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2010-06-01 issue:

Relationships matter

Volunteers at Mennonite Village serve residents and learn from them.

by Gordon Houser

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Maria Martin came to Mennonite Village (MV) in Albany, Ore., last August and began working as an activities assistant. But she soon learned from residents that it's
relationships that matter.

After graduating from high school in Harrisonburg, Va., a year ago, Maria didn’t feel ready to start college and wanted to do service. She'd heard from friends who’d had good experiences with Service Adventure (SA), a ministry of Mennonite Mission Network, an agency of Menno­nite Church USA, and she decided to join.

Service Adventure volunteer Maria Martin helps a resident at Mennonite Village in Albany, Ore. Photo provided

The leaders of her SA group in Albany are Jonathan and Julie Fridley, who actually met in SA in 2002 in Anchorage, Alaska. They moved to Albany from Elkhart, Ind., where Jonathan grew up and was working in construction.

Jonathan works for Mennonite Village in maintenance, but MV gives him flexibility to do what's needed for his SA responsibilities. Julie is training to be a midwife. Their term as leaders is for two years.

Also in the unit is Kyle Reimer, who works in public schools in Albany but occasionally helps out at MV when he has a free day. With him and Maria finishing up their 10-month terms this month, Jonathan and Julie have been working with Mission Network staff to find replacements in the unit, which actually has room for four volunteers.

Maria's work in the life enrichment department has given her much time to interact with residents as she helps them with games, exercises and other activities. She says she has fun learning to know the residents. She's also learned not to take people at face value.

"Some people surprise you," she says. 'They may not appear to be with it mentally” but turn out to be really sharp. “Each person is different."

Being around people nearing the end of their lives has also had its effect on Maria, she says. Through them she's learned about "what's important—relationships with family, other people and with God," she says.

She's also become acquainted with residents who have since died. MV has a farewell ritual around the death of a resident. People line the hallways to say goodbye as the body, covered by a handmade quilt, is carried out of the building. This has been meaningful, says Maria, who plans to begin studies at Hesston (Kan.) College this fall.

Jonathan’s work does not have him interacting as much with residents as does Maria's, and the ones he sees tend to be younger, more active. Still, he enjoys meeting people as he changes their home’s air filters or light bulbs or whatever repair is needed. He also does remodeling as homes are refurbished for new residents.

He has enjoyed getting to know people from various faith backgrounds. (Only about 12 percent of MV residents are Mennonite.) He also has been to funerals of residents and witnessed both the sadness of their death and the joy of remembering their lives.

MV President/CEO Ron Litwiller says the residents speak highly of the SA volunteers, calling them wonderful and smart. SA has had people working there for about 20 years.

Service Adventure volunteer Jonathan Fridley does maintenance work at Mennonite Village in Albany, Ore. Photo provided

What is Service Adventure?
Service Adventure invites young adults to be an extension of a local Mennonite congregation as they serve through various local social service agencies. Participants live in community with other young adults and unit leaders as they learn more about themselves and the world. As a household, they participate in weekly worship and learning times. Participants, aged 17-20, serve 10-month terms, while group leaders, aged 24 or older, serve two-year terms.

Gordon Houser is associate editor of The Menno­nite.

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