When I was a youth, I remember working in my parent's garden and daydreaming about a book I was reading. It was called “Uncle Cam.” It was a story about the founder of Wycliffe Translators, and the ingenious ways Cameron Townsend approached his relationship with the people and communities he wanted to serve. While I was in the garden I saw an orphanage in Central America with gardens and fruit trees to sustain it, along with chickens and other animals. I could see it in my mind, and it looked like a good way to spend one’s life.
It has always been like that for me; dreaming of ways to save people from the ravages of this world, but at some point I realized that I could do more by connecting people to opportunities. Mercy League began with a plan for a sustainable children’s home in the Dominican Republic. There would be a single facility for orphans to live a sustainable lifestyle and learn what it meant to be a productive citizen and God fearing member of society.
After years of struggling with ideology and logistics between the US, Canada and the foreign project, it became apparent that leading a mission from afar is impractical at best. In the last year and a half Mercy League has transitioned from central management to central support. This means that instead of creating projects and programs, building capacity and infrastructure locally, and governing foreign projects, we have turned to partnering with groups, who meet our criteria. These are the people already doing the work and have the existing infrastructure and personal networks. By changing our philosophy we are able to support groups without the cumbersome task of dictating daily operations. In this way we are able to continue to connect people to partners through sojourns and our (soon to be created) “Sojourners Opportunities for Service,” which will offer willing participants a venue to seek positions across the globe with our partners.
I Know it is a far cry from setting up shop in a little orphanage in Central America with a garden and some chickens. Maybe I will get there someday, but until that day I hope to support the great people who are already doing their part, and those who would like to join them.
Stay tuned for changes to our website: www.mercyleague.org
On the Journey with you,
Shane Mattenley
Director
Mercy League Int.
