Spring Retreat 2026: Service, Community & Good Food

By Evan C., Junior

This year’s Spring Retreat was a ton of fun! It took place at Plainfield UMC just southwest of Indianapolis. Despite the about 90-minute drive, we had a good number of people join along for the fun.

Once we arrived and got settled, we got to work on a service project on making birthday bags for a local food pantry and stuffing eggs for a community Easter egg hunt. We also packed snack bags that would be handed out with soup as a part of Plainfield UMC’s ministry for the unhoused.

After the service project, we played card games and enjoyed the nice weather by throwing around a frisbee outside. After some games, we had soup made by some members of Plainfield UMC.

After dinner, we played more games before the evening devotional. For the devotional, I chose a topic about ends and beginnings in the midst of Holy Week.

After devo, we played a game of sardines, where Mina managed to stump us all by hiding behind the organ. Sardines was cut short by the Elite 8 basketball game, Purdue vs Arizona. Unfortunately, Purdue lost the game, and we all went to bed a little upset.

In the morning, we were awoken to Glen’s famous french toast, that always seems to taste even better on early retreat mornings. Some of us then attended Plainfield’s early traditional service, while the rest of us either continued to wake up for the day or practice with the band for the later service. Three of us joined their band and had fun singing or playing piano during the later service after which we were given time to share and answer questions about what all Wesley does and the new building. After service, we began the drive back to Purdue, but not before stopping at Portillo's for some good food, suggested by Adrian.