The Welcoming Place

The MCC Welcoming Place reminds me of an eco-hotel. It is brightly coloured, chairs are made of wicker and rough fabric, and there are signs everywhere to remind you to save electricity. 

I enjoy it very much.

I am living in Africa House. The four Houses are named after the four regions where MCC works - Africa, Asia, Middle East/Europe, and Americas. They all look very similar, although their distinguishing features are the coloured patterns on the plaster walls outside, and the hand-made crafts from their namesake continents inside.

Even more exciting than the houses themselves, are the people living in them. My fellow SALTers (Serving and Learning Together) number just shy of sixty, with half of us from Canada, and the other half from the USA. There are fewer IVEPers (International Volunteer Exchange Program), but they represent many countries around the world. Many of them have been bravely fighting jet lag these past few days, while also being gracious enough to lead us in worship and eat strange new food.

We have been learning a lot. Our days start early, with breakfast, and then a devotional time before jumping into sessions. These sessions cover the history of MCC, logistics of our programs, and how to take care of ourselves. There are many more to come. We also have a surprising amount of free time, but that is quickly filled with card games or sports.

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I have never been surrounded by so many people who know what the word "Mennonite" means.

For me, it only meant my grandparents and everything they embody. Which is many things that I have encountered here- the importance of charity and volunteering, peace, and of God's presence in our lives.

Here, for others I have encountered, it is their lives, not only one part of it. It is languages, food, people they know intimately.

It is amazing sharing a common history with so many people. A MCC staff member dramatically recounted the history of the organization, and I found myself surprised by how much it aligned with the little I know of my Dad's family origins. Catherine the Great inviting German Mennonites to settle in Russia, the flight of many to North America, conscientious objectors to the Great Wars.

I knew I was signing up to work with an organization whose values I agreed with, but I did not know how much of MCC I am already apart of.

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The Warehouse

On Thursday, we went on a tour of Material Resource Centre (MRC), a few miles away from The Welcoming Place.

MCC has three main areas of focus - relief, development, and peace. The first is greatly illustrated in the MRC, where many items are prepared for shipment to international destinations that have experienced a disaster- either natural disasters or as a result of a conflict.

Top: A map detailing where MCC has warehouses and where they send goods. Left: Shipment information Right: Looms that turn scrap material into mats which are sold.

As I realized what we were walking into, I got excited. Very excited.

This was everything we had discussed in my Humanitarian Assistance class, and although we did a 3-day disaster simulation, we did not actually get to see this work in action. Here there were stacks upon stacks of canned goods, school kits, hygiene kits. There was a board detailing recent shipments.

Stacks of wrapped quilts & comforters.

There a few unique things about the MRC. I'm not sure how many contemporary humanitarian organizations have Quilting Rooms and functioning looms in their warehouses.

Many of MCC's supporters are traditional Amish or Mennonite, meaning that many of them feel the best way to support those overseas is through labour. Many hours go into making beautiful quilts to be auctioned off to raise money, or others to be sent overseas. We certainly did not discuss the logistics of shipping handmade quilts in my class.

I asked a lot of questions. Specifically, I was curious as to why MCC still ships food overseas, when that is generally now a frowned upon practice. The answers I received were promising- that is a controversial practice, but it is one that many of their constituents support.

I asked so many questions, and continued to ask them the next day, that a staff member remarked that I was very interested. When I explained I would love to work in this sector, he offered to set up a lunch meeting with someone works in MCC's relief work. I am amazed what simple curiosity has done.

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Orientation has been a lot of sitting & listening, but in the best way possible. Everyone is brimming with excitement and patience for each other. The heat here in Pennsylvania is suffocating, but our houses and the Meeting Place provide sanctuary from the heat, but also a sanctuary in each other's presence.

Here's where you can support me sweating in Pennsylvania!