Update on Lisa and God’s Handiwork

By: Chris Johnson

Our ministry’s friends and readers, and especially those who receive our monthly newsletter, know about the answered prayers for our friend and coworker, Lisa Van Houten. Lisa inherited a genetic kidney disease which claimed her father’s life when she was young and has afflicted several other siblings as well, leading to a need for a kidney transplant. Praise the Lord, after over three years on the waiting list, and after several months of dialysis, a donor stepped up to offer his kidney to Lisa. The operation took place on Monday morning and it went very well. We wanted to not only give you that positive update, but to share this letter which the donor’s wife wrote yesterday to the Christian school which their grandson attends.

Good morning,

   I just wanted to share what I consider to be an amazing story that happened yesterday.

   Months ago, my husband heard that a friend/acquaintance from our past needed a kidney.  After praying about it and speaking with our family, he started the process of being tested to see if he could be a living donor. After many, many tests and appointments, he was not only a match, but he was approved to be the donor! The surgery was set for Monday, Dec. 4.

   On Sunday, our family had our Sunday dinner together and before everyone left, we gathered in a circle to pray for their dad and grandpa. All 6 of our school-aged grandchildren attend ***. They are in grades 5, 4 (2), 3, and K (2). It was absolutely the most precious time hearing each of those children say a prayer for their grandpa! (And our sons and wives pray for their dear dad!) I can only imagine how precious those prayers were to our Heavenly Father!

   Our grandson B is in Mrs. M’s class. After school yesterday he was very excited to tell me this story: It was (I think he called it) cares and prayers time. ‘My friend S raised his hand and asked for prayers for his [great] aunt who was going to be receiving a new kidney today. I had my hand up and Mrs. M called on me, and I asked for prayers for my grandpa because he was having surgery to donate a kidney today.’ B said he asked S what his aunt’s name was, and they figured it out that it was his grandpa’s kidney being received by S’ great aunt!

   How absolutely WONDERFUL that these precious children go to a school where they can pray, share prayer requests, and even see these amazing connections that God orchestrates!

   The surgeries went very well, by the way, and the kidney started working in [Lisa] before her family even had their consultation with her surgeon! What an amazing God we serve!

   Our children are being taught at home about Him and His amazing gift to us, but we are SO incredibly thankful that the all attend an amazing school where they are learning about our Creator God and Savior as well!

   It was such a joy-filled day for me yesterday as I sat with [Lisa]’s family and saw their love and thankfulness for [Lisa]—no more dialysis! I’m incredibly proud of my husband (who only wants God to be glorified.) He is an amazing dad and grandpa, and these children will always know he gave a gift of life to someone because he loves Jesus!

   Thanks for listening, and I hope you all are encouraged by this as well. I’m sure you deal with many tough things, but you need to hear the good stories, too! Thank you for pouring out your love for our Savior on all of the precious children at ***!

Merry Christmas!

 

We thank God for His care for our friend in supplying her with a donor, the care of skilled surgeons and doctors, and for granting us these reminders of His working hand in the midst of it!

 

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