[Dialogue] A Gospel Story of MARK

[RHowie@aol.com]

Dear Michael,
In the summer of 1976 our son Jim, then just completing his freshman year of 
HS in Philadelphia as our family finished our Intern year in the Philadelphia 
House, decided to be deployed to the Phoenix House for his sophomore year.  
Mark and Jean were Priors there, and we were all comforted by their care and 
obvious love of children, as we took Jim out to be with them.
One of our fondest memories of Mark was Jim's relating to us that it was 
Mark's practice to take Jim and Bruce Knowlton out for supper once a week (often 
to McDonald's as I recall) so the 'Boys' could have their own private talks.  
Now those of you who remember both these boys will also remember how they just 
loved to push limits/buttons and be VERY adolescent!  Mark not only did not 
succumb to being reactive (and thus delight these two), but according to Jim's 
telling of the tale, seemed to thoroughly enjoy this teen-age hood style of 
being!  It was Mark who also taught Jim to drive when he had his driver's permit.
Part way through this year, Jean and Mark were deployed to El Bayad, which of 
course was Egypt's gain, yet very much a loss for our son Jim.
Jim now is in his early forties, married with a daughter of his own who is 
now 9 years old.  It will give Jean and the others who remember Jim a huge 
chuckle to know that Jim says of Alexandria that she has the personality of both he 
and his wife Tamara, who is a wonderfully fiesty woman, and that he is 
already getting himself prepared for the time when Ali will be a teenager!
Our family celebrates with all of you Mark's wondrously completed life, and 
keep Jean in our prayers.
Love, God's Grace and Peace and Comfort, Ellen Howie