Joan was 21, I was 26 when we sold up, burned bridges, and moved to live & work in a Young Offenders Unit as Houseparents.
It was a school by name but - really an education prison for young boys 14 to 17. All from Manchester.
We had been married for one year and then this !!!!!!!!!
(I am on my laptop.
I am expecting a knock on the door by Joy.
She was born in this unit place.
Joy our first child born with 15 ready made teenage 'brothers'.)
*
It was the start of our journey - break away from home town to
follow the
call
risk
risk failure
learn
inability turning to competence - well ....
..... not so much the competence.
Before this job, I was working at Pilkington Glass in their Research Laboratory.
They used to call me 'the Rocking Vicar' because I was always singing as I worked.
I want to write about our above work. Yet it so sensitive.
I have lots of letters from these boys/men by now methinks letters I would love to share - some powerful stories too.
I wanted to reflect today on other mission experiences as I have shared over the last two days. Reflecting on the work/mission we was engaged in. It is delicate - so many stories I can't spill.
This was 1965 and all that ...................... how can that be? - me being a teenager still ..!!
