ELKHART, Ind. (Mennonite Mission Network)—One of Portia Amstutz’s favorite quotes is, “The world is hugged by the faithful arms of volunteers.” Amstutz depends on volunteers in her work as operations director at Camp Friedenswald in Cassopolis, Mich.
“This [quote] sums up so well, the importance of our volunteers,” Amstutz said of SOOP program participants. “They work, live and eat with us and often share in our worship and devotions and our evening camp fires.”
SOOP is a volunteer service program sponsored by Mennonite Mission Network with over 70 service sites in the U.S. and Canada.
This past summer, SOOP volunteer Joan Bontrager of Marion Mennonite Church in Shipshewana, [Ind.], drove 35 miles from her home to Camp Friedenswald where she volunteered for three weeks. At the camp, Bontrager worked three shifts daily in the camp kitchen and helped out occasionally in the main office.
“This was my first time ever, [volunteering for SOOP],” Bontrager said, “and I’m very glad I did it. I didn’t realize I could volunteer so close to home.”
In addition to individual opportunities for service, camp life lends itself well to groups of volunteers.
“A few years ago we had a group [of SOOP volunteers] come from Canada,” Amstutz said. “They arrived soon after the Nappanee [Ind.] tornado and that same day traveled with us to Nappanee to help with clean-up,” she said. “There was no hesitation on their part.”
That same group of SOOP volunteers shared their passion for square-dancing with the Friedenswald staff. Some evenings, the sound of music filtered through the camp as SOOP volunteers instructed staff members in the complex steps and diagrams of different dances.
“The Canadian volunteers returned the next year and we were ready; we’d collected square-dance recordings of our own so we could continue [the dancing].” Amstutz said.
In addition to forming life-long friendships, Amstutz said volunteers are crucial to site management. With tasks such as maintenance, landscaping, kitchen and housekeeping work, office work and even occasional cabin demolition, there are opportunities for every skill level.
“Our volunteers share much more than [their] gifts of time and energy,” Amstutz said. “They bring encouragement, understanding, laughter, and fun at just the right times.”
Visit the SOOP website for a complete listing of service locations.
