By the Numbers - “take two!”

We just finished our final “swing” of church visits for our PC(USA) Mission Interpretation Assignment.  Whew!  It has been a “full” seven months of being on the road in the United States.  We have lived out of our suitcases, and haven’t been in any one place more than two weeks, usually not more than a day or two.  Here it is by the numbers, “a countdown” of the things we have done and the places we have been since arriving in the U.S. in April.   

 

13, 718           Miles travelled by car

72            Beds slept in

       51            Churches visited

       47            Presentations given

       28            times preached by Bob 

First Presbyterian Church, Albany (GA), this old downtown church has recently
been renovated, and the congregation is experiencing wonderful revitalization    


Kristi helps Pastor Mboyamba present -   
Congo Mission Network (San Antonio, TX) 


Bob preaches a message of hope,
South Highland Presbyterian (Birmingham, AL)

       25            States visited, plus the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.)

       14            Flights

       12            Museums, art exhibits, and arboretums visited

 

 

All the states where we visited churches as well as
family and friends are marked in green! 


Rice family vacation, Whidbey Island (WA)

 

Kristi enjoys the rhododendrons at the Birmingham Arboretum

Cody Ross of Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship (PFF) treated us to a tour -  
the Civil Rights Museum (Birmingham, AL)

 

        9             Baseball games attended (Major League, Minor League, Frontier League, High School)

        7             Baseball stadiums visited (Major League, Minor League, Frontier League, Little League)

At Busch Stadium in St. Louis in August,
watching Cardinals beat the Pirates

Visited Williamsport (Pa),
home of the Little League World Series

 

        6             National Parks and Forests, State Parks, and Historical Sites visited

        5             Children’s Sermons given by Kristi

        4             Conferences attended

We were blessed to visit Yellowstone National Park
with Mom and Dad (Rice), a real highlight!

Kristi uses fall leaves to teach children about God’s grace,
First Presbyterian Church, Normal (IL)

Big Tent Conference -  
new PC(USA) Mission Co-Workers and their families being commissioned in Louisville (KY)

 

        3             Miles hiked on the popular Appalachian Trail (AT)

        2             Countries visited (U.S., Mexico)

 

Hiking the AT, with brothers Josh and Jeff Bertolet,
and the incorrigible and highly intelligent “Oscar Savage” 


Incredible views from the AT, Shenandoah Valley (VA)

 
We visited Rev. Mark Adams and his wife Miriam Maldonado Escobar
and their family; they serve as Mission Co-Workers on the U.S./Mexico border

        1             Lost computer cord

        0             Car breakdowns, flat tires, and missed flights    

       

We keep praising the Lord for keeping us safe in all of our comings and goings!  We were also hosted to countless potlucks, and were blessed by McDonald’s and Panera Bread which we frequented for wireless computer access and mid-trip meals.  We have been blessed to visit so many places, to meet so many people, and to have so many wonderful experiences.  We will return “home” to Congo in January.