The Columbia River Gorge

We left Umatilla, Oregon pretty early this morning and headed down the Columbia River. Bro. Garmin (My GPS) led me astray within the first mile so I knew I was in for a ride today! A wrong turn now and then is not to bad unless you are 45 feet long plus Mr. Cheap Jeep and you can't back up much at all without unhooking the jeep. Well, a tour through a high school parking lot and we were on our way!

As I said yesterday, I had heard and read much about the Columbia River Gorge so we were very anxious to see it for ourselves. We had crossed the Columbia River on I-90 back in 2005 while pulling our fifth wheel and again the next day going south on I-5. We were impressed then but nothing prepared us for the beauty we saw today as we drove West on I-84. The Columbia River was to our right and it was great! The river flows through a gorge for miles and miles and we were in awe the whole distance. We probably took 50 pictures but as we often say pictures can not capture what the eye can see. Let me put it this way, if you love mountains, canyons, cliffs and water then you will love seeing it all mixed together in the Columbia River Gorge!

We left early so we could be at Cascade Locks by 10:30 to board a stern-wheeler for a two hour tour, a two hour tour....No, we didn't become castaways on a deserted island, we didn't even get on the boat. We called ahead to make sure they had Bus and RV parking and they assured me that they did. When we pulled up to the place it had a 12ft. clearance. Out of the four RVs we have lived in through the years only one of them would have fit into their parking lot. They suggested I park on the street! No, thanks. We ditched the boat ride and kept driving. Of course I had to turn around twice in that little town. The first time I cut through a dirt parking lot at a pretty steep angle (while Kelly Jo was in the shower) and the second time I drove 6 miles before I could find a place to turn around.

Next we followed the signs for Multnomah Falls (A Must See Along The Columbia River) and found ourselves on a very curvy, very narrow road winding our way around the bend about 5 miles to the falls. When we arrive we discover you can exit off the interstate right there and walk through a tunnel and into the parking lot we were in. We couldn't access the interstate there so we had to continue about 3 more even curvier and even more narrow roads before we could join I-84 again. I told you I knew as soon as Bro. Garmin lied to me that it was going to be one of those days. lol The falls were worth it though! Plus I had a great visit with a group of Amish folks from near Goshen and Shipshewana, Indiana on a cross country bus tour. And we had a great lunch in the bus.

We have settled for the night in a campground in Sutherlin, Oregon. We made it about 368 miles. That's not too bad considering all the stops we made along the Columbia River taking in the scenery. But we are not quite half way to our destination in California.

God bless,

Davy

Sunset in Umatilla, Oregon

A beautiful sunset over the Columbia River in Umatilla, Oregon. These were taken standing in front of the BoggsMobile parked in the RV Park.

Davy

On The Road To California!

Today (Monday) was our first day on the road to California. It was a beautiful day to drive. We went West from Missoula on I-90 through the top of Idaho, into Washington and then down Hwy 395 into Oregon. We stopped for the night along the Columbia River near Umatilla, Oregon.

We plan to go West tomorrow on I-84 which follows the Columbia River Gorge. We have heard it is an awesome drive so we are looking forward to that.

This post should have a few pictures of the trip today and of the campground. No Internet here so I am posting from my phone.

Davy

On The Road Again - Newsletter - August 6, 2010

Every 6-8 weeks Odie writes a Newsletter that we publish and send to the various churches where we have ministered in the past. The Newsletter is Called "On The Road Again" and Odie started it within a month or two after we went back on the road in January 2003. The mailing list grows with each issue to include new places we have been but we try to keep the list from growing so large that it would be financially impossible to publish. We tried adding the newsletter to our website (www.davykellyandodie.com) but often it would be terribly out of date by the time I had enough internet service to publish it on the website. Since I can publish here by email from my phone it should be easy to post our "On The Road Again" Newsletter here. It won't have everything and won't be formatted like the newsletter is printed but most the information will be here.

