Simple living

Mennonite Voluntary Service
Emily Keefer's room in the Alamosa MVS unit house. During recovery from a concussion received from a volleyball game, Keefer's doctor recommended time in the dark — no work, no screens, and no bright lights. Photo by Emily Keefer.
Service Adventure
The Service Adventure teams in front of the house they helped construct with Mennonite Disaster Service. Left to right: Christian Stoltzfus (Colorado Springs unit co-leader), Adriana Duerksen, Michael Bergen, Mir Knego (Anchorage unit leader), Ruben Veigel, Ian Unzicker, Sam Abrahams. Photo provided.
Mennonite Voluntary Service
Each year, the San Francisco MVS unit is invited to gather together and craft comforters for themselves. Karen Kreider Yoder, a member of the unit's host congregation, First Mennonite Church of San Francisco, hosts the group at her home for this annual tradition. At the end, each participant takes home their own cozy comforter to use during their service term and beyond! Left to right: Keyan Krabill, Bella Kephart, Emmi Scott and Ana Neufeld Weaver. Photo by Karen Kreider Yoder.
Service Adventure
Anchorage, Alaska: *Michael Oyer, Kelby Youngberg, Ginny Miller, and Isaiah Fellers.
Alumni Reflection
​Martin Luther King, Jr. speaks to a crowd before a march in Chicago. Photo by Neill von Gunten.
VIDEO
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Stories from 2025
Participants on a Just Peace Pilgrimage to the lands of Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation were greeted by Pahto (Mt. Adams), a sacred mountain at the center of Yakama cosmology. Photo by Bruce Kuhns.
Stories from 2025
During a South Africa Just Peace Pilgrimage, the group met every day for reflections and Bible studies. Photo provided.
Favorite stories of service from 2025
By Zachary Headings
South Africa
Each year, the San Francisco MVS unit is invited to gather together and craft comforters for themselves. Karen Kreider Yoder, a member of the unit's host congregation, First Mennonite Church of San Francisco, hosts the group at her home for this annual tradition. At the end of the day, each participant takes home their own cozy comforter to use during their service term and beyond! Left to right: Ana Neufeld Weaver, Keyan Krabill, Emmi Scott and Bella Kephart. Photo by Karen Kreider Yoder.
Stories from 2025
Sawatzky and Teguh Karyanto, STAKWW professor and Sawatzky's host, share conversation over a meal. Photo provided.
MVS and Service Adventure
The 2025-26 Anchorage, Alaska, Service Adventure unit . Left to right: Ian Unzicker, Ruben Veigel, Adriana Duerksen and Mir Knego (unit leader). Photo by Michael Oyer.
MVS
While some units have access to a vehicle, every group gets well accustomed to local public transportation and biking as means of getting around. The 2023-24 MVS Tucson unit on a weekend biking outing around the city. Left to right: Hannah Nuest, Deborah Yoder, Magdalena Wenger, Nely Cotuc, and Ally Weaver. Photo by Hanna Nuest.