Odie - We Are Making Progress

We seem to be making some progress. We are making NO progress in finding proper medical care. The neurologist that Odie was referred to by the ER doctor does not accept Odie's insurance. She spent several hours on the phone Monday trying to find somebody to see her. She talked to the insurance company, her primary doctor, the ER, the person at the hospital that coordinates patient care and many, many individual doctor's offices. She still has a lead or two to follow up on but so far nothing.

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Monday

Sunday

However, God IS helping. I was working on the bus this evening when Pastor Darrell Toliver called to check on us and Odie. I was in the middle of saying to him, "If this is a direct attack of the enemy..." and Bro. Toliver said, "Davy, it is a direct attack of the devil. I knew it from the very first text you sent me." He went on to expand on his point and I knew he was giving me a Word from the Lord for us.

I understand that we live in frail human bodies that are affected by 6000 years of the cumulative affects of sin. Our bodies are literally dying from the day we are born. We can expect sickness and disease because we are human. We also know that some afflictions can be attacks of the devil. When Bro. Toliver was talking to me I feel like it was confirmed to me this is more spiritual than physical.

Now, I know that I have a very wide range of readers on this blog and you come here from all sorts of varied backgrounds and beliefs. The idea of satan or even God having an active interest in our lives is completely foreign to many. But we believe in a real God that loves us and cares for us and is concerned for us. We believe in a real devil that is interested in destroying everything good, Godly and spiritual. We believe that Christians are allowed to be tested and tried (Job). We also believe that God can sustain us through these trials and tests and give us victory in the end. Maybe that gives everybody a little foundation for what I am telling you.

By this time in my conversation with Bro. Toliver we had loaded up in the Green Machine. Kelly Jo was driving, Odie was in the passenger seat and I was behind her.With this new sense of direction in prayer. I laid hands on Odie and passed the phone to her as Bro. Toliver, Kelly Jo and I prayed for her. As we praised God and rebuked the devil and his evil plan we could feel victory rising up within us. We could sense that we were now praying according to the will of God and He was helping us tremendously.

And help us He did!

By the time we reached Waynesville and we began to get out of the car, Odie could perceive some outline of the trees across the road in her extreme peripheral vision. She has been thinking she was gaining a little peripheral vision since Friday afternoon but she has been afraid she might be wishful thinking. The improvement this evening was out of the other corner of her eye so she knew it is an improvement.

When we arrived back at the BoggsMobile, Kelly Jo opened up her vision chart on her iPad and put Odie to the test again as she has several time over the last week. Odie has not been able to see a letter 8 inches tall right in front of her left eye. Not at all. But tonight for the first time Odie could make out some of the bigger letters on the chart looking straight ahead. It is nothing you could call real sight yet, but it is a definite improvement. Praise God. We have been rejoicing in the bus tonight!

To sum it all up, we now are convinced this is a spiritual attack and we are praying to that end. We know God is able. Hallelujah! We heard a Word from the Lord and experienced a move of God this evening. We are already seeing some improvement and we are expecting a complete miracle and restoration of sight for Odie. We realize we may be in this for a long hall but we are fighting with God on our side and that is exactly what we need to win no matter how long the battle. 

Please continue to pray for us. Ask God to cover us with mercy and grace and to give us the strength to stand and be courageous. Take the fight to the devil for us! We have received calls, text and emails from all over this country and from other countries. We know that folks are standing with us and praying for us. Preachers from all over have let us know their churches are extremely burdened for Odie and are seriously interceding for her. Praise God. If all these saints are rebuking satan in Jesus name there is no telling what is going to happen.

I believe it is possible that Odie may not only see well again but WALK  right out of this trial before it is concluded! Hallelujah!

God bless you all.

Davy

Praise Report and Prayer Request - Odie

Here is Odie singing Monday night during the altar service at Anchor of Hope.

Edit: Kettering Hospital called Odie on Tuesday with approval for the MRI the neurologist ordered. She is scheduled to have that on Thursday night.

Odie had her first appointment with the Neuro-Ophthalmologist on Monday morning. She had been seen by an Ophthalmologist in his office in April and this was a follow up appointment. She was there to have all the tests repeated so they could gauge her recovery. The tests in April served as a baseline test and those test were administered about two days after the Lord began to restore her sight so we knew they would reveal a big improvement.

AND THEY DID! The doctor used words like dramatic, impressive and incredible to describe the improvement between April and now. He told Odie her vision was a thousand times better than it was in April. Praise God! As we have said before Odie's vision in her left eye is not 100% but it is close and we are thankful to God for His help. 

