Youth participate in 30-hour fast
On Sept 30th, we had 35 people gather at the hall in Keuterville to begin the 30th hour Fast as a group.  These High School youth began fasting at 5:00 a.m. prior to their joining the larger group.  The day began with collecting and filling water bottles with juice, prayer, learning about the expectations for the day, and greeting new and old friends. 
Our first activity for the day was to drive to Greencreek to help a fellow parishioner load a large moving van. This work entailed hauling furniture, couches, boxes, books, totes, dressers, and more totes.  The group worked hard, as the last item was put in, everyone smiled, our3-hour project was complete and we did it without food.   We had accomplished something big and were all ready to see what the rest of the day held.  When we got back to Keuterville, we selected tribal leaders through different challenges and then divided into 4 different tribes, Bolivia, Afghanistan, Kenya, and Zambia.  Our first competition involved making cardboard houses out of windshield boxes, duct tape and string.  We were given an hour to complete our task. The houses were judged by our adult leaders and our first score of the competition was on the board.  Next, we designed our 30-hour fast shirts and made begging signs for our trip to the Ferdinand Mass.  We all headed over to Ferdinand with great enthusiasm as each team strategized as to how they were going to collect the most money when the people existed the Church door.  The competition was on!  We even had a dog with a sign asking for money!  It was great!  When all was said and done, the groups headed back to Keuterville to count their earnings.  The tribe with the most cash collected earned another set of points for their tribe.  All in all they groups collected around $500.00 .
The evening brought with it our craft project.  We painted mason jars with calk paint and put flowers in them to sell after Mass the next day at St. Mary’s.  This project was a huge hit as paint colors were chosen and flowers placed.  After the jar extravaganza we moved into dressing up our tribal chiefs.  This activity involves the chiefs choosing items from a large basket to help them and their tribe to look authentic and real. The items include; large pieces of material, bracelets, earrings, belts, feathers, face paint, sandals and more. Again, each team is given 1 hour to dress their chief and present him or her to the group and explain why they should be chosen as the best chief.  This is by far one of my favorite events of the night.  The heat is on as each tribe comes forward to convince the judges of the greatness of their chief.  The winner is awarded points for their tribe as the competition draws to a close. It is getting late, everyone is getting tired and they all settle down on the floor to hear a bedtime story about a little boy who wants a pair of shoes like everyone else. Everyone then grabs their sleeping bags and heads out to their cardboard houses to sleep.  The night was interrupted with rain and snow on the hill above us which brought some kids in around 4:30 a.m. but the brave survived the cold and damp night until 7:00 a.m. 
Everyone was tired the next morning as houses were torn down and cardboard readied for recycling.  As the Fast closed, the youth were asked to bless and commission each other.  They then received a bracelet as a reminder of their commitment and sacrifice.  As they walked out the door, they gathered their jars and headed to Mass. At Offertory they brought their jars up to line the altar as a symbol of their standing in solidarity with their brothers and sisters throughout the world.  As the last song was sung, they all proceeded to the back of Church where a beautiful breakfast was held in their honor.  They were all so appreciative of their food and learned how fortunate they truly are.  The rest of the community joined in the breakfast and jars were sold and more points earned. At the end the money was totaled, and winners announced.  The total amount collected was around $ 3,000 to be split between Catholic Relief Services and World Vision.  It was an amazing weekend with a great opportunity to give from the heart.  Thank you so much to all who supported us. Because of you we are able to change the world!  God bless you! (A special thanks to our college age leaders who helped so much; Nicole Poxleitner, Jackie Uhling, Austin Sonnen, and Kyle Tillinghast).

Pictured are the local youths participating in the 30-hour fast. Front Row (L-R) Lee Anne Lightfield, Alexis Hiler, Bentlee Skinner, Mattie Lustig, Addison Skinner, Tyler Wemhoff, Wes Munger, Sierra Chapman. 2nd Row (L-R) Hope Schwartz, Everett Skinner, Noelle Uhlenkott, Ellea Poxleitner, Jessica Uhling, Kate Lustig, Emma Gehring, Sabrina Lustig, Eve Uhlenkott, Logan Wimer, Debbie Chicane, Halle Klapprich. 3rd Row (L-R) Tara Klapprich, Madison Shears, Sierra McWilliams, Saddie Kopczynski. 4th Row (L-R) Heather Lightfield, Derik Shears, Laina Sonnen, Hayden Uhlenkott, Damian Forsmann, Austin Sonnen, Kyle Tillinghast, David Wassmuth, Guihereme Acciardi, Tony Goeckner, Jim Chmelik. Not pictured: Nicole, Jackie Uhling. Photo provided by Debbie Chicane.

Cottonwood, Idaho 83522
 

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