Kelly Jo with Yet Another Celebrity!

Here is a picture of Kelly Jo with one of our dear friends in Wichita, Kansas last week. This is Sis. Evelyn Mitchell or as we affectionately call her, Grandma Mitchell.

Grandma Mitchell spent most of her life playing the piano. She was born in Austria and gave her first piano recital at age 6 and continued performing and teaching in Europe and in the United States, until she retired from the University of Missouri at age 70.

Sis. Mitchell told us that she has now come to consider all of that as the most unfulfilled part of her life. She was introduced to Christ in her fifties and surrendered her life to Him. In her eighties she attended and graduated from Great Plains Bible School at Bethany Revival Center in Wichita under Pastor John and Judy DiZazzo. Now 2 years away from 90, she is experiencing the richest, most peaceful and wonderful time of her life as she ministers to the inmates at the Sedgwick County Jail.

There is no way of knowing how many people Sis. Mitchell influenced in all her years of playing and teaching the piano. She has brought joy into countless lives. Yet as a Christian dedicated to winning others to Christ her influence can be much greater! She would rather win a soul to Christ than to hear the applause of the crowd. In our book, that makes Grandma Mitchel a real celebrity!

Davy

Sister Esther Richards

A few days ago Odie posted a picture of Kelly Jo with Sis. Esther Richards from Boston. She traveled to Wichita to be in the revival and we were blessed to finally meet her. Pastor John and Judy DiZazzo and a few others in the church came from Boston over 24 years ago to pioneer the Bethany Revival Center in Wichita, KS. Sis. Esther was very influential in their early lives and is still a big part of their home church in Boston.
We have heard so much about her through the years and it was so good to become personally acquainted with her.

The last day of revival she presented each of us with a beautiful card and in my card she included a poem she had written for us that morning. I asked her permission to post it online and Sis. Esther graciously consented. Here it is....

The fields are white, faithful laborers are few,
Work while 'tis day, and your strength He'll renew.
The work is great, many are in need,
Go forth and sow the precious seed.

Hold on! Be faithful! Keep your eyes on the goal!
Never fear, as your life is in His control.
He is with you now and will be to the end,
His power and anointing will on you descend.

Your reward will come from the Lord above,
That you've served with a heart full of love.
Your labor of love He'll ne'er forget,
When you stand before Him,
There will be no regret!

Thank you, Sis. Esther, for your kind words and reminder to all of us that there is still much work to do. It is so easy for us to be caught up in all the "things" of life and we must be reminded that God placed us here to work. We must Hold On, Be Faithful, Keep our eyes on the Goal!

God bless each one as you labor for Christ!

Davy

Ron's in Oklahoma City

We closed revival in Wichita last night (Wednesday) and made the trip to Oklahoma City today. Once we settled in this afternoon in the campground we headed off to Ron's Hamburgers and Chili. I've posted about Ron's in Tulsa but I hadn't been to the one here in OKC so off we went. When we pulled up in front of the place I just about lost it. Two doors down from Ron's and its Double Big Daddy Cheeseburger is Weight Watchers! They are both in the same building about 30 feet apart! Isn't that a riot? I can imagine weighing in at Weight Watchers and then going next door and celebrating the fact that I lost two pounds. It cracked me up! I included the pictures. (I made sure I didn't snap any incriminating pictures of the Weight Watchers customers slipping over to Ron's.)lol

The Double Big Daddy didn't seem quite as big as the ones I've had in Tulsa and Sand Springs but it was every bit as good. It tasted excellent! The only Cheeseburger I've had so far that rivals it is from Spanky's in Broken Arrow, OK. They make a great burger as well. It was still pretty big though. That is a full size plate it's sitting on in the picture.

We sing tomorrow night for Bro. JR. Alexander's church and then preach for them Saturday night and Sunday morning. We are looking forward to it. We are also looking forward to Chelino's (Some of my Favorite Mexican food) tomorrow for lunch! I'll let you know how it goes!

Davy

The DiZazzos, The DiMinicos & The Boglionis

It sure was great to be with our Italian family again this year in Wichita! The DiZazzos pastor the church here and every year the DiMinicos come down from their church in Omaha, Nebraska and we have a great big time. Several years ago they adopted us into their family as the Boglionis! It is great to be loved.
It's a good thing I love Lasagna!

Davy

Terrific Tuesday Recap

Pic 1. Kelly Ann models a hat
Pic 2. Kelly Ann & Odie
Pic 3. Laura, Julia, Kristen, Kelly Ann & Odie

Tuesday before lunch Mom and I met up with Kelly Mitchell. Kelly is a great friend and she is a lot of fun to be with. We are always talking about clothes, latest additions to our music collections, and just general life of girls in their 20's. We have a good time together.
We like to shop together so we were able to squeeze in a trip to Burlington Coat Factory T.J. Max. Kelly and I were proud of ourselves for not buying any clothes.
Burlington did have a really cute orange skirt and I left hanging on the rack! I did find a cute white hat and some hair clips that I did not leave on the rack. LOL I snapped a pic of Kelly Ann trying on this hat. I think I will go back and get it for her. I think it looks great on her. LOL I did not get to snap a picture of the heels she tried on.
Dad, Bro. DiZazzo and Bro. Charles Mitchell did a service this morning at the County Jail. Dad said they had a great response. He preached to them about "A Hunger For God". This was the second of two services Dad preached in the jail this visit to Wichita. Dad really enjoys getting to minister there each year!
After our shopping trip and the jail service we all met up at Chedders for a delicious lunch. I forgot to get pics of our food. Everything at Chedders is good!
We had a really good service Tuesday night. It was a pleasure to see our friends The Fellers from Weir, Kansas and The Walkers from here in Wichita! I think Dad took pictures of them on his phone. Maybe he will share later. I did get a few on my camera.
We have one more service of the revival here at Bethany. Only God knows what's ahead. But I am sure it will be great.


Odie



Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Sis. Esther

Revival continues to go well at Bethany Revival Center. Over the years of coming to Bethany we had met many great friends.
Sis. Esther came all the way from Boston, Massachusetts for revival and to be with friends. Sis. Esther is from the DiZazzo's home church in Boston. For years the DiZazzos have spoken highly of this fine lady. We felt as if we were friends before we even met her! So we were so excited to finally put a face with a name.
Saturday at dinner she gave Mom these beautiful roses. She is so sweet!
I think I have met someone more jumpy than myself. I know its hard to believe! Sis. Esther is a good sport about it and we are having a blast with her!!!!!!!
Several friends of come from out of town to visit revival. Maybe I'll get introduce more of them to you later.
Have a wonderful day!

Odie

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry