Carlos** is 12 years old and a handful!  The population of the Red Bank Middle School is predominantly African-American, so Carlos (who is Puerto Rican) is a minority within a minority.  With 3 younger brothers, a baby sister and no father in his home, Carlos feels lonely and isolated.  His mother's many hours away from home in nurse's training have created even more chaos in an already chaotic situation.

Several days ago the school social worker called Aslan to enlist our help with Carlos.  He is causing such grief throughout the school, that the administration and teachers are ready to pull their hair out!  Carlos spends most of every school day in the child study team office.  He sometimes sneaks out of school, and no one knows where he is until hours later.  On more than one occasion, he has even thrown rocks at the second story window of his classroom.

If you were to meet this child when he is with Aslan, however, you would be amazed.  He is likeable, intelligent and normally well-behaved.  In early April he and 17 other children began training for our annual Cheesequake Challenge bicycle ride.  Five weeks of difficult training rides culminating in a two-day, sixty mile, round-trip ride can test anyone's patience and endurance.  We have watched in absolutely amazement, as Carlos has become one of our most accomplished riders.  There was one incident on the return trip of the Cheesequake Challenge, when Carlos said something innappropriate to a girl and she hit him hard in the face.  However, Lynn Ann quickly got his nose to stop bleeding profusely and convinced him to put down the large rock he was holding. The ride progressed from there without incident, and Carlos apologized about the rock.

There is so much potential in this hurting, impressionable boy.  However, we have only taken the beginning steps toward helping him deal with his anger and frustration.  He desperately needs professional counseling and in-depth mentoring.  I have been taking Carlos to school the past several mornings, and we are spending many long hours talking with him and encouraging him.  With a steady dose of God's love (and lots of work on respect and self-discipline) we truly believe Carlos will one day make it.

Five years from now I hope to be writing to tell you Carlos is heading off for college - another example of Christ's love at work through Aslan Youth Ministries.  Meanwhile, thanks for your prayers and gifts that insure we can keep touching the lives of so many children.  I will keep you posted on Carlos!
 

Most sincerely,

 Craig

Craig Bogard

** Note:  I have changed Carlos' name to protect his privacy.