Aslan Newsletter of November 5, 1999

Dear friends:

There is a wonderful resiliency within our Aslan children. Although life knocks them down again and again, they keep standing up – hoping and believing for a better day. So much of what we do with each of our classes and activities is instill in each child the hope that, "You can! Keep trying . . . keep working . . . keep striving . . . keep pushing yourself beyond your present situation."

Two weekends ago, we took a select group of Aslan kids, staff and volunteers to the Pocono Mountains for our "Rolling Thunder Bicycle Tour." Believe me, they don’t call them "mountains" without good reason. After miles and miles of ups and downs, we were all exhausted! However, there was a feeling in each of us of tremendous accomplishment. Dyjuan, Joshua, Alexus and Tyshawn each realized that they had done something few of their peers would even attempt. There was a good deal of complaining along the way and it took a lot of coaxing and encouraging to climb some of those mile-long hills. However, tired and aching muscles aside, we rode 30 miles and pushed ourselves to the limit.

Perhaps the single most important accomplishment was on Dyjuan’s part. His life is so dysfunctional that he has been removed from his school and placed in a special school for troubled teens. I doubt if his teachers would believe it possible for Dyjuan to have the discipline necessary for such a ride! But he did it! On the surface, a bicycle ride through the mountains may not seem like much. However, this one accomplishment in Dyuan’s life may be the springboard for his one day living a successful life. We at Aslan thank you for your prayers and for your gifts that help make this work possible. Inch by inch . . . step by step . . . children are finding hope and lives are being transformed!

Most sincerely,

Craig

Craig Bogard