24 Canadians get MCC global/binational assignments

Are joining some 1,126 MCC workers who work in 49 countries.

December 3, 2010 | Web First
News release | Mennonite Central Committee
Akron, Pa
These Brazil students are part of a younger group of students who have become involved in a garden club, set up by MCC worker Julie Alexander. The club is a mix of ages and encourages students to develop leadership skills while working together as a team. --Photo by Lowell Brown

Twenty-four Canadians were among the  nearly 100 new workers assigned by Mennonite Central Committee recently

for one-year and three-year assignments through its SALT – Serving and Learning Together – program for young adults from Canada and the U.S.--and from a recent orientation for national and oversees volunteers.

They completed a week-long orientations at the Welcoming Place, Akron, in July and August.

 MCC staff usually work in partnership with local churches and community organizations. Each year about 200 people begin MCC assignments. Currently, there are 1,126 MCC workers in 49 countries. For more information on MCC, visit mcc.org.

The Canadian workers assigned are:

Alejandro Arturo Avila and Adrienne Wiebe of Edmonton, Alta., are serving three-year terms in Mexico. Avila works as a migration researcher and Wiebe works as a policy analyst/educator. Avila obtained a bachelor’s degree in electronic technology from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, Edmonton, and a master’s degree in project management from the University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alta. Wiebe obtained a bachelor’s degree in history and geography from The University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Man., as well as a master’s degree in geography and Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Alberta, Edmonton. The couple attended Lendrum Mennonite Brethren Church, Edmonton.

Rachelle Friesen of Winnipeg, Man, is serving a three-year term in Palestine as a peace development worker. Friesen obtained a bachelor’s degree in politics from Canadian Mennonite University, Winnipeg, Man. She attended Home Street Mennonite Church, Winnipeg.

Daniella Penner of Winnipeg, Man., completed a three-month term in Haiti as an accountant (Her term was finished in October 2010.). Penner obtained a bachelor’s degree in French and political science from the University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta., and is a certified general accountant. Penner attends Bethel Mennonite Church in Winnipeg.

Elizabeth Scambler of Victoria, B.C., is serving a one-year term in El Salvador as an emergency assistant. Scambler obtained a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and Latin American studies from the University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C. She also earned a post-graduate diploma in international project management from Humber College, Toronto, Ont. Scambler attended Emmanuel Baptist Church, Victoria.

Mary Martens of Steinbach, Man., is serving a one-year term in Akron as a dining/hosting assistant. Martens attended Steinbach Mennonite Church.

Nicholas Doerksen of Moose Jaw, Sask., is serving in Zambia as a teacher. Doerksen attended Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C. He attends St. Aidan Anglican Church, Moose Jaw.



Jada Dyck of Boissevain, Man., is serving in Bolivia as a childcare worker. She attends Whitewater Mennonite Church, Boissevain.

Christopher Ellis of Ottawa is serving in Indonesia as an AIDS supportive care worker. Ellis is enrolled in Algonquin College, Pembroke, Ont. He attends St. Luke’s Anglican Church, Pembroke.

Christopher Frey of Kitchener, Ont., is serving in Kenya in a communication and training center. Frey attended the University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ont. He attends Hawkesville Mennonite Church, Hawkesville, Ont.

Kristin Friesen of Carrot River, Sask., is serving in El Salvador as a childcare educational assistant. Friesen attended Kelsey College, Saskatoon, Sask. She attends Carrot River Mennonite Church, Carrot River.



Daryl Good of Breslau, Ont., is serving in Zambia as a teacher. Good has a bachelor’s degree from University of Guelph, Guelph, Ont. He attends Breslau Mennonite Church.

Daniel Janzen of Virgil, Ont., is serving in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a program assistant. Janzen attends Wycliffe College, Toronto, Ont. He attends The Meeting House, Toronto.

Kimberly Krahn of Picture Butte, Alta., is serving in Indonesia as an ESL and community worker. She attends Picture Butte Mennonite Church, Picture Butte.

Maria Krause of Langley, B.C, is serving in Zambia as an assistant coordinator of a peace program. Krause has a bachelor’s degree from University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C. She attends Langley Mennonite Fellowship, Langley.

Tyler Loewen of Altona, Man., is serving in Indonesia as an ESL and community worker. He attends Blumenort Mennonite Church, Gretna, Man.



Doris Luna-Trujillo of Toronto is serving in Brazil as an early childhood education worker. Luna-Trujillo attended Centennial College, Toronto. She attends Toronto United Mennonite Church.

Matthew Madigan of Ottawa is serving in South Africa as a conservation agriculture promoter. Madigan has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Guelph, Guelph, Ont. He attends Breslau Mennonite Church, Breslau, Ont.

Whitney McDonald of Calgary, Alta., is serving in Laos as a primary school English teacher. McDonald has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alta. She attends Bethany Chapel, Calgary.



Bryn Olfert of Saskatoon, Sask., is serving in Vietnam as a manuscript editor. Olfert attends Canadian Mennonite University, Winnipeg, Man. He attends Wildwood Mennonite Church, Saskatoon.

Susie Redekop of Winkler, Man., is serving in South Africa as a physical education teacher aide. She is a member of Evangelical Mennonite Mission Church, Altona.

Alison Regehr of Guelph, Ont., is serving in Honduras as an environmental educator. Regehr has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Guelph. She attends Breslau Mennonite Church, Breslau, Ont

Leanne Ropp of Millbank, Ont., is serving in Indonesia as an English as a Second Language teacher and community worker. Ropp has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Guelph. She attends Crosshill Mennonite Church, Milbank.



Amanda Thorsteinsson of Winnipeg, Man., is serving in Uganda as a Global Family education project assistant. Thorsteinsson has a bachelor’s degree from Canadian Mennonite University, Winnipeg. She attends Charleswood United Church, Winnipeg.


These Brazil students are part of a younger group of students who have become involved in a garden club, set up by MCC worker Julie Alexander. The club is a mix of ages and encourages students to develop leadership skills while working together as a team. --Photo by Lowell Brown

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