This week's story is from Gary Thies, Mission Counselor for LCMS Foundation in Iowa and Nebraska. Gary loves to tell stories from God's mission. He also loves to tell what he calls "stories of God reaching down and touching the lives of individual donors." This time it is a story about a donor who touched Gary. His story may touch you as well.
Fifteen-year-old Luke Dahlke lives in Hebron, Nebraska. He is terminally ill, with very little time left. A few weeks ago, Luke remembered Gary Thies speaking at his school in Deshler. He asked if Gary would come to his home.
Luke told Gary that he wanted to choose his own memorial. They discussed several possibilities before Luke settled on missionary support for Frank and Donna Maurer in Nigeria.
Gary also shared these words from Scripture: "All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all (2 Corinthians 4:15-17)."
Luke may outwardly be "wasting away," but inwardly he is courageous and giving. When Gary asked if he could tell this story to others, Luke said, “Yeah, maybe I can be an example to others.”
That he is.
[Editor's note: Early in December, 2002, Luke Dahlke received a complete lung and heart transplant in San Francisco. We will print more on his progress as we learn it.]