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Count the 12 days of service with MVS and Service Adventure (part two)!

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.
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.
Travis Duerksen

​​​​​​​​Travis Duerksen is a writer and multimedia producer for Mennonite Mission Network.

Mennonite Voluntary Service (MVS) and Service Adventure units across the country got into the holiday spirit by curating photos that represent ’12 days of service’ for them. Below, you’ll find the second set of entries from units counting down the 12 days of Christmas — with a service-focused twist! Missed the first set? Click here!

Merry MVSmas, and happy Service ADVENTure from all the units and Mission Network staff!

(Lucky for you, both programs are currently accepting applications. Apply by January 31 to have the widest selection of placements for the 2026-27 term.)

On the seventh day of Christmas, service units see…

Seven rounds of Dutch Blitz!

When the San Francisco MVS unit isn’t taking advantage of free entertainment outside of the unit house (like the beach, park yoga, or public concerts), they can often be found playing music or lightning rounds of Dutch Blitz together for a fun fee-free evening. Left to right: Emmi Scott, Keyan Krabill, Ana Neufeld Weaver, Bella Kephart. Photo by Bella Kephart.

On the eighth day of Christmas, service units see…

Eight dozen day-old bagels!

When food budgets are modest, units get creative! The Colorado Springs Service Adventure unit picks up unsold bagels from a nearby bagel shop once a week, freezing some for themselves, and distributing the rest to weekly meals for people experiencing homelessness, as well as to local families and groups.
Michael Bergen, one of the unit participants, holds the end-of-day haul.

In addition to filling out the unit’s freezer with tasty bread all year, unit co-leader Christian Stolzsfus sees it as reducing food waste, emissions, and landfill usage. “And we get to share with our neighbors,” he said. Photo by Christian Stoltzfus.

On the ninth day of Christmas, service units see…

Nine MVSers a-hikin’!

All nine MVS participants gathered together at the Alamosa, Colorado unit house for their annual fall retreat. Each year, MVSers join together with Mission Network staff to reflect, relax, and process their service experiences together. One Alamosa activity was hiking at the Great Sand Dunes National Preserve. Left to right: Madison Stockner, Bella Kephart, Emily Keefer, Emmi Scott, Ana Neufeld Weaver, Keyan Krabill, Lleyton Stutzman, Juan Witmer, Hannah Lehman. Photo by Alex Mace.

On the tenth day of Christmas, service units see…

10 paints a-paintin’!

Adriana Duerksen, a participant with the Anchorage, Alaska, Service Adventure unit, at the paint station at her placement with the Hope Community Resources Art Studio. Hope Community Resources supports individuals and families across Alaska who experience intellectual and developmental disabilities; the art studio features multiple stations for clients to work on any art project they choose. Photo by Michael Oyer.

On the 11th day of Christmas, service units see…

11 miles a-hikin’!

A frequent activity for the Colorado Springs Service Adventure unit is enjoying the great outdoors, just beyond city limits. Christian Stoltzfus, unit co-leader, clearly enjoyed the unit hike up Mount Princeton. “We camped overnight, then got up at 3am and hiked all day,” he recalled. “Multiple people in our group got altitude sickness, including me. But we made it home!” Photo by Sam Abrahams.

On the 12th day of Christmas, service units see…

12 ornaments a-hangin’!

The San Francisco MVS unit got into the Christmas spirit this year with an evening of tree decorating, hot chocolate, and watching the holiday movie favorite Elf. Photo by Bella Kephart.

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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.
Count the 12 days of service with MVS and Service Adventure (part one)!
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