MAY 10, 2007

Dear Friends,

"" Many of the insights of the saint stem from their experience as sinners. – Eric Hoffer, longshoreman and 'an important thinker'

The most significant people, the saints in my life, are those friends that I have chosen to share my innermost pain, whose hands gently embrace my wounds and tenderly brush away my salty tears.

They weep with me, demand nothing; are often silent without the outward desire to disrupt or judge my past failures; they guide me with a firm yet gentle hand.

When I became a follower of Jesus and was led to serve children affected by HIV/AIDS and their families, I was humbled and thankful to learn that He wept. He identified at a deep level with human vulnerability and weaknesses.

The saints of REACH are ordinary but wonderful women and men. Like me, they struggle with faith, and deal with problems of life. We are often weak and vulnerable, yet we love with perseverance. We have great hope to better the lives of the hurting children of REACH and the communities, in which they live by mentoring, participating in activities, and serving on advisory boards, volunteering at camp or participating in and offering expertise on global initiatives.

The Brothers Karamazov, by Fyodor Dostoevsky, Part 1, Book 2, Chapter 4 reads: "...love in action is a harsh and dreadful thing compared with love in dreams. Love in dreams is greedy for immediate action, rapidly performed and in the sight of all. Men will even give their lives if only the ordeal does not last long but is soon over, with all looking on and applauding as though on the stage. But active love is labour and fortitude..."

The beautiful children of REACH need people like you, saints to labor in love and persevere, to gently embrace their wounds and tenderly brush away their salty tears. We need you and I challenge you to follow your heart with funds that enable us to continue our ministry.

Blessings my friend,

Susan K. Slonaker