From the Desk of Jill Keenon, Operations Director:
(Paul Keenon fills in for Jill this week- ed.)
Jill is the wise one on paper, but I will give it a try this week. What has God said to me this week that is of some significance?
Well, I am significantly uplifted by the meetings Jill and I have had with some of our board member families discussing the direction God is leading Open Door. God is putting a plan in order and I (Paul) am becoming more confident in His leading. The thing I have learned from this, or should I say reminded of, is the importance of your prayers. I have asked for you to pray about this for six months and the plan is working.
Our theme verse is Jeremiah 29:11, when God spoke to Israel and I believe to us who believe in His direction in our lives. It is this, "
for I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." That is what I have renewed in my heart this week. I see God's promise not only for me but for the hundreds of people He has yet to send to Open Door for the Gospel and guidance in their family life.
Are you allowing God to renew your heart with His promise? Come on, we all need it let Him do it! You will be happier, I guarantee! :)
COLOMA PLACE
- The Dyer's are still working in our home. They are going to embark on a new endeavor with ODFT. We have determined that they, being of Indian descent, would work best with women ages 18 to approximately 25 that are from primarily India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. These will be women from the local area, mostly from DuPage County. We believe this is in keeping with our goals to bring Christ to all, especially the homeless.
- Pray for God's direction to be clear for all involved.
- We have made some adjustment in the living arrangement for the woman living with the Dyers currently. We hope it will help her feel more at home.
QUICKS BOYS HOME
- Hooray, the Quicks are really doing what they desire in our home! This is not in our regular realm of foster care or working with homeless women, but who cares? Its fun and God has directed. They now have a two-week-old infant they are fostering. What a blessing little Hanna is (pseudonym). She is so tiny and pink. I think she looks like a peach head.
- Pat is doing ok and is good with Hanna. Pray for him to act on the lessons Will and Allison are teaching him.
KEENON HOME
- Melissa is a lot of work. Enough said! Pray for us to know what boundaries to set and to give her the love she needs. She is still cutting and not eating properly. We hand feed a 22 year old woman whose main sustenance is chocolate milk and Sprite.
- Margie needs lots of encouragement about how well she is doing. She worries about money a lot. He medical bills are pilling up. She so sweet but can be so absent minded and insistent. She walks into a room talking and asking a question before you can even react to her being there.
- Pray for Barbie. She did not come back from her sisters to Will and Allison's. She went back to the mess of a home see lived in previously with her paramour of 18 years. I (Paul) helped her yesterday to get into a program in the area she wants to be in. Close to Melrose Park and Stone Park. She will probably move soon. That is, if her medicine for schizophrenia continues to help her get better. She changes her mind often.
- McKenzie and her (live-in) boyfriend, Eric, have both found jobs, after more than six months of worklessness and now have to move from their apartment with no place to go. Pray for them.
- Carmen has lined up preschool for Lily and Kane in school she is now moving towards finding a job and a place of her own. They currently live with us. (Along with most of DuPage County, I think!)
- Jill is stressed out due to the increased pressure from the end of the school projects for her nursing program, the increase in needy people in our home and families in our "Families Helping Families" program. Adding to the stress is the work of retooling ODFT into a more viable ministry to those who need Christ as, well as the temporal needs of this life; Safety and sanity. I (Paul) share this stress as well. God is training us and using us simultaneously. Praise Him.
In Christ's Service for the Community,
Paul & Jill Keenon
Open Door for Teens, Inc.
