SEPTEMBER 15, 2005

Dear Friends,

Often, in early September mornings, I look out upon the fishing village of Gig Harbor with Mount Rainier hovering over the bay in the background. The "Indian summer", cooler than its recent predecessor, comes with a hint of warmth at the end of its cool breeze. It causes me to reflect on the lyrics of this song...

Oh, it's a long, long while from May to December
And the days grow short when you reach September
When the autumn weather turns the leaves to flame
One hasn't got time for the waiting game.

Oh, the days dwindle down to a precious few.
Sep-tem-ber...No-vem-ber.
And these few precious days I'll spend with you
These precious days, I'll spend with you.

Here on earth there is no escaping time and as the September Song comes to my mind, the reality that you have helped make precious memories for 168 children and family members as they attended camp quickens my soul and the tragic truth that so many families live with the possibility of time, growing short - becomes reality. These are families that know better than to play a waiting game and their song is the desire for good health, wholeness for being wanted or cared for, not forgotten, loved and for treasuring moments.

When the warm September breeze moves against my face, I grow aware again of how God gives us such splendid moments; an Indian summer, the touch of a breeze, and those truly precious days we get to spend with our REACH children and their families.

This year we saw the addition of four new families and heard the tears of joy from a mother of seven, who for the first time this year, attended camp for children infected by HIV/AIDS.

This mother, as she treasured and savored events, knew with assurance that throughout the coming year she will receive continued support and love from the REACH family that will never again permit disgrace, coldness, unkindness or the lack of understanding to create isolation.

And today as the puffy cumulus clouds darken and appear to hover over the hills, we at REACH begin again with our work of mentoring, educating and providing periods of relief. With your support we continue our distinct privilege of loving.

I give thanks for you and to the God of grace that provides us with precious days of belonging to one another.

Blessings my friends,

Susan K. Slonaker

Reflecting on the summer months, I ask you to continue supporting REACH as we focus on serving the world wide community of children with HIV/AIDS and their families.