Newsletter #15

Mennonite Service Center is a faith based, non-profit organization. We do human service and ministry programs in rural east-central Mississippi. We believe and adhere to Romans 6:4: “Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in

Newness of Life.”      

No. 15        –-------------------------    Mar. 15, 2018

Growth in our Home Repair Ministry        

Mennonite Service Center’s work on health, safety and sanitary housing repairs in our community has increased two-fold this past year. In 2016, we had 121 jobs.  Now at the end 2017 that number has more than doubled to 264 jobs. 

The requirements for our volunteer labor assistance is that applicants are: elderly, disabled, widow(ers), veterans, or single parent families with limited financial incomes.  Recipients are in Noxubee County also in Louisville, Crawford and nearby communities. We always have a waiting list! There is a reason that MSC’s porch building, roof replacing, bathroom plumbing, house painting, kitchen fixing, ramp construction and flooring repair jobs have accelerated. There are more of the Amish Church young adults coming from Indiana and Pennyslvania. It is this valuable and skilled help that has enabled and grown the MSC Home   

Jermiah Lambright (r) -  Topeka, IN & friends. Repair Ministry. Work teams for Thanksgiving week in 2017 and a ten day Christmas-New Year’s project saw over 50 young men and women volunteering on Mississippi houses. 2017 was the fourth year of Amish Work Weeks. The credit goes to these teams of highly motivated    Amish youth and their Christian faith.       The homeowners’ supper had harmonica and drum music.          Throughout the year, MSC also does mailbox repairs, demolitions, assessments, etc, for persons and special projects. The Shop/Bunkhouse at Mashulaville Dormitory was completed by Amish guys and girls. Thank you Eli, Kevin, Harley, Jesse, Caleb,….!

This gave MSC needed tool/equipment storage and twelve more bunks with showers/bathrooms. Here is report:

Roofing (new)…….16

Roofing (repairs)…13

Flooring/doors……. 17

Painting (houses)…21

Bathoom/kitchens…..11    

Ramps/porches….19 

Demolitions………  7

MSC Dorm/projects…22     

Assessments…….99

Woodcutting………6

Mailboxes fixed …. 33

#families/organizations: 100                               

Total jobs in 2017…….264

SOOP volunteers and groups                    

Keith and Kathy Springer from Roanoke, IL came in February of this year. The New Prospect M. Baptist Church needed a handi-capped ramp built. This is the couple’s second year serving here. In November of 2017, they led a group of Bloomington (IL) Mennonites putting a new roof on the facility.   

Elderly Banquet and meal delivery      

The Elderly Banquet, organized in 1978, favored 50 senior citizens. MSC prepares and delivers 45 meals weekly to home bound in Mashulaville. Our food bank and donations fund this service. 

Visitors and groups                                                      

So many visitors and mission teams come to stay at Mashulaville Dormitory. The old building ‘creaks and groans’ and the lady bugs join us in welcoming all. 

We offer housing to disaster groups, crisis victims and overnight travelers with Servas, Couch Surfing and other networks; 2017 was a year of guests.                                    

Upcoming Events:                                                        

Dee Dee Geeter’s funeral repass…….. Mar. 17, 2018

Camp scholarship fundraising ends …….. April 15

Amish Work Week…………………….…May 17 – 25                   

Summer Food/Recreation centers  …..June 4 – July 27     

Contact us at:

Mennonite Service Center

105 Dormitory Drive, Macon, MS 39341 

Phone: 662-361-0383