SEPTEMBER 9, 2004

Dear Friends,

Over 160 children and family members from the Pacific Northwest and Arizona attend Northwest REACH camp, along with 130 volunteers. Each year I am awestruck by the remarkable diversity of professionals, students, and community members drawn to serve the most isolated segment of suffering children: children living with HIV/AIDS.

The delight of finding harmony among so varied a gathering brings to mind nonsense poetry - a form of poetry uniting characters that, in reality, would be at complete odds with one another. A classic is Edward Lear's The Owl and the Pussycat, in which an owl and a pussycat in a pea-green boat, a pig with a ring in his nose, and a turkey that lives on a hill conspire in kindness that leads to joyful dancing "by the light of the moon". My satisfaction in such humorous poetry is extracted from the moments of surprise, kindness, and love that bind the protagonists.

In the Bible Luke writes in the book of Acts, chapter 3, about Jesus' disciples, Peter and John, approaching the temple for worship but being waylaid by a lame beggar. "Sorry, we have no money", says Peter, "but what we have we gladly give to you". I read this story and I see humor in the disciples' unexpected opportunity. Then I feel joy in the kindness and love that connects these unlikely fellows.

Those who serve with REACH are believers and nonbelievers, conservatives and liberals, Democrats and Republicans, retired and students, professionals and the unemployed, young and old, affluent and barely-breaking-even. But what they have, they gladly give. And in doing so they make it possible for suffering families to "hand in hand, on the edge of the sand . . . to dance by the light of the moon, the moon . . . to dance by the light of the moon."

It is an honor to speak on behalf of the children and their parents in extending our thanks to those of you who support the work of REACH now and throughout the year.

Blessings my friends,

Susan K. Slonaker

P.S.Reflecting on the summer months and the days leading into fall I ask you to continue supporting REACH as we serve the world wide community of children with HIV/AIDS and their families - remember, local is global. Please, carefully consider a monthly pledge or an endowment to sustain us through this year and others to come.