So as our rag tag caravan made our way out of Toledo to New Jersey in the early morning hours, we were excited to be heading to home but anxious about the drive ahead.  It was a long journey that all too often was delayed by road construction throughout the majority of Interstate 80-East. But state by state we progressed onward. And finally we crossed into New Jersey via the Delaware Water Gap. Crossing over the final state border was a morale building event. We were almost home, but as the distance was short the traffic was intense. I almost forgot what driving in NJ meant until we turned onto Rte 287 and inched ever closer to home.  But despite our traffic woes, we were all excited to be back in the Garden State.

Final departure from Liz’s house was touching. Tears were shed as luggage made its way out of the vans and into familiar waiting cars. I know that I’ll never forget this group and all that we have been through. Success to us! Success to our IOWA Disaster Recovery Service Trip!

      What could be better than working outside all day with 18 cats? Waking up this morning was a bit rough as we attempted to rise from our sleeping bag cacoons, stretching sore muscles and peeling eyelids open at 6a.m. It’s day three here in Iowa and as the days pass, the Iowa 25 continues to bond through our hard work and hours spent smelling each other’s body odor (Eww) as a result of aforementioned  hard work.  Our muscle aches are increasing as our sleeping hours are decreasing, but yet no one is complaining, for we all knew when we signed up for this trip, this was exactly what was in store.  For us, our days have been spent mostly outdoors on clean up duty, removing large piles of debris that accumulated as a result of the twin tragedies which occurred here nearly one year ago. After yesterday’s long day of house scraping and painting, today was a little more laid back as our group of 5, Eric, Allesandra, Lisa, Sean and Jordan headed off to a local woman’s home  (after a short rain delay) to perform some clean up duty, after unloading a heavy amount of shingles onto a newly built roof (or as the Iowans like to call it "ruff"). 

      When we arrived, we met the very adorable owner of the property, Carolyn Hanson, followed closely behind by her brood of 18 cats! Wherever you looked, there was a cat walking out from behind some trees, from under cars, from up in trees! It was a kitty rain shower done Iowa style, and the cats would provide us with much amusement throughout the day! Carolyn was such an interesting character. She had that old lady appeal to her and ended almost every sentence with a "and that...", which reminded Jordan very much of her sweet little old Nan back in Jersey. It may be a little too obvious that we were loving this woman (that we had only just met.) How friendly the Iowans are! Our work duties included cleaning up an insect laden pile of wet boxes filled with mushy, pourage like cedar shavings, cat pee ridden trash removal and moving some rather large and unusual objects which much like the cats had ended up on her property as a result of the flooding. While we shoveled shavings, Sean and Allesandra valiantly wrestled septic soaked garbage into a dumpster and were rewarded by a great treasure awaiting them at the bottom of the pile; a Burger King T-shirt in its original plastic packaging! Needless to say, this was taken home as a souvenir of a job well done.
     

Debris wahed up from the flood.	Carolyn's kittens.

      We were feeling energized and ready to work and I don’t know whether it was the late start we had or the Special K we had for breakfast, but we knocked out our assigned tasks so fast that Carolyn needed to find more tasks to keep us busy. So, although we started out as garbage men, we ended up becoming landscapers, pruning bushes and trees. Weilding saws, we set out on a rather sad evergreen whose fungus laden braches were reaching out to be trimmed.  Braving the possible rashes and ick factor of slimy orange fungals we plunged on into the tree and sawed away, and we couldn’t have had a better time doing it.  We were even provided free outdoor entertainment by many new friends including a frog, a toad (Spike), some rad looking ants, a snail named Lar Bear, massive worms and a pair of canoodling cats (who really seemed to be enjoying the day way too much-wiiink).  We finished up our work and sat down by the woman’s pond, skipping rocks, soaking in the sun, and in Jordan's case soothing her itchy cat hives. Reluctantly, we said our goodbyes to Carolyn who, like everyone else we have encountered on our trip, thanked us profusely and invited us all back to swim and fish in her pond. The one commonality that every one of us has commented on is the genuine openness and kindness of all those we have encountered.  Their response to us makes all of us work that much harder, and wish we could do even more for them because they are true inspirations to all of us.

