Update on my cousins....

Some of you have been asking how my cousins are. I thought I'd give another update. Here is a more recent picture of them. They sent this one around this winter, with their letter raising support for the missions trip they had planned this summer. This is also a picture of the car they were driving.

The circumstances surrounding this accident and the recovery have been truly amazing. The kids were already so on fire for God, and this has only strengthened their faith. They attend a church of about 8,000 in S.C., and their youth group usually has about 100 kids out on an average night. After the acccident, Mark was so pumped, he and Faith shared their testimonies last week at youth group, and 400 kids from all over the neighborhood came to hear them! My uncle said that Mark was just like an evangelist, all fired up, just dominating the stage with the Word of the Lord!! Our family also said that when Mark was being tranported in the ambulance after the accident, he started laughing histerically! The paramedic asked him what he was laughing about (obviously perplexed as this was NOT a time for laughter). Mark said, "Satan tried to kill us, but he couldn't!" Even in the moment of the accident, the Holy Spirit was upon my little cousin. This 15 year old has such faith though- listen to this!
At the scene of the accident, after impact, Mark looked over at Priscilla (remember, she was driving and her head got bashed in by the steering wheel- no airbag; Mark has a fractured arm), and tried to rouse her. She was absolutely unresponsive. He didn't know if she was dead, or if she was unconscious, but after several unresponsive tries of waking her, he said, "Priscilla, in the name of JESUS, I command you to wake up!" She immediately sat up in her seat. WOW!
Both Hannah and Priscilla are doing fine after their surgeries, which are both miracles in themselves. Hannah's L4 vertebrae was replaced, as it was totally destroyed. She also had several plates put in her spine as well where vertebra were crushed, and a rod in her back. The miracle here, however, is that with all the trauma her spine endured, her spinal cord was not damaged AT ALL! She doesn't have one bit of paralysis!
The plastic surgeons did a wonderful job reconstructing Priscilla's face. They put 8 plates in her face and a rod in her leg. To understand the miracle here, you must know how bad she was. Her face was completely disfigured. They had to sew her jaw back on. They basically peeled her face down to reconstruct it. My uncle said she looks beautiful now though, and all you can see is a little scar on her chin with stiches! Apparently, she looks like a swollen Eskimo!!! :-) Another miracle here is that her skull and brain were not damaged AT ALL! And after the wires come off her, she will be able to talk.
Both girls do sign language, so they lay in their hospital bed, signing praise to God, both on their own, and along with music they listen to. This accident has only bolstered their faith more and more. Our family is so amazed how God saved their lives in this horrible accident and how quickly they are recovering!
God is truly honoring the faith of these teenagers! Mark was so right- God has a huge plan and ministry for these kids, and Satan knows that. He tried to stop it, but "he couldn't". God wouldn't let him. Praise the Lord!
Please do keep praying for them. They still have a long ways to go to recover, and my Uncle and Aunt did not have insurance for this. Their faith is astounding, however, and I know God will provide for their every need!