Alumni

Service can be intimidating. It is a challenge because you are going, potentially, far from home and cultures that you’re familiar with. But I think the reason why people should do service is that it will push you out of those boundaries. I’m a more nuanced and rounded person for having pushed outside of those boundaries and finding that my normal is not “the normal” — which can refer to your faith and how you express it or even just worship styles. It’s a great time to learn more about the broader world, and also to learn about yourself.

Why wouldn’t you do MVS? You get to live in a new city for a year or two. You’re not really paying for anything besides what you choose to. And, you get to take a break from whatever path you’re on and try something else. If it doesn’t end up being for you, then that’s fine and you can hop right back to where you were. But you might learn a lot about yourself along the way or find something new that you really love. I think that’s a risk worth taking.

My year of serving with RAICES through the MVS program strengthened the idea of the importance of helping populations that need assistance as well as my desire to go into law. I became more aware of both the rewarding aspects of the work and the arduous, difficult parts in a legal position.

After having a year full of learning, self-growth, and new connections with people here in San Francisco, I knew that I wanted to stay for a second year.

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.

Doing MVS, specifically in Alamosa, exposed me to a new set of issues that I really hadn’t thought about before. From water use and agriculture, to rural homelessness. Each geographical area has their own issues. In order to truly be a part of a community, you need to learn about that community. And, in that learning, you’ll learn both the beautiful things and the areas where there’s work being done. That’s one thing I will take away.

We learn as we relate with churches that are diverse. It helps to bring us into a deeper understanding of God and what God calls us to do.

When people are empowered to work in their contexts, that’s a big thing! It means that many people can read the Bible and learn hermeneutics and speak a language that their local communities can understand, and that the gospel can grow and people can develop a relationship with Jesus Christ, within the context that they know.

I’m passionate about faith formation, and I think Mission Network provides fantastic opportunities, especially for young people, to be the hands and the feet of Jesus in this world.

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.