Monday, November 29, 2010

How Did I First Hear About Mary's Meals?

I first heard about Mary's Meals at the Christ Our Life Conference in Des Moines, Iowa in October, 2010.

Our Catholic Priest, Father Rich Adam, took a bus load of 72 people to the conference.

The speakers at the conference were: Renee Bondi, Fr. Rick Wendell, Matthew Kelly, Marino Restrepo, Bishop Richard E. Pates, Francis Cardinal Arinze and Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow.

Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow is the founder of Mary's Meals.
Hearing Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow made me think about:
Matthew 25 35-40 when Jesus said For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink.

I was a stranger, and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me.

I was ill, and you comforted me, in prison and you came to visit me.

Then the just will ask him: 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, of thirsty and give you drink?

When did we welcome you away from home or clothe you in your nakedness?

When did we visit you when you were ill or in prison?

'The king will answer them: 'I assure you, as often as you did it for one of my least brothers, you did it for me.'

That made me ponder, HOW AM I SERVING THE LEAST OF MY BROTHERS. Thinking about how am I serving the least of my brothers, made me want to help feed poor children who are starving. I can do this by raising money for Mary's Meals and raising awareness of the starving children.

I don't know about you, but for me sometimes it's easy to just give a little money to a charity and then go on with my happy little life. That's the way I was until one day I was thinking and imagining what it would be like TO GO WITHOUT A MEAL FOR ONE OR TWO DAYS. That is when I really decided to help raise money and awareness for Mary's Meals.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Welcome to my Blog!!!

Hello my name is Allison Ockenfels. One week ago, Nov. 20, I started my fund raising campaign for Mary's Meals. I spoke each of our cluster parishes:  St. Josephs, Wellman, Holy Trinity, Richmond and St. Mary's, Riverside. In one week I have raised $5,902 towards my goal of $11,000 to build one kitchen to feed the school children of Malawi Africa.  I am very thankful for the generosity of each donor.