San Antonio, Texas

(210)-531-0855
LPC Danielle Miller

Service.
MVS assignments in San Antonio can include: economic development; working with at-risk youth; assisting recent immigrants; nursing; teaching English as a second language; children's daycare; helping to coordinate a service learning center.

MVS Application To apply for one of the service opportunities below, complete an online application, or print and mail a PDF application (Adobe Reader required) and send it to: Mennonite Mission Network ATTN: Human Resources 500 S. Main P.O. Box 370 Elkhart, IN 46515-0370

Location and community
The unit is located about 3 miles west of downtown San Antonio, in an area called the Westside that is 98% Hispanic and known as low income. The city of San Antonio, with a population over a million, is about 55% Hispanic, 35% Anglo and the remainder African American and other ethnic groups. The largest civilian employer is the military--there are five military bases in the metropolitan San Antonio area. Downtown is geared to conventions, with many hotels and a major convention center. Downtown also includes the Alamo (a shrine to American and Texan patriotism) and the River Walk, both large tourist attractions. The San Antonio Zoo, a Japanese tea garden, a botanical garden and Sea World can be found in the surrounding area.

Unit
The unit house can accommodate up to five people (one large and three small bedrooms) and has enough yard space for some gardening. Building community within the unit house is part of the vision of San Antonio MVS. Some structures exist to aid in this, such as weekly house/unit meetings, shared meals and unit recreation. Commitment to honest communication, openness to diversity and willingness to explore and grow are encouraged.

Church
The San Antonio MVS unit relates to San Antonio Mennonite Church, a young congregation that began in the early '80s and now includes about 40 adults and 15 children who come from various parts of the city. The congregation includes "ethnic Mennonites" as well as people from other denominations who were drawn to Mennonite precepts of service, peace and community. A number of former MVSers have remained in the San Antonio area.

San Antonio Mennonite Church is on the edge of the historic King William district as well as Southtown. The latter is a racially mixed, predominantly low income and working class neighborhood. The congregation's desire to be good stewards of the church building and of service to the neighborhood has resulted in the renting out of part of the building to a neighborhood agency that provides daycare for some of the teenage mothers who attend the high school across the street. Another church involvement is La Casa de Maria y Marta, a service learning center that offers groups an opportunity to serve in San Antonio while listening to and learning from the people with whom they serve and work.