meal together on Wednesdays and our wives get the night off from cooking and dishes as the meals are provided for everyone.
I have a story I would like to share also about God putting people in our path, how He gives us the opportunities if we are watching and willing to step out in faith and watch His work. Among all the beauty of the deserts, mountains, and plains, we have met a new couple (again).
As we were driving the scenic route through southern TX into NM, we went over 100 miles without seeing a gas station. Justin was running low, so we were just about to go 13 miles both ways off course just to find gas. It seems the trucks don't like hills, and the gas mileage cuts about in half. So, we were about to turn towards this alternate route when we see a single pump gas station, right out of the 60's.
The station was almost out of gas, but had enough to top us both off and leave enough for the folks pulling in behind us. The funny part is these folks had also pulled a camper through the mountains and I saw the license plate. MAINE, well I just had to go talk to them.
It turns out they are a young couple from Rockland, just down the road from us. The lady used to work at the Silver Lane Bistro, in Justin's back yard, and when I walked to the truck to say "Hi", the man, Scott, says, "I know you!" Turns out he was a social worker for one of our former foster kids. He not only recognized me, but knew my name. I thought back on a meeting I had had with him a year or so ago.
Our assembly back in Union had watched "The Star of Bethlehem" and I was being chastised for making the foster kids go to church. I told him how easy they had it, that the first day they came to service, we just watched a movie. I continued to tell him about the film, and gave him a copy a short time later.
I told him about how God had planned the whole universe, and gave His Son Jesus to die, paying the penalty for our sins. This was all facilitated by the State of Maine, as it was their meeting that put us together. While they were all trying to tell us that foster kids should't have to go to church, I was given an opportunity to witness to this man.
Now, a year later, and many states away, here we were again. As we talked, Scott looked at Justin's plate and realized that they must have been in the DMV the same day at the same time, as their plates were one digit off, 176028 and 176029.
We see God putting people in our way all the time. Now we have to be reminded to not only recognize, but also use these situations for God's glory and to bring people the Gospel. What a great coincidence, or really, a divine plan of God to bring us together, to be able to speak about the Lord to them again.
Justin and I were also talking about the natural beauty here. I am reminded so often that not only did God create such beauty, but also gave us the mind to appreciate it and to recognize His glorious and creative hand in it all. I don't know if the eagle thinks about the beauty while flying around, but God certainly has implanted an appreciation for His handiwork in those who are created in His image. I can't understand how anyone could not see God at work, but think that it all happened by chance. Truly, " the fool has said in his heart there is no God" as the psalmist noted.
We travel on tomorrow to CA, arriving in San Diego mid day Friday. I will try to write more then. I pray this letter finds everyone well, seeking to please our Savior each day we are given. We are learning more and more to lean on God for everything. Our very lives should testify to His mercy and grace. What a privilege to have such a relationship with the Creator of all things!
Mark Cowperthwaite
12 Emery Avenue
Thomaston, Maine 04861
207-542-8916
12 Emery Avenue
Thomaston, Maine 04861
207-542-8916
