Cedar Rapids, IA

On August 3rd, I left La Crosse in the morning and arrived in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in the early afternoon. Upon my arrival, I helped out with some yard work at the church. Most of the rest of the day was spent talking with the parish pastor, Father Denny. It is amazing what you can learn when you take the time to sit down and talk, and more importantly, listen. The next day, I spent the morning working at St. Ludmila’s vacation Bible school. It was inspiring to see so many kids that were excited about their faith. It was also fun seeing the kids smiling and laughing . . . at me as I danced to the songs with them in the front of the church.

At the end of the morning, the kids were given a wristband with the Bible quote, “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others” (2 Corinthians 1:4). To me, this was again a good reminder to take time to sit and talk with others. You may not have all the answers, but there are a lot of people out there who aren’t looking for someone with answers. They are just looking for someone who will listen. So next time you see a friend or family member who looks like they have something on their mind, take a minute to listen to them. You will be glad you did!

After Bible school had finished, I spent some time working at the St. Vincent de Paul thrift store, carrying furniture up and down the stairs and helping to load and unload the heavier items. I ended up getting there at just the right time, since two of their scheduled volunteers didn’t show up.

Today, after attending morning Mass, I started to head out of the church. With very few people left in the church at this time, a lady who I had met the day before stopped me. She handed me a generous donation and wished me luck on my journey. Once again, I found myself inspired by the generosity of others. People who I have not interacted with for more than a few minutes are taking a genuine interest in what I am doing and my wellbeing, and I could not be more appreciative of it.

To the woman who made that generous donation, Father Denny, and to everyone who has continued to support me and pray for me on this journey, thank you!