So, below you will find our August 6, 2010 On The Road Again Newsletter that Odie called "A Summer Summary"

Published by Odie Podie Music
Volume 8 Issue 3
August 6th, 2010
www.davykellyandodie.com

Boggs Family Ministries
P.O. Box 28
Waynesville, OH 45068
316-992-4658

Hello to all of you! Summer is well underway. Life has been full of excitement lately!
Thomasville, Georgia is where I had to leave you last time. We had a superb time with Pastor Tony Walker and the sweet folks at New Hope Holiness Church.
It was great to be at Mt. Sinai Holiness Tabernacle with Pastor Dewayne Watson and congregation. They have made lots of progress on their new church! May God bless their work in Dothan, Alabama!
We enjoyed meeting the newest member of the Watson family. Larissa Ann is a doll baby! All three of her brothers spoil her rotten!!!!
Ozark, Alabama is where we spent the next week. It had been two years since our last visit to Harbor of Hope. We count it a privilege to call Pastor Al Loper our friend.
The BoggsMobile then traveled to Tennessee. We always look forward to our trips to Beechfork Holiness Church in Wartburg, Tennessee! It is a blessing to us to see God blessing Pastor Herman Woods and congregation. They have been through some hard times, but God hasn't forgotten them!!
We spent a week at Trinity Pentecostal Church. God again visited us in Central City, Kentucky! Of course, we always have a “punny” time with Pastor Alan Harris. If laughter is a good medicine then we had a major dose of medicine that week! We loved every minute of it!!!
Calvary Holiness Church in Brooks, Kentucky is where we spent 5 services in May! They too are building a new church. God blessed in the altars every service of the revival. It was refreshing to our family!! We have always admired Pastor Doug and Sis. Gayle Webb. As we get to know them better we are quickly cherishing their friendship! God has the best people in the world!!!
It was our honor to participate in the Graduation Banquet at the Highway of Holiness. We were so happy to help Austin Griffitts celebrate his accomplishment! Also we had a wonderful time in the weekend services with Pastor Jerry Pascarella and congregation in Hamilton, Ohio.
Of course being around home gave us time to be with our family! It was great to catch up with all of them! My Papaw Eugene helped Dad on some projects on the BoggsMobile. My Dad sure appreciated that very much.
When it was revival time at Anchor of Hope in Lebanon, Ohio we desperately needed the Lord to show up! God is so Awesome to come right on time!!! We enjoyed our time with Pastor Bill Lamb and family!!
It had been a long time since we had been to Bond Holiness Church for a regular service. We were so happy to be there for a Sunday! Going to Bond, Kentucky is like going home. Pastor John Gabbard and all our friends always welcome us with open arms!
Our next revival was in Wichita, Kansas. It was Awesome. The Bogglionis always have a wonderful time with Pastors John and Judy DiZazzo and their great folks.
We dropped down to Oklahoma City to take part in the Five year Anniversary services at Landmark Holiness Tabernacle and Pastor J.R. Alexander. We had a great time in those services as well.
On our way West we stopped in for a Sunday night at First Freewill Baptist in Wichita. It was our first visit and Pastor Josh Bush and his folks received us so well.
We spent about ten days driving West stopping in Colorado for a few days and taking in the sights. We also preached one night for Pastor Paul Thomas in Colorado Springs, Colorado. That was a special treat for us.
We finally arrived in Montana and have been preaching, visiting and relaxing ever since. We sure appreciate Pastor Michael Metzger and the Sun Valley Church for allowing us to use their church as a home base for a while. I really enjoyed my time with their young people.
I have been in Ohio visiting with family the last two weeks and will join Dad and Mom at Dryden Rd. Campmeeting.
Well, I hear the engine starting so I better go ‘cause we’re On the Road Again.
____________________________________________________________________________________

