MELF Cambodia Immersion: Threads of Mercy, Friendship and Hope

Cohort Five of our Mercy Global Action Emerging Leaders Fellowship (MELF) took part in their first international immersion experience in Cambodia from 25 September to 5 October 2025.

Pamela McLoughlin is from Dublin and is a fellow in MELF Cohort Five. Below, she shares her experience in Cambodia:

Cohort Five: Angie, Mary, Tina, Tatiana, Aura, Bavelle, Saska, Josie, myself, and our leaders travelled to Siem Reap, Cambodia, from 25 September 25 to 5 October 2025 for our first international immersion as part of the Mercy Global Action Emerging Leaders Fellowship.

Cambodia was like a woven scarf, made up of threads of history, hardship, joy, and resilience. Our immersion was about learning to see the patterns in those threads, and I soon realised it also meant stepping out of myself out of my routines, assumptions, and comfort zones.

Our time in Cambodia was such a meaningful experience. Every day reminded me what it truly means to live Mercy - not just to talk about it, but to see it, feel it, and share it. Though we came from different countries and cultures, we shared so much in Mercy friendship, faith, and the desire to be the best we could be.

From the moment we arrived, there was a deep sense of connection and joy. We laughed, supported one another, and shared so many special moments. A face once new became part of our everyday experience and for me, it’s always about the people you meet along the way. I learned that the MELF immersion is as much about the people you travel with as it is about the place you travel to.

The heavy rainfall and floods quickly became part of our story. Villages and even the Metta Karuna Reflection Centre were filled with water reaching up to our knees, which meant we couldn’t stay there as planned. I will never forget the sight of Sr Denise and her team walking through the floodwaters determined, smiling, and still ready to meet us and continue the programme they had prepared. Their dedication was a living example of Mercy in action.

We did have the opportunity to visit outside the Metta Karuna Centre, where we met people whose joy and faith shone despite the water surrounding them. We shared lunch with members of the Metta Karuna Community, many of whom are landmine survivors, refugees, and orphans. Their strength, kindness, and resilience were deeply moving. Mercy, I realised, isn’t about feeling sorry for people it’s about walking alongside others, listening, and learning from their courage.

One of our early mornings began with a karakia (prayer) and mihi (greeting) to the land and water, led by Josie, before we set out across Tonle Sap Lake. Our beautiful kuia guided us through the floating village an experience of community and simplicity that made us reflect on how much we have in life, and yet how true happiness can often be found in so little.

Another unforgettable morning began before sunrise as we travelled by tuk-tuk to Angkor Wat. Standing together as the first light touched the ancient temple was breathtaking. Later, Saska led us in prayer and song a joyful moment of gratitude that reminded me that God’s mercy is everywhere, in every culture and every faith.

Our days were filled with learning and reflection from cycling through local markets and visiting Buddhist temples to engaging in profound discussions with Sr Denise and her team. We explored the Mercy Advocacy Approach, focusing on the degradation of the Earth and the displacement of people, including the experiences of refugees and victims of forced migration. One of my highlights was hearing the powerful testimony of Sok Eng, a survivor of the Khmer Rouge. Each conversation invited us to move our understanding of Mercy from our heads into our hearts.

And of course, there were plenty of moments of laughter and light. Time to celebrate and be ourselves. We even became friends with the priest’s dogs, who joined Mass every day by walking with their friend to the altar before curling up to guard it for the rest of the service. Every church needs a friend like that!

Throughout it all, our leaders guided us with patience and wisdom, reminding us that our presence in Cambodia was not about what we could take, but about how we could learn, grow, and give back in small but meaningful ways.

Looking back, I realise that Cambodia gave me more than memories it gave me a sense of home halfway across the world. I loved the people, their warmth, and the way familiarity blossomed so naturally in such a short time. It was a reminder that home is not only where you come from, but also where you are welcomed and where you choose to belong.

Mercy, I’ve learned, is not just something we do it’s something we live. It’s found in friendship, laughter, courage, and in the quiet moments that remind us of our shared humanity. Cambodia showed me that the threads of Mercy are everywhere, waiting to be woven into something beautiful.

Cambodia, its people, and my team have my heart. Now we must keep the spirit of Cambodia alive in our everyday lives and advocacy. I’m deeply thankful to the Mercy Order and the legacy of Catherine McAuley and for our leaders of the programme for believing in us, for their incredible work empowering people around the world, and for giving us this opportunity to grow as Mercy leaders. I’m looking forward to the year ahead, working alongside these fabulous women.

“Keep some room in your heart for the Unimaginable” - Mary Oliver.

ENDS

Pamela McLoughlin

October 2025