Alumni

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

Relationship is the foundation of everything. Wherever I go, visiting workers, I value the one-on-on in-person relationships. In building relationship with partners, I see God at work in various cultures, various contexts. Practicing two-way mission, we listen to our partners and receive invitation to join them in the work they are already doing.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.