Mercy Center

This article was published in the Pattaya Today Newspaper on the 5-5-2009 

All too often we foreigners in Thailand live ‘the bubble existence’, existing on the periphery, barely scratching the surface. As a result, we often get an extremely distorted view of the reality of life for many in this so-called ‘Fun City’. Although many of us largely yearn for hedonistic delights, there are a significant number, mainly impoverished Thais, whose only experience is pain; not by choice, but through force of circumstance. 

The reality of Pattaya for many is one of disillusionment. Drawn to Pattaya as a means 

The Doells surrounded by their brood of children

of escaping an often dire existence in Esarn, for example, frequently, when these overly optimistic people arrive here, they rapidly learn opportunities are few, work is scarce and they often don’t have adequate ID and the other bureaucratic necessities to fit into the system, meaning they can’t even send their children to school. 

Frequently, they fall foul of the law, perhaps being picked up by the police for vagrancy or begging. Thailand, not being a welfare state as such, relies on the extended family network, or the temples to support its indigents. 

However, if the family is still back home and likewise destitute, or the wats are chronically short of funds and already overburdened, what are these unfortunates and especially their children to do? 

This is where the Mercy Center comes in. Pastors Fred and Dianne Doell, the international directors of the centre, are Canadian Christians who first came to Thailand 12 years ago, saw the grim reality for many of the impoverished Thais and responded from the heart. 

Pastors Dianne and Fred Doell with one of the Mercy Center’s happy children

They came first as missionaries, setting up a children’s home in Sri Racha, later moving to Pattaya in 2000 to establish the Victory Church, and the Mercy Center in 2003. Their mission is to help the needy, primarily through: 

- providing a refuge for neglected children, or those at risk, (currently 24); 
- visiting the ‘chumchon’ or slum areas to distribute food, clothing and other essentials;  - arranging frequent visits to prisons to provide fruit, water and medication;  - assisting underprivileged children via their scholarship programme, providing books, uniforms, transportation costs and lunches for those who would otherwise be deprived of an education; 
- a network of early learning and day-care centres in the impoverished areas; 
- single-parent support. 

The items mentioned above are merely the tip of the iceberg, considering all the ways the Mercy Center provides outreach assistance to the underprivileged, impoverished and dispossessed. The above are the micro-concerns, the macro-concerns that the Mercy Center has also made significant contributions to include the victims of the Burmese cyclone, the Tsunami and Chinese earthquakes, as well as the Burmese/Hill Tribe refugees. 

Of crucial importance, however, is that these humanitarian works are essentially 

Pastor Dianne got a helping hand from Ms Elizabeth Sheperd

conducted by a relatively small group of dedicated volunteers and the centre is entirely dependent on donations and the goodwill and generosity of those aware of the plight of many in the community and who are willing to donate money, time and effort. Although help is extended to the Mercy Center by organisations like the Jesters, the Rotary Club of Pattaya, World Vision, the PILC, Pattaya Expats Club and the Yacht Club, considerably more help in terms of donations and voluntary assistance is urgently needed. This article is essentially a cry from the heart, to broadcast and publicise the sterling work being done by the centre and to call for help in whatever way possible from the international community in Pattaya, so as to make a positive contribution to the welfare of the truly needy in this city.

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