| Tri-Parish
Youth take part in 30-hour fast
What does water races, toilet paper rolling, cardboard house building, shirt designing, face painting, rope jumping, shirt designing, and flower arranging have to do with a fast? Well lets put it this way, to fast you must stay busy and that is what 24 youth and 6 adults did during the weekend of Oct. 12th and 13th at the Keuterville hall. We began the day with relinquishing all electronic devices and committing to only drinking juice or water for 30 hours, this in itself was a huge challenge for everyone. After this surrender we competed to see who would be our tribe leaders for the weekend. After answering several humanitarian questions and sprinting through a group of tires our leaders emerged. They were, Tyson Schlader, Clark Bruno, Sarah Seubert, and Justin Schumacher. These leaders competed all day with their assigned tribes. The tribes consisted of 6-7 youth and were given a location in Africa and a child with a disability from that location. Each youth had to take on their child’s disability during completion, whether it was blindness, fever, loss of hearing, sickness, or an inability to walk. This action was done through blindfolds, earplugs, backpacks with bricks, or 2 rulers duct taped to the sides of a leg. The tribal assignments were, Kenya, Niger, Mali, and Ethiopia. As the day progressed the tribes gathered and competed heavily. They built cardboard houses using duct tape and rope, made thrones for their chiefs out of cardboard, brought water to their water sources by carrying wet sponges on their heads while wearing beautiful garbage sacks, hurdled or were tossed over ropes to get their tribe across the border, dressed up their tribal chiefs with feathers, face paint and jewelry, watched a movie on poverty, read meaningful scripture, journaled about tribal experiences, arranged flowers in vases, slept outside in 30 degree weather in boxes, performed a skit at Youth Mass, brought up flower vases to sell at Mass and shared quality time, not only as a tribe but as group with a specific purpose. (By the way, Kenya and Mali won the competition for our tribal games and were awarded trophies with a pizza certificate in which they decided that all tribes were to enjoy). Our time together showed us how very important it is to sacrifice for the needs of others. It was so good to raise money for the less fortunate while realizing how very blessed we are. We all decided that everyone should experience this at least one time and that this is one event we will all definitely do again. Our time and effort made a difference and isn’t that what being Christian is about? Thank you to everyone who donated to our cause and supported us in our efforts. We raised approximately $1,500 that will be divided between Catholic Relief Services and World Vision. May God continue to lead us forth to see our brothers and sisters in the world with the eyes of love and understanding and justice. 
Youth taking part in the 30-hour fast are shown. Front from left are Amanda Dinning, Beth Dinning, Katarina Tillinghast, Rosie Trautman, Kevin Tillinghast and Mykaela McWilliams. Middle from left are Tyson Schlader, Katie Reeves, Faith Uhlenkott, Darlene Gehring, Abbie Uhlenkott, Sarah Seubert, Justin Schumacher, Jared Higgins, Brandon Higgins, Bryson Higgins, Ally Hale, Sarah Chmelik, Kayla Schumacher, Krysten Uhlenkott, Beka Bruner, Nicole Poxleitner, Chaye Uptmor and Debbie Chicane. Back from left are Ryan Uhlenkott, Clark Bruno, Kevin Karel, Isaiah Shears, Rhett Schlader and Calvin Hinkleman. Not pictured Kyle Tillinghast and Patty Bruegeman. Photo provided by Debbie Chicane. Youth Ministry schedule for November Dear Youth and Parents, A thankful heart is a heart from God. God challenges us to live with gratitude daily out of response from the love and mercy he so freely gives. We are reminded in this month of November to intentionally focus on all the things we have that we have been given. It is with this heart of gratitude that the youth are invited to join us as we move toward remembering and thanking God through an active response. Our month will be filled with learning, giving, planning, praying, cooking, sharing, discussing, and retreating. All of these actions provide opportunities that evoke a heart that speaks thankfulness and gratitude. On Nov. 1st we will gather at St. Mary’s Church at 10:00 p.m. to spend some quiet and well-deserved time with the Lord. This time will slow us down and help you to see and be present to the world in a new way. It’s a great way to start the month. On Nov. 4th our adult leadership group who attended the training in Lapwai will meet at the OMG @ 7:00 p.m. to discuss needs and plans for youth ministry in 2014. Please be present if you attended the training session on Oct. 20th. Your input is greatly needed and appreciated. The OMG will be open the 1st, 3rd, and 4th Tuesdays from 3:30 to 5:00 for Jr.High and High School youth who want a place study or just hang out. I hope to see you there and remember to bring your friends. Pop and snacks will be available! The Confirmation Class for 2014 will have their retreat at the Ferdinand hall beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Nov. 9th. I am working on getting someone to give us a concert/talk at the closing of our retreat. This part of the retreat will go from 3:00 to 4:30. Your parents will be invited to the concert. Following the retreat we will have a blessing rite at the Ferdinand Mass and following the Mass we will have a dinner for everyone at the Ferdinand hall. I will have more details in the bulletin as soon as I know them. Please remember to bring $35.00 for the cost of the Confirmation class and a copy of your baptismal certificate to the retreat. On Nov. 11th the small group Bible study will meet in Debbie’s office at 6:30 for pizza, 7:00 for our group session, and 8:00 for our Fall walk. Our study will begin on 2 Samuel Chapter 5. I will be in Moscow on Nov. 12th for deanery meeting. The Haiti mission team will meet on Nov. 13th at the OMG to plan our Dec. Haiti fundraiser. I would like all Haiti team members to be present. On Nov. 15th we are excited to have Chris Kreslin (our diocesan youth and young adult representative) and his family to speak at the CEC building at 7:00 p.m.. The title of his talk is “Faith and family”. This talk is specifically for adults who are raising children. I would encourage anyone who wants to learn more about raising Catholic families in today’s world to attend. The cost is by donation. Please watch the bulletin for more information. Our H. S. youth will be attending a leadership retreat in Moscow on Nov. 16th and 17th . Please watch the bulletin for more information. (Sign up brochures will be available at the office and the back of Church) I will need all brochures back to me by Nov. 14th. On Nov. 18th we will have our Catholic Q and A session at Debbie’s office. We will begin with pizza at 6:30, session at 7:00, and Fall walk at 8:00. All H.S. youth are invited. We will have our monthly social on Nov. 20th at the OMG At 7:00 p.m. We will have a movie night with food. All Jr. High and High School youth are invited. I will be at a youth ministry meeting in Coeur D’Alene with all of the NC deanery and Northern deanary youth minister on Nov. 23rd. Please pray for us as we gather to share, discuss, plan, and pray. On Nov. 25th all High School youth are asked to come to the OMG youth room at 3:30 to bake food for our Thanksgiving baskets. On Nov. 26th the H.S. youth are asked to meet at the OMG at 5:00 p.m. to prepare and deliver Thanksgiving baskets. Happy Thanksgiving to all and may you remember the blessings in your life! With Gratitude, Debbie Chicane Tri-Parish Youth Coordinator |
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