NOVEMBER 22, 2005
Dear Friends,
The phrase, "for you a thousand times over", echoes throughout the pages of the book, Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini. Today, the phrase scours my thoughts, it permeates my prayers.
Over two thousand years ago, Jesus fed thousands of people from five little loaves of bread and a bit of fish. Once they were fed to the full Jesus said to his grumbling disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain that nothing is lost."
For you a thousand times over. I think of the level of love a servant in Kite Runner had towards his master. I think of the level of compassion Jesus actually felt toward a hungry mob and I think of how important it was to waste nothing, not even the fragments of life.
Sometimes the staff of REACH and volunteers who serve feel just as those early disciples felt. We think, "How on earth can we make a difference and meet the needs of this huge crowd? Look, we've got a little bread, a bite or two of fish and you've collected all these people who are hungry for love, for community, for dignity, and for a sense that someone cares."
REACH started with frighteningly little, wasted nothing, and stands back amazed by what God has done and is doing, for you a thousand times over. Because of your contributions, because of your urging others to contribute, you have allowed REACH to provide thousand upon thousands of hours of direct contact through mentoring, camp, prison, high school, and one to one relationships making an incomparable impact on our communities.
Thomas, a father of an AIDS positive adolescent daughter, deals with the painful struggle of the disease, its discomfort and incurableness. He states, "What REACH is doing is standing in the gap, they're filling our needs. and they approach it as I think Christ would, offering guidance and hope." For you a thousand times over.
This love and commitment keeps us gathering the fragments, hoping this week, this month, this year and the upcoming year, we will continue to have plenty to offer. Let us nurture, love and guard that privilege and say to one another for you REACH... a thousand times over.
Blessings my friends,
Susan K. Slonaker