Years ago, on one of the occasions that Gary was preparing to return to Afghanistan for missions work, a friend gave out small smooth stones, about nickel-sized, to remind folks to pray for him while he was away. The idea was that we’d keep them in our pockets or purses, or on our work desks, and be visibly prompted to remember him. Gary’s name was written on each of the stones.
- – - – -
This past week, on Monday the 8th, Gary, Dad and I went to meet with the radiation oncologist, the doctor who will write and oversee the treatment plan for Gary over the course of the next 6 weeks. When he finally came to the small room where we would have our consultation with him, we stood, introduced ourselves, shook hands. After we had finished telling him our names, he reached in his pocket, pulled out a small stone, smiled, and said, “Yes, I know who you are.”
The choreography of the past three weeks has included moment after moment like our meeting with Dr. Ciuba, and has been filled with reminders that we are in good and loving, if at times inscrutable, Hands. Your kindnesses continue to be among of those reminders and, again, we thank you.
Short version is that Gary is doing well (most bothered by loss of short term memory) and will begin radiation next week – 5 days a week for 6 weeks — during which time he’ll be taking oral chemotherapy (a pill a day). The hope is that the combination will shrink and fight his tumor into submission.
I’ll be taking Gary to the Amos Cancer Center in Columbus each day and consider it a great privilege to be able to be so close to him for the weeks to come. I know that it will be unpleasant and difficult in some ways, but I look forward to being his keeper. As I heard another say years ago about caring for a sick spouse, “I’m doing it not because I have to, but because I get to.”
- – - – -
Even now, the stones cry out. God is for us. Jesus is Lord.
Allen, That is sooooo awesome that the doctor had one of those stones and has been praying for Gary all this time. God is soooo good! We continue to pray for Gary and for all of the family during these days ahead. Thanks so much for keeping us all updated.
We love ya’ll and are praying for God’s loving arms to wrap around you whenever you need a hug that we are unable to give you being so far away from Columbus.
Gary is on many prayer lists here in Tennessee. A very special youth group has him wrapped in love within their prayer team. We our honored to “get” to prayer for him and his loving family.
Angela White
Sevierville, Tennessee
Who can be against us? He is Lord indeed.
Allen,
It was with a small stone that David slew Goliath!!!! I will just believe that the radiation and chemo is the stone in God’s sling with a direct bead aimed at the tumor’s forehead!!!! Time to slay that sucker!!! Please pass on to Gary that his warriors are on our knees!!
I talked to Brocato at St. Luke School the other day and he relayed that the doctors are being very upbeat about the outlook for success with the treatment!!! I have confidence in Dr. Ciuba and Dr. Pippas at the JBA Cancer Center. Even more faith in God’s plan!!!!
I would love to have the opportunity to come sit with you guys sometime if that is appropriate. Please let me know if there is a good time. My email is geakle@aol.com or my cell is 325-5358. You know the area code!!!
Peace and Love to you all.
Grandin
I don’t have a stone with Gary’s name on it but I have him in my heart and will be praying for Gary and for his family.
What an awesome post. I love the idea of the stones. I will add you all to my prayer list.
Romans 8:31 ” If God is for us, who/what can be against us? ” – lovin’ on some Levis and praying without ceasing for Him to be glorified -
I thank you to for sharing this story —- what a gift each time God places these little rainbows of His promises and threads of His intricate weaving of our tapestries for us to see. And I am soooo thankful when His children open their eyes and hearts to see them. May you continue to see many of His blessings each day as you all go forward in this journey – for they are surely all around you!
Thanks for sharing this precious story. We continue to hold you close to our hearts and in continual prayer. May God continue to flood you with gifts and love through these hard times. Anne
My boys in the Vatican continue their prayers for Gary, as do I and many others.
Several years ago Joel taught on David and before the service ended, smooth stones were passed out to each of us to remind us God will help us “slay the giants” each of us is faced with in our daily lives. I keep mine in my car and as I continue to pray for Gary I will do so when I pick up my stone … that his tumor will dissipate just as if it never existed.
We still have our stones and a key chain your mom made for Gary. We’re praying, praying, praying. GOD IS SO GOOD!
Marian and Kathy
Got this quote from Tim Keller:
“A few years ago I had a horrible nightmare in which I dreamed that everyone in my family had died. When I awoke my relief was enormous–but there was much more than relief. My delight in each member of my family was tremendously enriched. I looked at each one and realized how grateful I was for them, how deeply I loved them. Why? My joy had been greatly magnified by the nightmare. My delight upon awaking took the terror up into itself, as it were, so that in the end my love for them was only greater for my having lost them and found them again. This same dynamic is at work when you lose some possession you take for granted. When you find it again (having though it was gone forever) you cherish and appreciate it in a far deeper way…
Just after the climax of the trilogy The Lord of the Rings, Sam Gamgee discovers that his friend Gandalf was not dead (as he thought) but alive. He cries, “I thought you were dead! But then I thought I was dead myself! Is everything sad going to come untrue?” [italics added by Keller] The answer of Christianity to that question is–yes. Everything sad is going to come untrue and it will somehow be greater for having once been broken and lost.
Embracing the Christian doctrines of the incarnation and Cross bring profound consolation in the face of suffering. The doctrine of the resurrection can instill us with a powerful hope. It promises that we will get the life we most longed for, but it will be an infinitely more glorious world than if there had never been the need for bravery, endurance, sacrifice, or salvation”
You are continually in my prayers.
