The Possibilities Are Endless…

I love to get out into the field where the action is. As Reps we often find ourselves in our office trying to get all the administrative work done that comes with heading up a large program of over 20 projects worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. But, last week we had the opportunity to visit a couple of MCC partners.

On Thursday we jumped in the Land Cruiser and headed to Debre Zeit to visit our partner Meserete Kristos College. We have one program with them and are connected to them simply because they are a part of the larger MKC, begun by Mennonites from Lancaster. They have a new president, Negash Kebede, and we were looking forward to our first meeting with him.

The college is in the midst of a huge building project and so far only one wing of the education building has been built. So, it’s being used as the administrative site, teaching site, and the classrooms on the upper two levels have been transformed into dormitories. Negash joked that it looked like a used-shoe sale when he gave us a quick tour of those floors. Having lived in dorms ourselves for many years out of our lives, there was no need for apology or explanation.

The college serves the MK church by educating its leaders.
It has a number of programs and has hopes of becoming a liberal arts college in the future when it has finished its building projects and has secured enough resources.

MCC has a project with the college in helping to translate textbooks into Amharic. However, while we were there we learned they have a great need for textbooks. Period. English textbooks are also badly needed. Currently the instructors copy reams of reading materials that the students then take with them which causes the process to need to be repeated all over again next time.

The college also has a need for teachers in English and the humanities. As Doug and I were listening to Negash describe their needs to us our wheels began to spin. After all, we have both been theologically trained so the mission of the school is close to our hearts. How can we get textbooks over here? Are there connections we have with the publishing house that we could plug into? Who do we know some people would make a good addition to the college faculty? The needs are great, the possibilities are endless….

The next morning we headed down the street on foot to the nearby Kale Heywot church. MCC partners with this church to support people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Doug and I had the honour of meeting those who receive the monthly support provided by MCC through our partner. Each of these PLWHA receives 120 Birr ($12) monthly to buy food, pay rent and pay for children’s education.

It was difficult to hear them thank us for their support because it seemed like so little to give to someone who has such a great burden. It was even harder to hear how much they are struggling to make ends meet with that amount of money. As we are listening to the stories our wheels begin to spin. Could we supplement the payment with food? Could we increase the amount we are giving without jeopardizing similar programs in the area? Could there be some scholarships for the children? The needs are great, the possibilities endless…

After visiting with these beneficiaries we took a tour of the school that the church also runs. They serve children in the neighbourhood from pre-K to grade 9. I love to hear the chattering voices of children. It just brings a smile to my face. We were swarmed as often happens when you visit a school. Every child wants to shake your hand and practice their English “how are you?”

I was touched as a looked at their spartan classrooms and school supplies. The teachers have been creative with what they have. They’ve produced homemade posters and alphabet signs. They’ve made kitchen centers and store centers for the young ones with what they can find. It touched my heart.

Then, I thought about the classrooms my girls were in at home in St. Catharines and my wheels started spinning. I thought about the day care center my sister administrates and my wheels started spinning. Could teachers in N.A. save the resources they no longer have a need for? Could I somehow start a drive for school supplies and classroom resources?

The directors also talked about the need to have an English speaker teaching English. Could this be a SALT placement (a one year volunteer program for young adults)? Could MCC find someone to come to the school to teach English?

The needs are great, the possibilities endless….