Singing in service, volunteers lend a hand in Puerto Rico

Making their work light with song was one way that Eastern Mennonite University seniors Brandon Chupp, Nicole Litwiller, Luke Mullet and Rachel Holderman ’18 passed the time while volunteering with Mennonite Disaster Service this summer in Puerto Rico.

The foursome spent much of their six-day stay in Aibonito working in a hurricane-damaged music building at Academia Menonita Betania.

While scraping the walls and ceiling, repatching and painting, “we spent a lot of time singing,” said Holderman. “The rooms had great acoustics.”

At one point, a school administrator and MDS visitors heard the impromptu quartet and asked to them to sing again – the moment  was captured in a video that has made social media rounds. [Scroll down to view.]

Holderman said the group also sang two hymns later in the week, “Down To The River” and “Over My Head,” when they were invited to lead devotions for the students. After singing, some classes presented them with handmade cards thanking them for their help.

Like Holderman, Chupp was “moved by the hospitality of people who have already been through so much.”

“And then to realize that even after that experience, they were willing to open their homes to us. To share with us. To serve us even as we tried to serve them. We were truly humbled this week,” he said.

Litwiller especially enjoyed evening meals with their hosts on the back porch with a beautiful view, which provided some relaxation after long days of work. “There were always lots of laughs, yummy food and interesting stories… as well as time to build relationships with our hosts.”

Mullet said that working, playing, singing and sharing meals together “galvanized and strengthened” friendships among the group, including with MDS leaders Kevin King and Rolando Flores.

“While a week isn’t nearly long enough, I feel like I at least have some context with Puerto Rico that helps me further humanize and have empathy for its people,” he said.