Open Door News
June 11, 2009
Pray for the team of eight who are playing with the children with special needs at the Mephibosheth House and holding the abandoned babies at Mother Teresa in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The Mephibosheth House was founded by Project Mercy back in 2006 when Open Door purchased land and built a fully-equipped special needs home for 18 children who are mentally and physically challenged. The residents participate in an educational program as well as receiving sensory therapy through the use of pets, plants and music. The team left early on June 10 and will be returning on June 19. There will also be another team traveling to Haiti September 7-18.
June 10, 2009
Open Door recently finalized and signed a contract with Beacon Academy. Beacon Academy is a charter school, which is an independent public school that is an alternative to tradition public schools, for students Kindergarten through 8th grade. As mentioned in the April/May issue of the Kingdom Now, Beacon Academy approached Open Door last fall as their top choice of options for places to move their 400 students and 30 staff members. Open Door is very excited about this opportunity to be better stewards of the lower portion of our building. Besides classrooms, Open Door has designated a large space for their offices. The Management Team believes that this will be a great opportunity for Open Door to continue functioning strongly during these tough financial times. Beacon will begin moving their offices into Open Door on June 12, followed by their staff during the month of August.
December 30, 2008
Raheem Ariola
On Saturday evening, December 27, Raheem Ariola passed away after a struggle with double pneumonia. The 13-year-old boy was one of three children with brittle bone disease that Open Door has sponsored in Hopkins, Belize. A few days before he died, Raheem told his mom, "I want to live, but not in this body anymore." After 13 years of lying on a table, going for walks in a stroller, suffering over 300 bone breaks, and only dreaming of running, climbing and swimming, he has joined his younger sister, Cindy, in heaven and is enjoying
a brand new, whole body. Raheem was sweet and loving, wise beyond his years, and had a vibrant relationship with Jesus. He loved to read, work on his computer, listen to music, and tease his family and friends. Please be in prayer for his family, Neil, Vickie, Destiny, Josiah and Sara, during this time.
