Newsletter 2009 February

FEBRUARY

T H E

C O O K ’ S M O N T H LY

N E W S L E T T E R

2009

THE CUSCO CHRONICLES

WORKING ON A PROJECT FOR OUR TEAM MISSIONS COURSE

Back in the Saddle Again... After a great week at the Freed Hardeman Lectureship at the beginning of February, we were back to work here in Dallas. If our time at Continent of Great Cities were to end right now, we would be greatly enriched for the time we’ve spent here.

GENER AL IN SKIING JIMWHISTLER BRICKMAN

We’ve continued our Spanish studies with Dona Sandra. She is a great teacher who is very passionate about what she does. She claims that we are doing remarkably well, even though it sometimes seems to us as if we are barely able to say anything in Spanish!

BARTON PRESENTING TO US

At the beginning of the month, we concluded the “Latin American Urban Evangelism” Seminar with Ron Freitas. This class and the strategies we learned have been the topic of many discussions as we dream about the future in Cusco. (CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE)

RON FREITAS TEACHING

Back in the Saddle Again...(continued) Scott Reynolds and Bryan Gibbs co-taught the “Team Missions” seminar that lasted the last two weeks of the month. This seminar focused on working together as a team, developing policies as a team, accountability, team member roles, decision making, team morale, and numerous other topics. These two weeks were rich with deeply practical information that will help us for years to come as our team works together. Intermingled with these seminars were three “Vision and Strategy” days with General Jim Brickman. With his guidance, we covered the walls with lists of goals

and lists of our vision for the team and the church in Cusco. When he returned two weeks later, he had organized and categorized all of these lists. In the coming months, Brother Brickman will help us to develop our vision, strategy, policies, and procedures. His help has already been invaluable. We continue to help lead Bible studies at a transition home for ladies with addictions in East Dallas. Continent of Great Cities set these studies up for us and requires us to participate as a means to gain evangelism experience during the internship. Although “required,” this is a valuable experience in sharing the Gospel in difficult circumstances. Thank you for your prayers and support during this very valuable time of training.

C U LTUR E N IG HT CULTURE NIGHT HAS DEFINITELY BECOME ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR WEEK. THE GIRLS GET TO MEET WITH GEORGIA AT 5 PM TO TALK AND TO HELP WITH FOOD PREPARATION. THE MEAL PICTURED ON THE LEFT CONSISTED OF PERUVIAN PORK OVER RICE, AJI POTATOES, CHEESE BREAD FROM BRAZIL, AND SALAD. IT WAS DELICIOUS!

N E W T E AM M E M B E R! COLE ALEXANDER KIZER MADE HIS ENTRANCE INTO THIS WORLD ON MARCH 2, 2009 (TODAY!) AT 10:45 AM, WELCOMED BY PARENTS BARTON AND ALLISON. HE WEIGHED IN AT 7 LBS, 13 OZ AND WAS 20.5 INCHES LONG. MOM AND BABY ARE DOING FINE!

S P IRI TUA L M E N TORI N G EVERY WEDNESDAY MORNING AT 7 AM, BARTON, GARY, AND MATT PARTICIPATE IN AN HOUR-AND-A-HALF LONG PERIOD OF SPIRITUAL MENTORING WITH BOB CHISHOLM, A LOCAL SPIRITUAL FORMATION MINISTER. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THIS MENTORSHIP IS TO HELP US DEVELOP LASTING HABITS OF DAILY DEVOTIONAL TIME WITH GOD. WE ARE GIVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL ASSIGNMENTS AND WE GATHER TO DISCUSS THEM EACH WEEK WITH BOB. THIS WEEKLY TIME OF SHARING IS BECOMING ONE OF OUR FAVORITE TIMES OF THE WEEK. CHARLA, ALLISON, AND JENNIFER HAVE EACH BEEN ASSIGNED TO AN OLDER, MATURE CHRISTIAN WOMAN FROM A LOCAL CONGREGATION AND EACH WEDNESDAY THEY SHARE LUNCH WITH THEIR “MENTOR.” IT’S A JOY TO LEARN FROM THESE EXPERIENCED CHRISTIANS.

Que Quieres Beber? (Translation: What do you want to drink?) The phrase above was used extensively by Matt at the Siempre Familia church of Christ’s post-Valentine’s banquet on February 21. The church planting team in Ft. Worth asked the Cusco team to come and be a part of this exciting night, and we gladly accepted. They planned this event for couples in the community. The guys served the couples who came to eat, while the girls provided the child care. The room where the couples ate was beautifully decorated, and entertainment was provided by a Mariachi band. One of the men from the Ft. Worth team spoke about the church, and at the end of the dinner each couple had their picture

“GREAT IS THE LORD, AND GREATLY TO BE PRAISED, AND HIS GREATNESS IS UNSEARCHABLE.”-PSALM 145:3

made in front of a special back-drop. In addition to the 50 adults present, the girls watched the 27 kids who came with their parents. We let them make valentines for their parents, play games, read books, and watch a movie. They were a lively group and seemed to enjoy the evening. We are so blessed to be able to help in this work! We will be spending several days with the Ft. Worth team this month. Three days are scheduled as “work days” for doorknocking, handing out fliers, etc. Next Sunday we will worship with the church there, and hopefully see some of the people from the community that we contact during those three days. Charla and Jennifer will also be teaching the 7-10 year olds’ Bible class that Sunday morning. Please pray for the Ft. Worth team and for this effort.

F IE S TA !

MA KI NG VA LE NTIN ES

CH AR LA B A BY- SI TTING

THE MARIACHI B A ND

MATT WITH THE DR INKS

PRAY ER REQUESTS PLEASE PRAY FOR: T 1. THE LOST OF CUSCO AND THA GOD WILL ALREADY BEGIN TO OPEN HEARTS TO THE GOOD NEWS! 2. THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR VISION AND STRATEGY DOCUMENT. 3. OUR SPANISH LANGUAGE PREPARATION. 4. THE ESTES CHURCH, AS THEY OVERSEE OUR WORK. 5. OUR TEAMMATES: THE KIZER’S AND THE REAVES. PARE 6. OUR FAMILIES, AS THEY PRE US. TH FOR THIS TRANSITION WI

CONTACT INFORMATION Check out our videos and blog: http://cuscoandthecooks.wordpress.com

Matt and Charla Cook

Please send all monthly

3560 Country Square Dr. #811 support checks to: Estes church of Christ Carrollton TX 75006 [email protected]

c/o Richard Taylor

[email protected]

464 Crook Ave.

731-645-0286 (Matt)

Henderson, TN 38340

731-645-0293 (Charla) OVERSEEN BY THE ESTES CHURCH OF CHRIST