SUGARCREEK, Ohio (Mennonite Mission Network) – The 15-year-old girl* sat in the doctor’s office. Her eyes burst with tears, punctured by the sharp accusation of her mother’s glare. Fear paralyzed the girl at the thought of raising a child, when she was still a child herself.
Ruth Wiens, a 2008-2009 Service Adventure participant, saw this situation too often at her volunteer placement at Myers Clinic. “I was impressed at how the situation was handled by the physicians’ assistants, and wanted to be that person who helps people through that time in their life.” This is why Wiens is in medical school today, following her father’s footsteps – something that in high school, she promised never to do.
Growing up, Wiens attended First Mennonite Church in Newton, Kansas. The congregation has a long history of people serving after high school or college, including Wiens’ parents and friends’ parents. “The question wasn’t, ‘Are you going to do service?’ It was, ‘When are you going to do service?’” Wiens said. After high school, Wiens, and nine of her friends, applied to serve.
Wiens chose Service Adventure, a 10-month Mennonite Mission Network program for high-school graduates and served in Philippi, West Virginia. Other Service Adventure locations include Albany, Oregon; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Anchorage, Alaska; Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Raleigh, North Carolina.
“The beauty of Service Adventure is that young adults are given an opportunity to serve others while also being challenged to learn and grow,” said Susan Nisly, Service Adventure director. “This comes both in their spiritual journeys and in vocational discernment. Often young adults discover their talents and gifts and things that they are passionate about.”
It doesn’t take long to get to know housemates, when four participants and two leaders, or mentors, live together in a unit house. During her time in Service Adventure, Wiens shared a room with Hannah Eberly, a Service Adventure participant who also went into the medical field. While unknown at the time, Eberly would stand as maid of honor at Wien’s wedding in February 2015. Their friendship, which grew as they lived together in college, is one of the many benefits that Service Adventure has to offer.
Meaningful service
Service Adventure matches participants with meaningful service work that, many times, helps them to explore what God is calling them to. Wiens was a medical assistant at Myers Clinic, and served people of all income levels. She was the welcoming face at the counter, took vitals, and worked with the physicians’ assistants to communicate what the patient was dealing with.
“The physicians’ assistants that I worked with were really excited to teach me things,” Wiens said.
Wiens’ experience at Myers Clinic, and now medical school, combined science and people – two of Wiens’ passions.
Community-based faith
A large part of Service Adventure is living out faith with others. This happened during daily unit life and worship nights, but also by attending Philippi Mennonite Church. With no pastor, everyone in the congregation gives input, something that Wiens appreciated.
“Some people had [studied theology] and others didn’t, but that was OK, because everyone was respected and heard,” Wiens said.
One church member that stood out to Wiens was Dr. Elvin Kreider. Kreider is one of the founders of the Mennonite community in Philippi, and is known for mentoring medical-minded Service Adventure participants like Wiens.
Hands-on learning
Every week, Service Adventure units gather for a learning component. A weekend backpacking trip, professional watercolor and cake decorating classes, and making apple cider were some of Wiens’ favorite activities. Many times, the church community would join in the fun, and sometimes even Service Adventure alumni. “A lot of alumni came back to visit because they liked it so much,” Wiens said.
Wiens is still learning, even though her Service Adventure days are over. She’s now in her second year at the University of Kansas Medical School to become a family practitioner.
As she reflects on her Service Adventure experience, she’s thankful how it has prepared her for college, and for life on her own. “I looked around at my freshman friends and I felt like I knew what I really wanted to do with my four years [in college],” Wiens said. “Taking a gap year, in whatever form that is, is a great idea!”
*The name is confidential.
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Mennonite Mission Network, the mission agency of Mennonite Church USA, leads, mobilizes and equips the church to participate in holistic witness to Jesus Christ in a broken world. Media may contact news@mennonitemission.net.