Don McKelvey
İ am praying every day for My dearest teacher Gary and am really happy that he helped me to be saved when i was in Afghanistan .. i really wanted to see him at the last days when i was moving out of there but could not .. i wish i would be able to see you both .. ( Gary and Allen ) someday .. İ Love you Both…
Let Gary Know that i am praying every day for him .. he is the greatest person ever …
: your student and your brother in Christ , Fawad ( Mark )
Braz and I found a stone and wrote Gary’s name on it. We are telling that “giiant” in his life how BIG our God is, not how big the tumor is. David sprinted to that giant with the belief that he was going down. We will run the race with you guys, sprinting when you are tired. Knowing that David said to Goliath, “You come to me with a sword, a javelin, and a shield. But I come to you in the name of the Lord God Almighty”. Hugs to our Levi guys. We love you and will be on our knees. Marilou
Precious Allen, I know the privilege that you have as a brother, and a brother in Christ to walk this road with Gary. What an incredible journey you both have had here on this earth. Sonny and I are praying for all of your sweet family and
claiming Isaiah 55 for you all. We don’t know what God’s plan is for our lives, but His ways are higher than our ways and He will direct our path. I am here for you, knowing that as a sister, I too, have felt the heartache and pain with dear Courtney. We are lifting all of you constantly, praying for God’s perfect plan to be revealed in every way. We send our heartfelt love to all of you!
Sonny and Lisa
I am moved and amazed by your family’s faith and strength. It has always been my privilege to call the Levis “friend” and now I am fortunate to call myself one of your “prayer warriors”. I will not cease praying for Gary.
Allen, Lewis and I cared for his mother years ago when she was diagnosed with alzheimers. We brought her here from Mississippi and had to put her in a nursing home. i would go once during the day and Lewis would go at night after work. I have to tell you it was the most rewarding time of my life. I would leave the nursing home many times with tears of laughter and tears of joy. She had a roomate that had alzheimer also. I thought I was going to be taking care of them, but they really took care of my heart and soul. They both died a year later within days of each other. The next year I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Oh how Christ was working in my life because physically if it had happened a year earlier i could not have gone to the nursing home as often as I did. The verse I clung to during that time was Then Jesus said”Come to me,all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you ,because I am humble and gentle and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light. Matthew11:28-30. Did not mean to ramble on. We pray and think of yall so much. Love Lewis and Laura…
Dear Allen,
John B.Amos has taken care of Janet. February will be ten (10) years.
Our prayers are for Gary, you, AC and all the Levi family.
We’ll be looking for you and Gary on Monday’s when we visit JBACC.
Keep pickin’ and I’ll keep grinnin’
(may have a few tears but…
“Kisses are like tears, real ones are the ones you can’t hold back”)
Dear Allen,
John B. Amos CC has taken care of Janet.
February will be 10 years. Everyone at that place is a delightful caring competent individual.
We’ll look for you Gary Monday when we are there for her chemo.
My ID on a website I frequent is “Gotrocks”
since I don’t have one of Gary’s rocks I’ll just say another prayer each time I log on.
If you’ll keep pickin’ I’ll keep grinnin’
may be a tear or two but….
“Kisses are like tears, real ones are the ones you can’t hold back”
Dear Allen, The loving dedicated caring people at John B. Amos CC have taken care of Janet since February 2002.
I’m confident Gary will receive the best care available.
Maybe we’ll see you and Gary one Monday.
RE: stones
One of the website I frequent has my ID as “Gotrocks”
So now every time I log on I say another prayer for ALL the Levi family.
“Kisses are like tears, real ones are the ones you can’t hold back.”
Last week I happened upon a poster in a store window advertising you’d be in concert on the 14th. I called mom to let her know and she was so excited. When we got to the church for the concert, we learned about Gary. Add us to the list of those you know who are praying for you.
We think of you often and smile.
Our God is MIGHTY to save! That, I know for sure!
Allen and family,
What an awesome opportunity to love and to see God’s interweaving of events and people. You are all in my prayers as I recall visiting your beautiful home and spending time with Gary laughing and sharing tales of mission mishaps, joys and woes. You are ALL in my prayers. May He prove to be so much more than you’ve ever realized.
In Christ,
Rayna
Acts 3
Peter Heals a Lame Beggar
1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
11 While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.
Glory and Amen!
Dearest Allen….. We Walkers are a praying crowd. We are lifting you all up every day, several times. Our God is bigger than this. We claim God’s Power for all of you.
Susan
Gary-we are praying for healing and for you to feel God’s strong arms wrapped tightly around you. Know that you both have an army of warriors praying for you-and God has got you!
Please tell Gary that there’s an entire mass choir cryin’ out with us up here in the mountains. He’s so special that his name is on ALL the stones, even as he is held by the cornerstone. Prayers for and love to you all, and please give a giant hug to your mamma.
lots of prayers for you and the family coming from SoCal….so sorry that you guys are going through this. You will be amazing testimony to everyone you come in contact with…I know it. Thank you for the updates. Wish I was there to give out hugs!
Kaitlin Wilson (formerly Frokjer)
When my father was diagnosed with AML this May and died within three weeks, your music ministered so much to me as I traveled back and forth to south Georgia to care for him. When a mutual friend told me of Gary’s diagnosis, praying for him and your family has become such a privilege, almost as if I can give back to you for how your music helped (and still helps) me. May the music of all our prayers for healing provide a harmony of peace in knowing you have never belonged more deeply to a Father who loves you and your family more than right now.
Allen…I know I am answering this late I pray things have gone well…and I am getting a “stone” today…”what mean these stones”…I love the old Testament…you are crossing the Jordan..on dry land that God has prepared for you …you and Gary and Beth and Dad…and all your family are sooo in my prayers..Allen , we all love you so< martha, Hubert, N.C.