(Feb. 25, 2008) — Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) is introducing the volunteers from Unit 278, who have completed orientation and have begun service at projects across the country and in Northern Ireland. BVS is a ministry of the Church of the Brethren General Board.
The orientation was held at Camp Ithiel in Gotha, Fla., from Jan. 27-Feb. 15. While in Florida, the volunteers had several days to serve the community including workdays with local Orlando agencies and Greater Miami Habitat for Humanity. The group also explored many issues of faith, community, peace, and social justice throughout the three week orientation.
The nine volunteers, their home congregations or home towns, and placements follow:
Elizabeth Barnes of Sioux City, Iowa, is serving at Casa de Esperanza do los Ninos in Houston, Texas; Brandon Bohrer of Brook Park (Ohio) Church of the Brethren has gone to the San Antonio (Texas) Catholic Worker; Lauren Farrell of Rochester, N.Y., is working with Quaker Cottage in Belfast, N. Ireland; Heidrun Herrenbrueck of Bielefeld, Germany, is working at Gould Farm in Monterey, Mass.; Dennis Kottmann of Lage, Germany, is at the Tri-City Homeless Coalition in Fremont, Calif.; Jim Leyva of York Center Church of the Brethren in Lombard, Ill., is working for Lancaster (Pa.) Area Habitat for Humanity; Rita Schuele of Buchen, Germany, is serving at Bridgeway Home for Pregnant Teens in Lakewood, Colo.; Julia Seese of Delphi, Ind., also is going to Bridgeway Home for Pregnant Teens; and Jutta von Dahl of Bell, Germany, is serving with the Brethren Nutrition Program in Washington, D.C.
For more information about BVS contact the office at 800-323-8039, or visit http://www.brethrenvolunteerservice.org/. As always your prayer support is greatly appreciated. Please think of the unit and the people they will touch during their year of service.
–Beth Merrill is a Brethren Volunteer Service worker at the BVS office in Elgin, Ill.
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