Previous | Next 

Abbotsford, B.C.
Love God, then do what you will

Dorothy, Michael and Henry Rempel

When Henry Rempel considers the word “service”, he describes it as an adventure for those who are interested in active venturing, who are curious and who are willing to make a commitment. Rempel and his wife Dorothy and their 26-year-old son Mike have been on two service assignments through Mennonite Central Committee’s SOOP program (Service Opportunities for Older People). The preparation for their travels and their experiences in New Mexico and Arizona have been transforming for them.

Preparing for their first trip in spring 1999 was a process of “dematerialization”. They sold their home, gave their household goods away and traded in their 20-foot 5th wheel for a winterized 27-foot 5th wheel.

“We were interested in adopting a lifestyle that could be described by such words as ‘simpler’, ‘unencumbered’, ‘elemental’ and ‘useful’,” Henry says. “One in which we would become more engaged with nature, where we could have daily opportunity to see, hear and feel the truth of God in creation.”

One of the things that makes the Rempels unique is that their son has Down’s syndrome. This presented challenges as well as opportunities. In New Mexico, Michael was directly involved two to three times a week maintaining one of the stations in the community kitchen and participating in an after school club.

Arizona was a little different. The work was such that Michael couldn’t participate directly but was flexible enough that Henry and Dorothy could work and take turns caring for him. Michael adapted to the changes quite easily, enjoying the travel.

While in Arizona, Dorothy worked with a local school in the medical room and with a reading program. Her experience in this multicultural setting left a great impression on her. In her evaluation of the SOOP experience, she notes: “I feel that the attitudes of acceptance and service that were evident in this school have helped me to see people of different nationalities as just a different hue of a rainbow.” The children with whom she read seemed to crave one-on-one adult attention, and she cherished that time with them.


Henry was involved with a home repair program. This exposure to people living in poverty affected him deeply. Reflecting upon how his experience with SOOP has made a difference in his everyday life now that he is back in Chilliwack, B.C., he said: “I thank God that we had dematerialized before we went because, had we not, I’m not sure how comfortable we would have been living in our 1500-sq.-ft. townhome with its vaulted ceiling, plush carpet, expensive furnishings and closet full of clothes.”

The Rempels feel strongly that their experiences with SOOP have strengthened their desire to live redemptively and to love those with whom they interact. “Our desire is to live simply, purely and immediately,” he says.

Henry’s response to anyone who is considering a SOOP experience is that if you want to be more than a tourist in your retirement and venture into a lifestyle that is outside the norm, then “do it, do it, do it!” As a family, he says that they are simply trying to follow Augustine’s admonition to “love God and then do what you will.”


“Loving God is a constant adventure. There is no adventure without risk,” he says. “The joy of discovering God’s revelation in other than familiar places and people is far greater in magnitude than the risks involved. At least we are finding it so.”

The Rempels are members of Sardis Community Church in Chilliwack.

Those wishing more information regarding Service Opportunities for Older People, should contact their nearest MCC office.

 – Angelika Dawson, MCC

Previous | Next 

Last modified November 16, 2000.

© 2000 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
Masthead and usage information.