Friendship circles grow with MDS in Puerto Rico

For two Winnipeg friends, serving with Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) in Puerto Rico was a good way to spend time together for a week in March—and bring joy to a disaster survivor.

“It was a great way to learn about another part of the world, meet other people, and really help someone,” said 24-year-old Andrew Stoesz.

“I enjoyed being with like-minded people, making new friends, and helping others,” added Will DeFehr, also 24.

Andrew Stoesz (left) and Will DeFehr (right), first time volunteers from Winnipeg, Man., serve on a project in Puerto Rico.

The two, who met four years ago as students at Canadian Mennonite University, volunteered to serve with MDS in the capital city of San Juan from March 9-13.

While there, the first-time MDSers were part of a crew that demolished the roof and walls of a house that had been damaged by Hurricane Maria in 2017. The homeowner, an older woman, had been living in damp, moldy conditions since that time.

Together with other volunteers from Alberta, Pennsylvania, and Iowa, they took off the old roof and installed a new one. They also built new walls in place of the rotted ones.

Home repair underway in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Had it not been for non-stop rain one day, they would have completed the job by the end of the week.

“It was about 90 percent done by the time we had to leave,” said Will, who recently graduated from nursing school, noting it was completed by another crew the following week.

“We framed it back up and had it almost done,” added Andrew, who does marketing for Mennonite Central Committee thrift stores in Manitoba.

Before going to Puerto Rico, Andrew had minimal construction experience, while Will had spent five summers doing construction. Both found the work enjoyable and meaningful, especially as they saw the homeowner’s reactions as the work progressed.

“She was really excited to see the repairs being done,” said Andrew, who is part of Sterling Mennonite Fellowship in Winnipeg. “Her enthusiasm rubbed off on the rest of us.”

“It was good to be able to bring some hope and joy back into her life,” said Will, who attends River East Church in that same Manitoba city.

They also enjoyed being part of a crew from both the U.S. and Canada, with four Canadians and five Americans. “We got along well,” Andrew said. “It was cool to see a range of people working together, old and young from different countries, getting along together,” added Will.

Andrew Stoesz (right) and Will DeFehr (left), first time volunteers from Winnipeg, Man., enjoy a root beer while serving on a project in Puerto Rico.

Project director Don Yoder echoed that sentiment about the crew. “They began the week as strangers and ended the week as friends,” he said, noting that from January to March, when the project ended, nine roofs were completed.

“Listening to them interact around the meal table in the evening, one would have thought no serious work could have been done during the day. They joked with each other and laughed often,” he said.

Andrew and Will are already thinking about the next time they can serve with MDS—maybe this time with more of their friends.

“It was great to be doing something with a common purpose that contributed to the greater good,” said Will. “We hope to do more with MDS in the future.”

John Longhurst, MDS writer

Photos courtesy of Andrew Stoesz