Relaxing by the pond after a hard day's work.	Gardening around the church.

      Coming back to the church afer our farmcapades we lent a hand to the our other volunteers who stayed at the church today and did various projects such as weeding, cleaning, building walls and even laying a patio. And so we closed our work day back in the dirt, shoveling sod, moving rocks and enjoying our work together (minus Jordan who suffered an allergic reaction attack due to consuming a casserole cooked in 'SHROOMS!!) It was a double whammy with 18 cats and mushrooms... oh no! After relaxing for a bit and showering the dirt and grime off of our weary bodies, we decorated our quarters for Alicia's 21st birthday! It was an exciting time where we made Shirley Temple drinks and had a few laughs. We then reminisced about the good times, wonderful experiences, and people that we have encountered along the way. As the night grows late we volunteers become tired and await for what tomorrow's projects have to offer (where there is no doubt in our minds that it can only be better than the last).

Clearing a spot for the church's new patio.	The completed patio.
The Shady Rest Motel in Cedar Falls. An extended stay motel, home to 17 families, which have been displaced since the flooding.

      While this was taking place, another group of us went out to Cedar Falls to work on a motel that was destroyed by the flooding last year. It has taken them this long to get the funding and man power to be able to progress with the project. The motel is called Shady Rest and it was home to 17 low income families, who the owner said become one large family of neighbors who looked out for eachother and had fun hanging out together.  The floods unfortunately made the motel unliveable, and the tenants were displaced.  We spent the day doing various tasks, including spackling, sanding, plumbing, sheet rock, car repair, lawn mowing, and other oddjobs that made life a little easier for the owners of the motel, Phylis and Jim.  It was really great to talk with them, as well as play with their two puppies who were absolutely adorable! Hopefully, with the help that we gave today and hard work by others in the weeks ahead, the people who are aching so badly to return to their homes will finally get their wish.  Overall, it was a really great way to spend my 21st birthday! And the surprise cake and presents was absolutely amazing and very unexpected.  The experiences here just keep getting better and I can't wait to see what adventures tomorrow brings!

Preparing to surprise Alicia for her 21st birthday - complete with decorations, a variety of cupcakes and brownies, and shirley temples in pitchers, mugs, a margarita glass, and of course an Iowa themed shot glass.	Alicia attempting to blow out her candles... they were trick candles!!!

We finally made it late last night after two days in the car. The ride was actually kind of nice, despite a few setbacks with unexpected van repairs, missed exits and incorrect addresses. I was in charge of getting the direction packets together, so when the address for the church turned out to be a little off [read: middle of the countryside a few miles from town], we were glad to be a couple hours ahead of the rest of the gang.

Arriving in Iowa was surprisingly stunning. We made it to the Clarksville countryside just as the sun was setting.  Being able to see the whole sky again reminded me of my second home – Kansas – and driving through these country roads was fun for all us Jersey folk.

I woke up this morning after a solid night’s sleep (on the floor and comfortable) to egg casserole and homemade muffins warming in the oven. After a couple days of day old (+) bagels, breakfast bagels, pizza bagels, PB&J bagels…waking up to the type of breakfast that my mom usually serves for Christmas morning was unbelievable.

Everyone made themselves comfortable in the basement of the Church.

Before we went out to work, Shelly, our AmeriCorps connection who helped set up this trip, showed us images from the disasters that happened last year. It’s really difficult to imagine something like that happening here because they’ve done such a great job rebuilding. She mentioned that Parkersburg and the places that were affected by the tornado have really been successful in restoring homes and businesses that were destroyed only a year ago.

What was shocking to hear was that flood damage isn’t thoroughly covered by insurance. So basically, if your home was washed away by a flood and your insurance doesn’t cover much, you will still have to pay the mortgage from the first house, the removal of the debris and then, on top of that, to build a new home on that property. How can anyone afford to do that?

