An "Official" Post

Okay, it's official - Mercy Tech Mission now has Canadian charity status (Mercy Tech Mission, registration number 826932444RR0001). 

Is that the thundering applause of the masses I hear? Cool. I'm with you on it!

How "Tourist" can you get?

I literally had no idea when I first traveled to Mozambique 3 1/2 years ago that I would now be the director of a fully-registered Canadian charitable organization. In fact, the concept of a non-profit group to enable professionals to teach life-changing skills to those living in poverty wasn't even on my mind. 

Thankfully, there is One whose ways are higher than ours. He has bigger plans than we can even dream of.

So thanks to everyone who has encouraged us along the way, especially the field staff of ASAM in Mozambique for welcoming our teams to their mission base again and again. The MTM board and I are excited about what the future holds, and we look forward to even greater things we continue to "change lives, one skill at a time."

2013 Mercy Tech Team (Photo by Dwight Lagore)

If you've been following our projects, you'll know that we have been helping SAM Ministries build a maintenance shop where we can continue to teach automotive skills to young students. Our last trip in March of this year saw a four-member team construct and install the roof support beams and trusses.

Shop status at the end of March 2013

Just this week we received photos showing how the local staff have continued to work on the shop and now have all the roofing panels installed on the main structure. Just in time for the rainy season!

Shop status as of August 2013 (photos by Dwight Lagore)

As you can tell from the photos, there is still a lot of work to be done. We are specifically looking for an electrician to finish installing all the lighting and power outlets, now that the roof is on. And then there is the small matter of trying to invent a reliable door system for the large bay openings...African ingenuity will prevail!

Tome working on the mission backhoe

We especially appreciate all the hard work done by Tome, ASAM's main maintenance man. It's been a privilege to work with Tome over the past few years, and I am personally looking forward to returning early in 2014 for more training with Tome and others, as well as to continue working on the shop.

If you would like to assist with this and other Mercy Tech training projects, either financially or as a volunteer, or would like to find out more about what we do, just contact me at rick@mercytechmission.com.

Your gifts will enable us to continue teaching trades and life-changing skills in places like Mozambique. Tax-receiptable donations can be sent to Mercy Tech Mission, Box 1153, Summerland, BC Canada V0H 1Z0.

Mercy Tech Mission - Changing Lives, One Skill at a Time