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Nashville, Tennessee, to Wytheville, Virginia

Tuesday, February 8

I was glad to get a good picture of the Nashville Chapel this morning when the sun was shining on it.

The new cross. Volunteer Chaplain Dick Evans called us later in the day to tell Cerwin how nice it looked.

We used the truck to get to the motel because it was across a busy highway, so Cerwin backed under the chapel and prepared it for our drive to Wytheville.

We saw some beautiful scenery shortly after getting back on the road. The higher elevations had more snow than we did in the Antioch area of Nashville.

A house going by us.

I noticed these cattle and thought it would make a pretty picture, but was too late to get the camera up to my eye, so just aimed the camera toward them and shot. I was surprised to actually capture them.

We arrived at the Knoxville Travel Center just after noon.

Chaplain Prentiss was on duty again, but we missed him because he was home for lunch. He lives nearby.

Cerwin stopped here because he wanted to talk to Sam, the truck stop owner. We missed him on the way down. Sam is a member of the TFC board.

He introduced us to his general manager, Randy (left) and told Randy to make sure we filled up with fuel. 

While Cerwin fueled the truck Randy showed me the smokehouse on the right side of the fuel desk building.

They offer smoked ribs, brisket, turkey legs, sausage, and anything that can be smoked.

They were smoking turkey legs when we were there.

I knew what I wanted for my birthday lunch! This was a sampler. Clockwise starting at the upper left – brisket, turkey leg, ribs, sausage, and in the center, barbecue sauce. Cerwin chose a brisket sandwich. When I went to pay for them, Randy told the lady at the desk to put it on his tab!

While we were sitting in the cab of the chapel enjoying this meal, I just had to call TFC President Scott Weidner and tell him that we were out here “suffering for the Lord.”

It was the best birthday meal I ever had!

If you get by the Knoxville, Tennessee, TA Travel Center – stop and go to the fuel island for a meal from the smokehouse. Then go to the chapel and say hi to the chaplain on duty.

Shortly after taking this picture of smashed cars, I noticed something unusual on the back of the truck. Two things to be exact. Can you see what I noticed?

Two diesel covered stuffed animals – probably from a child or grandchild of the driver.

I wonder what the original color was of this bunny? My friend godsducks thinks it is a Snoopy doll – and I think she may be right.

I think this lion look like he wants help to get out of its situation.

This driver blew his horn and waved to us, so I looked for any signs on the truck that he was a Christian driver. I found it written in the dust of the back door.

We saw some beautiful scenery today.

Even saw a snow-covered mountain to our east.

By evening I needed to be doing something with my camera, and noticed the setting sun was making a nice view in my side mirror.

Cerwin’s side mirror.

I think this was the best birthday I’ve ever had – from our wake-up call when our son Jeff called to wish me a happy birthday at 5:00 a.m. forgetting that we were in a different time zone until right now when I am sitting in my comfortable bunk entering these pictures.

Cerwin is in the chapel with Chaplain David. They are coming for me when the chapel movie is over and it is time for dessert in the truck stop restaurant.

This is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.

1 John 5:11-12 (New Living Translation)

Guess Who

Is Sixty-Seven Today?

I am grateful to the Lord for His salvation

(wonderful, abundant salvation)

The best husband in the world.

Amazing sons and daughters, sons-in-law and daughters-in-law.

Fabulous grandsons and granddaughters.

Wonderful friends.

My life is full to the brim.

Happy Birthday

To Our Favorite Josh

We Love You!

(My  favorite birthday twin – fifty-one years apart.)

Grandpa and Grandma

Repairs to the Nashville Chapel

Monday, February 7

When we arrived at the chapel (across the street from our motel) shortly after 9:00 this morning, Chaplain Buck and Alleydog were on duty.

They sang (howled) for us.

Me and Alleydog visiting

Cerwin’s faithful tool bucket

Removing the lighted cross from the side of the chapel.

Some of the lights needed replaced, and the frame was looking a bit rusty.

Checking on the placement for the new one.

Chaplain Ralph and his wife Evelyn

Evelyn left for an appointment, while Ralph stayed to help Cerwin.

When I walked out on the deck, I could see trucks coming off of I-24.

A rig entering the truck stop just after going by the chapel.

Cerwin showing Ralph how to  touch up some of the lettering.

Holding the cross while Cerwin went for a tool to attach the wiring.

Repairing the entrance door.

After repairing the door, the three men (Cerwin, Ralph, and Buck) went to Home Depot for a few supplies. One thing they needed was a door stop to keep the door from swinging open too far.

It had begun raining, so I went back to the motel where it was warm and I had Internet.

Though I love traveling by truck and sleep well in the bunk, it feels luxurious to have a motel room – after six days and five nights in a truck. This morning Cerwin  decided that we would stay in the room one more day, because it was going to take him most of the day to make the repairs on the chapel.

A large splash from a down spout outside our motel room.

If I look carefully, I can see the chapel from our motel room.

Shortly after Cerwin came back to our room (late afternoon) it began snowing. It didn’t snow very much, just enough to make a mess.

He relaxed and took a short nap before we walked across the parking lot to El Arroyo Mexican Restaurant. I figured that I had enough pictures for the day, so did not take my camera along – but I should have.

Internet Picture

I had a steak chimichanga (DELICIOUS) with rice and a cactus salad (above). I love trying new things, and never remember tasting cactus salad. It was quite good. It consisted of cactus, tomato, onion, and topped with a Mexican cheese.

Cerwin doesn’t take chances on food, so had a steak quesadilla, french fries, and refried beans. We shared a yummy flan for dessert.

I bless God every chance I get; my lungs expand with his praise.

