I NEED THE LUPHERS!!!

Melanie and Austan met with the surgeon today. Witt's surgery for the feeding tube has been scheduled for May 18th around noon. This will of course have to be approved by pulmonary and cardiology. Witt has another appointment Monday the 11th with cardiology. He will have another echo and chest xray. I assume the cardiologist will decide then if Witt can go ahead with surgery the next week. I ask for and trust God's perfect timing!
A few days ago a good friend of mine emailed this video website to me(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbSe8Fl6wEY). It's an amazing video that Rise' said sums up all her feelings about Africa and why it has captured her heart. As I watched it, I could only think of Witt, Austan and Melanie... the Luphers and their story! The video says: "I am needed here....They have so little and I have so much. Often there is a level of suffering here that is unimaginable. But its hard to reconcile the many challenges Africans face with the joy I see in the people. The images spilling out of my television show only misery, and I was fooled. I bought into the lie that circumstance defines happiness. In places where despair should thrive I find adults dancing and singing. Children playing soccer with a ball of tied trash. Relationships and faith provide my new reality...my joy should have no regard for my circumstances. I want what I have learned to trickle down from my head to my heart. I no longer want to need the next thing to have joy. Africa does need our efforts and partnership but for me I need Africa more than Africa needs me. Because it is Africa that taught me that possessions in my hands will never be as valuable as peace in my heart." That's the Luhpers...Witt, Austan, and Mel to me! I think I am needed. There is suffering here at times that most of us can't even imagine. BUT it is hard to reconcile the many challenges that Austan, Mel and Witt face with the joy I see in them...with the laughter I share with them, with the sweetness I see in their family. In places where despair should thrive (it does exist at times but it never thrives!) I see them "dancing and singing." I see Witt playing with hands that at one time we didn't know if they would open up. My relationship to God and my faith provide my new reality...my joy should have no regard for my circumstances. I want what I have learned from the Luphers to trickle down from my head to my heart. I no longer want to need the next thing to have joy! Witt, Melanie and Austan do need my efforts but for me I need them and what they can teach me more than they need me!! Because its Witt's life and what I see in Austan and Melanie that taught me that possessions in my hands will never be as valuable as peace in my heart. Thank you, from the depths of my heart...thank you, Witt...thank you, Austan...thank you Mel...I have learned invaluable Kingdom lessons from each of you! I love you~Karen


I need what God can teach me through this precious life!