A Life Renewed

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Maureen grew up an only child in Omaha. Her father was an immigrant from Germany, whom later became a citizen and married her “sweet and wonderful” mother. She remembers a wonderful childhood and was very close to her family.

Maureen started drinking when she was sixteen, going to parties on weekends with her friends. Even though she was not aware of it, this is when alcohol started to take a hold of her life. She doesn’t remember any traumatic experience that “pushed her over the edge” to drink. She became an alcoholic and as she grew older, the addiction got worse.

At one point, Maureen went to a treatment center to get help. After completing the program, she thought her drinking was finally under control and brought her children back to Omaha for a visit. Unfortunately, there was an opportunity to drink and Maureen took it. As a result, she ended up in ICU with medical complications. Maureen suffered many losses because of her drinking. She not only lost her nurse’s license, job and home, but also her two children were placed in foster care.

Maureen was now homeless. Her previous treatment center had told her about Open Door Mission. As a result, she never went hungry or had to stay out in the cold. The Mission provided her with hot, nutritious meals and safe, warm shelter.

Maureen’s first impressions of the Mission were all positive—clean facilities, Bible scriptures on the walls and supportive staff. She joined the New Life Recovery Program. “I loved how they study the Bible which is a rich treasure and that alone has been a huge blessing.” She appreciated that the program is both Biblical and behavioral based with expectations and goals to be met through every level. “It is structural, not suffocating.”

Full of Hope

When asked about her future plans after her upcoming graduation, Maureen was full of hope. She desires to regain guardianship of her two teenage children, obtain permanent housing and find a job doing secretarial work. Maureen also hopes to have her nurse’s license reinstated later this year.

Because of the positive impact Open Door Mission has had on her, Maureen hopes to come back and volunteer. “There will never be a time when Open Door Mission will not be a part of my life in terms of giving back.” Maureen has seen the Mission as a positive and nurturing place that does God’s work and helps restore lives.

Submitted by Shelly Martin
Open Door Mission Volunteer

“I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.”
~ Philippians 4:13