Dustin's Story - December 15, 2011

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Dustin Chamberlain was living the dream of his life.  A sophomore, at Baylor University, Dustin was majoring in Biology/Pre-med, and had begun looking at his options for medical school. On December 15, 2011, our lives were forever changed.

December 15, 20ll, started like any other day, except for the fact that Dustin had returned home from college for Christmas Break. On December 14, 2011, Dustin had a minor outpatient procedure and was resting comfortably. He had assured his parents there was no need to miss work to stay home with him, that he was feeling fine.  His father had plans of having lunch with him that day.

At 10:45AM, after repeated attempts to call Dustin on his cell phone and home phone to no avail, Dustin’s mother called Don, his father, and asked if he would please go by and check on Dustin. Shortly after that phone call, a horrible tragedy began to unfold. Dustin’s father, upon entering the home, found Dustin lying just inside the door with 4 fatal gun shot wounds. In the family room, a stranger was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, which later proved to be fatal. As the story got out and the mystery unfolded, this stranger was a local resident who had been reported as missing, depressed, and possibly suicidal. He had wandered to the Chamberlain residence, and there was evidence that he had been there for up to 2 hours before the parents left for work that morning, just waiting to enter the home. Dustin surprised him when he met him at the door.

We entered the darkest days of our lives on December 15, 2011. We struggled with how a loving, sovereign God could allow something so horrible to happen. Dustin was a good, Christian kid. He loved God with all of his heart. The night before his death he spoke of his plans to participate in a medical mission’s trip. Friends at Baylor remembered him as a man of God, who lived out his witness daily. There were many questions. How could this be? But God graciously began to shower us with His love.  It started shining through the darkness when we discovered many writings Dustin had left behind...notes that he had taken during church services August through December 2011. Dustin spoke of how God loves us more than we can ever imagine and that joy comes through understanding the Kingdom of Heaven. He penned that “we must live more simply to give to those in need.” Dustin wrote “pain and suffering will come but it will be for God’s glory.” He said, “All that matters is to hear, 'Well done My good and faithful servant.'” On December 11, 2011, Dustin wrote about “unmet expectations of Christmas” and his last words to write were “sometimes God disappoints us in the short run to save us in the long run.” Dustin’s planner was in his back pack he had just brought home from school. On December 12-14, Dustin had written “Home.” But on December 15, 2011, Dustin wrote “HOME” and never made another entry. 

Yes, Dustin did make it "HOME" safely, but we are here to continue his dream. He accomplished many things in twenty short years. But Dustin would want everyone to know of God’s love and saving power. When asked how he could consistently make wise choices and live his faith, Dustin would reply, “Because I love God with all my heart and I don’t want to give Him anything less than my best.”

Our prayer is that through Dustin’s Dream, souls will be impacted and saved for Christ. We want the world to know that God is loving, He is faithful, and His ways are higher than our ways.

More Memories from friends of Dustin

Dustin's Obituary

Dustin Lee Chamberlain, 20-year-old resident of Siloam Springs, died at his home Thursday, Dec. 15. Born June 18, 1991, in Siloam Springs, he was the son of Don Lee Chamberlain and Deondra Jane Wallingford Chamberlain and had been a lifetime resident.
He was a graduate of Siloam Springs High School where he was active in the basketball, cross-country and golf programs. While in high school, Dustin was also active in Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Big Brothers and Big Sisters program. He had been a student at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, the past year and a half and was a sophomore biology and pre-med student where he had just completed the semester and had earned a 4.0 grade point. He was active in several student organizations including the American Medical Student Association, Medical Service Organization, and the Bear Pit, a basketball spirit organization. He attended Harris Creek Baptist Church in McGregor, Texas.
Survivors include his parents, Don and Deondra Chamberlain of the home; one sister, Danae Chamberlain of the home; his paternal grandparents, Leo and Idabell Chamberlain of Colcord, Okla.; and his maternal grandparents, Darrell and Donna Wallingford of Bella Vista, Ark.