Roadside Stats

Now anyone who knows me well knows that I am not a numbers kind of person, but I  thought I would humor some of those more numerically minded readers with some stats from my visits with Donors and Friends across the US and B.C. Canada.

Thor has safely traveled 7,390 Miles in 49 days  making an average of 150.8 miles per day.

$3.49 cheapest price for gas per gallon paid in Tulsa, OK

$4.59 most expensive price for  gas  per gallon  in Blaine, Washington

24 different homes slept in spread out over 21 States and Canada (thanks Aimee).

Longest travel day 10 ½ hours

Shortest travel day 45 minutes

Unknown number of people praying for safety and good connections with people.  (Thank you J)

Millions of bugs whose lives were cut short as they splattered across my windshield

4 audio books “read”

30+ podcasts enjoyed from various pastors around the US

All of this =’s 1 tired but encouraged Carey

Today I head back home to Nicaragua.   Thank you to all of you for continuing to pray for the ministry in Nicaragua.   It is so encouraging to know that there is a whole slew of people “in” with me on this new endeavor.

On the Road

Well today marks 1 month on the road.  I passed the 5,000 mile mark today and I'm not quite done traveling.  Friday I fly to Washington State and will visit with people there and then it is back to Colorado.

Well as I've been on the road here are just a few of the more silly things that I have really come to appreciate.  :-)

• A good Squeegie!   Spring is here and the bugs are out.   A good squeegie saves the day when your windshield is bug splattered.

• Coffee!!!  10 1/2 hours of driving in a day  need I say more.  I've got a pretty good set up and I can stop just about anywhere as long as it is not raining.

• Audio Books and Podcasts.   What a life saver.  They keep me awake and give me opportunity to learn too.  
• Cheap gas.   Need I say more  :-)

Words from the Wise

During my stay in Greenville, SC I had the opportunity to visit with a dear woman who is a resident at a local retirement facility. 

Mrs. Oliver is a dear, sweet woman who is 93 years old.   She suffers from a little bit of memory loss, but who wouldn't after 93 full years of life!    Mrs. Oliver wanted someone to write down some of her stories before she is no longer here to share them.   She said, "I don't want my stories to go with me."   Each week we would sit and she would tell me about her life, husband and memories of her sweet hometown of Abbeville, SC.   We shared laughter and tears as I took copious notes during each visit not wanting  to leave out any details.

There is something special about the wisdom of the elderly.  To be able to look back on your life and take stock in all of the blessings that God has graced your life with is an amazing gift.    Here is one nugget of wisdom from Mrs. Oliver.

"I have always been  drawn to pictures of the harvest.   I think that the story comes from my mother.  She painted this picture for me with her words. When we would pass by a harvest field she would tell us it is how we as humans are  working in a harvest, God’s harvest.  We should be His reapers in his harvest.   As I think more on this I think of the sower who may never be seen again.  He plants the seeds in the soil then the reaper comes along and is seen reaping in the field.   The reaper receives all of the praise while he may not have been the one to do all of the work.   We may just be the sower of seeds in our lifetime.    I hope and pray that maybe I can enrich somebody’s life for Jesus during my lifetime." 

I can say that she has enriched my life in such a unique and special way.   At the end of my time in Greenville I typed up all of my notes in paragraph form, printed them and gave them to her.   As I read her stories to her that day her response was one of true joy.

Carey, Janelle and Ann out to lunch

My neighbor Janelle is another person that has blessed my life richly during my time in Greenville.  Anne and I would walk the dogs with her every morning.    Janelle is the most hip 82 year old I have met.  She has her own Twitter account and is not afraid of technology and learning new things.   Her love for the Lord and her husband have been a tremendous example and blessing to watch.

Today I thank God for my  time with Mrs. Oliver and the gift that she has given me in her stories, wisdom and perspective on life.  I also thank Him for a sweet neighbor, Janelle, who so eagerly shared life and laughter with me in such beautiful ways.

"Is it only when our lives are emptied that we're surprised by how truly full our lives were?  Instead of filling with expectations, the joy-filled expect nothing - and are filled."

~ Ann VosKamp

 As these women look back on lives and take stock in the things that really matter in life they are able to pass on such wonderful pieces of advice to us, the younger ones on this life journey.

See You Later Greenville, South Carolina

 

Since mid-October I have been living in Greenville, South Carolina.   It has been a great place to chill and get involved in community.     While I am from Colorado and my parents grew up in the South I have never considered my self a southerner.    This was made very obvious my first few weeks in the "true"south.  

While it is true that there is nothing like southern hospitality I have learned a lot of "other" really neat things about the South.

• Y'all is a true word used in almost any conversation.   I've even found myself saying it a time or two. :0)
•  It is very common to meet people who have two first names.   Emma Grace,  Mary Beth etc.  
• Keeping your car washed seems to be a very important thing.    There are lots of Hand Wash car washed around town.
• People love good food.  YUM.   There are restaurants referred to as Meat and 3's.  This means that it is a restaurant that serves a meat and 3 side dish options for a stellar price.  All home cooked of course.
• Most people are very outdoorsy.    At least in the Greenville area.   There are people biking, running, camping and hiking everywhere you go.   It is great to see.

Here are just a pics of places I have spent lots of time at in Greenville.


 Downtown Campus Grace Church

A side view of the church cause I couldn't fit it all in.

While It says Downtown Baptist Church the building was donated to Grace over a year ago and due to its historic status they cannot change the name on the building.  It is a beautiful building and I have had the privilege of working with Grace and helping with a tutoring program for kids two afternoons a week.   It has been a blast.   During a character lesson last week a really funny exchange took place I can't help but share with you.   

Carey:  What kinds of jobs do people have where they care for others?

Noah:  The President.

John:   I could be the president.

Clarise:   Yeah he could be like JFK 'cause his name is John

John:   Yeah I COULD be the president.

Carey:  You're right you could work hard and be a president.  How does a president care for others?

John:  He gives you stuff. 

From Blogger Pictures

 Greenville has been a part of the rails to trails program and has turned a  great railroad track into an awesome running and biking path that spans pretty much the whole city. This path is called the Swamp Rabbit and runs along the Reedy River. I've spent many, many hours on it biking and running.   It has been a place to think, pray and listen to a lot of good sermons.



 Also, not pictured are the The Eshelman's house.   Ann and Jim have been so gracious to let me stay with them during my stay in Greenville.   They have blessed me more than words could express.  I am so thankful for God's provision through them.    Also not pictured is Mary Ezzell's house.   I've spent man, many hours at her house chatting, laughing, crying, studying and even frosting cookies.  Her home has been a home away from home.  Of course there are many more places and faces that I've come to love and cherish but there just isn't enough time or space to squeeze them all in. :-)

Greenville has been a great place to connect with people and have some time to think, reflect and build some new friendships.  I am grateful for the glimpses of heaven that I have seen through friendship, creation, and community here.