“My time in BVS was a time of deep discovery—of my own inner strength, of the joy of community, of the beauty (and messiness) of the world, and of the unrelenting love that holds everything together. It has been an immense privilege to serve alongside other peacebuilders and justice-seekers.”
– Marianne Fitzkee
“BVS was one of the hardest, most rewarding, wonderful, and formative times of my life. There were many times where I took a deep breath, looked around, and thought ‘I’m overjoyed to be spending a year in this place, with these people, learning and growing. I am so lucky to have taken this opportunity to serve’”.
– Kate Ruebke
“My BVS year helped me to grow as a person and as a Christian. I learned a lot about myself, the world, what brings me joy, and the type of person I want to be. I sort of expected this year to just be a bit of a break between college and the rest of my life, but instead of a break it feels more like a jumpstart into the rest of my life.” – Rachel Johnson
“Though the world certainly seems chaotic currently, even these few months in BVS at SnowCap have given me hope and shown me the sheer incredible number of people who are working toward making a more just world where everybody looks out for their community and everyone has enough.”
– Josiah Esch
“At my BVS project, Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center in Little Rock, Arkansas, I was able to serve a great community in a great variety of ways. I met many great people, learned a lot of new skills, and overall had a fantastic time serving with BVS.”
– Benjamin Hoffman
“When I started my BVS year, I could never have imagined that I would be speaking with Senators and Representatives about the Farm Bill in the capital of the United States. Surprisingly, my time at Creation Justice Ministries, a Christian climate justice organization based in Washington DC, made it possible. Living alone for the first time, especially in a different continent, presented challenges. However, as I reflect on my year now, I realize it was an amazing time that taught me the value of stepping outside my comfort zone and taking risks. These experiences led to impressive opportunities and personal growth. Living and volunteering in a foreign country expanded my perspective, allowed me to connect with people from diverse backgrounds, and taught me how to adapt to new environments. I am grateful for the friendships I have formed and the memories I have made during this transformative year.” – Clara Grabenhorst
“BVS is an experience I will always treasure, and I would recommend it to both the young and the more mature alike. You are never too old to serve. People think of BVS as a young person’s opportunity, and they forget older people sometimes need opportunities, too.”
– Martie Hummer
“BVS not only gave me an opportunity to serve through Christ’s name but allowed me to experience joy, growth, and broadening of abilities which I thought were not possible. I lived in another country for 1 year! I created a whole new network of friends through BVS, my project placement, the community, and so on…all thanks to BVS.”
– Lauren Hazel
“BVS has helped me to connect with people I may have never known. It was a challenging year full of bright spots.” – Justine Eckert
“For me, BVS was a great experience. I learned many new skills and a lot about myself and the people around me- all while serving a project in a wonderful community.”
– BVS Volunteer
“I had a great time serving with BVS. Not only was I able to use skills that I already had to do good at my project, but I also learned a lot of new things. My time with BVS was filled with personal growth and many incredible opportunities that I am very thankful for.”
– BVS Volunteer