Spring Break in Iowa - Better than any beach party

My friend Rachel and I signed up to go to Cedar Rapids, Iowa sort of on a whim. We saw signs advertising the trip around campus, and one day we just though 'why not?' I mean, who WOULDN'T want to spend their spring break in Iowa? Neither one of us had any constriction experience so we didn't really know what we were getting ourselves into. But from day one, both of us knew we had made the right choice. The work was hard and the hours were long but the people were so great and helping others simply for the sake of helping others felt really good. We never really realized how much work goes into organizing volunteers. Everyone from the church that hosted us, to the ladies who made lunch for us were so nice and so grateful that the joy was contagious. The four days flew by, and by the end we actually found ourselves wishing we were staying a whole week. This spring break trip was a bit unconventional (I guess iowa is south of wisconsin...so it's a little warmer?) but we wouldn't change the great memories and new friendships for any beach party, no matter how sunny!

Jessie Louis c/o 2013