Calgary Herald

MARG BAKER: DIRECTOR AT MERCY MINISTRIES FOUNDATION

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It's not explicit on her business card, but Marg Baker's job stretches from diaper duty to truck driver, tearing up a mountain to pick up an abandoned child.

The 65-year-old grandmothe­r of four and director of Mercy Ministries' children's homes in Thailand has spent more than 16 years in that country, working with child victims of everything from the AIDs epidemic, sexual assault, the booming drug trade and human traffickin­g.

The former Calgary airline ticket agent's life changed when reading an old newspaper article about Mercy, while on a break.

She phoned on a Friday about volunteeri­ng and the founder asked, “can you be here by Monday?”

“Working for an airline, I could. It was God's timing for my life — what He wanted me to do.”

Baker took a four-month leave to build a home for babies. Asked to consider moving to Thailand, Baker came home to quit her Calgary job.

“I had just had my first grandchild. But I knew it was what God wanted and my kids told me, 'those kids need you more than we do right now.' "

As a Canadian, Baker is an employee of Christian charity Samaritan's Purse, which works around the world.

Mercy Ministry now has six homes in Thailand and Cambodia for kids up to age 19.

“Every child has a different story. I've seen things most people won't see. I am heartbroke­n every day for these kids.”

But in the homes, the children are safe, their futures brighter. “Many go on to university, to Bible school, and some come back as leaders in the homes.”

Baker is currently in Canada for aggressive — and according to recent tests, successful — cancer treatment at the “amazing Tom Baker.”

She plans to return to Thailand this spring with her 18-year-old granddaugh­ter, who will volunteer at Mercy.

“This isn't a job. All these great children were chosen for me and I couldn't say no to God.”

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