I received this email this morning and was compelled to not just ask for your prayers but let Gary know that Army Goodell is praying for him.
Directly below is what I received from Dr. Norman Wright and below that, is my response....
The main reason for contacting you is a prayer request. As many of you know on Easter weekend I was in Arkansas participating in one of my best friend’s wedding, Dr. Gary Oliver. I had the privilege of performing his first wedding 28 years ago. Gary and I lost our first wives to cancer within two months of one another so he and I walked through the grief journey together. Just a month following his marriage in April, Gary underwent a ten hour surgery for cancer of the tongue. The cancer was stage one but because of previous radiation this same procedure could not be used. Thus a large portion of his tongue had to be removed. Tissue was taken from his thigh which included blood vessels and nerves and attached to his tongue. Gary will need to learn to talk again. Please pray with us that his recovery will be complete so that God will use Gary for many more years. Gary’s life has been built on his speaking and teaching all over the world including several years with Promise Keepers.
If you feel so led to send him a word of encouragement or prayer, his email is lindaellenoliver@gmail.com
or you can send a card or note to:
Gary and Linda Oliver c/o Dr. and Mrs. Ehab Hanna, 3703 Maroneal, Houston, TX 77025.
Dear Gary,
You do not know me and I only know of you because of the great stories Norm Wright delightfully relays in his seminars.
Whenever I hear him talk of you, I can feel his deep admiration and love for you.
Because of this love and how much he values you, your friendship,and your talent that has touched so many lives, he has asked for our prayers for you.
I cared for my 34 year old sister in-law while she fought angiosarcoma in 2008. While in the hospital I would type her progress or setbacks and the goofy things we did trying to keep our spirits up on a blog my brother had created. I had never been spiritual, just a christian and here I was attaching verses that seemed relevant to Robynn's circumstance. It started out as a way to inform our family and friends, but quickly took on a whole life of it's own. Robynn had people praying for her all over the nation and even in Europe. Unbelievers who had never met Robynn, became believers and joined our fearsome group of prayer warriors known as,"Army Goodell". In the midst of Robynn's battle my Aunt & Uncle were randomly murdered in their home by two teenagers and my best friend Kelly of over 25 years died suddenly. A month after we lost Kelly, Robynn passed leaving behind two 6 year olds and two 8 years olds between the two young moms. It was so much to handle within 5 months and most of it seems to be heavily blurred.
What is not blurred was the incredible amount of support and prayer that came from perfect strangers. They were compelled to reach out to a family that had changed their lives, though they had never met. We did not set out to change anyone, but the Lord had other plans. He used Robynn's story of strength, grace, love and faith to bring others to Him. I have always known that Robynn was chosen very carefully by God, as another would not have had the same affect on others. I am still astounded by all the good that has come from our losses, it is just undeniably inspiring!
Army Goodell prayed mightily during Robynn's battle. Since her death in Dec 2008, I have continued to use her blog to let people know how my brother Brian, Brady(now 10) and Hailey(now 8) are doing as well as any prayer requests that our loyal followers have.
I just wanted you to know I am Praying for YOU!
I don't have an "in" with God, I'm just a mom who is praying for you!
In addition to my prayers, I will enlist Robynn's Army that has prayed and witnessed many miracles because of their efforts and I will now ask that they hold you up in prayer.
We will pray that your health be restored and that your gift of touching and teaching others as a Servant of the Lord be quickly reestablished.
May God Continue His Blessings to You,
Shelley Goodell
http://robynnsbattle.blogspot.com/
Pray on!
S
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5 comments:
What a beautiful, and well-written letter! I will add him to my list of people to pray for. Thanks for sharing his story with us!! -Lauressa
Shelley, my throat is getting tight, and tears are welling up. I'm overwhelmed by what you have shared, the ongoing desperate needs of one person after another, your accurate explanation of God working through it all... Thank you for sharing these requests, for keeping Robynn's blog going, for letting perfect strangers into your lives, and so much more. I will pray for Gary and those who are hurting with him. I must also ask that you add another request. Our daughter (23) has just learned that a friend from youth group (since Jr. High) had a diving accident today and has broken his neck. He went into cardiac arrest while being airlifted to the hospital and is now being kept unconscious until they can attempt surgery tomorrow. John Brewer is 24. Please pray.
Wow, incredible. . . he is of course added to my prayer list as well. Thanks Shelley. Please pass along big hugs to you, Brian, Brady and Hailey for us! =)
Dear Gary, I have just spent the past two hours with Carrie's journal and your updates as my time of devotion. I have made many notes to refer back to, to share with others, to use as a source of prayer for others... prayers especially for a family coming up on the 5th anniversary (May 31) of having an intruder brutally attack their wife and mother (causing her death) and then seeking out the children who were hiding to attack them (thankfully they didn't die)... so much more to their story... Please lift them up in prayer. God bless!
Our prayers for Gary
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