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Getting Ellen’s Van and Panama
  • JudyfromMoody
  • JudyfromMoody

Getting Ellen’s Van and Panama

We’re taking a quick trip to Virginia to pick up a used van for the Rosenbergers and then driving it to Illinois. Later we will fly to Panama Read more
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  • Trip start
    May 30, 2026
    JudyfromMoodyGetting Ellen’s Van and PanamaTraveler

    TYR-DFW-IAD

    May 30 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    We took a 5am flight to DFW. Yes it was early. A quick transfer from Term B to Term D. We got the exit row. Yea! From Tyr to DFW I got to sit first class!

    Next stop is IAD!

    We literally purchased the tickets at 9pm last night.

    Here’s the backstory.
    Thursday around noon time I saw a Facebook Marketplace advertisement of a large family van for sale. Our friends Pat and Courtney were selling it. I knew it would be a great deal. I texted Ellen immediately and also texted to Courtney that our daughter with 6 kids would be very interested.

    Then on Friday night we answered more questions for Ellen and they decided they would want the Nissan van. Then hearing Ellens busy June schedule. I said “it makes sense that we get the van to sooner than later”.

    And looking at our schedule, it was best to fly up to Virginia NOW. and we bought the ticket and plan to take 2 days to drive the 12 hours to Fisher, Illinois.

    None of the kids know about the van nor us delivering the Nissan. Fun. Fun.    Read more

  • JudyfromMoodyGetting Ellen’s Van and PanamaTraveler

    Picked up the van

    May 30 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F

    2013 Nissan 3500 with 230,000 miles. One owner - our friends Pat and Courtney. Well loved vehicle. Great price. Ellen and Luke are really blessed.

    After a short night, connection at DFW, we took an Uber to the Cassada’s home. Pat and Courtney were at an afternoon wedding and were not there, but the son Josh was. We had a nice visit with him.

    I asked “so what are you going to do today?” And he said “matter of fact I’m getting engaged.” Wow.

    We continued westward bound. Stopped several times to stretch our legs. The rolling hills and trees were awesome - Blue Ridge.

    Finally pulled over in Morgantown WV for the night.    Read more

  • JudyfromMoodyGetting Ellen’s Van and PanamaTraveler

    Buc-ee’s and Bertha

    May 31 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F

    We were able to leave the hotel by 7:15 knowing it would be a long driving day to Illinois.

    We stopped at a Walmart to fill up with gas and also potty stop and Glenn wanted to buy some cords and connections for us and for Van.

    Here’s a text message I sent Ellen
    (COPY/PASTE)

    Ok, Ellen just smile when you read this long text….

    We stop at a Walmart so dad can fill up, but he stops in the parking lane to let me out so he can continue to the gas station. I’m gingerly opening the door (without the step stool b/c he’s filling up and I’m going inside).

    Well this lady walks up and asks if I needed help. Yes. And she says “I just was following you into the parking lot and thot what a neat vehicle!” And then I tell her the whole story, Tyler to DC, then driving it to my daughter who has 6 kiddos 12 hours away. And this lady kept going on that our daughter was getting a great deal. She thought it was so neat how I found this on FB marketplace just a few days ago. She said she had a friend that had a vehicle like this and were using it for foster care kinda like Courtney’s family did.

    All this to say, I was amazed how this lady came up to us to say what an awesome vehicle this is.

    Our next stop was Buc-eee’s. Crowded. Never seen anything like this. Still had a potty stop. When we walked back to the van, you can spot her a mile away. She’s tall. Can you spot her?

    As we were reading texts about Courtney selling their family vehicle, people responded about all the memories the van had, then we learned that her name is BERTHA. Glenn smiled and said Big Bertha.

    Next stop: Fisher Illinois- to drop off Ellen and Luke’s {new} Van. I’ll call her Bertha. I’m not sure what the Rosenbergers will call her.    Read more

  • JudyfromMoodyGetting Ellen’s Van and PanamaTraveler
    1

    Delivered

    May 31 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F

    2013 Nissan nv350 van
    12 passenger van
    230,000 miles
    One owner
    Named Bertha by Cassada
    Sold to Ellen and Luke for a miracle price
    Glenn and I flew to Virginia to drive the van to Illinois
    God is Good!

    It was a full day. We stopped several times. Then as we got closer to Fisher, I was texting Ellen each turn. Play by play.

    The kids had NO idea that we were arriving nor did they know that we were delivering their “new” family van.

    Ellen had all the kids outside in the front driveway, so when they saw “the monster of a vehicle drive and then turn into their driveway and then seeing it was Grammie and granddad driving it. Shock! What?

    Then we told them that it was the Rosenberger van. No way. Then we had to explain, “no Grammie and Granddad did not buy this but rather we are delivering it to them.”

    We celebrated at Culver’s. Keeping the Stewart tradition that we started back on the mission field by going out for ice-cream with the family.

    Ellen IS OVERJOYED with her new family vehicle.    Read more

  • JudyfromMoodyGetting Ellen’s Van and PanamaTraveler

    Ice-cream for Breakfast

    June 1 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 81 °F

    6 year old Annie learned how to ride a bicycle. Sticking to the Stewart tradition, we would allow the kid to have ice-cream for breakfast once they learned how to ride their bike (not bicycle as I was corrected!)

    Granddad has taught David, Lucy, Elizabeth and now Annie. Emily taught herself.

    The girls had a lemonade stand.

    And we started watching “the penny” video series where Ryan Trahan takes .01 cent and creatively travels across the USA by passing it forward by doing Door Dash, selling water bottles on a hot summer afternoon, collecting golf balls, etc. this you tube series is 2 years old yet Ryan was raising money for Feed America.

    On Tuesday afternoon we kept the kids while Ellen and Luke went to a movie. The kids played outside, riding bikes or rollerblading. Amanda fell asleep in her car seat.
    returning home from Champaign.

    Glenn made sure all the tires were full.    Read more

  • JudyfromMoodyGetting Ellen’s Van and PanamaTraveler

    DFW -MIA - PTY

    June 8 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 84 °F

    5am flight from DFW.
    Yes early.
    Easy connection in MIA

    Walking thru PTY Airport, we noticed the flags of the countries. Notice the flags are in the “first grouping”. Pretty cool.

    And yes Panama is in the Worlds Cup.

    See the canal?    Read more

  • JudyfromMoodyGetting Ellen’s Van and PanamaTraveler

    A full week at Gamboa Nature Reserve

    June 15 in Panama ⋅ 🌧 84 °F

    Today we’re leaving. And I didn’t post anything the WHOLE week.

    We helped out with the folks arriving on Tuesday afternoon and evening. Fun to reconnect with missionaries and their kids.

    Each day was varied as we had prayer sessions, missionary updates and Merle lead a devotional each day.

    The afternoons we FREE along with game night in the evenings. Friday was completely free. Some folks took the excursion to the Panama Canal and others to the beach.

    We stayed at the resort and went swimming on Friday.

    Each afternoon we had a hard downpour. The weather was HOT and very humid. Just like in the jungle. Glenn spotted Tuscan and capibara and parrots flying out each morning and returning in the evening.    Read more

    Trip end
    June 17, 2026