I pray every day. I pray for the people at my work, I pray for my family, my friends, the priests – I pray for everybody. I became Catholic in 2000 and my journey was a strange one. My 92 year old mother prayed for me for 20 years whilst I was making money selling girls in the brothel industry. Knowing that my mother was praying for me though she was ageing and I was worldly was very sad.
My conversion began when Princess Diana of Wales died in a car crash in 1997.
I realised power and wealth were not enough to save you.
Then my mother’s words rang in my head, “I am praying for you.” I called out to God, “God, if you are there, reveal Yourself to me. I don’t know how to get out of this mess.”
That night I began the road to my recovery. I knew that I needed God’s help and I couldn’t do it alone.
I didn’t know what I was going to do after 20 years in the “game.” I decided that I would fight the legalisation of prostitution. Then I was very blessed to meet Archbishop Barry Hickey.
He helped me set up Linda’s House of Hope in 1999, an assessment centre for aid and shelter for prostitutes.
I thought, “Wow, I don’t have to sleep with anybody anymore. I don’t have to sell girls. There is a life.” So from there my rainbow shone.
I have never looked back.
To heal the girls is hard and we are always struggling at the shelter. It is all good though. Our services are provided free of charge and we often rely on Divine Providence for our needs as well as financial support from the Church.
We have one paid staff and six to 10 volunteers.
We can take four women at a time or a family. We also provide community outreach.
The women hear about us through word of mouth or at Church. Other referrals come from hospitals; community services, rehabilitation units or shelters. They see if we have got rooms or can provide practical help.
First, we have to make sure that the women are detoxed. So we send them to places like “Bridge House,” “Next step” or “Palmerston” for alcohol and/or drug rehabilitation. Some even go to a private hospital with their psychiatrist and get detoxed there.
Then we assess them. We ask, “What are your immediate needs?” Some need clothes; others are in Homes West units (now government housing comes under the Ministry of Housing and Works) and have accommodation problems.
They may be in trouble, in debt or trying to get out of prostitution. There are other issues like mental illnesses.
They are such broken people and our aim is to get them on the right track with the right support team.
I was always a believer but I definitely strayed from the flock.
Now my faith means everything to me. There is a reason that I am here. It is a comfort to have faith. It helps me cope.
In the Gospel of Luke there is a passage that I often quote and draw strength from.
A woman displays her remorse for her sins by crying on Christ’s feet, wiping them with her hair, kissing them and pouring perfume on them. Christ tells the stunned Pharisee present “Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven – for she loved much” [Luke 7:47].
To make donations to Linda’s House of Hope contact Linda Watson on 0439 401 009 or 9358 1719. All donations over $2 are tax deductible. Cheques can be sent to: Linda’s House of Hope PO BOX Z5640 St Georges Tce, Perth WA 6831. My conversion began when Princess Diana of Wales died in a car crash in 1997.
I realised power and wealth were not enough to save you.
Then my mother’s words rang in my head, “I am praying for you.” I called out to God, “God, if you are there, reveal Yourself to me. I don’t know how to get out of this mess.”
That night I began the road to my recovery. I knew that I needed God’s help and I couldn’t do it alone.
I didn’t know what I was going to do after 20 years in the “game.” I decided that I would fight the legalisation of prostitution. Then I was very blessed to meet Archbishop Barry Hickey.
He helped me set up Linda’s House of Hope in 1999, an assessment centre for aid and shelter for prostitutes.
I thought, “Wow, I don’t have to sleep with anybody anymore. I don’t have to sell girls. There is a life.” So from there my rainbow shone.
I have never looked back.
To heal the girls is hard and we are always struggling at the shelter. It is all good though. Our services are provided free of charge and we often rely on Divine Providence for our needs as well as financial support from the Church.
We have one paid staff and six to 10 volunteers.
We can take four women at a time or a family. We also provide community outreach.
The women hear about us through word of mouth or at Church. Other referrals come from hospitals; community services, rehabilitation units or shelters. They see if we have got rooms or can provide practical help.
First, we have to make sure that the women are detoxed. So we send them to places like “Bridge House,” “Next step” or “Palmerston” for alcohol and/or drug rehabilitation. Some even go to a private hospital with their psychiatrist and get detoxed there.
Then we assess them. We ask, “What are your immediate needs?” Some need clothes; others are in Homes West units (now government housing comes under the Ministry of Housing and Works) and have accommodation problems.
They may be in trouble, in debt or trying to get out of prostitution. There are other issues like mental illnesses.
They are such broken people and our aim is to get them on the right track with the right support team.
I was always a believer but I definitely strayed from the flock.
Now my faith means everything to me. There is a reason that I am here. It is a comfort to have faith. It helps me cope.
In the Gospel of Luke there is a passage that I often quote and draw strength from.
A woman displays her remorse for her sins by crying on Christ’s feet, wiping them with her hair, kissing them and pouring perfume on them. Christ tells the stunned Pharisee present “Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven – for she loved much” [Luke 7:47].
To make donations to Linda’s House of Hope contact Linda Watson on 0439 401 009 or 9358 1719. All donations over $2 are tax deductible. Cheques can be sent to: Linda’s House of Hope PO BOX Z5640 St Georges Tce, Perth WA 6831.