After the presentation, we split up into three groups, one cleaning up flood damage, one cleaning up tornado damage and my site worked on roofing with Don Bliss at a home being rebuilt by Habitat for Humanity that was destroyed by flooding.
I had done roofing on another service trip back in high school, but this was completely different. There was no roof! We were actually building it, which meant standing on the frames, measuring, cutting wood and nailing it up there. When Don told me to get up there after we’d been on the scaffolding for a bit, it took me a minute to process what he was trying to tell me…I actually didn’t think that he was serious for a minute. It seemed really high and a bit dangerous to be working twenty feet above the cement foundation.

Yeah, so he was serious. For the rest of the afternoon, Don yelled directions from the ground, which was actually efficient, even if it took me five times to clarify the instructions. I did the measuring (with the ea pronounced like a long ae), marking and holding while my partner for the day, Ryan, did the hammering. It worked out well and we put that part on the roof that extends out a bit, an overhang I guess.

Don Bliss yelling up instructions to the rooftop workers.	As part of the third group in Shell Rock, Jordan paddles to some debris in her canoe.

The day went quickly, but by five we were all beat and ready to head out to Sinclair for a “Weenie Roast”, better known as a BBQ, at the Codner family farm. While driving out there we passed by grain elevators that we had seen in Sherry’s presentation earlier. They had been crushed like tin cans when the tornado passed through, and though they’re completely restored now, the aluminum that had blown off had landed in the Codner’s stream. The groups working at the farm had completely cleared out the aluminum, mattresses and random accouchements that had found their way into the stream, which will be a great relief with all of the flooding that has been happening in the past fifteen years.

As a few of us ventured to the train tracks, Liz pointed out the trail of the tornado. The forest was completely torn up and there was debris everywhere. The owner of the property mentioned that the tornado sounded like the biggest train you can imagine going overhead, which must have been terrifying. I don’t spend much time wandering near train tracks, but a few of us waited for one to pass by… and it was loud… and scary.

Our group playing Mafia, around the campfire at the Codner Farm.	One of the restored grain elevators in the distance.
Taking a walk through the trail made by the tornado.

As we played a Jersey favorite, Mafia, around the campfire, roasting marshmallows and eating s'mores, it felt really nice to get to know twenty-five new people and know that we’re going to accomplish a lot over in the time that we’re lucky enough to spend here.

      Today was our last day Iowa! The group split into three groups and went different ways. One of the groups  returned to the motel, which serves as low-income housing in Cedar Falls. We had the pleasure of meeting another AmeriCorps group that consisted of members from Iowa and Indiana. Together, we worked on sanding and mudding the walls as well as installing windows. As a special treat, the property owners and project coordinators organized a delicious lunch, which consisted of hot dogs and hamburgers. Yum. Despite the tedious hours of sanding, the experience was well worth it. We were able to talk to the other AmeriCorps members and discuss preconceived notions about the differences in state cultures. At the end of the day, we discovered that the weenie dog had a tick. So Sara calmed the dog while Jordan played doctor and removed the parasite. By the time we left, the appreciation for all our hard work shone from the faces of the residents and that in itself made the trip worth the mileage.

John applying mud (spackle) and tape to the dry wall.	Nicole doing some much needed sanding on the walls.
Erik helping the motel owner by fixing his car so he can drive it on the road.	Our group - including some AmeriCorps members from Iowa and Indiana - taking a picture after a long day of mudding and sanding.

      Another group went to Shell Rock to help remove debris and overgrown plants from Janet, a local resident’s yard.  After a nice drive around the town (we were pretty lost), we removed rotting wood, played in the rain, weeded the garden, cut down trees, drove tractors, raked debris, cleaned the old garage, and caught a few snakes!!! Patrick and Kelly also rode around in the wheel barrel while waiting for lunch.  We shared a delicious lunch of pizza, sandwiches, cookies, soda, carrots and WATERMELON!   It once again was a rewarding experience. 

The group in Shell Rock with some debris.

      Other groups went to the Habitat for Humanity House in Clarksville to finish some work there, while another small group went back to Codner Creek to remove flood and tornado debris.  It was a great way to finish our work here in Iowa—we worked in multiple areas of the county and did valuable work.

