50-hour train ride hauls an expression of faith

Fifty hours on a train—and nearly the same number of hours per week volunteering for Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS)!  

Twenty-year-old Jolene Hoover, from an Amish community in the Finger Lakes region of New York, rode the train with other young women from Rochester, New York, to Spokane, Washington, to spend a month in the rural community of Elk, Washington, rebuilding homes burned by a wildfire in 2023.   

The train ride—which included a five-hour layover in Chicago—was only the beginning of the adventures, which included installing shingles, framing homes, putting up siding, and more.  

Jolene, who served with MDS last year in Amory, Mississippi, said that working with other volunteers from different regions and communities has helped her meet new people.  

“When I went to school, I was very shy,” she said. “I hardly ever talked to people. Here, I meet new people and talk to new people all the time.” 

Twenty-year-old Kristine Hoover, from the same community, had never been on a train ride before. “We saw so many states from the train,” said Kristine, who previously served with MDS in Crisfield, Maryland. “I miss my family, but I’ve met so many friends. I enjoy the people that I meet.” 

Kathy Hoover, who traveled with her peers, regarded volunteering as something fun to do in the winter. “This was my first train ride, too, and I think we saw ten states! Volunteering is how I express my faith,” she said.