MDS Family Program: “joy from a life-giving week”

What’s a “typical day” for the Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) Family Program?

“Wonderful meals, age‑appropriate work (both in tasks and in the length of work periods for the children), crafts and snacks for the kids, and evenings spent inter-generationally playing games and talking,” answered Rosemary Blessing, who participated in the program with her family in the summer of 2025.

She traveled from her home in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to Camp Sakanaga, in South Carolina, where she stayed a week with her husband and children, Joelyn, 13, and Micah, 11.

When Blessing’s son, Micah, was in fourth grade, someone from MDS spoke in his school’s chapel. “He came home excited and told us about the Family Program,” Blessing recalled. “We were familiar with MDS but didn’t know about the Family Program until then.”

Through the MDS Family Program, families can work and serve together in Canada and the U.S.

The Blessings, who attend Landis Valley Christian Fellowship, didn’t know exactly what to expect—but the Family Program far surpassed anything they imagined.

“There was a high ratio of MDS team leaders to children, which allowed for a lot of teaching and hands‑on learning,” said Blessing. “The leaders were patient, joyful, and genuinely committed to planting a positive early experience of volunteerism in the children.”

The Blessings came away with joy from a life‑giving week of serving together as a family, and from watching their children joyfully work alongside others from the broader church—families and leaders from across the U.S. and Canada.

“Our children are asking to do another MDS family week!” said Blessing. “There is beauty and joy in believers with diverse faith perspectives serving together, and that gives us hope. Experiencing faith lived out through service and volunteerism is freeing and empowering.”

MDS Writer Susan Kim