From the Desk of Jill Keenon, Operations Director:

1. We are asking for you to be specific in your prayers for selling the Coloma Place home. Because of the housing market right now the realtor said to drop the price about 10%. That would be another $30,000. ODFT has put over $20,000 in remodeling into the home and dropped the price some already. We need to know what to do. Paul is still sad about selling it because he would like to be doing the ministry there. We want to have wisdom from God on what to do. Please talk to everyone you know about this home it is a wonderful solid home even the tradesmen who worked in it over the years have all said so. It has many new components. It is on the market now for $389,000. Six months ago it would have sold easily for $450,000. It will not help ODFT's bottom line to sell the house too low. The house mortgage payment is not the problem; it is that we need the cash investment to run other parts of our ministry.
   
2. All the parties in the boy's home are being affected by the new boy, John. He tends to lie a lot and before he came there was a good start to cohesiveness in the family. It is always a strain when someone new comes in. The pecking order and family dynamics change drastically. But, this child needs to be shown the love of Jesus just as much as anyone. All we are saying is that not only Allison and Will need wisdom, patience and compassion for him but so do Bob and Pat. Pray for John.
   
3. Melissa has seen some important things this week after her parents left. We actually had a good counseling session where there was something of substance talked about. On Thursday Paul is taking her to see an epilepsy specialist at the University of Chicago. The results of this meeting may lead to brain surgery. Pray they can help her. She is having a seizure right now and still has them once or twice a week. The ECT is helping her depression and mood but it is not something she can do forever. She is eating better (very small amounts and still try's to expel what she eats if we don't watch what she does after we have meals) but still not enough. She seems to want to get better more than ever before. Pray for this doctor to get the whole picture and have some way to help her. Pray on Tuesday for counseling to be fruitful.
   
4. As I write these I am having trouble not being weepy. I think I feel scared about going back to school. For some reason I am feeling stupid today. I know it is an attack from satan but the tears still come. I will be fine but I would appreciate the prayers.

In Christ's Service for the Community,

Paul & Jill Keenon
Open Door for Teens, Inc.

posted by J  # 4:11 PM