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Quest to Mexico

  • Meet our house-build family!

      30 March 2015
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    Things are really cranking up now that we have only 12 sleeps to go before we fly out... cannot believe that months of build-up are almost at an end! We have met some of the cool people we'll be building alongside annnnnd... we have a profile of the family who will get to take possession of the house we build!

    Rosario is a single mum living with her son, Jose, in a ramshackle-looking blue-tarp village (pictured) about 45 minutes from the city of Rosarito. Rosario makes US$50 a week as a factory worker, most of which goes towards paying the mortgage on the small sliver of land she has bought. There isn't much left for food and practically nothing left for anything else after that. As things stand, she'd have no hope of ever being able to afford to actually build a house on this land herself without the assistance of everyone who has generously donated so far to this cause.

    I know Meg and I cannot wait to get over there and meet Rosario and Jose and get really stuck into this project. I think it will be the most amazing feeling of our lives to be able to accomplish something that will make such a profound difference to the lives of these people.

    Again, to everyone who has donated via this page and also direct to us for the various fundraising events we've run... a massive thank you! On behalf of us and, I'm sure, on behalf of Rosario and Jose too. Donations have now just about covered the costs of the building materials for the house but we are still short for the furniture at this point so please do share this cause with your friends and families and keep that money rolling in to help us get Rosario and Jose over the line! Even when we're over there, people can still donate :)

    We will attempt to keep everyone updated on this as we get over there but unsure of how much time or net access we'll have so it may be later on in our travels that you hear more from us.

    Meg will try to post pictures on her Facebook page from time to time so feel free to search her up there: Megan Howells (Shanks).

    Thanks again!

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  • Fiesta Night!

      30 March 2015
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    It's been a while since I could even take 5 minutes to sit down and type one of these - life has been super busy in the lead-up to us leaving on this trip (only 2 weeks left!!!) - but we absolutely must acknowledge the awesomeness that is our friends, Dave and Nicole Inglis.

    A few weeks ago now, Dave and Nicole graciously opened up their home to us and to 22 other guests for a Mexican Fiesta Fundraiser that included amazing quality food, mojitos and a magical setting for those who came along to support us. They gave of their time, skill and labour for free, meaning the very reasonable cost of a ticket for the evening has largely gone directly to contributing toward costs of the building materials we need for this house-build project.

    Throughout the last few months, it has been genuinely heart-warming to experience the generosity of those around us - we couldn't do this build without the help we've had from everyone - including everyone who came to the Fiesta night.

    More importantly, the family who ends up benefitting from everyone's generosity will really appreciate it. More about them to follow!

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  • Merry Christmas!

      16 December 2014

    We'd like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year for 2015!

    You who have contributed to our 'Mission to Mexico' have already exemplified the spirit of Christmas giving to the fullest meaning and we are most thankful for that. It's going to mean so much more that our trip to Mexico was sponsored by all of you. We'll have to put our thinking caps on next year to decide what we might gift to the family we will build this house for that reflects the great Kiwi generosity you've all demonstrated. Ideas are welcome :)

    Our movie night fundraiser went really well - we had 85 people show up on the night and more besides who couldn't make it but made a contribution to our cause anyway. Cannot describe how humbling an experience that was to have so many people want to support us!

    We'll look at doing other fundraising events in the New Year but for now we hope that wherever you are, you are able to enjoy some quality time with family and friends these holidays.

    All the best,

    Andy & Megan

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  • Movie Fundraiser Night

      25 November 2014

    Movie night is happening this Friday night. Really looking forward to seeing everyone come along to show their support and to also watch a great movie with us! Don't forget we will be putting on food from 7.30pm, with the movie starting at 8pm at Bay City Cinemas.

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  • Fundraiser time

      3 November 2014

    Ok peeps, first event to really kick this thing into action... A movie fundraiser! Thanks to the team at BayCity Cinemas, we are able to sell tickets to the third instalment in the fantastic Hunger Games trilogy - 'Mockingjay Part 1'. $20 includes your ticket and some nibbles prior to movie beginning. When: 7:30pm, Friday 28th November Where: BayCity Cinemas, Tauranga If you or someone you know is keen to partake in what should be an excellent night of entertainment, let one of us know and we'll add your name to the list. Meg is megan.howells@hotmail.co.nz and Andy is howellzy@hotmail.com. You can either donate the $20 to this page (and indicate in the comments section that you are keen to come along) or ask one of us for the bank acc details First in, first served! We'd also like to thank those who have already donated to this page - your support is greatly appreciated!

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