From a wind-damaged Bible camp in northern B.C. to a flooded town in North Dakota, and even to storm-ravaged New York City, British Columbians gave of their time and talents to Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) projects this past year.
Fundraising banquets on March 15 and 16 in Sardis and Abbotsford provided opportunity to share the stories of God’s work through MDS, and raised $24,000 more for the ongoing work of the organization.
Keynote speakers Kevin King of Lititz, Pa., executive director of the binational MDS, and Janet Plenert of Winnipeg, MDS Region V [Canada] manager, told moving stories of several people in affected regions touched by the work of MDS volunteers who witnessed the love of Christ through their hands-on deeds.
King told of a group of Lancaster County, Pa., Mennonites and Amish who arose at 3 a.m., drove three hours to New York City to clean up after Superstorm Sandy, worked all day, then returned home the same night. Local New York residents found this unbelievable. “[MDS volunteers] come as strangers and leave as friends,” King said.
“Every disaster is a local disaster,” said Plenert, as crises always profoundly and directly disorient those to whom they happen. Thanking those of B.C.’s Lower Mainland who volunteered to clean up at Pine Lake Bible Camp last summer after a severe windstorm, she said, “On behalf of the camp, I express my profound gratitude to you.”
Last September, a number of volunteers from B.C. went to Minot, N.D., to build a house for a mother and daughter, and some continue to work there as well as in New York.
B.C. MDS board member Waldimar Neufeld encouraged people from all walks of life to volunteer with MDS. Electricians are particularly needed.
A “Pastors to Projects” program allows constituent pastors and their spouses to serve as part of MDS short-term work crews for a week. “We encourage pastors to become involved with volunteers in this way,” said Neufeld, noting, “MDS is prepared to cover their costs for a week.”
For more information, visit http://mds.mennonite.net.
Attendees at a March fundraising banquet view the display telling of Mennonite Disaster Service’s many projects during the past year.
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