OUT OF THE OFFICE….FOREVER!!!

We have a big announcement and maybe by the title of today’s post you know what it is….LEONARD RETIRED!

His last day of teaching engineering at the University of Pittsburgh was April 22 – congratulations to him!!  I have watched him give so much of himself and his knowledge to the students he has had in his classes over the last THIRTY EIGHT YEARS – wow – and I am so proud of him and happy for him!

On to a new season of life – for him AND me  – we know it’s going to take some getting used to for him to always be around – if anyone has a hobby or activity you’d like to share with him, please let him know!  Haha

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Before taking our next trip, the Airstream needed a few things to be checked over and looked at – so Leonard took it over to the Airstream Factory Service Center in Ohio – or as Airstreamers called it, THE MOTHER SHIP!

It’s the BEST place to have things looked at and repaired.  It’s about a four hour trip from Pittsburgh, so Leonard loaded up and drove over there.

About 50 miles from his destination, he noticed that the air pressure on one of the trailer tires was getting lower and lower.  After stopping to check it out, this was what he discovered in the tire…

After adding some air, he got back on the road and prayed that he would make it those 50 miles without a real problem – after about  20 miles, he stopped again and put some more air in the tire.  God is good because Leonard made it to the Airstream dealer without a totally flat tire!

Here’s how the website describes the process of bringing a trailer for repairs:

Airstream Terraport
Need a place to stay overnight while your Airstream is getting serviced? The Airstream Terraport has full water and electrical hookups and is conveniently located within walking distance of the Service Center.

I love that they call the campground area the TERRAPORT!  It sounds so official!  Leonard had a one night camping trip there and then left it to be repaired – We are both so thankful that he made it safely and Airstream was able to replace the tire and do the repairs we needed!  What a great experience!  There is even a museum to see the history of Airstreams!

Here are some photos of the area and his set up!

We have several trips planned already and are excited for them!  One trip that we have (and are actually there right now) is a national rally for a group called CAMPERS ON MISSION.   We have been talking about and praying about doing some kind of ministry with our Airstream – not just doing things for ourselves but reaching out and letting God use us.   We don’t know anything about this group, and found out that they have a rally every year – so here we are!  Leonard checked into it and got us registered!  The rally is in Aiken, South Carolina and it’s four days long.

I would say there are about 100 people here, and it’s been good to get to know what the organization is all about, AND to meet some wonderful people!  Oh, AND to look at all the different trailers and motor homes here since everyone is a camper!  There are some HUGE motor homes!

We always say that when we are camping in the midst of these big fifth wheel trailers and 40 ft long motor homes, our Airstream trailer looks like a keychain!  It’s true here this week also!

Some facts about Campers on Mission:

*it is a fellowship of Christian campers with a mission to share their faith and the love of Jesus while camping and doing various mission activities

*they travel in RVs and go all over the country

*their mission projects work with youth and children camps – working at carnivals and fairs – doing church construction and renovation – and all kinds of other things!

*and the members get to enjoy the fun of camping while they do it!

Everyone has been so nice and we have enjoyed the comfort of our Airstream while meeting new people, hearing seminars, having BBQ for dinner,(we are in the south after all) singing and worshiping, hearing good preaching, and just learning more about the program!

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The trailer will “rest” until our next trip – New England and Nova Scotia later this summer!!!

(here are photos that will give you a “preview’ of some of the things we will do there!)

As ALWAYS, thank you so much for coming along with us and for taking the time to read these posts – it means more than I can say!

UNTIL NEXT TIME….