Tuesday March 13, 2007

Exchanging Chapels at TA Travel Center, Elkton, MD

I should probably enter these pictures throughout the week, but chose to enter all 40-plus in just one entry – to show you our Monday activities.

We were up early to be prepared to leave the TFC International Office, Marietta, PA, at 8:00 AM with a newer chapel for the TA Travel Center, Elkton, MD.

When we arrived at 10:00 AM, Margaret and Chaplain Sam Houchins were anxiously waiting, along with their friend, Larry Wyatt, from a neighboring ministry (HomeFront Christian Outreach, Elkton, MD).

This chapel has been parked at the Travel Center since January 1989, and is beginning to show its age – on the exterior and interior.

Cerwin parked the newer chapel in an outside fuel lane until the old chapel was removed.

This chapel had been in Bartonsville (Poconos), PA, until the truck stop was sold and turned into a tourist travel stop – late 2005. Since then it has been parked at the International Office. Cerwin has updated and refreshed it for Elkton.

Larry, Eugene “Red” Hurst, and Cerwin check out the connections in preparation for removal.

Larry, Margaret, and Sam had the old chapel emptied by the time we arrived.

Chaplain David Hoy (lead chaplain at the Petro – about a mile away) is a skilled electrician and was in charge of disconnecting the electricity to the old chapel.

Red Hurst and Gene Snader (Earl Martin, Inc.) were part of our convoy of vehicles traveling to Elkton. The tow truck tractor was formerly owned by our friend Earl Sauder, and used to haul bricks.

Howard Moses (TFC Assistant Director of Chaplain Care), also a skilled electrician, wants all the TFC Staff to see that he can get his hands dirty!

Lead Chaplain Tom Kemp (All American Truck Stop, Frystown, PA) and Cerwin work on removing the steps.

There were lots of things to do in preparing to move the chapel.

Larry

Tom

I climbed into the old cab to hand out a few items to those waiting below.

This photo is courtesy of Chaplain Sam.

Cerwin and Red discuss some details of removing the chapel.

Red and Gene Snader check the tow truck hookup.

Gene was the original owner of this truck. When we learned that he was interested in having it back, it was returned to him. We will no longer need a tractor with this chapel, as it has total electric hookup. The old one needed fuel from the tractor tanks to heat the chapel.

Removal to the back of the truck stop went smoothly.

Now it’s time to clean up the space where the chapel had been parked.

Margaret, Cerwin, Larry, Howard

Tom, Sam, Cerwin, Larry, Howard

It’s time to move the new chapel into place.

Tom Kemp assisting Cerwin with backing into place.

Checking out placement with the steps.

Leveling the chapel with blocks

Cerwin was pleased that those two blocks made it almost perfect. The guys thought they would have needed a dime to make it perfect. I offered a quarter that I found on the ground during cleanup. Tom said that would be too much!

It’s ready for setup.

Every truck entering the Travel Center must drive past the chapel.

Most of the drivers enter the truck stop through this door.

Lunch

Larry Wyatt sitting next to three lead chaplains – Tom Kemp, David Hoy, and Sam Houchins.

Margaret, Howard, Red, Gene, Cerwin

Red and Gene take the tractor to East Earl, PA.

A view of the chapel through the fuel island.

Now it’s time for final details. Cerwin prepares to attach a small awning – being held by Larry.

Margaret and Larry carry boxes into the chapel.

Margaret looks over the stack of boxes that are now inside the chapel.

Sam also documented the day with pictures.

See his pictures at www.chaplain-sam.blogspot.com then click on TFC Elkton News Blog under Favorite Links

Howard working on the electric.

Cerwin and Sam work on the attachment for the chapel signs.

Volunteer Chaplain Ben Snavely came over from the Petro to check on the progress.

Photo by Chaplain Sam

Tom Kemp makes sure Howard’s ladder stays in place while he and David attach electrical wiring to the truck stop. The truck stop provides free electric.