Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
Karen Gibbons
climber
Cody/Laramie
|
|
|
Jul 25, 2007 - 12:49pm PT
|
I received this story this morning and it made me think of all the people who are praying for Bobby and for his family....I loved imagining all the friends, surrounding Bobby, so today and every day you have hundreds of people standing around you to keep you safe and to help you heal. The fact that this took place in Africa made it even more moving.
A missionary on furlough told this true story while visiting his home church in Michigan
"While serving at a small field hospital in Africa, every two weeks I traveled by bicycle through the jungle to a nearby city for supplies. This was a journey of two days and required camping overnight at the halfway point. On one of these journeys, I arrived in the city where I planned to collect money from a bank, purchase medicine, and supplies, and then begin my two-day journey back to the field hospital. Upon arrival in the city, I observed two men fighting, one of whom had been seriously injured.
I treated him for his injuries and at the same time talked to him about the Lord.
I then traveled two days, camping overnight, and arrived home without incident....
Two weeks later I repeated my journey. Upon arriving in the city, I was approached by the young man I had treated. He told me that he had known I carried money and medicines. He said, 'Some friends and I followed you into the jungle, knowing you would camp overnight. We planned to kill you and take your money and drugs. But just as we were about to move into your camp, we saw that you were surrounded by 26 armed guards.
At this, I laughed and said that I was certainly all alone in that jungle campsite. The young man pressed the point, however, and said, 'No, sir, I was not the only person to see the guards, my friends also saw them, and we all counted them.
It was because of those guards that we were afraid and left you alone.'
At this point in the sermon, one of the men in the congregation jumped to his feet and interrupted the missionary and asked if he could tell him the exact day this happened.
The missionary told the congregation the date and the man who interrupted told him this story:
"On the night of your incident in Africa, it was morning here and I was preparing to go play golf. I was about to putt when I felt the urge to pray for you. In fact, the urging of the Lord was so strong I called men in this church to meet with me here in the sanctuary to pray for you.
Would all of those men who met with me on that day stand up?"
The men who had met together to pray that day stood up. The missionary wasn't concerned with who they were, he was too busy counting how many men he saw.
There were 26!
Bobby, your army is growing!
Karen Gibbons
|
|
Dennis Reed
climber
cody, wy
|
|
|
Jul 25, 2007 - 08:31pm PT
|
Dear Bobby and family,
Our prayers our with you everyday as you are all going through this time. We have been enjoying all the pictures, etc being posted! Thank you everyone! As you go through this surgery know that you are in God's hands and that you have so many people pulling for you!!!
Love,
Dennis and Misti
|
|
ccaldes
climber
Golden, Co
|
|
|
Jul 25, 2007 - 09:19pm PT
|
Hey Dark Bo,
We just want you to know our thoughts are with you as you climb this next mountain. You can do this. I have had this image of you carrying Gina on your shoulders when she was just a pup on a camping trip and too tired to walk. It is just an analogy of the massive source of strength and inspiration you are to all of those you encounter as evidenced in this forum.
Now it is time for you to rest on the enormous support of your family and friends while you muster your strength.
All of our love and prayers are with you,
Chris and Brice (and of course Gina too)
|
|
Mees
climber
|
|
|
Jul 26, 2007 - 09:50am PT
|
another update was circulated from Faith through Helen
Bobby is in surgery right now (since 8AM EST) and will be most of the day, another update may come tonight following the procedure.
Prayers of healing and strength for Bobby and family
wisdom, precision and endurance for the surgery team.
|
|
Dropline
Mountain climber
Somewhere Up There
|
|
|
Jul 26, 2007 - 12:50pm PT
|
I don't know Bobby, other than by following this thread, but if I've read these last few posts correctly, he is currently in emergency brain surgery of some kind.
