Saturday, July 21

It was a dreary day, but there were already a large number of trucks on the lot when we arrived about 8:00 am.

I read online that there were about 250 trucks by the end of the day – probably half of the usual number of trucks.

The chapel was already placed and ready for visitors as Cerwin and Chaplain Jake did that work the day before.

Our first visitors were two men from New York – twins – who enjoy truck shows and talking truck. One was especially interested in how a chapel is put together so he had a lot of questions for Cerwin.

After about an hour of watching trucks arrive, I went for a walk around the grounds. Drivers were making sure their trucks looked good.

A patriotic row of trucks

I love the old trucks.

I watched them unload the Bone Shaker truck. I expect this was scheduled to do a show in the afternoon – but rain would cancel that.

Despite the promised rain, there was a steady arrival of trucks during the morning hours.

We have front-row seats for this parade of trucks, as the chapel is just inside one of the entrance gates.

Cerwin and Jake talking to visitors to the chapel area.

This driver chose to leave before the rain.

I took this photo during my walk to the race track.

Because rain was approaching – and they knew the drag racing would have to be cancelled – they encouraged some of the drivers to race their trucks for fun – until rain arrived.

I am not sure why, but I like to see lots of black smoke when they race. 🙂

I took a few more truck pictures while walking to another area of the racetrack.

I met our TFC photographer friend Don Hollinger.

This was my first time to watch a few races from the end of the track.

Just as predicted – it began raining about noon.

We sat under the tree where we were protected until the rain got heavier.

There were a lot less trucks and visitors than usual, so I decided to bring the basket of Kirkland pre-packaged gummies outside of the chapel to give to the children. (I usually offer them to the children who come inside the chapel with their parents.)

My favorite happening of the day was when two children came to my chair to get gummies, then a few minutes later came back with three more siblings. 🙂 A short time later they brought their parents. The mother looked at the chapel and said, “What is this? Tell me what you do.”

I was happy to take them inside the chapel and tell them about Transport For Christ. She lingered after her boyfriend and some of the children left the chapel and asked for prayer. She has four children – one special needs and a set of triplets. The other boy belonged to her boyfriend. They all seemed to be ages 10-12.

There were others who also took the opportunity to learn about TFC’s ministry to truck drivers.

It didn’t take long for trucks to begin leaving as the rain got heavier.

Before long we heard that they were going to close the show early.

I left about 1:00 PM. The men closed the chapel shortly after that and Cerwin took it back to Marietta.

Chaplain Jake stayed a bit longer to be with a golf-cart-kind of vehicle that a driver asked us to guard until he came back. That was no problem for Jake, because he enjoyed watching trucks as they left the grounds.