JANUARY 11, 2007

Dear Friends,

What you do not understand, treat with reverence and be patient, and what you do understand, cherish and keep.
Augustine of Hippo

Spread my wings into the breeze… that’s what I want to do on this cold and blustery morning as I stand by my perennial prayer curb on the hillside over-looking the fishing village of Gig Harbor.

Instead, I follow my habit of sitting down after my morning run-walk-crawl to pray for needs and to give thanks for the ministry of REACH. I gaze down the street and notice the phone lines high on poles and imagine the voices, the languages, the accents, the tones squeezed into signals that fly between people, between machines. I see my constant friends, the cocky crows, sitting at various angles on wires. I pray they won’t touch one another, fearing that what I've heard is true – that they are only in danger of electrocution if they have contact.

Well, think I, isn’t it true? Contact, meaningful contact, can be dangerous to those of us (most Americans) who build "personal space" and value "individualism." We at REACH have learned the electrifying effect of touch. Only, ours is purely positive. We touch the lives of children who are infected with HIV/AIDS. We touch the lives of families that suffer the effect of their child’s suffering. We as a staff touch one another with great love and support and willingness to share the ups and downs of ministry, of spiritual struggles, spiritual triumphs, of personal needs and joys.

Ah yes, those crows continue to teach me. During all seasons, winter, spring, summer and my favorite time of year, fall, as I adventure out they join me, follow me, and try constantly to communicate with me. I do not fully understand but I treat their presence with reverence; I cherish the crow that God has created. I love their chatter, I love their bossy begging. But, more, I love their reminder to me that touch – whether by conversation, contribution, consoling, celebrating – touch is the gift God has handed us. Our desire at REACH is to remain faithful to that privilege and call.

Blessings on your head,
Suzie
Susan K. Slonaker

With your help we are making a difference here on earth. $125 a month will support a child throughout the year with mentoring, case management, activities and our annual camp and a one time gift of $750 will send a child to camp

HOME > SUZIE'S LETTERS > JAN. 2007 **JavaScript based drop down DHTML menu generated by NavStudio. (OpenCube Inc. - http://www.opencube.com) NEWS 07/26/10 The REACH July Newsletter is up. 07/07/10 Check out the July Volunteer of the Month! 03/02/10 New Volunteer Opportunities 02/21/09** New photos from REACH Camp 2008	JANUARY 2007 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 > December 2008 > January 2009 > February 2009 March 2009 > April 2009 > May 2009 > June 2009 > July 2009 > August 2009 September 2009 > October 2009 > November 2009 > December 2009 > January 2010 February 2010 > March 2010 > April 2010 > May 2010 > June 2010 > July 2010 JANUARY 11, 2007 Dear Friends, What you do not understand, treat with reverence and be patient, and what you do understand, cherish and keep. Augustine of Hippo Spread my wings into the breeze… that’s what I want to do on this cold and blustery morning as I stand by my perennial prayer curb on the hillside over-looking the fishing village of Gig Harbor. Instead, I follow my habit of sitting down after my morning run-walk-crawl to pray for needs and to give thanks for the ministry of REACH. I gaze down the street and notice the phone lines high on poles and imagine the voices, the languages, the accents, the tones squeezed into signals that fly between people, between machines. I see my constant friends, the cocky crows, sitting at various angles on wires. I pray they won’t touch one another, fearing that what I've heard is true – that they are only in danger of electrocution if they have contact. Well, think I, isn’t it true? Contact, meaningful contact, can be dangerous to those of us (most Americans) who build "personal space" and value "individualism." We at REACH have learned the electrifying effect of touch. Only, ours is purely positive. We touch the lives of children who are infected with HIV/AIDS. We touch the lives of families that suffer the effect of their child’s suffering. We as a staff touch one another with great love and support and willingness to share the ups and downs of ministry, of spiritual struggles, spiritual triumphs, of personal needs and joys. Ah yes, those crows continue to teach me. During all seasons, winter, spring, summer and my favorite time of year, fall, as I adventure out they join me, follow me, and try constantly to communicate with me. I do not fully understand but I treat their presence with reverence; I cherish the crow that God has created. I love their chatter, I love their bossy begging. But, more, I love their reminder to me that touch – whether by conversation, contribution, consoling, celebrating – touch is the gift God has handed us. Our desire at REACH is to remain faithful to that privilege and call. Blessings on your head, Susan K. Slonaker With your help we are making a difference here on earth. $125 a month will support a child throughout the year with mentoring, case management, activities and our annual camp and a one time gift of $750 will send a child to camp
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