director ’ s letter
VISION: We strive to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those affected by disasters. MISSION: We respond to disasters, rebuild homes, and restore hope by organizing and empowering volunteers in the U.S. and Canada.
VOLUNTEER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE MDS U.S. 800-241-8111 Canada 866-261-1274 www.mds.org “If we let God guide our thinking and guide our minds, and we look for opportunities outside the box, some really neat things can happen. I think that’s worth celebrating.” —Carl Dube, MDS project director, Cameron County, Texas
Key to renewed life
In Ezekiel 37, we read of the prophet Ezekiel who gets caught up in a vision and is taken to a valley full of dry bones. Then God drops the question: can these bones live? The prophet is unsure, but at God’s invitation, he goes ahead and prophesies over the dry bones. And then, amazing things happen. There is renewed life.
CORE VALUES: Faith in Action Caring Relationships Working Together
This past January, I led a group of Mennonite conference pastors, representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and MDS staff on a tour of several MDS disaster response sites in southwest Louisiana. Thanks to the assistance of David Myers, former faith-based director at FEMA, and Phil Helmuth, Project Coordinator for Southern Louisiana, this tour will remain one of my most memorable trips to view MDS operations in the field. Participants got to see the tremendous impact our volunteers have on communities and homeowners. We saw renewed life.
Behind the Hammer is published quarterly by Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) and is available for free upon request. This magazine shares the stories of MDS work in the U.S. and Canada and of the more than 5,000 annual volunteers who are the core of MDS. The stories are meant to encourage people to continue expressing the love of God through the work of MDS. Printed on Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) certified paper using environmentally friendly plant-based inks. MDS Executive Director: Kevin King MDS Canada Executive Director: Ross Penner Communications Manager: Jesse Huxman Production Coordination: Jesse Huxman, Nikki Hamm Gwala, Judith Rempel Smucker Writers: Susan Kim, Nikki Hamm Gwala Photographs: Paul Hunt, Asha Belk, MDS volunteers Designer: Julie Kauffman STAY CONNECTED If you have story ideas, need subscription information, want to donate or volunteer, please contact us:
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SPRING 2024
Kevin King gives a hand to MDS RV volunteer Tim Schrag in Grand Isle, La.
FEATURE — SELMA, ALABAMA Stand strong together 4
As a response to our work in Selma, Alabama, Disaster Aid Ohio (MDS) received a key to the city from the mayor. In Jennings, Louisiana, Project Coordinator Phil Helmuth and Rollie Ulrich, Project Director, received a key to the Jennings Church of Christ as we closed our project there. Getting a “key to the city” is an honor that dates back to medieval times. It is meant to confer trust and honor; it grows from the medieval walled city with gates guarded during the day and locked at night. The key symbolizes the freedom of the recipient to enter and leave the city at will, as a trusted friend. Today, it is a ceremonial gesture that honors esteemed visitors, dignitaries, or individuals who have made significant contributions to society or the city. May we continue to be inspired to be prophetic with our love in action that brings new life into communities for God’s glory. And may we treasure our keys from communities now and in the future.
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE It’s about putting love into action 12
Q+A – CANADA COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR Meet Nikki Hamm Gwala 13
RECIPE Date Pudding Cake 13
FEATURE – LEARNING TOUR Radiating faith in Louisiana 14
MDS U.S. Office 583 Airport Road, Lititz, PA 17543 USA tel: 717-735-3536 | toll-free: 800-241-8111 fax: 717-735-0809 mdsus@mds.org MDS Canada Office 200-600 Shaftesbury Blvd. Winnipeg, MB R3P 2J1 Canada tel: 204-261-1274 toll-free within Canada: 866-261-1274 fax: 204-261-1279 mdscanada@mds.org
Notes from the field 15
ON THE COVER: In Selma, Alabama, homeowner Doris Hale chats with Gid Yoder of MDS and Disaster Aid Ohio. Read the story, page 4.
Kevin King Executive Director, MDS
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www.mds.org
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behind the hammer
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