The Episcopal Church of the Ascension celebrated their first annual Easter Fiesta last weekend with fun, food and fundraising.

Almost 100 people came out for the event that raised money for the youth mission trip to Navajoland this summer in Arizona.

Guests were treated to a Southwestern-fusion dinner prepared by Patrick Smith of Tejano Brothers Catering, along with a silent and live auction.

One of the evening’s highlights was a long distance call by Mr. and Mrs. Jim Brooks to bid on and win a week long vacation in New Orleans. This purchase brought the evening total up to over $5,000.

According to Anna Bouldin, the fund raiser was a success. “Tonight’s event puts us in really great shape to achieve our goal for the year,” she said.

The Fiesta event will help pay for ten students and four adults to travel to Arizona, provide scholarships and support other church related events.

A slideshow of past mission trips presented by Todd Rutenbar topped off the evening and featured previous church sponsored trips to Alabama and New Orleans.

“Todd’s beautiful slideshow of trips dating back to 2001 showed just how important this mission trip tradition is to our congregation and the number of lives it has touched,” said Rev. Stephen R. Shaver.