Wednesday, December 5

Drivers, Exit 285 on I-75 is where you will find this new chapel location.

It is easy to call this Dade City because it is a familiar Florida city. However, the truck stop is located much closer to San Antonio, which is the city on the street address. San Antonio sounds like Texas. I didn’t even know there was a San Antonio, Florida, until this trip. 🙂

There is a Denny’s in the truck stop as well as Cinnabon treats.

As I walked around the truck stop – to get acquainted with the layout – I noticed their flag at half-staff in honor of George H.W. Bush.

I wanted to give you an idea of where the chapel is in relation to the truck stop building. The building is to the left and if you look closely you can see the chapel behind it, and just ahead of the fuel island.

As I zoom in you can see the chapel much better.

Each driver coming into the truck stop will drive by the chapel. Not only that, most drivers will walk by the chapel on their way to the inside of the truck stop.

It appears to be the perfect spot for a chapel. It is also a busy truck stop with parking for 180 trucks.

Now that I am back at the chapel, it is time to set up the interior. Cerwin and Ralph would set up the outside – putting up the awnings and steps. I had to use a stepladder to get into the chapel.

This is what I saw when I stepped inside. The chapel steps and everything else on the floor had traveled well.

I worked my way to the living quarters and took a picture from the other direction.

The living quarters floor looked good too. 

As I was deciding where to begin, Ralph and his wife, Kim, arrived. I wasn’t aware she was coming, but knew immediately that she was going to be a great help because having to climb the stepladder did not deter her from coming inside. 🙂

While I decided what I was going to do, I gave her the job of removing lots of scotch tape from the entrance door window. There were a variety of signs that had been there for awhile. She used a wood chisel and paint thinner to do the job, then finished with Windex.

Ralph and Kim at noon.

We worked diligently all morning – cleaning and arranging the contents of drawers, cupboards and the closet, so I didn’t take time to take photos. By noon we had gotten much of the interior set up and the men were finished with the awnings and steps. 

Kim was a perfect partner for the job. She and I like to be organized. I emptied and cleaned cupboards and she put things back in place. That seemed to be a good plan to me because she and Ralph will be in charge of things here, and by putting everything away, she knew what was here and where things were located.

It was a good feeling to be fairly organized by lunch time.

By mid-afternoon the floors were cleaned, the florescent lights back in place, and the chapel chairs arranged to Ralph and Kim’s desire. There are a few ways that chairs can be placed.

Kim knew that Ralph wanted to have the podium next to the living quarters so drivers will enter the chapel from the back when coming for a service. For that reason she chose a special spot for this cross. She wants the drivers to see it when they are facing Ralph or any other chaplain who is speaking during a worship service.

I had removed all photos and things on the walls in preparation for travel and encouraged her to put things back on the walls so they would please her eyes.

I like how they set up the chapel. Ralph wanted a space just inside the door that encourages one-on-one conversation, consequently there are several chairs in that area that face each other. He plans to add a small table where he can have coffee and Bible study with drivers. 

The living quarters/office was also ready for their use. We had to sweep the carpet with a broom because there is no electricity. That will have to be hooked up at a later date. 

It appears that the cost to do that could be as high as $6,500.00. Pray with us about that. We would like if the truck stop would come up with an alternate plan. If not TFC will need to raise the funds to hook up the electric. An electrician friend of Ralph’s said it looks like a three-day job. 

Until then Ralph plans to take advantage of the daylight just inside the entrance door, and use a few LED lights they have for camping. 

Our part of the job was finished when late afternoon shadows fell on the entrance side of the chapel.

We felt satisfied when we left the truck stop. Ralph and Kim we wish you God’s blessings as you oversee the ministry in mid-west Florida.