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Unit Life
Choosing Service Adventure is a commitment to live
in a household with other young adults and a local leader.
The household leader is a primary source of encouragement
and guidance for participants. Life with this group
provides opportunities for rich fellowship, friendship
and fun. Tolerance, flexibility, and a willingness to
work hard at maintaining healthy relationships are required.
Unit members are expected to share in household work
and activities, meet regularly with household members
for worship and business meetings, worship and participate
as a household with a local Mennonite congregation,
work in a service job in the community, journal regularly,
and participate in learning experiences with household
and leaders.
Responsible Behavior
Participants in Service Adventure are expected
to behave at all times in a manner that protects and
respects the health and well-being of all people and
the environment. Each Service Adventure participant
agrees before beginning an assignment not to use alcohol,
harmful drugs or tobacco during their term. Participants
agree to be celibate (no sexual relationships) during
their service terms. Participants must be open to
counsel on what is perceived as addictive or emotionally
unhealthy behavior.
Length of Term
A Service Adventure term is normally 10 1/2 months.
All terms begin the week prior to U.S. Labor Day/Canada
Labour Day and end in early July.
Basic Needs
The Service Adventure program provides for basic
needs- housing, food, towels, bedding and transportation- as
well as a $40 per month allowance. Participants are
encouraged to keep at a minimum the number of personal
items taken to their assignments.
Orientation/Reentry
Participants in each unit spend the first week
of their term together on location in orientation
led by the household leader.
The last few days of the term are spent together
as a unit dealing with closure and reentry issues
in preparation for moving on after Service Adventure.
Extended Weekends/Retreats
Households usually take one extended weekend
trip together per term.
Vacation
Each participant is entitled to eight days’ vacation from the unit during their term of commitment.
Reports
Participants will be expected to complete four
different reports throughout the course of their term,
which will submitted to Mennonite Mission Network. These reports will be
used to assess the quality of the experience we offer
participants and will give participants an opportunity
to share about various aspects of their Service Adventure
experience.
Deputation
During the term, households are asked to share
about Service Adventure during chapels at Mennonite
high schools, at mission conferences, in congregations,
MYF services, etc.
Medical Coverage
Participants in Service Adventure are responsible
for providing their own health insurance coverage.
College Credit
Participants wishing to earn up to 12 hours of
college credit for Service Adventure experience may
do so by special arrangement with a Mennonite college.
For information about these arrangements, contact
the dean's office at Goshen College, Hesston College, Eastern Mennonite University, Bluffton or Bethel.
Travel
Participants are responsible to pay their transportation
costs to and from their service assignment.
Visitors
Family and friends are encouraged to visit participants
to learn about their Service Adventure involvement.
Lodging and meal arrangements are to be worked out
according to available space in the household. Visitors
are invited to take an active part in household life.
Read the Service Adventure Participant Policy Handbook for more details.
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