Note From Davy:
As Odie said we have had a full and eventful summer and it is not over yet. We have been in Florence, Montana for almost six weeks preaching on Sundays for Pastor Metzger and a couple of Wednesdays as well. We have also been resting, visiting, recuperating, driving around and relaxing as a family. Being able to watch the sunset when we are usually preparing for church has been a great change of pace. This time has been a break for us and for Pastor Metzger. He has had a break from preaching every Sunday and I have had a break from the nightly pressure of preaching revivals. It has been refreshing for all of us.
We have one more Sunday in Montana and then we will say good bye to friends and continue our journey West. On Monday (8/9) Kelly Jo and I will finish the drive to California (About 1400 miles), preach there on Sunday and then fly back to Ohio for Dryden Rd. Indoor Campmeeting. After that we will all fly back to California and start revivals again. I am super ready to get started. I feel as good physically as I have in a long time and my feet are itching from being in one place for a long time. Bro. Metzger, his family and church have been so very good to us and we appreciate their hospitality, but these few weeks off have reinforced in me the calling that God has placed on our lives to preach the gospel to as many people as possible. We are looking forward to revivals and meetings the rest of the year. We plan to be in California for most of September and October. November and December will find us in Arizona, Texas, Kentucky and home for Christmas. You can watch for changes and additions to our schedule at www.davykellyandodie.com
God bless you all. Davy

Saturday Evening Storm and The Thoughts It Brings

This past Saturday night the Metzger family invited us over for a tremendous meal with the whole family. The meal was super! In fact it was so good that I had devoured it before I remembered to take any pictures. But I did get some pictures of the series of storms that blew over while Bro. Metzger and I were sitting in the front yard. We had to retreat to the porch a time or two to dodge the showers and hail but it was a beautiful evening.

Kelly Jo and I learned to love rain many years ago during an October trip to the Smoky Mountains. We went to relax and enjoy the fall weather and to view the brilliant fall colors. Instead of sunshine and beautiful leaves it rained the whole time we were there. I didn't say sprinkle for a reason. It rained! It rained so hard that it beat the leaves off the trees and the only colorful leaves were on the ground mixed with mud and tears! It rained so much that we would get soaked going from the truck to a restaurant.

It could have been miserable....but it wasn't!

We loaded up in our little beat up and rusted out Isuzu pickup and we spent those two or three days driving. We drove on every little back road we could follow around Galtinburg, Pigeon Forge and the Mountains. While driving in the rain we discovered places we never would have known existed. In fact we found one little picnic area on those rainy days that our whole family has since enjoyed several times on more sunny days.

We found beauty in unexpected places. We laughed about silly things and talked about things both small and important. We held hands and drove.

We found out that vacations aren't about sunshine, leaves, colors, attractions or even food! We found that vacations are about family! In fact life is about family. We had a very cramped motel room, very little money, a beat up truck and rain. And you know what else? We had the best vacation we have ever had. We have been chasing the rain ever since. Sure, we enjoy the sunshine as much as anyone but we have never complained about the rain again.

The storms had taught us something we will never forget! They always do!

Davy

Pastor Appreciation

Sunday was Pastor Appreciation Day at Sun Valley Church and it proved to be a great day! The church honored Pastor Michael Metzger, Sis Debbie and their seven wonderful children, Rachel, Christiana, Peter, Leah, Hannah, Abby and Jessica.

The Metger's served as Missionaries in Sierra Leone, West Africa for 7 years before coming to Montana to pioneer this church 15 years ago. Their labor of love has brought forth much fruit and they are well loved by their congregation. It was a joy to be there and take part in the celebration for this man of God and his precious family.

(I failed to take a picture of Bro. and Sis. Metzger on Sunday. This one was taken a month ago at Sis. Leah's Graduation service.)

The children singing for their Pastor.

Sis. Sarah cracking us up with her heartfelt and hilarious tribute.

The youth choir singing the Sun Valley Church version of "Thank You For Giving to The Lord"

Shaking Hands and Hugging necks and telling them how much we love them...

What is a celebration without cake?

Pastor Metzger visiting while we were waiting on the food.