Ed Buhler, Chair
“At MDS, volunteers and donors work together to meet
the needs of today’s disaster survivors.”
This quote is taken from the MDS
website and describes the work of Mennonite Disaster Service
well. Both willing volunteers and generous donations are needed
by MDS in order for it to meet the many needs of people across North
America who experience disasters beyond their control. MDS Saskatchewan
participates in both these ways in its own province and then alongside
the rest of MDS in Canada (Region V) and the US. MDS is a channel through which Anabaptist churches can respond
to those affected by disasters in Canada and the U.S. by cleaning
up, repairing and reconstructing homes, and crisis support. Ministry
Goals and Objectives are to connect volunteers and disaster survivors
in the name of Christ, helping them
regain faith and hope.
The average annual budget is $300,000, reached through
direct donations to MDS from churches and individuals. Reporting
relationships are to Region V (Canada) board and bi-national board,
representative of North American Amish, Mennonite and Brethren in
Christ conferences.  Mennonite
Disaster Service Web site
MDS Saskatchewan news
- 31 volunteers to bi-national projects
- A group of nine volunteers helped clean out a basement in Cudworth
on short notice during the prairie flooding of this past summer.
This town had never heard of MDS, and so was introduced to MDS
and its mission.
- Kevin and Cyrstal Klassen from Waldheim served with MDS from
October to April. Crystal writes: “Ever since hearing
stories from my husband Kevin about his previous MDS experiences,
it became our goal to serve others together on an MDS adventure…a
seven-month term, only four months after we were married! MDS
sent us to Palacios, Texas from October 2004 to January 2005 and
then on to Princeville, North Carolina until the end of April.
We did home repairs and rebuilding from hurricane damage.
“I will never forget when we worked for Mrs. N in Texas.
Her daughter-in-law, Judy, told us that Mrs. N had once been in
a coma and Judy’s husband had to make the decision to not pull
the plug. When Mrs. N woke up, she wished that they would have just
let her die. Ever since then, Judy had been praying that Mrs. N
would have one enjoyable day before she passed away. We did not
know about this until after we had spent a day working at her house.
She could hardly believe that we were doing this work for free.
Judy came to us and said that was the day she had been praying for.
There are no words to express the kind of feeling that erupts in
your heart when you hear that you’ve made a difference in someone’s
life, and that God has used you in His master plan.” Lois Nickel |
