What we've been up to...

So! Things are moving, though slowly. We've got tentative dates for fundraising at Risen Christ and Sacred Heart. St. Mark's is on the radar, though, because it's my (Heide) home parish. The goal is still to raise enough money for the last plane ticket.

Also! We wanted to make sure that everyone knows 2 things:

1. We are keeping detailed records of where our fund are coming from and how we're spending them. This is to dispel any potential scandal, especially because of past situations with people fundraising in the Diocese of Boise. We are financially accountable to Deacon Chuck Skoro, the BSU campus minister. Both Alex and I have a good friendship with him, so he is the perfect man to help us in this important way.

2. If something happens and we can't go (always a possibility, but never the plan), we will be giving ALL of the money we've fundraised so far to the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata. So if you have donated or want to donate, but aren't sure if it's a good idea to support two random students, please be assured that your money will go to support the Missionaries of Charity, whether it's by sending us to them or by a lump sum of money.

The streets of Kolkata, taken this summer by a friend of Heide's 

That being said... I'm interested to know if there are any questions that you, dear reader, have for us. Our goal is transparency.

WOW.

Thank you, Google images

PRAISE BE TO GOD!!!!!!!! AH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(okay. got it out of my system)

Last night and this morning, we had our first try at fundraising within Boise parishes. Monsgr. Dennis Wassmuth, at Our Lady of the Rosary, allowed us to have a table in the entryway so people could donate after Mass. We set up our table, gave Monsgr. an announcement to read at the end of Mass per his request, and asked God to take it from there.

We were a little nervous, because we're really trying to raise enough money to buy the remaining plane ticket before prices skyrocket. But we offered it all to God's will, praying together before setting up the table, and relaxed, knowing it was in God's hands.

God be praised..... by the goodness and genorosity of the parishoners at OLR's small parish, we raised...

$486.00

 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is ONE THIRD toward our immediate plane ticket goal!!

So thank you, all who helped out. It was a huge blessing to come and chat with so many people - we were SO encouraged and humbled by the open hearts and wallets of our brothers and sisters in Christ. 

Please continue praying for us... we're praying for you.

(AMDG) 

Revvvvvvvvving up!

The plan of action: Start visiting parishes with our mission trip, asking for spiritual and financial support. We're trying to get enough money to buy the remaining plane ticket before the end of February... God willing, of course. 

Please pray for us. 

ALSO! We're going to start filming our adventures in preparation, because, as most of you probably don't know, we're making a novice documentary from our experiences. It's all about the video blogging, yo. 

So keep checking back, spread the word, and help to be Christ's hands and feet in the world by supporting us. 

Last summer at a housing fix-up

We Pray for our Children - a poem adapted from Ina J. Hughs

We pray for our children, 

Who sneak popsicles before supper, 

Who erase holes in math workbooks, 

Who can never find their shoes. 

And we pray for those who stare at photographers from behind barbed wire, 

Who can't bound down the street in a new pair of sneakers, 

Who were born in places we wouldn't be caught dead, 

Who never go to the circus, 

Who live in an x-rated world. 

We pray for children who bring us sticky kisses and fistfuls of Dandelions, 

Who hug us in a hurry and forget their lunch money. 

We pray for those who never get dessert, 

Who have no safe blanket to drag behind them, 

Who watch their parents watch them die, 

Who can't find any bread to steal, 

Who don't have any rooms to mess up or to clean up, 

Whose pictures aren't on anybody's dresser, 

Whose monsters are real. 

We pray for children who spend all their allowance before Tuesday, 

Who throw tantrums in the grocery store and pick at their food, 

Who like ghost stories, 

Who shove dirty clothes under the bed and never rinse out the tub, 

Who get visits from the tooth fairy, 

Who don't like to be kissed in front of the carpool, 

Who squirm in church and scream in the phone, 

Whose tears we sometimes laugh at and whose smiles can make us cry. 

And we pray for those whose nightmares come in the daytime, 

Who will eat anything, 

Who have never seen a dentist, 

Who aren't spoiled by anybody, 

 who go to bed hungry and cry themselves to sleep, 

Who live and move, but have no being. 

We pray for children who want to be carried, 

And for those who will never walk, or see, or hear, or learn, 

And for those we will never give up on 

And for those who don't get a second chance. 

For these are our children. 

We pray for them. We pledge our commitment to care for them. 

We gladly accept responsibility for them. 

We will make our world a safe home for them. 

We will love them. 

Amen.