Dear Friends,

      How many of us have walked into a home and immediately felt welcomed? It’s a great feeling! One can sense the warmth, serenity and love even before the host or hostess says a word. Hundreds of people have walked through our doors and the feeling of warmth and love are instantaneous. You see, God is very much alive in both our houses.  Last week, a gentleman brought a female friend to the house who was in need of a place to stay. He blurted out: “This place has love in it and it’s so immaculate.” One of our K College volunteers says she gains inspiration every time she comes to the house. Another K College student wrote in her sociology paper that before she came here, she “imagined herself sitting in a rather sterile hall, kind of like my church basement with lonely fluorescent lighting and no carpet, talking to someone who looked a bit ragged and who responded very little, while looking at the floor.” She went on to say that the Next Door fostered feelings of comfort and pride that she was surprised to find. We may run short on household supplies and occasionally run out of milk,  but we have enough love to fill many more houses. We currently have a guest who writes “God loves you and so do I” on the bulletin board every other morning.

       I may have faith-testing days, but my heart is filled with love as I see the guests go through their trials and tribulations with grace and then at the end of the evening thank God for helping them make it just “one more day.” It brings to mind a quote from Mother Theresa: “What we need is to love without getting tired. How does a lamp burn? Through the continuous drops of oil. What are these drops of oil in our lamps? They are the small things of daily life: faithfulness, small words of kindness, a thought for others, our way of being silent, of looking, of speaking, and of acting. Do not look for Jesus away from yourselves. He is not out there; He is in you. Keep your lamp burning, and you will recognize Him.”

       Know that our past, present and future guests are among your neighbors, in your neighborhoods, attend your church and perhaps are in your own family. When you know them, that will lead you to love them. And love will impel you to serve them. Only then will you begin to act like Jesus and live out the Gospel. Open your hearts to love them. Be living witnesses of God’s mercy. The homeless do not need our pity; they need our help. What our guests give me is far more than I could give to them. We choose poverty; they are forced to accept it. “For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.” (Jesus, Luke 22:27)

       We have many women and men who were not brought up with any form of love in their households. (One guest felt uncomfortable during her first few days here because she said there was no cussing or screaming as she was accustomed to while living with her parents. Another guest was taken aback by the words “thank-you” and “you’re welcome” because these words were never used in her house while growing up.)  Many have a hard time trusting the love they receive. Some are ungrateful and unappreciative, however we will continue to love them until they’re able to love themselves. “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things - love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:7-8)

       Valentine’s Day is a day that is supposed to be filled with love.  Last month, I saw Valentine cards everywhere, cute little stuffed animals kissing each other, and lots of heart shaped candy. However, it’s a different story when I return home and turn on the TV to watch the evening news. I’d really like to know, where is the love when the newscaster speaks of war and mass destruction? God help us, if we don’t start loving one another. Every human being comes from the hand of God, and all of us know something of God’s love for us. Whatever our religion, we know that if we sincerely want to love, we must first learn to forgive above everything else. “...and forgive us the wrong we have done as we forgive those who wrong us.” (Jesus, Matthew 6:12)  Many of our guests, especially those in recovery, have learned the gift of forgiveness. They’ve learned to “let go and let God.”

They realize they are not responsible for the world’s problems or the dysfunctional way they’ve been  raised.  However, today they know that they are responsible for how they treat others and their reactions to negativity. Our guests are learning to live life on God’s terms and that is precisely why some enter the Open Door and Next Door. Anyone can scrounge up food at a number of places, but we provide food and shelter for the soul. It’s all by attraction and not promotion. We treat our guests with dignity and respect and 99% of the time it is given back to us.

I worked in the music industry for years and over the past few months, the lyrics to “What the World Needs Now” kept popping into my head. With everything that is happening in the world today, I feel compelled to share part of it with you:

“What the world needs now is love, sweet love,

It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.

No not just for some but for everyone.

 

Lord, we don’t need another mountain,

There are mountains and hillsides enough to climb,

There are oceans and rivers enough to cross,

Enough to last till the end of time.

 

 What the world needs now is love, sweet love,

It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.

 

Lord, we don’t need another meadow,

There are cornfields & wheat fields enough to grow,

There are sunbeams & moonbeams enough to shine.

 

Oh listen, Lord, if you want to know,

What the world needs now is love, sweet love

No, not just for some, oh, but for everyone........”

God will not ask how many degrees or certificates are after your name; how many miracles you’ve performed; He will ask you if you have done your best, for the love of Him. Have you loved your neighbor?

I sincerely want to thank each and every one of you for your compassion, kindness, prayers, contributions and love for the work we do here at the Open Door and Next Door. It doesn’t matter how small and humble that work may be, we make it Christ’s love in action. In my opinion, to work without love is slavery. Amen.

 In gratitude, service and LOVE,Veronique Moore, Program Director, Next Door

 

NEXT DOOR NEEDS a tool box with tools, twin-size mattress pads, deodorant for women, footies or slippers, DVD player, 1st Aid kit, large roasting pan, large cast iron skillet with lid, stock pots, phone cards, 2 bulletin boards, floor lamp, table cloths, small desk with drawers for office, magazine rack, full-length mirror. Please call 349-2119 regarding these items.          

OPEN DOOR NEEDS a plant stand, magazine rack, coffee table, adult bicycles, bicycle head lamps.  Please call 345-1431 regarding these items.  

 

Financial Report

Received through January:  $20,078

Still needed in 2003:  $186,872

 

 

 Open Door & Next Door Shelters

PO Box 50102  Kalamazoo, MI 49005-0102

(269) 343-6064

 

Email address:  shelter@open-door-next-door.org

On the Web:  www.open-door-next-door.org

 

 

Gifts to Open Door and Next Door Shelters are tax deductible and qualify for a generous tax credit toward Michigan income taxes.  

 

Rick Stravers,
Executive Director