Admittingly, I wrote most of this up on Facebook and am re-printing it. For those who don't like organized religion or religion at all, this isn't about trying to convert people (it's a catholic group going to a heavily catholic country), though some of the money may go to help church construction costs or to churches that provide for their remote community. It's a good opportunity to give where money can help directly, like poor families that live in and off of dumps and people who need money for medicine, etc.
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Me and a church group will be leaving on May 20th for a mission trip to Allende, Mexico. I'm raising money independently to support the people and communities that we'll encounter, projects undertaken, and any extra costs to maintain the mission. Our primary objective is to live out our Christian and moral beliefs by bringing hope to the immensely poor, ill, neglected, and fringe groups who have been mostly forgotten or split apart by outsiders. If you've ever thought about donating oney to a truly worthy cause that affects real people, I can say from personal experience that this is it.

First and foremost, I ask for your prayers for me, the mission group, those who will be receiving us, and those we'll come in contact with.

Secondly, if you can provide $10, I'll say a personal prayer for you in one of the handful of churches we'll visit along the way.

If you can manage $20, you'll get the prayer as well as an "Emmaus rock" handpicked from the middle of an easy-to-get-lost-or-hurt-in Mexican desert.

In both cases, your name will be added to a list that I'll put in a small capsule and place by a Christ statue associated with miracles. When we return, you'll receive a detailed letter along with a link to all the photos I can humanly take. [E-mail if you'd like to mail a donation (by check). I'm going to single out Meredith as my reference since she can hopefully back me as being honest and involved in this sort of stuff.]

Additional money is certainly welcomed and receipts for tax purposes can be provided. Tell your friends and please keep this mission in your prayers. If none of this is for you, please feel no obligation and know that your friendship alone will have an impact on the good works that take place between May 20th-28th, 2006.

Dios en todas las cosas!