      Every single person we have encountered on our journey through Butler County has shared stories, their homes and their love.  Souvenirs cannot compare to the experience of this trip.  The entire group was grateful for every meal, presentation, smile, wave and good night’s sleep.  This trip is unlike anything we have ever experienced and would not change it for anything. Thank you to those of you who supported us from home and here in Butler County, Iowa.  We could not have done it without you! THANK YOU! Now all we need to do is survive the two-day drive home!

The day began with a vigorous search along Beaver Crick (Creek for those from the east coast) for debris that stretched from New Hartford through Sinclair to Parkersburg.   The woods were thick and were filled with bloodthirsty mosquitoes.  A lot of bug spray and sunscreen were among the vital necessities.  A washing machine, oil barrels, tires, tin siding from houses, styrofoam, sheets of metal, clothing, and much more were wrapped around trees, buried in the dirt, and washed up by the water. 
 
 After a few hours, we split two groups.  The first group went to highway 57 to clean a 6 mile stretch along the rail roads in anticipation of the governor visiting Butler County.  By the end of the cleanup, orange bags and scrap metal lined the highway.  The second group went to the Oak Hill Cemetery and cleaned up all the ditches along Cory Road, a mile stretch.  A New Hartford resident stopped along the side of the street to talk to us while we were cleaning to thank us for what we were doing.  She was so appreciative because after the tornado, she cleaned up all the trash out of the ditches but before it could be picked up, the floods came and spread it all out again.  She kept thanking us from “the bottom of her heart” because she tried so many times to clean up and was never successful because of all the disasters.  It really made everything we were doing worth it, no matter how hot or how tired we were, we were really making a difference.

 

Debris found in the trenches, left along the road for pickup.	Group picture on some fallen trees.

 For dinner, we headed over to the New Hartford Lions Club where we were treated with the utmost kindness and hospitality as we chowed down on our delicious Iowan meal.  The fire chief of the town said a few words on what the immediate actions and plans were after the tornado hit to help people and find people shelter.  He also talked about how all the volunteer fire fighters put their lives on the line to make sure everyone else in the town was safe and cared for before themselves and how it really showed the sense of pride and community of Iowa.

 

Our group outside of the New Hartford Lions Club.	Warming up around a bonfire after swimming in Carolyn's chilly pond. It was a beautiful night with a great opportunity to see shooting stars.

 After dinner we all headed over to Carolyn Hanson’s house for a dip in her pond.  The water was freezing, yet refreshing and was really a great way to wind down after a long day of hard work.  The campfire completed the night as we all gathered around to share past time stories and a few scary ghost stories as well.  Being out in that field by the pond at night with nothing really around opened our eyes to the true beauty of Iowa.

This morning we woke up at eight AM and proceeded to eat breakfast, pack up, and begin our journey.  We were all assigned to our respective vans and optimistically began our twelve hour trip at around eleven AM, into the depths of the cornfields of Iowa.  We didn’t know what to expect.  Are there stores in Iowa? Most of our family and friends assumed we were going to Idaho or didn’t know where Iowa was, but within a few hours we were on our way and into Pennsylvania – and we were already among cows, beefalo (a mixed breed between cow and buffalo), farms, and horses too.  After a few short rest stops and eleven long hours of driving we arrived at The United Methodist Church in Toledo, Ohio.   At the Church, which resembled more of a 16th century castle, we enjoyed some recreational sports, much needed showers, and a dinner of pizza bagels.  We went over the plan for the next day and could barely fall asleep with the growing anticipation of our adventures to come.

      Today was another driving day. We got up at seven am and hit the road about eight thirty, right off the bat we missed the only turn we could make (interstate 80) it only caused a minor delay but happened to be some epic foreshadowing.  Half way into the drive one of our vans took a wrong turn and got a little lost later on after getting a police escort (awesome) they realized the police brought them to the wrong highway. As if that wasn’t enough another van suddenly needed service.

Waiting for our replacement vehicles at enterprise.	Pretty Bridge Over the Mississippi during our detour.

      This caused a delay and we wound up needing to get new vehicles. Only two vans got caught in this and the other two pressed ahead.  We were part of the two vans that were able to experience the downtown of Cedar Falls Iowa where we enjoyed a real meal and some window shopping.

