And awaaaaayyyyy they go!

Rowan's Ravine Provincial Park Campground


The buzz at the Mission this morning was quite exciting. It was Melanie running around trying to get the 15 passenger van loaded with girls and the Montana loaded with luggage...

Mel: Where's the ice blocks?
Michelle: I brought them for Kathleen to use... um, I don't know if they're frozen...

Rita: I can't go! I don't have a carseat! And if I don't go, Carol's not going either!!
Mel: I'll call St. John's Ambulance. They rent them out.
Michelle: Call Sally Jacobson! (She's our WARRM Communications Officer who has SIX children!)
Rita: I don't WANT to go!!

Kathleen to her child: No, I am NOT picking you up. You can stand on your own two feet.

Vicki: Okay, Paula wants to come to the campground, and Jack will work the 6:00 a.m. shift while we're gone. He is going to call you to confirm these details.
Mel: Oh, and tell him I left him a bunch of notes of what else to cover while we're gone! (Jack has been gone on vacation for the last month.)

Mel: Do we need keys to the 5th Wheel?
Jon: Yup.
Mel: Do you have them?
Jon: Nope.
Michelle: You'll have to call Donovan and pick them up on your way out of town.
Mel: Okay! I'll do it right after Alison and I pick up a few last minute items at the grocery store!

Alison: Are you coming camping, Michelle?
Michelle: No, I never go. I just stay and enjoy the peace and quiet!

And, one hour later, they're gone! Ahhhhh...


So... is all this worth the effort? Oh yes, many times over and in many ways. First of all, the girls talk about it as a pivotal point in their recovery more than a year later!!

Now, last year's ladies, in no uncertain terms, did NOT want to go camping. We knew the women going this year were not squeemish when they started naming various rodents around the building...

We had a few new hurdles this year, namely, Carol's newborn baby. You remember, he was born at the Mission on the night of the fund raising banquet!! But Donovan Carroll from Soul's Harbour loaned us his Fifth Wheel so Carol and baby can sleep safe and sound.

Another neat thing about the camping trip is that the girls all have a chance to prepare and share a devotional - staff and residents alike. They prepare it ahead and clear it with Melanie.

And then Wednesday night the crew is joined by many female volunteers for a wiener roast and a campfire.

In the words of the best Program Director ever: "It's going to be awesome! ;) "