OUR NEW BUS HAS ARRIVED SAFELY ON CAMPUS!

But it is not the one you are thinking of…

As many of you know, we have been working very hard toward the addition of a new bus to the Dakota Adventist Academy family. We have had the kids call and ask for money, we have done our research, and we have had trusted parties review our choices.

There was one last check point to test before we would know for sure. On Wednesday May 7, 2009, Dakota Adventist Academy maintenance men, Jerry Davis and Russell Haveman, traveled to Arizona to check out the bus personally. They would be the ones to drive the coach on long trips, and they would be the ones to repair any problems that occurred.

They knew the bus was not perfect heading down there, but they wanted to make sure they were not missing some larger piece. After a thorough examination and a test drive, the two men decided the bus was not all that we had hoped for. The problems kept mounting, and while most were fixable, there were just too many to justify spending the money. They decided with the help of administration that it was best for the school if we continue to look for a new bus.

Since they were already in the area, Jerry and Russell traveled over to California to check out another potential bus. Found on Ebay, the bus looked decent, and since we had our guys in the area, we sent them over to see if this bus was more promising.

Well, promising might be too much of an understatement to describe this new bus.

Our new bus is a 1987 MCI 102A3. It has an Allison 740 4 speed automatic transmission, and is fitted with a Detroit 6V92 engine. While the bus is only one year newer than the bus in Arizona, the condition the bus has been kept in for 22 years ensures a more reliable bus at this point.

After a thorough inspection, a test drive, and a great deal of prayer, Jerry and Russell along with administration, made the decision to purchase this bus for $21,500.

Spending the Sabbath down in the area, the men headed back to campus on Saturday night, arriving Sunday evening. After a deep cleaning to remove sand and dirt, the bus is ready to hit the road.

First up on the travel log is a trip to Dairy Queen to thank the kids for all their hard work in raising the money. To see pictures of the bus, click on the "Read More" button down below.

Although the bus is purchased, the fund raising efforts are still ongoing. We have raised a large portion of the funds so far and the amount continues to grow on a daily basis. But we are not there yet. We appreciate those who have helped out on this project so far, and we appreciate the future prayers and contributions of the friends of the academy.

If you are interested in helping out with the campaign, or just have questions about the project, please contact Rachael Boyd or Leonard Quaile for information at 701-258-9000 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Thank you so much for all of your support, financially and through your prayers. May God bless!

Read More