New Adventure

So I really just want to give a quick update as to what's been going on.  I'm about to embark on a new adventure, one that has been a desire of mine for sometime.  No, I'm not going skydiving (but I hope to someday).  Yes, I do plan to get a tattoo sometime in the near future, but that's not it either.  Starting Monday, a new center for homeless women and children is opening here in Grand Haven and I've been given the opportunity to work there.  I was originally offered a part time position but the hours didn't work for our family so I'll be volunteering as a mentor as well as acting as a fill-in person for the staff when they take vacations or need time off for other reasons.  I took a tour of the center yesterday after staff meeting and it is unbelievably gorgeous.  There are 6 rooms currently with the hope to add up to 33 more in the coming years.  They have already approved 5 women to begin the program there and I would imagine the 6th room will be filled soon.  Each room has its own private bathroom and there is also a communal kitchen, dining room, and living room area in the house.  This is unlike most homeless shelters in that the women who come here will be set up with an individualized program to fit their current needs.  They will be given money management training, parenting classes, communication classes, as well as a host of other "elective" classes, like health and wellness, nutrition, how to utilize the community resources available, bible study classes (if they desire), and many others.  If a woman needs to earn her high school diploma, we will help her do that.  If she needs counseling for emotional or spiritual issues, we'll make sure it happens.  It's a complete life skills program and looks like it will be really cool.


I've been given the very first resident to mentor, which is humbling for me.  We have some similarities based on my background so it seems like a good fit.  I'm not sure that I feel qualified to take on such a task, but the  call was never "only if you feel qualified".  I suppose my life experience qualifies me to some extent, but we'll see.

Anyway, just thought I'd give you the scoop.  I'm really excited to see God move through this ministry center.  I know there will be issues that arise and we'll have bumps along the way, but at the end of the day it will be good. 

So if you think about it, pray for the opening of the center on Monday.  And send one out for me as well.  I need all the help I can get!