Volunteer is published by Brethren Volunteer Service
Church of the Brethren
1451 Dundee Avenue
Elgin, IL 60120
800 323-8039

As I write this it is four years since I started the position as director of Brethren Volunteer Service. Four years. The time it takes to go through high school or complete college (if one goes straight through). I remember that it felt like the year (freshman, sophomore, junior, it didn't matter) would not end soon enough. I measured time in semesters or quarters or the length of a summer job.

It's hard to believe that four years have passed so quickly. By now many volunteers have completed their service and moved on. For those just starting out or thinking about coming into BVS serving for a year or more seems like a long time to commit. Especially for those coming out of high school or college—a year is a long time.

Yet, it goes fast. I'm always a bit surprised when I talk to a volunteer on the phone close to the end of their term of service. I often feel like I was just with them at orientation and we were talking about where they would want to serve.

Volunteering can seem like something one won't have time for. "How can I do this right now?" "I don't have time—I've got other things to get to." "Think of all I will give up if I volunteer—for a whole year no less?"

My point in writing this is that we really need more people who want to serve to come into BVS. There are many projects with needs–critical needs for help. And there seems to be a slight downward trend in the number of volunteers seeking us out.

If you've been in BVS please share your story with anyone you think would be interested in BVS.

If you've not been a BVSer yet please consider serving as a part of you life journey. The time does go very fast. I use to think four years took a long time. It doesn't. A year or two in BVS will go fast.

This is an opportunity that should not be passed up. For old and young a like, BVS will stretch and grow you. BVS will provide an opportunity to give back to this hurting world.

Will it be easy? No. Serving will challenge you and force you to take risks. You will meet people who you will remember the rest of your lives. In many cases you will work with those on the edge of society.

A couple of staff changes to share with you. This is Ginger Gates first issue of the Volunteer, one of the many things she does as assistant to the director of BVS. She took Tina Rieman's place this past summer.

Also, early in 2000, Tracy Stoddard will be joining the team as the orientation assistant. Tracy is finishing up her first year in BVS as a part of the School of the Americas Watch staff in Washington, D.C. She will replace Matt Stauffer who by then will have served a year and a half with the BVS team. Matt is planning another year in BVS and will be going to CenterPeace in Belefonte, Pennsylvania.

We welcome Ginger and Tracy and say a big thanks to Tina and Matt for their dedication and service to BVS.

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Have any of you ever read the book Possum Come a Knockin' by Nancy Van Laan? If not, I highly recommend it!! It's just a cute little kids book, but it's a lot of fun to read!

I just recently read it as part of one of our BVS devotions. It's the story that my hall-mates in college used to read to each other when we would get stressed out and need a break from the normal "adult-paced" world. It's the story I still read when I find myself getting too caught up with life and not taking enough time for me. And it's a story that reminds me to really have fun with life.

Being in BVS and having heavy jobs, it can be easy to get too caught up with the things around us. It's easy not to take time to process what's really going on and keep ourselves in tune for what we do.

I challenge each of you to take time to really enjoy the work you are doing and take time to see the deeper meaning behind it. Even if you are doing office work or work where you do not see the end results, you are still touching lives and changing the world in big and small ways.

Keep up the great work!

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