A drive down a quaint road in the rolling hills of Windsor brings you to a community you might not expect. Walk through the doors of the Transfiguration Monastery and you’ll find two Benedictine nuns who have lived there for more than 40 years.

The Sisters follow the rule of the Benedictine order, which was founded in 529 AD. While not much has changed over the centuries, the nuns have adapted.

What started off as a trailer on an open field has evolved to a multi-unit property, with everything from a gift shop to multiple guest houses and a chapel.

“We had a friend who thought it would be nice to have some sort of a stained glass right here, but we think the view is beautiful and it changes all the time with the season,” said Sister Sheila Long, a Benedictine nun.

Along with their dog, Ruby, Sister Shiela and Sister Donald dedicate their lives to giving back.

They operate a community of guest houses where anyone, of any faith or background is welcome to come for a retreat from the every day. During the pandemic, the sisters welcomed plenty of new visitors looking for that escape.

“We had a lot of people who had never been here before but just wanted to get away, and I guess it was kind of claustrophobic for a lot of people who weren’t used to being home all the time in their houses,” said Long.

Each building on their property holds a special meaning, and each visitor leaves behind a story, including one man who left a changed person.

“When he left, he left me a beautiful note saying 'Thank you for all you’ve given me and I’ve left a few things behind. I want to leave behind my addiction to alcohol and cigarettes, and I’ve left a pack of cigarettes. Please bury them next to the pond,' ” said Long.

It’s why the sisters do what they do each day.

“We invite God into the space, and it’s God's work that happens here,” said Long.

The nuns also run a gift shop with homemade items and everything from statues to rosaries.