Scary Women & The Story of the Two Trains

A lot of our residents were in a grumbling mood on the weekend. I have a theory that they don't really want the women to move across the street on Thursday, although that might be difficult to prove.

I was speaking to them before class to ask them to help us with the clean up last week and I said, "Guess what? We got Sacred Heart!" They all cheered. That was so nice. It showed that they are making the Mission a real part of their lives and heart. With no notice, they all showed up after class to help us clean and prep the walls in Jack and Paula's apartment for painting.

Then I said, "And guess what else? That means the women are moving out!!"

Well, doubly loud cheering accompanied by clapping! Except for Al. He looked sad. I think that's because our three year old is his little buddy. He sneaks her candies out of his pocket.

Larry happened to be teaching that class yesterday. Its a known fact he is scared of the women. He is so glad not only that they are moving across the street, but that Paula is joining our team to be their resident manager. Up to now, it has been on Larry's job description. Although, by his avoidance of them, you'd never know it!

The women, however, love Larry. They sew him curtains for his office. They give him pictures of themselves with their children for his bulletin board. You know. Stuff like that. Larry is everyones big brother around here.

Yesterday he tried to convince Melanie to teach all the classes twice so we didn't have to have them co-ed anymore. The classes are going to be in our new hall, down below the church, on the parquet dance floor! The men, horror of horrors, will be sitting in the same room for one hour per day on the dance floor.

Mel panicked thinking, "I don't have time to teach the same class twice per week! Ask me in 7 years." She's been so busy she said she feels like she is travelling on two fast trains. She gets on one train in the morning and it travels from 9 to 5. It's destination is moving the women's home across the street in two days, and getting the new women's home staff trained so she can go on her two week honeymoon.

She jumps onto the second speeding train at 5:00 every night. That train is the train of wedding details and plans, packing her stuff to take to Murray's, selling her house, attending two bridal showers, as well as entertaining the many close family members from both sides who want to spend a few days visiting and helping the bride and groom to be. At 10:00 she goes to bed and her head is spinning from all that travel. Sometime in the night she usually gets up and makes a list or two. Then it's back onto the speeding train at 9:00 a.m.

Just a normal week at the Souls Harbour RESCUE Mission!

If you care to join this high speed adventure please log onto our website and fill out a volunteer application form! We'll get back to you shortly... hopefully before 7 years are up!