Meet Kristiana and Sheila.
It all started in January when Kristiana, pulled me into her room to share a secret. She explained that back in October she was sitting in the HEB parking lot when she heard the Lord ask “would you ever donate a kidney?” Kristiana has always been an organ donor on her drivers license and brushed off the fleeting thought with a quick “sure I would.” Two months later she was back at HEB shopping for black eyed peas when she sees a lady from across the way. She remembers she knows her and loves her, but can’t quite place the name. As she walks down a little more the lady recognizes Kristiana and comes up to her. Turns out they both worked together more than a decade ago. They exchange niceties and small talk until the conversation turns to what they are doing these days...the lady, Sheila, says she is no longer teaching because of some kidney problems and she is currently on a list for a kidney. She is a deep woman of faith so she follows her comment with the fact that God is in control and she is at peace with whatever the Lord wants for her. Kristiana explains that at this point her heart and mind were racing as her thoughts go back to October and what the Lord had asked her in that very parking lot!! (I love how God is even in the little details!!) As Kristiana told me all of this in her classroom she kept asking if she was crazy and was this crazy! Absolutely not!! This was God moving and we were getting a front row seat!! She and Sheila said good bye without Kristiana sharing anything with her, but she immediately started researching and praying. She felt like she was supposed to move forward in the kidney donation process. She called the hospital and got on the list to undergo extensive testing to see if she might be a match. However, in all her research she found that psoriasis could have a negative effect on kidneys and she has had psoriasis on her foot for over 10 years. The Lord asked her to shift her prayers from kidney transplant to healing of her foot, so we did!! We prayed, she fasted and we believed. Within a month the spot on her foot was gone! GONE!! Her kids and husband and all of us were just amazed!!
We immediately changed our large, over arching prayer for Kristiana to be a match with Sheila to small daily prayers for each step of the way. Here where a few of the prayers we prayed:
-healing of the psoriasis
-matching blood types
-one artery, not 3, coming out of her kidney
-all psychological tests would come back normal
-all physical tests would come back normal
-her family would be open and on board with the surgery
-Sheila would be on board to take the donation
Every. Single. Prayer was answered!! All of them!! At one point I found myself begging for the Lord to keep moving and a friend shared with us “don’t come to Him begging like a slave, but simply ask like His child.” That was so powerful! We knew this was God’s thing, not ours, but in the midst of it I forgot and started pleading and begging for things. If He is moving, there is no need for that, just stay humble and connected and listen for the next step. Kristiana and Sheila are so close a match that they call them a sister match! Only a 9% chance that would happen...but God knew!
Kristiana’s birthday was in March and guess what the Lord revealed to her through all her research?? World Kidney Day is on her birthday!! (God loves the details! ❤️) So we HAD to do something for this!! Kidney cake it was!! Along with some cute kidney stickers!
In April, the hospital contacted Sheila and told her they found a donor and that is was Kristiana! I can not imagine the excitement on that phone! Sheila immediately contacted Kristiana and set up a dinner date to visit. We prayed over that dinner date and Kristiana joked that they were going to have church up in that restaurant! As Kristiana shared with Sheila all the details of God’s hand in this and Sheila also shared some of her own testimony. It was crazy to see how some dates coincided with one another yet Sheila had no idea Kristiana was even pursuing this. As the two began to leave the restaurant they saw Virgil walk in. If you are from Waco you have probably seen this man praying over the city on the newly demolished crossing bridge. He is a strong man of faith. He knew Sheila and she called him over to hear the great news and God’s story through them this far. Kristiana said he then began to pray and prophecy loudly over them right there, the whole restaurant looking on...hands raised, tears streaming!! As she told me the story the day after we giggled because they sure did have church there, louder and more powerful than she even imagined!!
As the surgery date approached we had to go for pre-surgery pedis!
Yesterday was surgery day and the emotions were everywhere! I’m thankful my BFF is ok after surgery. I pray both her and Sheila’s body adapt to their new normals. But I am most thankful that I was able to watch the Lord move throughout this whole process. His hand was ALL OVER every step of this!! He loves the details, He touched so many through this journey and I bet He is thankful for children who listen for the small whisper of His voice and obey. I have learned so much about His character and how if we come to Him with open hearts and hands, surrendered to Him, He will blow our expectations away! Listen for the whisper and hang on for the adventure!
Kristiana with Sheila’s family after both surgeries were a success!
Kristiana’s birthday was in March and guess what the Lord revealed to her through all her research?? World Kidney Day is on her birthday!! (God loves the details! ❤️) So we HAD to do something for this!! Kidney cake it was!! Along with some cute kidney stickers!
In April, the hospital contacted Sheila and told her they found a donor and that is was Kristiana! I can not imagine the excitement on that phone! Sheila immediately contacted Kristiana and set up a dinner date to visit. We prayed over that dinner date and Kristiana joked that they were going to have church up in that restaurant! As Kristiana shared with Sheila all the details of God’s hand in this and Sheila also shared some of her own testimony. It was crazy to see how some dates coincided with one another yet Sheila had no idea Kristiana was even pursuing this. As the two began to leave the restaurant they saw Virgil walk in. If you are from Waco you have probably seen this man praying over the city on the newly demolished crossing bridge. He is a strong man of faith. He knew Sheila and she called him over to hear the great news and God’s story through them this far. Kristiana said he then began to pray and prophecy loudly over them right there, the whole restaurant looking on...hands raised, tears streaming!! As she told me the story the day after we giggled because they sure did have church there, louder and more powerful than she even imagined!!
As the surgery date approached we had to go for pre-surgery pedis!
Yesterday was surgery day and the emotions were everywhere! I’m thankful my BFF is ok after surgery. I pray both her and Sheila’s body adapt to their new normals. But I am most thankful that I was able to watch the Lord move throughout this whole process. His hand was ALL OVER every step of this!! He loves the details, He touched so many through this journey and I bet He is thankful for children who listen for the small whisper of His voice and obey. I have learned so much about His character and how if we come to Him with open hearts and hands, surrendered to Him, He will blow our expectations away! Listen for the whisper and hang on for the adventure!
Kristiana with Sheila’s family after both surgeries were a success!
Love you BIG, Kristiana!!
