helping friends like we were helped

It was just this time last year when the world as we knew it fell apart. we didn't know if we were coming or going, or even what to do next. One of the things that was the hardest for us, as people whose job it usually was to take care of others, was to allow and even welcome help from others. it would have been in my nature to say, "oh, no thank you, we'll be just fine..." but somehow i knew deep down that i was sure i was going to be fine and that, frankly, i could barely move let alone think straight about bills and deadlines and plans.

our friends, the knauerts, have suddenly found the life as they knew it blown apart by the very sudden death of david, their beloved husband and father. david (who was a ncaa swimmer at harvard and long distance runner always) had what is believed to be a massive heart attack while jogging in atlanta on saturday morning and died. He was 38 years old. He leaves behind his wife, Leigh, and his four children, Peter, Lily, Harrison and David.

David was our classmate and good friend in seminary. He actually did the same internship at Central the year before me and then stayed on as a youth advisor. We spent alot of time together. I spent alot of time with his children and wife. We hadn't seen each other in a while, but i have always held them in my heart as dear friends. This is simply heartbreaking. As i wrote last night, I still don't really have words for how heartbreaking it is.

Even harder still--wondering what will happen with his sweet family? They were in Atlanta getting ready to leave for Brazil, where David would teach at a university as they served as Presbyterian mission workers. David just finished his ph.d. at duke last May. He has been in grad school for 10 years, and they were just embarking on this next part of their journey together as a family--serving God (see the post directly below to learn more). Because of all of these factors, I have come to understand that they are now in a really tough spot financially. They were waiting to go to Brazil, and had just sold their house here in durham as they were getting ready to leave for brazil. So not only do they have to figure out how to cope with losing their father, but they will have to worry about where to live, and how they will live.

When we were met last year with Heath's diagnosis and heart transplant, people dropped everything and helped us--some knew us, some did not. One of the reasons we got to where we are in the emotional and physical state we are now is because we didnt' have to worry about the huge bills that were piling up. Thanks to that Good Samaritan Fund at Cary pres and the generous long list of folks who gave to it (we've never actually seen a list of who gave, but I know it was many of you...thanks).

First Presbyterian Church here in Durham is doing something similar for the Knauerts. I just learned the details, and I thought I would pass it on to you:
Donations to the Knauert Children's Well-being Fund can be sent to First Presbyterian Church, 305 E. Main St, Durham, NC 27701. Make check to First Pres but put this fund in memo.

Donations are tax deductible. No pressure, but I thought you might like to know of a family who was giving of themselves who now needs help.

The service to celebrate David's life will be at First Presbyterian on Friday at 4pm. I ask you all to hold his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.

love and blessings to you all. carrie

life is so fragile--a prayer request for friends

on saturday morning i took a cpr class at westminster. it was really helpful--but i must admit the process of learning cpr was quite emotional for me. as the video went through "scenarios" in which cpr might need to be used, i found the emotion welling up in me remembering some of the scariest moments of my life this past november and december. i found myself suddenly so overwelmed thinking about the fragility of life, but then in the same instant thinking about the great enormous joy in this very same life.

i got home, and heath fell asleep on me, sheer joy to any mama, really (unless it is the middle of the night and he or she should be IN THE BED!!). I heard chris say, "oh dear God..." and he turned the computer toward me to read an email, unable to speak.

in horror, i read that our friend and colleague from seminary, David Knauert, had died suddenly that morning while jogging in atlanta. how could this be possible? but it was true. David was in atlanta finishing preparations to go to teach the bible in a university in brazil. As he finished his phd at duke, he and his wife, Leigh, and their 4 children were called to be Presbyterian missionaries.

I don't really have words right now to say about him. You might be interested to read his own words, and you will appreciate him:
http://www.pcusa.org/missionconnections/letters/knauertd/knauertd_0910.htm

what i do ask for are your prayers for his family in such a sudden, tragic time.

we have learned how important it was for us to have those who knew us and didn't know us at all praying when we weren't sure we could or even what or how to pray.