Partnering to build hope, capacity, and community

Dear friends and supporters of Operation Mercy, 

we are living in special times, in a season of change - a few months ago we thought it might be short term redirection, some quick interlude of different activities as we support communities in 19 nations to build hope, capacity and community. 

Now it is 8 month, since i last was able to visit face to face with one of our project teams, and no change in sight, while the first initial wave of shifting from community development to COVID 19 relief work is finished and brough many positive encounters and led to new connections and understanding of ourselves, our partners and the communities we work and live in, we need to start adjusting not only short term but long term strategies. 

Our project teams are now starting to reengage in the community projects, with adjusted activities, outcomes and the added goal of building awareness and resilience towards the effects of COVID 19 medially as well as psycho-social and economically. 

In one of our maternal health projects, they now use life size dolls to demonstrate the birthing process, and how to support a woman in labour, so that the course participants don't need to touch each other and risk spreading the virus. Group size in most projects have been reduced, hand washing and hygiene lessons more important than ever before. 

With all that we need to look forward plan for the new future

Economic development, livelihood and food security projects will be more important than ever in the coming years, girls and children with disabilities will be even more vulnerable to drop out of school early, due to lack of family funds for school fees, clothing, shoes, books ...

So more than ever we are "building planes  in the air" adjusting ongoing projects, adjusting our internal organisational development programme and adjusting the future plans to engage in new countries and communities. 

While we adjust, we do not give up! We still see the need and the "call" to be at the forefront of building hope, capacity and community In our region. 

One of our core values is perseverance and persevere we will. Others is prayer and partnership - as people of different faith in Operation Mercy, we all trust that God has a plan for mankind, and that in partnering with each other across boundaries, and partnering with you out there we will build hope, capacity and community. 

Thanks for standing with us. 

I’ll end by sharing the link to a poem from Rumi, a Persian Poet – we recently reflected on, on our webpage – have a look at the link below. 

Yours Andrea 

Links:

• a different kind of hospitality, accepting hardships...
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