Aslan Newsletter of October 5, 1999

Dear friends:

Encouragement. It is something we all need but never get enough of. Matt is one of our Aslan kids that needs a lot of encouragement. He is severely overweight and he is the brunt of a lot of teasing by the other kids. Matt is being raised by a single-parent mother with two other children. She kept him as a foster child for quite a long time, but he kept asking her again and again why his last name had to be different. Eventually, Matt’s mom decided it was best to adopt him as her son.

I was surprised when Lynn Ann told me that Matt was coming on our Long Branch Shore Challenge bicycle rides. Because he is overweight, we all wondered if he could even begin to keep up with the other riders. On the second training ride, Matt was wearing baggy pants that kept getting caught in his bike chain. We had only ridden a couple of blocks when I looked back to see him climbing into the Aslan van that trails our riders. I rode back to see what was happening and found Matt discouraged and giving up. After convincing him that quitting was not an option, we tied his pants leg above his knee and got him back onto the bike. During one of the breaks, I told Matt to keep thinking about the trophy he will get and the party we will have after the final 30-mile ride. The remainder of the 14 miles that day was no picnic for Matt. With two of our Aslan staff continually encouraging Matt (even gently pushing him along at times), he was able to finish the ride.

I’ve thought a lot about Matt over the past few weeks and how representative he is of so many Aslan kids. I doubt if he has ever known his real parents. Even now, he has no father figure in his life. However, one woman loved him enough to adopt him as her son. Talk about encouraging! When I think of Matt, I am reminded of how very glad I am that God adopted me into his family. I know for sure that there would be no Aslan here for these children were not for God’s wonderful grace. We, at Aslan, thank you for your gifts and your prayers. Even though Matt doesn’t know you personally, I think it’s safe to say he thanks you too!

Most sincerely,

Craig

Craig Bogard