Today was Salvation Army Day in Oslo. The temperature is about -10, but who cares when you are presented with some cool, state-of-the-art, heart-warming programs that serve people in need.
We visited the Salvation Army Street Hospital for homeless people with severe physical challenges. Wonderful nurses, who were called Slum Sisters back in the days, and now take care of people who find a safe haven in this building. Liv-Bente told us all about it, in perfect English, though she herself had big doubts about her ability to do that. Prince Charles would even say she spoke Impeccable English. Nothing to be shy about and every reason to proud of such a hospital and team.
Pål told us all about Sapa Bilpleie, a project where people are trained in making cars shine like crazy. Let’s say it’s a Beautiful Laundrette for automobiles. His program is like he said, always in the red figures. Nevertheless, the Salvation Army gives them the opportunity to keep doing what they are doing, because it’s important for people with multiple challenges to have a job. A job in which they can make mistakes, but are always learning to become the best at what they do.
Rune told me about his parents, who are officers at the Salvation Army and how he became a soldier for the same institution. Nowadays, he is the coach and coordinator of the Norwegian Street Soccer Team, both men and women. He states he has the best job in the world, and he told me all about it in an interview. It will be broadcasted on de Kantelcast, a podcast on Keymoments in people’s lives, in about a weeks time.
Liza showed us a perfect blueprint of how you can offer elderly people a meaningful life, in the midst of a loving community, living in a beautiful building and spending your day in a day center where you are offered multiple activities. Any other program, either serving youth or adults, can use this blueprint as an example on how to serve people with community building in mind.
Last, but surely not least, Yury, a Salvation Army prison chaplain (see photo), made us a witness of his fabulous programs. How about this for a one-liner: You can’t listen to your voices coming from inside, when you don’t cut down on the noise coming from outside.
That’s why his team creates retreats and pilgrimages for inmates, without any fear of inmates running out on them. It never happens, because they learn powerful lessons, we walk in the middle of nowhere, and it beats daily life in prison buildings and cell blocks. Recently, his team was offered a sustainable budget to visit Norwegian prisoners in other countries, who rarely get visitors.
All in all, it was a great day with passionate and innovative speakers and workers. Pretty unique in the world, considering the fact that they work for a somewhat traditional organization. Very worthwhile visiting. It lights up your day. Oslo and the Salvation Army are the place to be.