Psalm 34:1 (The Message)

Waking Up in aTruck Stop

Denmark, Tennessee, to Nashville, Tennessee

Sunday, February 6

The view outside my truck window this morning

As I watched the sun rise this morning, I thought about the interesting turn of events on this trip.

We have no idea why God opened the doors for TFC to send us to Dallas for two activities (a large tailgate party and a parade exposing the trafficking of young women through truck stops and at the Super Bowl), then closed the doors before we got there.

It was a bit disappointing to head east again before completing our purpose – or what we thought was our purpose. But we know with assurity that God is still God.

I keep thinking about a few things I taught at the Ladies’ Day of Refreshment last Saturday.

~~~

Do Not Complain About the Wind – Adjust Your Sails

~~~

God is the “I Am that I Am” in any “It is what it is” situation.

 Walking in the Spirit is far better than pacing in a self-imposed prison of worry, fear, and complaining.

~~~

Thank You, Lord, that You work all things together for my good

…bad things and good things

…ordinary things and extraordinary things

…stressful things and peaceful things.

 ~~~

I stand amazed at the complexity and mystery of Your wisdom. Thank You, Lord, that Your wisdom makes it safe for me to trust You.

It makes me willing to safely commit my location and situation to You, knowing that You have the right to shift me anywhere on life’s checkerboard.

We had a great morning of worship with Truckers’ Christian Chapel Ministry in the drivers’ lounge in the truck stop. They only use the small chapel (see photo from yesterday’s post) for evening Bible studies.

The services at this truck stop are sponsored by a local church.

The church provides the music prior to the message.

This man has a fabulous singing voice.

Chaplain Sam shared a challenging message on walking in the spirit. He oversees the chaplaincy work at this truck stop.

Afterward Chaplain Sam invited us to have coffee with him, Tyson and Stanley. He was interested in learning more about our work with Transport For Christ, and we asked about his work with Trucker’s Christian Chapel Ministry. There can never be too many ministries who are out there sharing the gospel to the men and women of the road.

Sam said that the Bible verse about going out to the highways and byways refers to where roads cross and people meet.

We were also blessed to meet Tyson and Stanley, and learn about their lives as salesmen for Bonnie Plants. You can find Bonnie Plants at Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Lowes, K-Mart, and several other stores in your area.

They wanted to see our chapel, so came out to where we were parked before going back to their motel rooms.

The front of the Truckers’ Christian Chapel Ministry building. Since worship was not here, I wanted to ask Chaplain Sam if we could see inside, but forgot.  

We had just gotten back on the  road when we came upon this accident, which surely changed these peoples plans for the day.

Love the words on the back of this trailer.

Shortly after this, another driver went past us blowing his horn (it sounded like a train whistle) from the time he began passing us until he was in front of us. Then he commented on the CB that he liked our rig. I was talking to our daughter Deb at the time. She could barely hear me because of the drivers “noise”.  

Another driver sharing his faith. It looks like his truck has been in some rain and snow.

We arrived at TFC’s Nashville chapel just as Volunteer Chaplain John Welcome was preparing to leave. It was encouraging to meet him. He told us about the experience of leading a driver to the Lord following the morning service today.

John Welcome – that is a great name for a chaplain.

He and Cerwin discussed a few needed repairs that Cerwin will be working on tomorrow.

There was an available parking space for us right in front of the permanent one. That will make it handy for Cerwin tomorrow when he needs to get his tools from the rig in which we are traveling.

We had communicated with our friend Howard Moses, who serves with Truckstop Ministries out of Atlanta, Georgia, and discovered he was in the Nashville area today. They have a chapel a few exits away.

His wife, Angie, died suddenly in December (complications from appendicitis) and we were not able to attend her memorial service, so it was good to spend time with him.

We had a motel reserved for tonight since we are going to be in the area tomorrow. It was time for a bit of luxury on this trip. I enjoy sleeping in the truck – and my bunk is quite comfortable – but it is nice to prop up my feet and watch TV (the Super Bowl of course).

It was an encouraging, rewarding day.

You’re blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God.

Psalm 119:1 (The Message)

Leaving Texarkana

…and heading toward home

Saturday Morning, February 5

The chapel when we went to bed last night.

This morning

It was cold and icy – with a temperature of 18 degrees.

There were trucks parked in every possible space at the truck stop.

Cerwin ordered blueberry pancake puppies and oatmeal for breakfast. I had two “puppies” with my poached egg. They were delicious.

Gene Gehman (a friend from back home and Truck Rally coordinator for TFC) finally made it to the truck stop this morning.

He got in the icy, snowy mess on I-30 coming east out of Dallas, and said if he ever had a worse night of trucking, he doesn’t remember it.

He planned to have supper with us last night at 6:30, and finally pulled off on a ramp and just parked there at 2:00 this morning, because he couldn’t stay awake anymore. Trucks don’t usually park on off ramps, but that is what they were doing last night.

Gene parked his rig next to ours.

He said, “Those of you who are used to seeing it clean and polished at the Truck Rally, this is what a working truck looks like.”

I like the sign on his truck.

Cerwin and Gene working on their log books.

The drivers who were heading east began pulling out this morning. Sections of I-30 west were still shut down this morning due to accidents and jackknifed trucks.

It was like a maze trying to get out of the truck stop because trucks were parked in driving lanes – anywhere they could find a spot last night.

There were a few icy patches on I-30 east when we left Texarkana, and we saw evidence in the snow of many accidents from the day before.

By the time we reached Memphis there was very little snow.

However, we were in a traffic jam on the east side of Memphis due to construction. We drove like this for about half an hour.

It almost looked like springtime in Denmark, Tennessee.

When we pulled into the fuel island, this evening we noticed this little Trucker’s Chapel. We expect to go there for worship in the morning.