We do have more on this that we would like for you to pray about. IF Odie's sudden blindness was caused by Optic Neuritis it is possible it occurred on its own with no underlying cause. There is about a 20% chance that the Optic Neuritis is a symptom of something else and one of those other causes is MS. The MRIs and spinal tap and other tests have been ordered so they can rule out MS and the other causes we are less familiar with and can not pronounce.

We do not have a final answer yet but we are believing God for a clean report. Would you help us pray? Would you rebuke the enemy and ask God to give us complete victory in this. We know He is able and we are trusting Him for this help. 

Odie is scheduled for another round of the tests she had today when we return home for campmeeting in August. We should know more then. Until then we will seek God and serve God.

Thanks for praying.

Davy

Odie Update and A Travel Day

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Faith Church-Revival In Pictures

I will continue to post updates concerning Odie as long as we need to and we have pertinent information for you. I will also try to add the blog updates and texts we send out to the page where I initially told you about her eye problem. I will post the new updates on the top of the page. That way you can go to one place to read it all if you like. HERE is a link to that page that you can share if you like.

Odie saw Dr. Cindy Smith, the Primary Care Doctor assigned to her in Lebanon, Ohio today. The doctor is trying to order the MRI's. Odie's insurance requires Jumping through a lot of near impossible hoops to obtain preauthorization for an MRI. Dr. Smith is trying to convey the fact that this is a real emergency in order to receive authorization now. The insurance company will not even authorize an MRI through an emergency room visit. A neurologist would have to order it there too. 

All of this is kind of ridiculous but there is not much we can do. Kelly Jo found a place that does the scans the ophthamologist in Paducah wanted and also accepts Odie's obviously limited insurance. They also take cash pay and we are willing to go that route if we need too in order to get the ball rolling. There is a question of whether or not the insurance would accept the scans even if we pay for them since they have not ordered them. The word circus comes to mind again.

Please Pray for a miracle. As far as she can tell Odie says she is about the same. We know that our God is able to heal and IF things slow down a little in the next few days I have several thought percolating that I would like to write down and share with you.

Thankfully we all made it to Ohio safe and sound. Kelly Jo and Odie left after church Tuesday night and arrived about 3 AM. I left Wednesday morning and arrived just before 7 PM. It took me 9 hours to drive 340 miles!

The main reason it took so long was the fact that I was driving 45 mph or less the whole way. When we parked at Faith Church in Salem on Saturday I noticed that one of my tag axle tires had a severe separation in the sidewall near the rim. I did not want to have a blowout.

These tag tires are nearly 6 years old and have over 80,000 miles on them. That is pretty good for a tag axle tire. They were the first tires that I replaced on the BoggsMobile after we bought it and I have been trying to replace them for about 6-8 weeks. I want to buy two new Michelins and put them on the front and then move the front tires to the tag axle. The tires have been back ordered so I have not been able to replace them. 

This tire coming apart adds quite a bit of urgency. Now that we are home, I do have a tire I have kept for emergencies that I can put on in place of this one. I am so thankful I made it home.

One of the other reasons I was so long on the road was a classic Cincinnati traffic jam. Welcome to Ohio! I seriously thought about pulling over on the shoulder and taking a nap to give it time to clear out.

Thank you for all of the calls, comments, texts and emails concerning Odie. You do not know how much it means to us. 

Just for clarification, we have only cancelled one revival. The rest of our schedule remains the same as of now. Our plan is to take it one week at at time.

God bless you all.

Davy

Eye Balls and Round Bails

Odie's Eyes

Odie had a follow up appointment with the Neuro-Opthomologist on Monday. She had all the vision tests completed again and the doctor was very pleased with everything. This is the fifth time since April that she has had the whole battery of tests. Odie documented her last visit HERE.

Odie also had a follow up MRI last week. The results were not available for her doctor yesterday morning but she was notified they were in last night. We obviously do not understand all of the medical jargon but we do understand NO Change and we know That is a good thing since they are watching for any changes that would indicate MS or other diseases.

Thank God for His help. We really believe that God has given Odie AND us a miracle through all of this. In April she was completely blind in one eye as well as dealing with her life long mobility issues. It was a scary time for all of us but especially Odie. Jesus said in John 4 "fear hath torment" and it certainly does. But He also said in the same verse "perfect love casteth out fear" and we know that is true as well.

