Parade Observers
Make-A-Wish Convoy – Sunday, May 13
I enjoyed seeing all the places people parked and how they watched the parade.
On the bridge at the Brownstown Exit looking at the trucks ahead of us – going under the bridge.
Coming off the exit
Going under the bridge – looking up at the truck going over the bridge.
The end of the parade tomorrow night.
May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus.
Romans 15:5 (New Living Translation)
The Convoy
Make-A-Wish Convoy – Sunday, May 13
A Mother’s Day wish on this truck
Cute planters
Interesting load. Don’t miss the clown on the first vehicle.
Trolley Car
Fire trucks and emergency vehicles were inserted into the convoy every so often.
The Kissmobile
Love the upper sign on this truck
The animals are trying to escape!
Nice old pick up truck
It’s our turn to join the parade.
What fun to wave to all these people.
More from the parade route tomorrow night.
God’s plan looked foolish to men, but it is wiser than the best plans of men.
God’s plan which may look weak is stronger than the strongest plans of men.
1 Corinthians 1:25 (New Life Version)
Waiting for the Convoy to Start
Make-A-Wish Convoy -Sunday, May 13
We barely had time to get something to eat before it was time to prepare the chapel to travel again. These pictures are from my seat in the tractor as we waited for the convoy to begin.
There were lots of clowns, because they go out on the convoy route to raise money for Make-A-Wish.
Checking the time.
I had to get out of the truck to hug these people – our sister-in-law Pat (right) their daughter, Crystal, and her husband, Jakey. Peyton and her baby sister, Bailey, are in the stroller. They came to watch the convoy.
Cerwin and his brother, Elvin.
Shortly after I got back in the truck Ivan Huber joined Cerwin and Elvin.
Trucks waiting to leave.
The crowd of watchers gathering to see the parade.
I think something is about to happen.
The first twenty trucks left the grounds in order of the amount of funds they raised for the day.
There were 336 trucks in this years convoy.
It was fun being parked in a space where we could watch the earliest trucks leaving the lot.
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More tomorrow night
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We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God—those whom he has called according to his plan.
Romans 8:28 (GOD’S WORD Translation)
Worship at Burle Industries
Make-A-Wish Convoy -Sunday, May 13
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Even though we were an hour-and-a-half late (see previous post) it was a kind-of-fun-experience when we arrived at Burle Industries where the Make-A-Wish trucks were gathering. The first truck parker thought we were a freight truck and directed us to where they were parking a row of trucks.
However, another parker recognized the rig as The Chapel and quickly stopped us. Almost immediately these two came to guide us to our spot.
Chaplain Jake and his son, Jesse, were waiting for us.
I don’t think we could have gotten set up in time for the ten o’clock service without their help
I didn’t get a picture of those who were helping me inside the chapel – Jane Wise and Dale and Darla Hershey. They helped prepare the chairs and remove bungie cords that hold cupboard doors and drawers shut when we travel, and put TFC literature on countertops and in racks. We finished just minutes before 10:00 a.m. There were details that did not get done, but I was probably the only one who noticed.
I had just enough time to take this picture from the steps of the chapel before people started coming inside.
Chairs filled up quickly, so parents held their children to make more chairs available.
After the chairs were full, several drivers stood in back. I took this picture before Cerwin came inside, and several more drivers arrived.
Including children and TFC staff, there were thirty people in the first service. Not bad for a room with twenty chairs.
After Chaplain Jake opened with prayer, and his wife Jane led us in a song, he challenged us with a ten-minute message. “Are You a Real or a Fake Christian?”
This photo is for our daughter Deb and son-in-law Roy. Their next door neighbors, Dianna and Sam, came to the chapel just to say hi to Cerwin and me.
The organizers of the convoy gave us the best parking spot in the main lot.
Later in the day a lady walked up to me and asked if we liked our spot. I replied that it doesn’t get any better than this. She said that she had encouraged her husband to give us this spot. I gave her a hug and told her to thank her husband as well.
A driver talking to Jake.
If I remember correctly, there were twenty in the chapel for the second service.
We know that drivers who come to a truck show and convoy on a Sunday morning are not looking for a long worship service, so we offer two fifteen-minute devotionals.
It is amazing how much of a challenge Jake packs into those fifteen minutes. He actually does it in less than fifteen minutes because he includes prayer and Jane leads a song.
We are blessed to partner with Jake and Jane to provide worship services for the Make-A-Wish Convoy. We may have to add a third service next year. 10:00, 10:30, and 11:00. Are you ready for that Jake?
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More tomorrow night
Pursue a righteous life
a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy.
1 Timothy 6:11 (The Message)
This Is How Our Day Started
Make-A-Wish Convoy – Sunday, May 13
7:15 a.m.
The view in front of me as I sit in the cab of TFC’s International Chapel #2 waiting to leave for the Make-A-Wish Convoy at Burle Industries near Lancaster.
7:28 a.m.
For the locals, we were at the base of Chickies Hill on RT 441 (heading south) when the “check engine” light flickered on – then off.
A few seconds later the lights and buzzers were in full speed and the engine began to slow down.
Cerwin said, “I need to get off the road.” We slowly made it to the parking area on the side of the road when the computer shut the truck off.
Cerwin lifted the hood, and noticed that a water hose had broken. It was on the bottom of the hose – about the center of the photo – beyond where the camera could capture it.
We were grateful that Good Transport (about a half a mile away – on top of the hill) has twenty-four-hour road service. Cerwin has their number in his cell phone, because they work on the chapel tractors now and then.
The repairman lived a distance away, then had to get the supplies we needed, so we had about an hour wait. During that time I walked toward the path that leads to Chickies Rock – a favorite hiking spot in our area.
We called our friend Marv Sauder – who was already at Burle Industries – and asked him to alert the truck parkers that the chapel will be late. We also called Chaplain Jake Wise, because he was supposed to be having the first devotional service at 10:00 a.m.
8:33 a.m.
We were glad to see the repairman.
If things had gone as planned, we would have been parked and set up by this time. 
We are glad to believe in a God who has everything under control.
You cannot imagine how grateful we were to God for allowing us to get to this pull off area.
Having to stop on Chickies Hill would not have been so comfortable, plus we would have been a big hinderance to southbound traffic.
His truck was well-equipped to take care of the truck’s needs.
9:00 a.m. (one-and-a-half hours later)
We are on our way again, going down the other side of the hill, looking toward the Susquehanna River.
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More tomorrow night
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