ELKHART, Ind. (Mennonite Mission Network) — Mark Kreider, a Service Adventure participant in the Anchorage, Alaska unit, was awarded the national “Outstanding Youth” award by the Bureau of Land Management on May 29, 2014.
Kreider was chosen out of dozens of nominees for his hard work to conserve public lands. The award is part of a larger group of nine “Making a Difference” awards given to volunteers throughout the country.
“Mark is a young man who shows a deep dedication to his service assignment,” said Gary Martin, a support committee member and former Anchorage Service Adventure leader. “[Mark] comes with a quality work ethic and skill set. His supervisor and co-workers have a deep appreciation and respect for Mark’s pleasant demeanor, and his ability to work well with others, to work unsupervised, and to complete tasks on schedule.”
Kreider works with the Bureau of Land Management in the Anchorage (Alaska) Field Office. He sees the award as a sign from his supervisors that they care for and appreciate him as a volunteer. Although Kreider has served 1,400 hours over the last 10 months, he doesn’t see himself as a “super-worker.”
In the winter, Kreider enjoyed learning to operate snow plows as he packed ski trails, making it easier for people to glide across the snow. With the arrival of warmer weather, Kreider maintains trails on 730 acres of wilderness, east of Anchorage.
“The Bureau has given me many opportunities to get out and see parts of Alaska that I would have otherwise been unable to,” said Kreider. Some of his favorite memories include helping to prepare for the Iditarod’s ceremonial start, and flying in a small plane, over Alaska’s mountain range, to a remote cabin and Iditarod checkpoint.
In addition to learning about Alaska, Kreider also learned about living in a Christian community. This can be difficult as each participant comes from a unique family culture, and brings different expectations. “I’ve had to confront my shortcomings this year,” Kreider said. “It’s been a good thing, as I have people to talk to about this and can begin to work through it.”
“Mark is kind of the glue that holds the unit together,” said Renee Neufeld, the unit leader. “Most 19-year-old guys won’t think to ask how a leader is doing, but he has asked me several times and cares to know the answer.”
Kreider also had the opportunity to get trained in first-aid, wilderness first-aid, and flight safety, among other areas. The trainings will benefit Kreider when he studies environmental science and music at Goshen College this fall.
Because Kreider serves at a government agency, he has struggled with how his work there is ministry. “What makes my service Christian?” he asks himself.
Over time, Kreider realized that “I don’t have to be engaged in a ‘Christian’ ministry to be doing God’s work. We are all God’s children, so in serving anybody, we are serving Christ.”
###
For immediate release
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.
