Aslan Newsletter of October 7, 1996
It seems like anyone with a problem today is a "victim" of something. Perhaps a person may feel better to see himself as a victim, but change is difficult when someone or something else is always to blame for your problems. The children Aslan touches are victimized by overwhelming negative forces, but we are careful to help each child see his worth and potential as a child of God rather than as a victim. For our Aslan kids to overcome the myriad problems facing them is an extremely difficult task. They come into this world "without." The majority are raised without fathers and without much hope of ever achieving much of anything. Things most middle-class children take for granted (adequate health and dental care, piano lessons, and participation in non-school sports and activities) are foreign concepts to our Aslan kids. Society's expectations are always low for impoverished African-American children. Despite the fact they are equally as intelligent as any other kids, many urban youth have little early learning stimulus and enter school "behind." They are often put in classes for slow learners.

Cheryl and her seven brothers and sisters began attending Aslan in 1976. At one time all the kids were showering at school because their family had no hot water heater in the dead of a bitterly cold New Jersey winter. Another time, their mother was cooking for the entire family on a single hot plate because their oven was ruined. After Cheryl graduated form high school, Aslan encouraged her to attend a Bible college in Texas. She successfully finished school there and then received an associates degree in deaf education. From there she worked in missions in Jamaica for three years before returning to New Jersey where she worked on Aslan's staff. In 1994 she married Jean Robert Lanie, a wonderful gentleman from Haiti. Cheryl and Jean Robert now have a beautiful child and are preparing for a life-work in missions in Haiti.

How easy it would have been for Cheryl and all her brothers and sisters to just give up and live out their lives as victims. The strength of character they all showed is remarkable. Rather than accepting "victimhood" as their lot in life, they fought and overcame the odds. Aslan was privileged to stand with Cheryl and to open doors and windows for her. We encouraged her not to give up, and we told her again and again that, "With God's help, Cheryl, you can!" Without a doubt, we played an important role in her success. However, we could not do it for her. She chose to throw away the "badge" of being a victim. She is the one who fought the good fight and won.

Our sincerest thanks for your continued gifts and prayers. There are so many more like Cheryl who, with God's help, will win the good fight through the ministry of Aslan!

Most sincerely,