On March 4 over 30 students climbed into vans headed towards Riegelwood, NC in order to spend their spring break rebuilding and repairing houses damaged by a Nov. 17 tornado that killed eight people.Joining the North Carolina Friends Disaster Service (FDS), students slept in a Presbyterian church and ate hearty and heart-heavy meals at the neighboring Baptist church. From 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., volunteers re-roofed houses, repaired dry wall, set the foundation for a new house, and completed other small, but much needed projects.

Much of the student volunteer effort went toward one family in particular. The Martinez family had lost three members to the devastating tornado. In an amazing display of appreciation and love, the family cooked dinner for the entire FDS crew and Guilford students, over 70 people in all.

In addition to completing satisfying work, students learned life lessons and skills from the elder FDS members. They realized how a small group of people could affect the lives of one town in a big way. And they formed dozens of new friendships because, despite being the largest work trip group ever, everyone got along.

Every night of the work trip was a “hypes and gripes” session where students could discuss highs and lows of the day as well as any concerns that surfaced. Every night the hypes overshadowed and outnumbered the gripes. Here are some of the hypes:

“Finishing the roof of the Martinez’ temporary house was an incredible feeling … my hype was being able to see the result of our hard work and knowing that it would benefit a family who had lost so much.” – Kylie Gilliams

“Coming together with fellow students to work as a team, figuring things out, and helping others in a community that needed assistance was a really awesome experience.” – Mo Grumbly

“(My hypes were) the FDS men who all had so much to share and the same silly old men jokes to make; amazing food and fellowship with the Martinez family; and getting to know some wonderful, amazing, spirited and unique people on this trip who all truly wanted to spend their spring break doing something meaningful to help others.” – Laura Houpt

“I was delighted to see such a marvelous mixing and mingling of folks from Guilford who normally don’t hang out with each other on campus. After the tough weeks we’ve had at the college following the ‘late unpleasantness’ of Jan. 20 and the soul-searching about fissures in our campus community, it was wonderful seeing such seamless intermingling. And not only among ourselves, but with the older FDSers, too.” – Max Carter

“It is satisfying to see the finished job of a new roof or a solid foundation that you put your muscle and sweat into. Not only was the work fun, but it was also meaningful since the people we were helping were so grateful for our services in a time of crisis and transition. Picking up the debris from a house that was leveled by the tornado, I rediscovered how fleeting and destructible the material world is.” – Malcolm Kenton

“My biggest hype was getting to know the Martinez family. It amazes me that after such loss, the family is still strong, and the kids seem indestructible. They would fall and literally bounce back up from cement or gravel. It was amazing.” – Matt Blalock