wfn.org | Vandals deface MVS unit in Chicago

[Beth Hawn <BethAH@mbm.org>]

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June 10, 1999
Mennonite Board of Missions
Beth Hawn
(219) 294-7523
<NEWS@MBM.org>

Vandals deface MVS unit on Chicago's west side 

KNOB NOSTER, Mo. (MBM/GCMC) - Sometime between May 31 and June 2, the
Mennonite Voluntary Service house in the Pilsen neighborhood on Chicago's 
near-west side was severely vandalized.

The four women who inhabit the house left Monday morning to attend the 
binational annual MVS retreat here. One member of the household, Rita 
Oswald, returned to Chicago on Wednesday, two days early, because of the 
needs of her work placement. When Oswald entered the house, she immediately 
saw that vandals had virtually destroyed the inside of the structure.

Reports indicate that the vandalism was not merely motivated by theft, but 
rather it appears to be a personal attack directed at the members of the MVS

unit. Vulgarities were spray-painted on a wall, personal items of no 
monetary value were destroyed, and the few items of monetary value were 
stolen.

Jessica Phillips, a member of the household, has experienced break-ins
before 
as a young child growing up in Houston. This attack, however, is very
different
for her.

"This feels sort of like a personal attack," she said. "Before, it was only
ever 
just material things. This is somebody saying something to us as people."

Phillips said she thinks the attack was likely carried out on the basis of 
mistaken assumptions.

"Some people [in the neighborhood] don't understand who we are and why we're
there. We're in the neighborhood to serve. We're there to have a positive 
impact. Some people just don't get that," she said, adding that she hopes
that 
when they see the variety and number of people who have already offered to
come help clean up and restore the house, it will have an effect on the
rest.  Service assignments for the unit members include children's ministry,
health 
education, community work, social services and youth work.   Members of the 
Pilsen MVS support committee have mobilized and restoration of the ruined 
home is under way.

MVS is a joint program of the Commission on Home Ministries of the General
Conference Mennonite Church and Mennonite Board of Missions of the 
Mennonite Church.

***

* * *

Christy Risser

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