Letter to Karen

Karen,

I just wanted to write a letter to you to let you know, that I am so happy for you right now. I know that you are up in heaven holding your mother’s hand, dancing and rejoicing with the Lord. I know that you do not feel pain anymore; you never have to take anymore medicine for anything. I am so happy for you.

I thank you for allowing me to live in your house; I thank you for believing in me, and allowing me to participate in creating Lessons from Luke. Just know that Kathleen, Chris, and I WILL finish these lessons for you. We will make sure that all of the hard work that you put into these lessons will be used. Thank you for letting me be my controlling, organized self, and make you and Chris meet every Monday to lay out the week ahead.

Thank you for listening to me. There were so many mornings when I would get up, I would just share with you what I was thinking, feeling. You were always there to encourage me, and bring me back to the Lord. You would read from your devotional to me if it applied to my troubles. Thank you so much.

Thank you for pushing me out of my comfort zone. I have a difficult time with kids, and you would always push me to participate in Bible Club, and teach when you could not. Thank you for being an inspiration to me. You always said, “There is always room for one more.” You carried a gracious spirit, you never let anyone go hungry, and you never left anyone behind. You inspire me to let go of my fears, you inspire me to be the woman that God wants me to be.

Thank you for allowing me to be in the room with you in your final moments of life. As I was leaving the hospital you kissed me, and told me that I was the best caregiver, and that I spoiled you. But I just want to let you know that I feel honored to have been there. I am thankful that for some reason God had me with you during your final moments of life. I read Ephesians to you, we listened to music, I gave you water, fanned you, and massaged you. You told the nurses in the hospital that if it wasn’t for my fear of blood, I would have been the best nurse around. I will never forget those moments. You were so strong, and your body fought that infection hard. I remember thinking as I was in the room with you, your hair is so perfect….after all that you had gone through, your hair was still perfect looking. I wish I had your hair.

Karen, you were an amazing woman. You touched so many lives, you have no idea. As I sit writing this letter to you, the doorbell rings continually. People from all over have travelled to Bamenda to be with Katelyn and all of us. Everyone in Sabba Njowra are missing you, many of them are here right now. I wish you could be here. The house is full of people who love you. We all love you, and we will carry on your hospitality for the rest of our lives. 

I feel so privileged that I was here for the end of your life. You are an amazing woman, and I will always love you. One day I will join you in heaven. We will be reunited again someday.

(Do not worry, I made Katelyn take her vitamins today, and I told everyone to wash their hands ;))

I love you Karen,

Sarah