Buses: Rolling Testimonies >>
The Whole Story...

From the time that 2MOMS (and 2 dads) felt the call to “Go West”, transportation had been the biggest concern. We considered just about everything, from simply driving our mini-vans and pulling storage trailers, to driving one used motorhome pulling a storage trailer, to driving a motorhome and a van pulling a trailer, etc. We had planned on using the vehicle to only travel in not to live in. We were going to stay in guesthouses, basements and in extended stay motels.

However, in late February our thoughts began to change when 2MOMS, 2 dads and 5 children (and 2 grandparents and a sister-in-law) spent the week in Los Angeles riding around in one 15 passenger van and all staying together in 2 hotel/suites. This trip impressed upon all of us that driving and living together all the time might not be the best idea... We all wanted to love each other when we returned home from the tour! Also, about the same time, Sharon talked with Steven and Lisa (Welchel) Cauble, who are on a year-long speaking tour across the USA with their 3 children (www.lisawelchel.com). They expressed how much they loved living and driving in their RV versus packing and unpacking hotel rooms all the time. It was at this point that 2MOMS decided it would be best to purchase 2 used motorhomes and each pull a van. The motorhome would now be used not only to make traveling easier, but also, to be our home away from home.

What a burden was lifted! We had figured it out! Now that we knew how we would travel, all we had to do was find it! We persistently began looking at used RV lots, camper magazines, and used RV websites for the perfect Class A or Class C RV. The only RV’s we could afford were gas RVs and people kept telling us “You need a diesel if you’re going to pull your van.” Nothing seemed to be working out. The more we looked, the more unsettled we were. Laurie couldn’t stand the thought of making down the kitchen table couch every night just to make room for the kids to sleep! There was not a peace about anything we’d seen. “God please show us what we’re supposed to do” continued to be our prayer. We knew there had to be something that would work... but what was it?

It was back to the drawing board. Charles and Pat were staying up late night after night to see what was available on the Internet that would meet the needs of our families. They found some used entertainer buses which had some of the features we wanted (such as bunks for the kids) and a diesel engine, but didn’t have full baths or kitchens (which we had to have). Oh, and one other minor detail... we couldn’t afford them! The 2 dads kept looking at all kinds of “old” buses, but again, there was no peace about anything. It seemed the harder we looked the more frustrated and uncertain we all became. Time was running out. “God, what are we supposed to do?”, we pleaded.

Charles and Pat remembered that in the beginning someone had suggested converting a bus into a motorhome. This idea didn’t seem so crazy now. We and Papa (Sharon and Laurie’s dad) met with a guy who had converted his own bus and picked his brain about the possibility of converting 2 buses under the time constraint we had. He felt that it would be feasible. We were hoping he would be the foreman of a crew of volunteers to complete this monumental endeavor! However, due to illnesses in his family, he was not going to be able to help with the buses.

As you can imagine, we were disappointed and wondered if we should even keep going in this direction or start over again! We prayed about it and talked and decided to move forward. We still had a peace about the buses - just didn’t quite know how it was all going to get done. Who would be the foreman? Without prior consultation, Charles and Laurie both thought of the same person at the same time who might be able to act as foreman... Charles! He would quit his job early (May 1) and begin putting his efforts into the buses. He would need lots of help, but was excited and a little nervous about the new hat he’d soon be wearing.

The search was on again. Several bus conversion companies were found in different areas of the country. (None in Texas could help us with such short notice.) Finally, in Bassett, Virginia (the home of Bassett Furniture) Easter Bus Sales said they had lots of buses for sale and would do as little or as much of the conversion as we could afford. A road trip was planned. Early on Saturday, April 21, Pat, Charles and Joe Melugin (Sharon and Laurie’s cousin as well as an incredible diesel mechanic) flew to Bassett. They began looking at buses right away and became overwhelmed and discouraged rather quickly. The motors were not in very good shape, nor were the buses themselves. After going in the garage to take photos of a bus that had already been converted, they saw some buses nearby which they had not noticed before. They were running short on time, but quickly looked them over. The motors had been rebuilt and had some warranty left and the buses were in better condition than any they’d seen prior. Halleluia! They had found them! The Easters gave them a good deal and began working on stripping the buses as soon as they were given the “go ahead”. (By the way, this is the same family as the 2002 Dove Awards-winning Easter families!)

Easter Bus Sales “blanked out” the windows, put new external “skins” on, stripped the old seats out, painted them purple, and installed generators. Pat and Charles flew back to Bassett at the end of May to drive the bus shells home! Meanwhile, 2MOMS and 2 dads worked on floor plans, looked at catalogs, and recruited volunteer help from friends and family to build the buses! The entire inside had to be rebuilt (from nothing) - beds, kitchen, bathroom, etc... everything!

Thanks for enduring this lengthy explanation and for “hoppin’ on the bus” with us with your prayers, financial and physical support!

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