Jennifer sits comfortably in Open Door Mission’s family lounge, surrounded by giggling girls. Her son Jonathan, 12, is at a World Series College Baseball game tonight with the men on the New Life Recovery programs . Natashia, 10, Elizabeth, 8, and Adrianna, 3, tussle together until Jennifer calls them to order.

The family came to the Mission, June 2002, after Jennifer became concerned that her kids were being exposed to drugs while staying with a relative. “It was eating at me,” she says. “I didn’t want to put my kids through any more hardship. I knew we needed a change.”
Grateful for safe housing, food and fellowship with staff and other clients, the family agrees that living in the shelter has its ups and downs.

Jennifer: Natashia needs her privacy. She’s on a roller coaster right now.
Natashia: My biggest wish is for my own room in a nice house. But I like playing with my friends.
Elizabeth: I like it at Bright Spaces (a play and educational area in the shelter)
Adrianna: We paint and dress up and play serving food!

Jennifer most appreciates the support she receives as a Christian mother. Lessons learned during Life Skills classes, Bible study and devotions can be applied right away! ‘I’m becoming a better mom. I don’t yell or talk at the kids now. I talk to them.’ Each night, the family spends time in prayer and Bible study. Jennifer is thankful for the maturity developing in her children.

Natashia: We get nice cloths here. We are learning to be good stewards because it’s God’s stuff so we need to take care of it. Needs come first, wants come last.
Elizabeth: I pray for homeless people. I want everyone to be in a house.
Natashia: Elizabeth cares a lot about homeless people because we went through that.
Elizabeth: It wasn’t good.

Jennifer and the children have attended Victory Fellowship during their stay at ODM. Church members volunteer regularly at the Mission and will be a network of support for the family when they move into permanent housing. “They’ve been very supportive, Jennifer notes. They have good kids’ church!” Natashia says.

Because we could reach out to Jennifer and her children, they can look forward to the future without fear and with hope. And as Jonathan, Natashia, Elizabeth and Adrianna continue to grow in Christ, they too can reach the world!

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