Merci was born at the end of 2022 when Elle bought a long-wheel based Mercedes Sprinter, called her Merci and proceeded to convert her into a camper. Months into a stalling divorce, she felt the call to act, to create and to build herself shelter in case everything went pear shaped.

Hundreds of hours of YouTube videos were consumed between purchase day and building start day a few months later. During that time Merci was having her solar, plumbing and gas installed by a professional gas fitter. Then it was all systems go with the internal construction.

Having only even picked up a power tool a handful times in her life, Elle threw herself in and learnt on the fly. Luckily Gaby had more building experience and together they made a great team.

Elle wanted the option to create a floor plan that suited mobile coaching, specifically being able to hide the bed away. And so that’s what they did. In the end, Merci was replete with a fold away Murphy bed, a hidden shower/laundry/toilet/mud room, a fully functioning kitchen with lots of storage plus plush velvet benches for lounging. She was just beautiful.

The building of Merci was a time of inspiration for Elle and inspired a huge idea. ‘How cool would it be to acquire land and teach women how to shelter them themselves either by converting a van, renovating a caravan or building the ultimate shelter, a tiny home on wheels?’ It was a magnificent idea however the timing was a little off and while experiencing post-divorce burnout, Elle decided to shelve that particular version of her idea.

As Elizabeth Gilbert shares, ideas are alive, they move from one creative to another until they are brought into reality. So Elle knew that the idea will be picked up and run with and she is very happy about that.

She loved it so much that she visited four times in less than 12 months. It was on the return from her 3rd visit that something truly magical happened and Elle found the perfect property to begin the Hey Merci community.

Her want list had included a nice home for her and her family, ancillary accommodation to support women, a workshop and room for a gathering space. The sound of the ocean was listed too but that felt unlikely and wasn’t a deal breaker.

Elle found it the day after returning from Bali, made an offer and was accepted, all within 24 hours. Magic. ✨ Hey Merci Moana was born.

Even though it wasn’t how Elle originally envisioned the Hey Merci Community, as usual with life, she had little control over what God/Source brought forward, the perfect solution, for now.