Wes Reimer, a carpenter in Plum Coulee, Man. service with MDS

For Wes Reimer, a carpenter in Plum Coulee, Man. service with Mennonite Disaster Service is a way to “use my God-given gifts. It’s something I can do.”

Wes and his wife, Ashley, were in Texas with MDS in February with their three young boys.

Why bring the whole family? “I want my kids to see it’s not just about us, not just me, me, me,” says Wes, noting this is the second year in a row they’ve gone south as a family with MDS.

They took their older kids out of school for the month. “The teachers were very accommodating,” says Ashley.

It’s a big commitment doing MDS as a family, but they say it’s worth it—especially when they hear their seven-year-old say “When I’m big, I want to be a crew leader like dad.”

MDS has a need for volunteers in Texas, North Carolina, California, West Virginia and Ontario. For more information about how to vacation with a purpose this winter, call 1-800-241-8111 or visit https://mds.mennonite.net/volunteer/.