Night fell before we arrived in Winnipeg. The truck and the ‘girls’ were out of gas, so we over-nighted in a quiet motel in Brandon. We watched a silly, forgettable movie and in the morning awoke to the roar of the wind, and an apparent fog. It was a prairie dust storm! Grabbing coffee and a quick toasted bagel at the motel kitchen, we headed to the nearest gas station. No power equals no gas, and none at the station across the road! Our GPS played a vital role in finding gas. Calling the nearest station we discovered that, yes - unlike most of Brandon - their power was still on. Thanking our guardian angels, we floated on fumes, until we were able to tank up.
The drive east to Winnipeg sandblasted the truck. That's not fog that's dust!
We called Nine Circles director, Mike, and were received warmly by the organization despite very late notice. At 3 p.m., when we pulled into the parking lot behind their new building on Broadway, Mike was there to greet us. He brought about thirty people out - staff and clients - to look at the swaddled cocktail glass, before we took the six-foot poster and binder of pictures into the building.
“Why nine circles?” we asked. Mike reported that clients identified nine areas important to care - hope, sanctuary, trust, support, respect, health, joy, peace and encouragement. The centre makes every effort to meet client-defined aspects of care.
Next he toured us through the facility, which combined many elements of holistic health care under one roof. Design input from HIV-positive people meant that the building had both large gathering places and an intimate round room where spiritual practices, like smudging could take place. There were offices where counseling and testing occurred, where social support was provided, where mental health issues were addressed, and others where accounts were balanced and plans developed for communication. We loved their 'ASK' postcards, where they invite people to ask any questions that we have about sex. These, and the answers, are posted on their website - www.ninecircles.ca.
Their Vision perhaps best describes what to expect inside the doors: Client-centred care that: reduces rate of infection for HIV and STIs (sexually transmitted infections); improves quality of life for those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS; reduces the stigma and discrimination associated with sexuality and sexual health, resulting in the overall improved health of our community.
We spent the evening and night at the home of an old family friend of my God-daughter. We met Gina and one of her daughters - they had grown up in Zambia and moved to Winterpeg - brave women! Again we felt blessed for a warm, dry place to sleep and a delicious dinner, and it made us appreciate, yet again, the love of caring friends. We have seen others who need this kind of support. 
Cathy has a weird sense of humor and I love her for it! Here are shots at the Bakery in Falcon Lake where we ate the best cinamon buns ever and the boys promised to post our trip on their Facebook page.
Why my bottom is on top!
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