Alumni

There’s always more to the story than you know, and we, as humans, long to care for each other and help where we can. Maria Skobtsova House is a wonderful opportunity for us to plug into that possibility.

In a world where there is individualism and putting up of high walls and sectioning off clean water wells, it’s been encouraging to see the Nigerian church allow the community to access clean water from its different properties within the community. I see that as being Jesus, given unconditionally, without words, to the community.

We all have filters based on who we are, where we come from, and our life experiences. We see the Bible through that filter. So, when you have people who have diverse filters relating together, we get a fuller understanding of the Bible and of God. We recognize the diversity of the global family of faith and the perspectives of the indigenous churches which enrich our understanding of God and what God calls us to do.

After college, some of my friends moved to a new city and had trouble meeting people and building up a sense of community. MVS is really good at creating community, both within your unit, within your house, as well as your place of work, and within the broader community. I would say that I have really found that community in Alamosa.

Since being on the board, I have appreciated the ways in which mission is seen as accompaniment — of people across the world and in the United States— and all of the service opportunities. It’s not, “I’m going to serve you because I’m such a good person and you need my help.” But, it’s accompaniment, where we’re going to do this together. We’re going to figure it out. We’re probably gonna mess up sometimes, but that’s the way it works. That’s the way life works. And, that’s the way following Jesus works.

I’m inspired by the deep desire to learn more about Anabaptist theology and how the churches in Latin America see the relevance of Anabaptism today. The people in the churches often talk about this being their spiritual heritage.

We are grateful for the intergenerational relationships that have been formed through the holy experience of faith formation and community living. Our lives have been forever transformed by our Service Adventure experiences.

I chose MVS because I was excited about serving God in a new city that I get to explore every day.

My MVS experience has greatly influenced what I will do next. Throughout my two years at Tucson Community Food Bank, I have learned more about how I function in a workplace as well as what skills, strengths and weaknesses I bring to a job. My time in Tucson, through my housemates, my placement, and the community, has been formational in learning how and who I want to be in the world.

What I would say to somebody on the fence about MVS is you get to live in a cool place. You get to live in community with other people — built-in friends, in a way. And, it’s a way to explore who you are. And, have a break before you go into your major career or whatever else you want to do in your life.