We had our first outreach group on the mountain Friday, Campus Life from Hermiston. Most of these kids have a significant challenge in their lives. For instance, the two boys on the right end of the picture are twins in foster care.
These boys never dreamed of learning how to snowboard and of course, did not have the clothing for the sport. They were kind of shy, but when I put the matching racing jackets you gave us on them they started to perk up and smile a little.
I saw the look on their faces and told them they could keep the jackets. Now they are really snapping out of it. When they hit the bunny slope with instructors they were naturals, they didn’t even want to come on for lunch. The leaders did get them in for lunch but they were the first back out there and the last to come in. They were two completely different boys as they got ready to leave. I got a call from the leader yesterday, “the twins forgot the coats they wore up.” I found them “do you want me to send them down?” “no, they want to wear the racing jackets, we will pick up the others when we come back next month.”
That was a day they will never forget and those jackets were the catalyst. You know and I know that you never know!!! But Friday, two jackets could have changed the lives of two boys. They gained confidence, overcame fears, fell down got up and didn’t give up. They are scheduled to be up three more times, I’ll keep you updated. Thanks Fred.