A journey of service with Mennonite Central Committee

I’ve just removed my headset and stepped away from an MCC Crisis Response Team (CRT) meeting. My son is downstairs, warming up for his soccer game. But the pitch will have to wait. Right now, my thoughts are focused on the hectic streets of Bujumbura and the unfolding crisis in Burundi.  

I marvel at how our CRT manages to connect across multiple time zones, each person deeply invested, holding a sense of calm amid crisis.  

We are supporting our Burundi team during a period of political unrest and violence. Just days earlier, bomb blasts near the MCC office had killed two people. We ask the team about their access to fuel and cash, knowing that local infrastructure can collapse quickly during periods of violence.

Within this fragile context, the Burundi team must also find ways to keep local projects moving forward, including a promised food distribution for victims of recent flooding. Together, we think creatively about how to distribute urgently needed relief without drawing large crowds that could spark further unrest. One CRT member – experienced in security issues – suggests arranging multiple distribution sites to keep crowds small.  

This is a complex situation, filled with multiple risks.

But dealing with crisis and disaster is an everyday reality for Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). It is central to our mission.

As we close the meeting with a plea to God for peace, our Burundi rep (who has years of experience living in situations of unrest and dealing with disasters and trauma) leaves us with sincere words of gratitude.

“Thank you for your support. Thank you for your wisdom. Thank you for your prayers. We are very grateful for this team.”

Our CRT includes a human resources (HR) worker care specialist, finance staff, a safety and security specialist, a communications director, a youth and young adults program director and an international program director. It’s a big group. And it’s just one way that MCC supports workers in crisis situations – from a volcanic eruption in DR Congo, to the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, to a military invasion in Ukraine, to a global pandemic.

Since 1920, workers have been choosing to embark on a journey of service with MCC. Today, for many, that journey means serving in a home country – from Ukraine to India to the U.S.  

For others, that might mean a Canadian working as an MCC representative in Nepal; a Kenyan development officer advising partners in Cambodia as they adapt to climate change; or a young Cambodian spending a year supporting adolescent mothers in Bolivia.

Each journey is different. But we know that crossing borders is a big step.

From the very first moment people apply for a position in an international setting, MCC works diligently to help them understand our approach to service and how they can best prepare for their assignment.  

MCC wants applicants to be aware of the duties and responsibilities of the role, and to understand the necessity for mutual collaboration, especially when the position is in a challenging location. Risk is an inherent part of MCC’s work, and we want people to be aware of the potential dangers and instabilities – to understand their responsibilities in choosing to embark on the journey, as well as the help available to them.

Even when a context is relatively calm, workers must make the difficult choice to leave behind beloved family members, communities and churches to serve in a new country. They will encounter significant transitions in life, work, worship, language and culture. These are heavy tasks. Beginning the journey means counting the costs.  

Therefore, job descriptions not only outline the technical skills needed for a position. They also identify context challenges and broader skills necessary for success, such as adaptability, teamwork and cross-cultural awareness. MCC strives to match workers with positions that are a good fit with their skills, abilities and life circumstances.  

Once hired, workers receive extensive preparation for service in another country. From pre-term medical exams, to dental and vision checkups, to reams of paperwork such as wills, powers of attorney and medical directives in case of emergency, the tasks and responsibilities are significant.  

Then comes orientation in Akron, Pennsylvania. Akron is a small bedroom community in the rolling hills of Lancaster County, with a population of about 4,000. Orientation participants stay at the Welcoming Place, an international visitors’ village featuring guesthouses decorated with vibrant and diverse artwork and handicrafts. It’s a fitting background for rich conversations and learning.

During orientation, incoming staff dig deep into MCC’s mission and vision. They explore topics such as crossing cultures with integrity, trauma awareness and resilience, and peace and conflict resolution. They are also introduced to MCC’s processes and procedures, including safeguarding and grievance policies.  

During this intensive training, staff have space to reflect, connect with others and share together their first steps along a journey of service. Times of worship offer opportunities to experience God’s presence in moments of preparation, joy and anxiety.

After a long plane ride and likely some jetlag, MCC workers arrive in their new location. But they are not left on their own or without support.

New workers are introduced to fellow staff, programs, and partners and to the political context, history and culture of the country. They receive practical instructions, cultural dos and don’ts, and tips on navigating the critical details of life. How do I use the local public transportation? Which neighborhood shops can I rely on for food? What steps do I need to take to register my kids in school?  

New workers learn about MCC’s country-specific security procedures, which are prepared and regularly updated by country program leaders. These procedures provide clear guidelines on how to respond to unexpected situations. New staff have ample time to ask questions about risks and security protocols.

Additionally, MCC provides time and funding for language study – sometimes as much as three months – depending on workers’ contexts and what’s needed in their assignment.  

Special meals with long-time local MCC connections, trips with team members and visits to MCC partners help round out the in-country transition experience.

During the first year of an international assignment for an MCC representative or area director, MCC provides extra support for leadership development. Recognizing the initial months of an international leadership role can bring a high level of stress, MCC asks all new representatives and area directors to schedule three to four sessions with a leadership coach with international service experience.

Additionally, training and mentoring are available on a range of administrative topics, from navigating MCC systems to reviewing management and personnel structures in a country office.  

