JUNE 08, 2008

Dear Friends,

With the help of the thorn in my foot,
I spring higher than anyone with sound feet.
~Soren Kierkegaard

Travis is a dark-haired teenage Super Star – tall, lanky, sporting a broad smile contrasted by sad eyes that ever search the face of another for the promise and safety and love. Travis lives with AIDS, secretly. At REACH, freed to be a Super Star, he gyrates on the dance floor, sings at the talent show and to the surprise of all - he sings on-key and with freedom - he is on the move.

When I think about Travis, I remember an email from my friend Barbara Pine who knows how thoroughly I love opera. Attached was a video of Paul Potts, a telephone salesman who without polish or personal beauty, brought down the house during his elegant performance of an extremely difficult operatic aria "Nessun Dorma." From Puccini’s "Turandot." His "Britain's Got Talent" audience resounded with raucous delight.

Paul Potts and Travis each demonstrate a willingness to share with us the melodies that move them beyond self-consciousness and in return, create genuine appreciation in those of us who are privileged to observe. Daily, REACH celebrates what others bring to us. We stand with those who suffer, those whose outward appearance may fail to hint at the dance, the melody, or the beauty in their hearts.

I am willing to lay down my life for Travis. I love him. My Super Star suffers the loneliness common to terminally ill kids living with HIV/AIDS. He lives his life, as Kierkegaard says, "with a thorn in his foot." He is clumsy in social circles outside his REACH community due to his disease-generated physical and mental disabilities. Like the majority of our children, he knows daily pain. Still, loved and cheered on by his REACH family, he "springs higher than anyone with sound feet." I'm still applauding.

God is on the move through REACH and because He is, I boldly ask you to support us with an extra gift during these summer months to help send a child to Camp - to say to a child in need: "do not be afraid for I am with you, living it with you - you are not alone."

Love one another,
Suzie
Susan K. Slonaker

P.S. Your financial gifts of $25, $50, or $100 as well as a donation of flight miles will help bring families to Camp. Please designate REACH when you give through the United Way or with matching gifts at your workplace.

HOME > SUZIE'S LETTERS > JUNE 2008 **JavaScript based drop down DHTML menu generated by NavStudio. (OpenCube Inc. - http://www.opencube.com) NEWS 11/19/08 Suzie's November Newslettter is up. 01/20/08 New Volunteer Opportunities 11/01/07 New photos from REACH Camp 2007 10/18/07** Check out the new Rep. Schedule	JUNE 2008 December 2006 > January 2007 > February 2007 > March 2007 > April 2007 May 2007 > June 2007 > July 2007 > August 2007 > September 2007 > October 2007 November 2007 > December 2007 > January 2008 > February 2008 > March 2008 April 2008 > May 2008 > June 2008 > July 2008 > August 2008 > September 2008 October 2008 > November 2008 JUNE 08, 2008 Dear Friends, With the help of the thorn in my foot, I spring higher than anyone with sound feet. ~Soren Kierkegaard Travis is a dark-haired teenage Super Star – tall, lanky, sporting a broad smile contrasted by sad eyes that ever search the face of another for the promise and safety and love. Travis lives with AIDS, secretly. At REACH, freed to be a Super Star, he gyrates on the dance floor, sings at the talent show and to the surprise of all - he sings on-key and with freedom - he is on the move. When I think about Travis, I remember an email from my friend Barbara Pine who knows how thoroughly I love opera. Attached was a video of Paul Potts, a telephone salesman who without polish or personal beauty, brought down the house during his elegant performance of an extremely difficult operatic aria "Nessun Dorma." From Puccini’s "Turandot." His "Britain's Got Talent" audience resounded with raucous delight. Paul Potts and Travis each demonstrate a willingness to share with us the melodies that move them beyond self-consciousness and in return, create genuine appreciation in those of us who are privileged to observe. Daily, REACH celebrates what others bring to us. We stand with those who suffer, those whose outward appearance may fail to hint at the dance, the melody, or the beauty in their hearts. I am willing to lay down my life for Travis. I love him. My Super Star suffers the loneliness common to terminally ill kids living with HIV/AIDS. He lives his life, as Kierkegaard says, "with a thorn in his foot." He is clumsy in social circles outside his REACH community due to his disease-generated physical and mental disabilities. Like the majority of our children, he knows daily pain. Still, loved and cheered on by his REACH family, he "springs higher than anyone with sound feet." I'm still applauding. God is on the move through REACH and because He is, I boldly ask you to support us with an extra gift during these summer months to help send a child to Camp - to say to a child in need: "do not be afraid for I am with you, living it with you - you are not alone." Love one another, Susan K. Slonaker P.S. Your financial gifts of $25, $50, or $100 as well as a donation of flight miles will help bring families to Camp. Please designate REACH when you give through the United Way or with matching gifts at your workplace.
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