Now, the troubles of life have not ceased, the devil did not die or give up and we are still living in imperfect bodies. Turmoil could erupt almost any where at any time, however we want to go on record praising God for His help through it all. We know that God is faithful and just, righteous and true.

If we believe that "the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord" (Psalm 37:23) and that God's "word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path" (Psalm 119:105) then we must trust Him and follow where He leads. The path may lead through very dark places but God is leading the way. Even in the midst of slippery places and uncertain events, we take comfort that God is in control when life feels out of control.

Praise God!

Rolling Round Bails

On the way home from the doctor Kelly Jo and Odie witnessed a tractor and trailer losing four big round bails on a busy city street. All four of them were bouncing or rolling and one of them rolled quite a ways but stopped before it rolled onto them. The car in front of them narrowly avoided a tragedy and it could have been bad for all of us.

Thank God for keeping His hand on my girls. That big thing could have easily made short work of the Green Machine along with the two most precious people in my life. Praise God for protecting them and helping Kelly Jo to be alert and quick to respond.

Work Continues at the Ranch

I worked yesterday on trying to finish several projects on the barn before the rain sets in. Dad and my Uncle Jerry Smith brought a load of gravel and we spread it in front of the front doors in a low place where the bus goes in and out. I need some more in a few muddy places eventually but one load will do fine for now. I appreciate Uncle Jerry using his dump trailer and taking time to bring the gravel to me. It was a blessing to us.

I also worked on closing access under the barn. Rascally varmints have been tunneling and undermining the concrete along the east edge of the building. Time will tell if my efforts are effective. 

I also worked on some more electrical things and patched some of fascia board that will need to be replaced with the roof. We have a little yellow bird that comes in at sun down and sings a song in the morning before leaving. I saw it coming in through the holes before I patched them. Evidently they were not the only way in because as night came so did the little song bird.

More work today and tomorrow. Maybe I will take time to gather some pictures together and post them tomorrow. Thanks for reading.

Davy

A Busy and Blessed Easter Sunday

There is really nothing new to report on Odie's situation today. She is about the same as far as she can tell although at times she thinks there may be a slight improvement. We are clinging to every promise we can and we really do thank you for all the prayers and concern.

Tomorrow she will try to reach the neurologist that has been recommended and make an appointment as soon as possible. We are hoping she can get in this week. If she does then MAYBE we can get back on the road by next weekend. We are anxious to get back to our duties but we are also at peace with being in Ohio at this time if that is what we need to do. I am usually climbing the walls after about 3 days at home. Although I am staying busy with several bus projects I do feel a contentment that I know God is giving me.

As of right now we are still planning to be in Lawton, Oklahoma next Sunday to begin revival. I talked to Pastor Brandon Murray again yesterday and brought him up to date on what we know. We should know by midweek whether or not we will be able to keep our commitment to Pastor Murray and his great church. We always have a great time there so we are hoping it works out.

So many of you have called, text and emailed to let us know you are holding Odie up in prayer. God bless you for it. We are thankful for the good news we received Friday night but blindness in her left eye is still a very serious matter to us and to her. Please keep praying. Thank you.

Sunday's Easter Poem

We had a very busy but very blessed Easter Sunday. Thank God for His blessings on our family.

Kelly and I started the day at Sunrise Service at Corwin Pentecostal Church with Pastor Acy Lamb. I used to attend sunrise service at Corwin many years ago when I was a kid and teenager. I have always enjoyed sunrise service. Bro. Terry Bowling has been in revival there and he was preaching Sunday morning. He preached great and God was reaching for the lost.

They had a huge breakfast prepared but we did not get to stay and enjoy it. We had to get back to the BoggsMobile and fetch Odie in time to leave for Sunday morning service at Dryden Rd. It was a great service with a great crowd and Bro. Bennie preached a tremendous message.

We had a move of God while the youth choir was singing. It was awesome. I was blessed, Odie was blessed and several others were blessed as well. Thank God for reaching down in His mercy and coming close to us. He knows how despertely we need Him at this time.

Sunday night we were scheduled to preach at Dodds where we are parked. I appreciate Pastor Kelly Rogers for inviting us to preach. The church was a great blessing to us and I hope we were a blessing to them. Several of the area churches have invited us to preach while we are home. It is very thoughtful of these pastors to have us in their churches while we are here in limbo. May God bless them for it.

I hope you had a great Easter too. Now for the pictures.

Davy

Sunday night at Dodds.