Burken Boys’ and Girl’s Journey

[wjburken]

This post isn’t about working on cars, but I’m going to brag on Joseph a little bit here since he did take a journey.

Joseph spent the last 10 days on a mission trip to Guatemala through our church. He was able to spend time with a local Christian ministry in Tactic, Guatemala where they had opportunities to visit a school and an orphanage. The group was also able to visit the homes of some of the students to see how they live. We picked him up at the airport last night/this morning around midnight. He shared a lot on the 30 minute ride home and I can’t wait to hear more today. Very proud that he was willing to take advantage of this opportunity to go and serve others in a foreign country and I’m guessing he took as much, if not more, out of the trip than he was able to give to those he met down there.

Visiting a families home.

Visiting the orphanage

Trying some local foods

Worn out from a long day

Arriving at the airport last night.

 

[pwtr02ss]

This post isn’t about working on cars, but I’m going to brag on Joseph a little bit here since he did take a journey.

Joseph spent the last 10 days on a mission trip to Guatemala through our church. He was able to spend time with a local Christian ministry in Tactic, Guatemala where they had opportunities to visit a school and an orphanage. The group was also able to visit the homes of some of the students to see how they live. We picked him up at the airport last night/this morning around midnight. He shared a lot on the 30 minute ride home and I can’t wait to hear more today. Very proud that he was willing to take advantage of this opportunity to go and serve others in a foreign country and I’m guessing he took as much, if not more, out of the trip than he was able to give to those he met down there.

Visiting a families home.
View attachment 405455

Visiting the orphanage
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Trying some local foodsView attachment 405456

Worn out from a long day
View attachment 405457

Arriving at the airport last night.
View attachment 405458

Good on him!

 

[adventurenali92]

Good on him! Went on a handful of missions trips when I was a height schooler in youth group, as well as a couple trips as a leader when I was 18 and 19 and helping my then youth pastor. It’s a n experience that changes you for sure.

 

[Tonyrodz]

He's not my son, but I'm proud of him. It's so refreshing to know that there's still good, kind kids left in this world.

 

[Sam Harris]

He's not my son, but I'm proud of him. It's so refreshing to know that there's still good, kind kids left in this world.

This! Way to go dad too! @wjburken

 

[wjburken]

This! Way to go dad too! @wjburken

Thanks. Despite mine and Julie’s efforts, the kid is turning out okay.

 

[Rocket Man]

Thanks. Despite mine and Julie’s efforts, the kid is turning out okay.

 

[wjburken]

This weekend is going to be spent helping Joseph do front end work on Joseph’s truck. Pitman/idler arms, inner and outer tie rods and upper control arms are on the docket so far. Lower ball joints look to be in good shape, but will see if i change my mind after getting into it further.

 

[wjburken]

This weekend is going to be spent helping Joseph do front end work on Joseph’s truck. Pitman/idler arms, inner and outer tie rods and upper control arms are on the docket so far. Lower ball joints look to be in good shape, but will see if i change my mind after getting into it further.View attachment 412079View attachment 412080View attachment 412081

Oh, he will be replacing all four shocks as well.

 

[wjburken]

We made some good progress today. I took the approach of letting him do the work with guidance from me. I stepped in when he hit a snag, but he has been doing the majority of the work. It is taking a little longer this way, but he’s learning so it’s worth it.

He ran into the bolts for the upper control arm being seized in the bushing so he got to get the sawzall out cut them out.

We should finish up tomorrow as we had to call it quits for the day.

 

[wjburken]

On a completely different note, Joseph has been the football team manager since 7th grade. Since he can’t play football due to having a brain tumor when he was 5, this was a way for him to be part of the team. Last night was Senior night for the football team so the team had him suit up and participate in all the pre-game warmups and running into the field. He was on cloud nine with that.

The team had him lead them out of the tunnel.

 

[adventurenali92]

He’s learning to make solutions and problem solve with that seized bolt right there! Good for him! And that’s awesome that he got to run out in the field with his team!!

 

[pwtr02ss]

Very cool!

 

[Sam Harris]

Awesome updates. Keep up the great work dad, and way to go Joseph!!

 

[wjburken]

Well-we finally finished up the work in Joseph’s truck. We ran into a little snag getting the pitman arm off the steering box. We used heat, penetrating oil, and a pitman arm puller and ended up stripping out the treads in the puller. Even tried a pitman arm pickle fork to no avail. We ended up just cutting off the pitman arm. When we got it back together, we must have damaged the steering box so we ended up replacing it completely. I did a cursory alignment on it today so he can drive it the 8 blocks to the shop that will do the alignment.

I have to say that I am proud of him as Joseph did 90-95% of the work with me giving guidance and double checking stuff.

 

[wjburken]

With the driveway now available, Javier decided it was time swap out the work out air shocks on his LeSabre.

 

[Tonyv__]

Well-we finally finished up the work in Joseph’s truck. We ran into a little snag getting the pitman arm off the steering box. We used heat, penetrating oil, and a pitman arm puller and ended up stripping out the treads in the puller. Even tried a pitman arm pickle fork to no avail. We ended up just cutting off the pitman arm. When we got it back together, we must have damaged the steering box so we ended up replacing it completely. I did a cursory alignment on it today so he can drive it the 8 blocks to the shop that will do the alignment.

I have to say that I am proud of him as Joseph did 90-95% of the work with me giving guidance and double checking stuff.

Last time I cut off a pitman arm it took multiple nights and like 20 dremel cut off wheels. I hope to not have to deal with another anytime soon.

 

[Fless]

With the driveway now available, Javier decided it was time swap out the work out air shocks on his LeSabre.View attachment 413370View attachment 413371

Hope he's using jackstands!

 

[Tonyrodz]

With the driveway now available, Javier decided it was time swap out the work out air shocks on his LeSabre.View attachment 413370View attachment 413371

When did he get the Buick? Very reliable cars.

 

[wjburken]

Hope he's using jackstands!

He did after I reminded him to do so. It was a teachable moment.