Service starts at home

When Burton Friesen agreed to accompany Benny Penner on a Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) home visit, he didn’t know what he was getting himself into. Penner, the Atlantic Canada Unit Chair, was responding to a call for help from Truro, Nova Scotia.

After the two assessed a severely water-damaged house, Penner told the homeowner, Beverly DeVough, that the repair she hoped for wouldn’t be possible. Instead, he committed the Atlantic Canada Unit to building a new house for the 73-year-old.

Penner coordinated the effort himself — from volunteer recruitment, to food, transportation and the build. He recruited volunteers from the church that both he and Friesen attend: Bethel Mennonite in Waterville, Nova Scotia. Twenty congregants of varying age and experience signed up, at least half of them youth.

They jumped at the opportunity to give back said Penner. And the build was completed in just two months.

“It was a very quiet crew, but they made headway. Oh, it went fast,” he said.

The pace was set by a family volunteer crew: Franz Harms, 60, and five of his sons, ranging in age from 18 to 30. As owners and operators of a family construction business, they donated two days of service to frame the Truro house and install doors and windows.

David Harms, 27, said, “We always talk about how we want to help… people [out] and here was the perfect opportunity.”

It was David’s second volunteer experience with MDS. Although his time on site was brief, he was struck by the homeowner’s smile and her affirmation for the crew’s work. As he looks ahead to future volunteer opportunities, David hopes to tip the scale on productivity to balance quality construction and more relationship building with homeowners.

Voluteers from Bethel Mennonite Church in Waterville, Nova Scotia, built a new house for Beverly DeVough in two months. Photo courtesy of Benny Penner.

Full circle

Friesen, originally from the Truro area himself, returned to install a steel roof on the new house.

“It really touched me to see what kindness can do to a person [who’s] full of hurt,” he said, reflecting on changes volunteers observed in the homeowner.

While it was Friesen’s first time participating in a case assessment, he wasn’t new to MDS service. He volunteered to help with cleanup and replaced roofs, damaged beyond repair, after Hurricane Fiona hit his home province two years ago.

“For me… I think [serving] starts at home,” reflected Friesen.

The volunteer team will celebrate the Truro build with DeVough at a home dedication later this month.

Nikki Hamm Gwala, MDS Canada Communications