This is a bump to keep him foremost in people's minds so maximum positive vibes continue flowing his way.
|
|
handsome B
Gym climber
SL,UT
|
|
|
Jul 26, 2007 - 01:15pm PT
|
stay strong Bobby
|
|
Kammi
Social climber
Sheridan, WY (Cody)
|
|
|
Jul 26, 2007 - 01:33pm PT
|
Hey Bobby...just wanted you to know you are constantly in my thoughts and prayers. I, as many others have also said, enjoy the stories about you as each story gives a different perspective on your life. I've lost touch since high school and college with many, but feel as though I'm catching up a bit through you and this forum. Many, many, many constant thoughts and prayers to you, Faith, and your family. You are leading an amazing life (yep, I'm a bit jealous) and have just begun it! There will be a HUGE "quarter beer night" starring you in the near future.....keep fighting. Kammi Mock
|
|
Robert Hart
Social climber
Red Lodge,Mt
|
|
|
Jul 26, 2007 - 03:21pm PT
|
Hey Bobby and Family,
Just wanted to let you know that all of here in Red Lodge continue to send you good thoughts. We are all keeping a very positive outlook to your up coming surgery and look forward to seeing back here in the west soon.
keep up the fight.
All Good Things,
Rob Hart
|
|
Charlotte
climber
DC, Turks and Caicos
|
|
|
Jul 26, 2007 - 04:04pm PT
|
Bump!
Good thoughts coming your way, Bob-Meister!!!
|
|
Mees
climber
|
|
|
Jul 26, 2007 - 04:31pm PT
|
This is photo from Liz Grady Bobby's friend from NG with her nice comments added as well.
Faith has this posted in his hospital room, so I know she likes it. I took it last October while passing through Cody en route to DC. I like it because it is just a nice Bobby moment, nice light, we were just sitting having a beer, relaxing and chatting. He was helping me with driving directions and was getting really into it, as men with maps are wont to do :)
|
|
bunnypoo
climber
|
|
|
Jul 26, 2007 - 05:51pm PT
|
Bobby,
Continually sending love and prayers your way. Can hardly wait to visit you next week.
Molly
|
|
Crystal Lee (Deroche)
climber
Cody,Wy
|
|
|
Jul 26, 2007 - 06:02pm PT
|
Hello Bobby!
Just saw Joe yesterday and was talking of your surgery. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. The Spirit and soul are more powerful then the body. Keep up the fight, we are sending every ounce of faith and possitive energy your way.
Much Love,
Crystal, Felix, Kaiden and Ethan Lee
|
|
neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
|
|
|
Jul 26, 2007 - 10:22pm PT
|
hey there .... dear faith... i still have your poem, i will postit here... but i will wait until after the surgery---am praying most earnestly that all goes well... god bless to your family.... i do not know any of you all, but as i know of similar situations, i am pulling strong, for you all....
a freind of mine that works with head injuries has offered some insight, as to why this surgery was needed.... sure hope all goes well, ... am leaving it in the good lord's hands....
say, when you get a chance, tell bobby he has cleared yet another "hurdle" and is marking his track, as to reaching the next goals...
|
|
brooks emeny
Social climber
bozeman, mt
|
|
|
Jul 26, 2007 - 11:24pm PT
|
Bobby, We three here in Bozeman are thinking of you lots. Keep up the fight. We send our love and prayers. Talk to you soon.
Love Brooks, Kenzie, and Lexi.
|
|
neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
|
|
|
Jul 27, 2007 - 03:21am PT
|
hey there .... i dont know if anyone, or even if i, myself, had already posted this link--if your are like me, and did not know who bobby was, until now---this is article has some very very fine commments made by him, to help us learn how he feels inside about other people, people that were strangers, until he knew them up close:
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/emerging/bmodel.html
HERE ARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM IT... I JUST SAW, WHILE I WAS PRAYING:
Although physically demanding, photographing mountaineering expeditions had always been well within Model's comfort zone. "I worked with very supportive teams, people I'd bonded with through longstanding friendships." The opposite was true as Model moved into photojournalism. "When you cover issues in faraway cultures, you arrive as a complete outsider. It's essential to find something in common with people, some way to connect. One minute I may be having tea with a village elder and need to prove my knowledge of his culture and history. The next moment, I could be standing in a field with a local farmer. Only by forming friendships and earning trust, am I allowed to document truly powerful experiences."
