My Tribute to Mark Cancel - Please Read

I haven't blogged in awhile but I have to blog now because I have a lot on my mind at a critical juncture in my life. This blog is dedicated to Mark Cancel and the power of God when allowed to work through the life of one individual who is sold out.

I met Mark Cancel more than 20 years ago and due to some unfortunate circumstances, he has become my absolute best friend during this stage in my life. Mark is leaving September 1st to move permanently to Lokichoggio, Kenya and my last opportunity to see him before he leaves is Tuesday. Mark is very humble and underspoken. Mark just retired as a Master Sergeant in the Air Force and has served our country with honor in some very dangerous situations. He and his brother, Mike, have been money transfer agents in times of war and conflict. I fully intend to also get to know Mike very well in the future. It was during one of Mark's deployments that his wife decided to start dating which eventually ended in Mark being single for the rest of his life. Mark was already a very close friend at that time but that moved him from friend to family and my children know him as family and is always a part of Thanksgiving, Christmas and birthdays. He has always been there for me in the best and worst of times over the past 20 years. 

Mark isn't perfect and he is downright goofy sometimes. He was raised in a military family and moved around the world as he supported the service of his family. Mark will tell you that he is probably a sober addict and he hit a point in his early 20's where he was either going to go straight down the toilet in Austin,TX or he had to make a change. He reached out to God but didn't really know how to. He asked his Mom what to do and she suggested that he find a church and just go. He did that and knew that something was different there and that he wanted what everyone else there had. He looked at the schedule and tried to show up to everything. This part is cool and funny to me. Jesus is quoted in the Bible as saying, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me (Jesus) draws him to me". Mark was being "drawn" and he walked into a group that was about to go out to meet with people in the church with various needs. I can just see them praying, "Oh God, help us to be open to your leading to however you want to use us today" and then a 20 yr old Mark knocks on the door to see what they were doing. Needless to say, they didn't leave that night because God had a special delivery for them. 

Let's fast forward now. Mark is retired/retiring from the military and is being drawn again to God's calling to help meet a critical need for water in Northern Kenya and Southern Sudan. Upon retirement, the military will move you once to your permanent location. For Mark, that location is Africa. He is team with Mike Vincent, an architect and builder from Colorado who has also abandoned the comforts of America to serve people in desperate need of water. Their primary purpose will be drilling and repairing water wells for the Turkana people group. His group is called Gospeltecture:

Gospeltecture News 

Mark and Mike have an ability given to them by God because neither are married or have families and can therefore fully dedicate to this mission. The Bible is true when it states in  1st Corinthians 7:32-34, "I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. ³³ But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— ³⁴ and his interests are divided. " Most people can not do that and that is a gift from God to be able to truly honor God with a wholesome life as a single man.

Mark has been worked with the Turkana people several times on several trips and knows that this is what God has for him. He has planned his finances such that he can do this on his retirement pay and all donations to the organizations can go straight to serving the people in need.

Turkana People of Kenya - In another world of another time

Mark and Mike Enjoying Time with the Turkana People

When Mark arrives in Kenya, he and Mike will be driving for 3 days to get to their location.

Merille & Turkana Tribes Kill for Water and Cattle

Moving to LOKICHOGGIO, Kenya

As I have finished up a year of training and outreach to diabetics, it struck me last night that it is okay to risk your life as long as the motivation is honorable and not self serving. If your risk gives others life here and after this physical death then that is an incredibly honorable and noble purpose. If it is to draw attention to yourself and prove how great you are then that seems like quite a waste. God knew the number of our days on earth before we were born. Let's use them in an honorable fashion! It may seem that Mark is taking a risk and that may be true from our perspective. From God's perspective, our lives are in His hands and nothing is going to change what God has for us. Why not be inspired by people stepping out and take some risks for HIM?

I have had the privilege of meeting some of Mark's family like his Mom and sister. His sister died suddenly earlier this year which was a tragedy that opened up some really special moments and relationships between Mark and his brother and between Mark and his father and his uncle. I have a Sushi dinner date planned with his brother on October 12th and I hope to get to know Mark's Mom and Dad better in the future. Mark got to build a relationship with my Dad the last 7 years of my Dad's life and I hope to do the same with Mark's family.

Mark with his Mom in San Antonio

Mark, his Dad, Hector and his brother, Mike

 I don't know everything about Mark's family but I do know that through the tragedy of his sister's death this year, relationships have been restored. Mark loves his Mom dearly and considers his Dad a very brave man at a very deep level.

My Favorite Photo of Mark - This hunting trip was a birthday adventure gift for him

A Song to Live By! - Nothing to Prove, Nothing to Lose, Nothing to Hide

I talked a lot about God and being a Christian. Let me end with this as you try to comprehend why Mark is doing what he is doing:

Our Problem:
"All people have sinned and will be punished for that by God" Romans 3:23
The Solution:
Jesus Christ sacrificed himself and died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins that God requires. Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord".
How is this different than any other religions? 
Other Religions: Most other religions are trying to earn their righteousness and earn their way to heaven and God through their own good efforts.
Christianity: Christianity understands that everyone is sinful and we rely on the righteousness of Christ and His sacrifice on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. If we acknowledge our sins, accept Christ's sacrifice for payment of our sins and let God take control of our lives then we have the hope of heaven and a personal relationship with God.