The snow here in Steinbach is starting to melt. Spring is definitely on its way and what better way to welcome spring than the start of Lent! 
Our March Family Fun Day – Crazy Olympics – was incredible! Andrew and Phylicia did an amazing job coming up with fun activities for the families to do together. After the families arrived we put them onto three teams and gave them a variety of challenges to complete together. I was lucky enough to be on a team with two awesome families (one of which had hosted Amanda, Phylicia and me the week before). We were challenged to make a net out of yarn and tape, everyday machines out of our bodies and a structure that would protect an egg, dropped from the top of a ladder, out of straws and tape. The fellowship and good-natured competition was so great to see. It was also great to see such a variety of people come out and spend time bonding and creating connections. LifeLine this past weekend was amazing. The night was entitled Desert(ed) and was all about 
Lent. I gave a talk about some of the questions many of us have about Lent – what exactly it is, its purpose, why we give up things, what can we get out of it etc. The teens were really open in small group about their struggles understanding Lent and how they now see it in a whole new light. They see that giving up something for Lent is all about how they can better themselves and strengthen their relationship with God. I’m glad we had this night before Lent started so that they could really think about what would be best to abstain from and what they could give up that would help them move closer to God. Glass Alabaster was a hit this week with Spa Night. After Ash Wednesday Mass we gathered our usual group together (and a few extras who were invited after Mass) and we headed over to our 
host home and had foot massages, painted our nails and did face masks. Although all of these were fun I think the fellowship was the best part of the evening. Seeing all these young women interacting and simply being women together was beautiful. Some of these young women run in different circles at school or even go to different schools so it was wonderful to see the new connections and reconnections we were able to provide with a simple spa night. I cannot speak for the Real Men group, but that seems to be going really well too. I will have to get more d
etails from Andrew and Brenden for the next blog. For the Glass Alabaster group we ordered the books “Arms of Love” and “Surrender” both by Carmen Marcoux for the girls to read. These are really great books about having pure, chaste, Christian relationships. I love how we can talk about these books and share about how great it is to be Christian women who are proud to be living pure chaste lives. We have been getting more feedback from the parishioners about the events we are holding and our Youth Mass. One of our contact people admitted to us the other day after Mass that she had been in tear
s during Mass because it was so beautiful. I thought that was pretty amazing, but she then went on to tell us that she was not the only person! Wow! The Spirit was definitely moving hearts during that Mass. It is moments like that that make this ministry truly worth it.
Our March Family Fun Day – Crazy Olympics – was incredible! Andrew and Phylicia did an amazing job coming up with fun activities for the families to do together. After the families arrived we put them onto three teams and gave them a variety of challenges to complete together. I was lucky enough to be on a team with two awesome families (one of which had hosted Amanda, Phylicia and me the week before). We were challenged to make a net out of yarn and tape, everyday machines out of our bodies and a structure that would protect an egg, dropped from the top of a ladder, out of straws and tape. The fellowship and good-natured competition was so great to see. It was also great to see such a variety of people come out and spend time bonding and creating connections. LifeLine this past weekend was amazing. The night was entitled Desert(ed) and was all about 
Lent. I gave a talk about some of the questions many of us have about Lent – what exactly it is, its purpose, why we give up things, what can we get out of it etc. The teens were really open in small group about their struggles understanding Lent and how they now see it in a whole new light. They see that giving up something for Lent is all about how they can better themselves and strengthen their relationship with God. I’m glad we had this night before Lent started so that they could really think about what would be best to abstain from and what they could give up that would help them move closer to God. Glass Alabaster was a hit this week with Spa Night. After Ash Wednesday Mass we gathered our usual group together (and a few extras who were invited after Mass) and we headed over to our 
host home and had foot massages, painted our nails and did face masks. Although all of these were fun I think the fellowship was the best part of the evening. Seeing all these young women interacting and simply being women together was beautiful. Some of these young women run in different circles at school or even go to different schools so it was wonderful to see the new connections and reconnections we were able to provide with a simple spa night. I cannot speak for the Real Men group, but that seems to be going really well too. I will have to get more details from Andrew and Brenden for the next blog. For the Glass Alabaster group we ordered the books “Arms of Love” and “Surrender” both by Carmen Marcoux for the girls to read. These are really great books about having pure, chaste, Christian relationships. I love how we can talk about these books and share about how great it is to be Christian women who are proud to be living pure chaste lives. We have been getting more feedback from the parishioners about the events we are holding and our Youth Mass. One of our contact people admitted to us the other day after Mass that she had been in tear
s during Mass because it was so beautiful. I thought that was pretty amazing, but she then went on to tell us that she was not the only person! Wow! The Spirit was definitely moving hearts during that Mass. It is moments like that that make this ministry truly worth it. Before I sign off, I figured I should let you know what is coming up. This Sunday’s REACT is on how the ends don’t justify the means and the whole night is Star Wars themed. I am super excited to see how it turns out. We are also having our second parish talent show, entitled “Steinbach’s Got Talent: Take Two”. We already have a few acts lined up, mainly from the youth which is super exciting. Our volunteers are going to be receiving more training next week as well. Plus we are still recruiting more volunteers. I want to thank you, the NET blog readers, for your support. We could not do this without your prayers and all the ways you help support this ministry. God bless Elizabeth Fitzmaurice
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