Drawn to show the human face of Sudan's civil war, Model covered refugee camps, conflict zones, and field hospitals. "I remember a man who had been shot and was about to be flown over the border to have his legs amputated. He and his wife were holding each other on the floor of a little dirt hospital, knowing he might not return to Sudan for years. Moments like this make me realize that wherever we are, people have certain universal emotions. We're really all the same. I hope my work in these places will have some sort of meaning, bring new awareness, and help change situations."
|
|
elemental
Gym climber
Lander, Wyoming
|
|
|
Jul 27, 2007 - 01:19pm PT
|
JUST GOT THIS JULY 27 UPDATE FROM HELEN:
Dear all:
This is Helen again writing for Faith. A heartfelt thank you to
everyone for your prayers for Bobby's surgery. Just to ease
everyone's minds, from a surgical standpoint, the surgery was very
successful. The doctors went in and did everything they needed to do
and Bobby remained stable throughout the surgery.
Bobby is recovering now and focused on fighting some infections.
Faith will continue to keep you updated on his progress.
Thank you for all for your positive thoughts and prayers and please
keep your recovery and infection fighting thoughts and vibes high for
Bobby in the next few days.
With much love and thanks from Faith and her family,
Helen
|
|
neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
|
|
|
Jul 27, 2007 - 06:38pm PT
|
Dear Faith and family--
I do not know Bobby,but I had a poem for you, Faith , as I have known
many folks that have gone throw some hard sorrows...
It takes two to travel a hard road...
or so I am reminded from what i was told...
it was the for the best...
that, with a sister, Bobby was blessed...
this road he is on, is a long, dry, and rocky hard place...
there is no map, in front of his face...
but there is a sister, to guide and lead...
its so much better, than any ol' faithful stead...
you will help mark the way...
starting with each morning, 'til each end of day...
your voice in greeting, to him,will be a familiar song...
yet, as he presses on to conquer, you will warn
if things go wrong...
a sister of many knacks and trades...
a shining ace, that never fades...
where and how can this be?...
it's by God's good hand, you see...
He knit you as brother and sis, together...
for not only joys, but for troubles, to weather...
yes, the joys have been there...
happy and lofty dreams, done with care...
but to earnestly refine man's soul...
there is a bit of turmoil needed to enhances its
eternal "grow"...
thus, when life goes wrong, as now, in this way, it had...
this is when love from a sis, steps in to take up
the burden, to help shield mom and dad...
yet, those that work hard, though these
long sorrows...
will share in the glories, of the victories, of many tommorows...
remember that, as you press-on...
hope always reaps some kind of new dawn...
prayer will sooth and comfort the way...
even as the shade, or cool rivers, comfort trails, as climbers
press on, exploring a day...
use what bobby has seen in his life days...
and apply into principles so needed, to conquer each hurdle, so he'll
soar all the way...
these are the things that he will relate to and feel...
as he fights to make each new chore, become real...
a good coach and mentor, releases full potentials that can hide inside...
so may you continue guiding him to victory, until he one day, does fully "arrive"...
by God's grace, to work hard and fight to conquer more, with you, side by side...
hang in there gal...
you're so much MORE, than just his pal...
|
|
neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
|
|
|
Jul 27, 2007 - 06:46pm PT
|
hey there faith ... another thing you can do... make hand shapes, or such, in his hand, when you say certain words to him... like one for love you, one for help, one for good, one for whatever you like... then, later as he gets stronger, if he cant talk to you, you may just find him making these shapes with his hand, trying to communicate with you... it sure is worth a try....possibly he can associate the word, with the sign, each time it is used, and then some day, do it back, in return....god bless...then he wont feel so helpless, as he can reach out to you..
|
|
Judy Wallop
climber
Oklahoma City
|
|
|
Jul 27, 2007 - 07:52pm PT
|
Grace be with you and your family. Northern Wyoming was my home for many years. I found this site via press reports. Thank you for sharing. You are in my thoughts.
|
|
Sharon Baker
Social climber
Powell, WY
|
|
|
Jul 27, 2007 - 08:16pm PT
|
Dear Bobby and family,
I didn't want you to think you were no longer in our thoughts... you are... and we pray daily for Bobby's recovery.
The love and encouragement of his friends is AWESOME beyond words.
Love to you all,
Sharon and Bill Baker
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!