October 31, 2012
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Completing the Rochelle, Illinois, Chapel Setup
Bible Studies
Tuesday and Wednesday, October 30 & 31
The Rochelle (Illinois) Petro Travel Plaza is one of the busiest truck stops I have visited in a while. There is room to park 400 trucks.
In this photo I am standing on the chapel steps watching trucks come and go. Sometimes we have to wait awhile to walk across this driveway to go to the truck stop. However, many drivers are courteous and stop to let us cross.
They told us that 100 trucks enter here every hour.
Whether arriving or leaving each driver must go by the chapel.
The Petro management even gave the chaplains their own parking space next to the chapel.
Glenn and Cerwin watch as Jay and the electrician, Cliff, prepare to hook up the electric.
Cliff checking on something inside the chapel.
He was impressed with the electrical work that had been done on the chapel – making it easy for him to do the final hook up.
He was also impressed with the heat pump (heating/cooling system). It was delightful to finally have a warm chapel.
Glenn and Rachel left for home after the electric was hooked up. Glenn was anxious to see the heat pump in operation. There we a lot of smiles when heat starting coming out of both air handlers. There was a bit of concern that travel would disengage something as the heat pump is installed under the chapel.
Supper in the Petro – Cerwin, Dave (volunteer chaplain who skillfully hooked up the hifi system), Chaplain Jay and Karen.
Cerwin’s supper.
One nice thing about truck stop restaurants is that you can get breakfast anytime of day. Petro Travel Plaza’s have Iron Skillet restaurants – thus most food items are served in skillets.
Cerwin, Denny, and a driver who stopped in several times in the past few days. He was the one who helped unload Jay’s pickup truck of supplies (from the old chapel) unto the new chapel in yesterday’s post. I did not get his name.
Karen showing Denny’s wife, Lorrie, the new chapel.
Lloyd (a local man) was waiting for us when we entered the chapel for Tuesday night’s Bible study. This is usually a men’s Bible study, but Jay quickly adjusts when ladies happen to be there.
While the chapel was being set up for the evening Bible study, Cerwin showed Karen how to set up the sofa bed air mattress.
The rear view of the chapel at night as we walked to our motel. This is what every driver sees as he enters the truck stop at night.
Shortly after we left, a driver entered the chapel to “argue religion” with Jay and Dave. He didn’t stay long because the men did not agree with his very strange theology.
Chaplain Jay’s wife, Karen, (right) leads a ladies Bible study on the chapel each Wednesday morning. (She also adjusts if a male driver comes into the chapel during this time.)
I greatly enjoyed the study and meeting Sylvia (left), Lisett, and Nancy.
I wanted to get a few “official” photos of the chapel after setup was finished.
Seeing this makes me smile with great joy and peace.
We have not been to Rochelle for many years, so it has been good to meet some of the fabulous people from the truck stop, drivers, volunteers, and supporters who pray for the ministry – especially here in Rochelle.
Comments (7)
such a worthy cause ~ blessings to both of you ~
We only live about 30 minutes from Rochelle!!!!!
What an incredible thing you guys do. Now whenever I pass by there, I will be thinking of you!
@Elizabethmarie_1 - Oh, I wish I had known, and you could have come to the truck stop. We are leaving in the morning.
@fwren - Thank you. It has been a mountaintop experience to be here. We are not ready to leave, but life must go on.
@cerwindoris - Oh! I would have come! Next time you are in the area, let me know and we can meet! Have a safe trip back.
Exciting.
@BluebirdChris - Yes it is!