MIDDLESEX TWP — Though he left his full-time job as a plumber in 1992, Walter Swarmer is just now beginning to think about what to do with his retirement.

Together with his wife, Lois, Walter has continued using his skills serving in the Assembly of God Church's U.S. Mission America Placement Service.

The program coordinates volunteers with churches, Christian colleges, church retreat facilities and Teen Challenge substance abuse facilities in need of construction or renovation work.

Known as MAPS RV volunteers, couples like the Swarmers travel in their own recreational vehicles to project sites where they assist in building or renovating, saving churches and institutions much of the costs of construction projects.

"The majority of them are retired,"said Jerry Bell, director of the Springfield, Mo., based program.

"Many of them are not homeowners any longer and they live in the RVs and travel from project to project."

Volunteers are provided a location to park their RVs with water, sewage and electric supplies, but receive no other remuneration for their work or travel.

The Swarmers first learned of the MAPS program while reading an advertisement in "Today's Pentecostal Evangel," a weekly magazine published by the Assemblies of God.

"We both wanted to do it," Lois said.

Before beginning their first project, the Swarmers had to submit an application, which included references, skills in construction or renovation work, and a description of their experiences as a Christian.

"They don't necessarily have to belong to the Assemblies of God,"said Bell. "We do require that they be Christian and conduct themselves in an appropriate manner."

Once chosen, volunteers are sorted based on skills and availability before work opportunities are offered.

"Currently, we have about 1,400 volunteers right now on our list. There's always a few hundred on the road at any given time."

In January 1992, just after Walter retired, the Swarmers packed up their RV and headed to Lakeland, Fla., to work at Southeastern College.

Not knowing what to expect, the Swarmers planned two weeks for the trip and ended up staying an extra week.

At each project, volunteers pledge to work 30-hour weeks, generally six hours, five days each week.

The schedule leaves volunteers time to get plenty of rest and to socialize with fellow volunteers.

"The first requirement to be an RVVolunteer is to play dominoes," joked Walter.

The Swarmers served at Southeastern College for two years and participated in projects in several states in following years.

While Walter was sought out for his plumbing skills, Lois, a homemaker and retired licensed practical nurse, helped in any way she could.

On some projects, that meant staying by Walter's side, cleaning pipe fittings and passing tools. On other campus projects, Lois served as a library volunteer and helped with school mailings.

For each visit they make, volunteers receive a patch or pin that is placed on a red vest.

"We don't even have all of them on there," said Lois of her vest, adorned front and back with patches.

"It's the pride of the ministry," said Bell.

In 1996, the couple made their first trip to Valley Forge Christian College, located in Phoenixville.

At the time, the college was experiencing financial difficulty. MAPS volunteers were sought to make repairs to worn down buildings on the campus, once the site of the Valley Forge General Hospital for military personnel.

"I don't know if I would have left my kids there." said Walter.

With plenty of hard work ahead of them, the Swarmers returned to the college each summer, assisting with many projects on the campus.

Through repeated trips to Valley Forge, the Swarmers developed a network of friends that made each stay feel like coming home.

"The people are just like family,"said Walter.

"They'll usually have one or two nights a week that they'll set aside for social activities," he explained.

Since their first visit, the Swarmers have seen a turnaround in the Valley Forge campus.

"All total, the RV vounteers over the last 11 or 12 years, have saved us hundreds of thousands of dollars in labor costs," said Bill Werkheiser general manager of facilities at the college.

In addition to renovating residence halls and construction projects, Werkheiser said volunteers are available for routine maintenance projects such as painting and general repairs.

"They're a real blessing to wherever they go, they have been to me over the years," he said.

With MAPS volunteers giving more than 100,000 hours nationwide last year, Bell said the savings on labor costs for project sites is in the millions.

The benefit, however, is more than just financial for the volunteers and recipients.

"I can't tell you the number of people that told me that it has added so much purpose to their retirement years," said Bell.

Both age 81, the Swarmers are expecting their next trip to Valley Forge to be their last.

"We're going to miss it, we've been doing it for a long time," said Swarmer.

Though they look forward to camping and relaxing, the Swarmers hope the work they have done has left its mark on those who use the churches and buildings they have given their time to.

"We don't know how far the blessing goes," said Walter.