Saskatchewan couple catches the MDS “bug”

Gord and Marianne Siemens of Saskatoon have caught a “bug”—the Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) bug.

The “bug” has taken them across Canada, from B.C. to Nova Scotia, and to places like Texas and Florida, since 2018.

“The first time was just to see what MDS was like,” said Marianne. After that, they just kept volunteering.

Since that first MDS service trip, the couple, who are members of Mount Royal Mennonite Church, have done MDS multiple times, including most recently at Barrington, Nova Scotia. That’s where they were part of a project to rebuild a home damaged by a wildfire in 2023.

Prior to their first service trip, the couple had heard about MDS. But it wasn’t until a small group from their church went that they decided to give it a try themselves.

“We thought we should do this,” Gord said, adding that it was a good experience.

“We really enjoyed meeting and working with other people from different places in Canada and the U.S.,” he said.

They also liked being able to use their skills in home repair, and to learn new ones. “At MDS, if you don’t know, someone will teach you,” Marianne said.

Gord Siemens mudding on an MDS project in Barrington, Nova Scotia.

It also ties into their faith.

“Our church has a strong belief about serving others,” Marianne said, noting the church donates to the Friendship Inn (a local organization providing nutritious meals to community members) and offers a fitness class and pickle ball for people in the community.

“MDS fits into that, sharing our time and skills,” Gord added.

At the same time, service with MDS is enriching for the couple.

“When we hear how MDS changed the lives of people who lost their homes to a disaster, we come away feeling hopeful,” Marianne said. “The stories we hear are powerful,” said Gord.

This year, the Siemens’ won’t be travelling so far to serve with MDS; the 2026 Canadian project is in their own province, at Denare Beach, five-and-a-half hours northeast of Saskatoon on the Saskatchewan-Manitoba border.

Last summer, that community was devastated by a wildfire that destroyed 230 structures—half of all buildings in the community.

“We hope others will catch the bug, too, and come to Saskatchewan,” Marianne said. “Like us, they will come away feeling blessed.”

John Longhurst, MDS writer