      We saw the many, many farms in Iowa. Endless, vast expanses of farmland as far as the eye can see. Later on when we arrived at the church at around ten pm we were pleasantly surprised when the local police showed up in front. We expected to be broken up and told to go inside due to a noise complaint, but that was not the case - he was welcoming us to the area and knew about the service we were here for! We talked for at least an hour and a half about the culture of a small town. Just a small preview of the nice people we are all about to meet here in Clarksville, Iowa.

Yay! We’re Finally Here!

      Today we had what could be considered the greatest day in volunteering history. Progress was made beyond its bounds. Jen’s screeching alarm went off and we arose and rubbed the sleep out of our Tylenol-pm infused eyelids.  Everyone sat up and looked around a while, confused.  Why must you wake us up at this god-forsaken (literally) hour?  No worries, what was this delicious aroma that filled the air?  But of course, it was French toast.  But this wasn’t just any French toast.  This inexplicable entity encompassing pure unadulterated deliciousness was awaiting us, and our enthusiasm for it was unrivaled.  This half jelly half toast creature was our morning companion and it gave us the oomph that we needed to kickstart our volunteering engines.  Our team was divided like improper fractions into small groups that were just enough to get the job done.  As they say, when the going get tough, more people make the tough easier.  A house was painted today.  A nice house.  It belonged to a sweet old man that had to endure the grueling hardships of these tragic events, and on top of that he had a stroke, a double whammy if you will.  The paint held on to the walls of this house for its little latex life.  Unfortunately, we had to end this latex life, in order to start anew.  The events were chaotic, paint flying in every direction, mold exploding out of crevices, it could be considered by some a near death experience.  8 hours of work paid off though, more in a mental sense than an economic sense, but that’s really what’s important.  The house went from a crackling mess to a masterpiece that had people from across the town visiting twice, nay, thrice! in order to witness its beauty.  This behaviour must be commonplace for the Iowanese, for the habitat worksite experienced conduct of similar ilk.

Group picture before we started painting.	Repairing damage due to mold from the flooding.
Everyone working together to get the job done!	Groupd picture after we finished painting.

      Just around the corner, a crew of ten worked steadily on the rooftop of house framed just yesterday by our very own volunteers.  We were guided by the voice of Don, his prayers bestowed upon us from his lawn chair.  He slowly shouted into the cool breeze his motto for all of life’s conundrums, the KISS method, “Keep It Simple Stupid!”  This simplicity consisted of an endless chain of some of the most well constructed plywood roofing this side of the Mississippi (the left).  Defying physics, this endless chain was ended, and followed by a limitless supply of tar paper stapling.  For those of you not familiar with said paper, it is a water resistant material between the plywood and shingles, quite a useful material if you ask us… this tar paper did not fulfill its name though, as it was some of the unstickiest material ever.  An estimated 4,000 staples were used to adhere this material to the roof.

Working hard on the roof.	Melanie and John on the roof.

Group picture after a job well done.

      The environment was also conserved. Trash was cleaned. It was great.

      This grueling work was rewarded with a history lesson, joy!  We had the opportunity to meet the Clarks of Clarksville.  We were all starstruck.  THE Clarks of Clarksville?  No way they could have arranged such a spectacular meeting, but alas, it was true.  We were given a briefing of the history of how Iowa was Clarksified in 1852, and how it had never been the same since.  After this speech and a song and dance number

(Iowa, Iowa, the land of every state
Iowa, Iowa where the corn always grows),

we all rushed to ask for the Clarks autographs, and they were duly ascertained.

Two generations of Clarks.	Mr. and Mrs. Clark giving us a history of their town. Mrs. Clark joked about the fact that she was only a Clark through marriage.

      Following this event of a lifetime, it was time to hit the showers for some of us.  After an awkward and scalding hot group shower in the town high school, we returned to a church empty of souls.  Where were the others?  Why did they abandon us?  Did we smell?  Maybe a little, so it was understandable.  They returned from a 5-hour trip to Wal-Mart, our new favorite destination here in Iowa - with most stores closing early in town.