As the assignment begins and new staff find their day-to-day rhythms, support is available from other staff members in multiple departments. MCC is not a faceless organization. With today’s options for connections, a question for a colleague in HR, financial services or communications in Winnipeg or Akron is just a few keystrokes away.

Due to the unique challenges and stresses of international assignments, the health and wellness of MCC workers is of primary importance throughout their service journey.

Workers who serve internationally join their lives with that of their team, church community and partners. They share joys and successes, but also tragedies, losses and struggles. This is especially true when crisis strikes, bringing loss not only to whole communities, but also to the people and families staff know and love.

Because of the weight of this work, MCC offers a regular rhythm of opportunities for rest, renewal and respite.  

Home leave provides workers with a chance to reconnect with families, home communities, and churches. Staff also take part in retreats, outings and other events hosted by MCC country programs. Additional meetings are offered for regional leaders and teams, providing further opportunities for connection and renewal.  

Country teams gather regularly for devotions, prayer and mutual support, often celebrating with special meals or activities.

When health or wellness issues do arise, HR team members step in to help. They listen deeply and work diligently to understand and address concerns. Often, a solution is just a conversation away.  

However, there are times when cultures or work styles collide, expectations don’t align, or the needs of those seeking to serve do not mesh well with those being served. In those cases, HR team members work diligently to find creative solutions. It is not an easy responsibility.  

In the rare case of a medical emergency, MCC has a worker care specialist in Canada or the U.S. available to serve as a coordinating point between the worker or team on the ground and medical personnel in Canada or the U.S. This point person can assess if workers have access to appropriate care and can advise on next steps.

When crisis or disaster strikes, like the situation in Burundi, MCC provides services to address trauma for individuals and teams. They also have ongoing access to counseling. If necessary, staff serving outside their home countries can apply for stress leave.

Since 2018, MCC has required renewal leave for staff serving internationally in countries with heightened risk or stress; three different leave options are granted, based, in part, on the country’s rating on the United Nations Designated Hardship Classification. For countries with the highest hardship ratings, renewal leave is one to two weeks every three months; workers are expected to work remotely, and counseling sessions are required.

MCC is committed to finding the best ways to support all staff amid changing conflicts, tensions and crises – in a world that is, itself, experiencing rapid change. For more than 100 years, MCC has adapted and changed, seeking to learn and grow, asking anew what it means to serve in the name of Christ.

For most staff who serve outside their home country, a service term typically lasts three to five years. Once a worker’s term is over, MCC seeks to continue its care and support, offering help in the transition back to a home country.  

MCC provides a resettlement package that includes financial allowances for each adult and child under 19, post-term medical, dental and vision exams, and access to counseling sessions. Health insurance also continues for a period after a worker’s term has ended, providing an extra measure of support and care.

There are situations when the fit between a worker and service position is not right. That may result in a worker ending their term early. When a journey ends early, MCC seeks to balance the worker’s desires with the needs of the organization and team within a country, and the partners and individuals being served.  

In a very few cases, workers are not able or willing to follow a policy or cooperate with supervisors. When this occurs, MCC may terminate workers from the organization.  

These transitions are difficult for everyone. Without knowing all the facts, people outside the organization may feel these cases are unfair; however, in many situations the transitions are necessary for the health and safety of all involved, both those departing and those remaining. MCC does not discuss confidential HR matters like this on social media or other public platforms, but always seeks to find a mutually beneficial resolution for those involved.

For thousands upon thousands of MCC workers, returning home after international service means carrying new perspectives and lasting memories. They have immersed themselves in local communities and churches, and served alongside treasured partners, whether in agriculture, education, health or peacebuilding. They have witnessed how seeds of change can take root.  

The journey of service is rich, rewarding and transformative – and certainly not easy. We trust that the hope that has been shared, and the insights gained will enrich hearts and lives for years to come. 

My online meeting with the Burundi team is over. My MCC colleagues from around the world have gone back to their families and personal lives.  

I’m now at the soccer field, cheering my son’s team from the stands. We’ve helped him train for this moment – shuttling him to daily practices at the club, helping him perfect his dribbling in a park near our house, watching hours of YouTube videos about sports psychology and nutrition.  

Will he shine on the pitch? Will he be injured in the game? I don’t know. But we’ve prepared him the best we can. Whatever the outcome, we will continue to support our son throughout his soccer journey.

It’s similar at MCC. We ask similar questions: Will staff be successful in their roles? Will they face crisis or trauma? How long will they remain working with MCC? We really don’t know.  

But we trust they are well prepared and equipped. Throughout the service journey, MCC continues to invest deeply in all staff, providing ongoing support, resources and encouragement.  

In the end, we believe that God has called each one to a place of service. We pray that Christ will “make you complete in everything good so that you may do his will, working among us that which is pleasing in his sight” (Hebrews 13:21). We pray that our service will be a blessing to our global neighbors. We pray we will remain faithful in sharing God’s love and compassion with those in need around the world.

Banner image caption: Around the world, MCC staff and partners are accompanying local communities including farmers like Jean Bosco Nsanzimana, carrying harvested produce, and Marie Chantal Nyiramvuyekure who are walking down a road near their farm in Rwanda’s Kayonza District. (MCC/Fairpicture photo/Denyse Kamugwiza Uwera)