30 Hour Famine
Alright, I meant to write something about this a week ago, but, well, I didn't. So here it is now.
On March 18-19, we (we being the Sr. High group at church) participated in the 30 Hour Famine. There were nine high schoolers, myself, and two of our volunteer high school advisors. Mad props to all those that participated. My prayer is that we all (myself most definitely included) came away more sensitive to the struggles of the majority of our brothers and sisters around the world. Don't know how much money we raised yet (and even if I did, I probably wouldn't post it...), as many of the kids are still trying to collect some support from people. in place of dinner, breakfast, and then lunch, we had devotions for everyone to do. I think those went pretty well. For our 'breaking the fast' dinner Saturday night, my wonderful wife and one of the high schoolers that was unable to participate fixed us our dinner. Rice, black beans, and oranges. We sat on the floor, and had no utensils (didn't take them too long to realize that after you ate an orange, the rind could be used as a spoon for the rice and beans). Also, we stipulated some rules: you could not serve yourself, nor could you ask for food. So the only way you could get food was if one of your peers saw that you didn't have any and offered to get you some. That was to drive home the point that we need to be watching out for each other, both locally and globally. Also, it was one last reminder that much of the world is often at the mercy of the few of us who have been blessed with so much. The kids were helpless unless someone noticed their plight and offered to help. I was unsure how that would work out in practice (would they revolt after not eating for 30 hours...or 32 in some cases?!), but it went over well. No fighting, no cheating, just a pleasant, simple meal around a lone candle. All in all, a good way to spend a couple of days.
I think the funniest time of the Famine was Saturday afternoon. Our church was having an Easter egg hunt for the community while we were there fasting. Most of the kids volunteered to help, which meant we had many faminished high schoolers hiding candy, and then helping little ones find the candy. Several of them weren't sure if they could do that without giving in to temptation...but they all did! One even dressed up as the Easter bunny for the entertainment of the young children, playing with them and letting them have their picture taken sittin on her lap. I know she was grumpy, tired, hungry, and hot under that costume, but the children loved it. Just another simple way they found to serve the local community even while serving the global one. High fives all around.
It's amazing how much we have. To never have ever had to worry about getting enough food...we are so spoiled and we don't even realize it. This computer that I am typing on could have paid to feed several starving kids for a year. Is the answer as simple as not buying crap I don't need?
On March 18-19, we (we being the Sr. High group at church) participated in the 30 Hour Famine. There were nine high schoolers, myself, and two of our volunteer high school advisors. Mad props to all those that participated. My prayer is that we all (myself most definitely included) came away more sensitive to the struggles of the majority of our brothers and sisters around the world. Don't know how much money we raised yet (and even if I did, I probably wouldn't post it...), as many of the kids are still trying to collect some support from people. in place of dinner, breakfast, and then lunch, we had devotions for everyone to do. I think those went pretty well. For our 'breaking the fast' dinner Saturday night, my wonderful wife and one of the high schoolers that was unable to participate fixed us our dinner. Rice, black beans, and oranges. We sat on the floor, and had no utensils (didn't take them too long to realize that after you ate an orange, the rind could be used as a spoon for the rice and beans). Also, we stipulated some rules: you could not serve yourself, nor could you ask for food. So the only way you could get food was if one of your peers saw that you didn't have any and offered to get you some. That was to drive home the point that we need to be watching out for each other, both locally and globally. Also, it was one last reminder that much of the world is often at the mercy of the few of us who have been blessed with so much. The kids were helpless unless someone noticed their plight and offered to help. I was unsure how that would work out in practice (would they revolt after not eating for 30 hours...or 32 in some cases?!), but it went over well. No fighting, no cheating, just a pleasant, simple meal around a lone candle. All in all, a good way to spend a couple of days.
I think the funniest time of the Famine was Saturday afternoon. Our church was having an Easter egg hunt for the community while we were there fasting. Most of the kids volunteered to help, which meant we had many faminished high schoolers hiding candy, and then helping little ones find the candy. Several of them weren't sure if they could do that without giving in to temptation...but they all did! One even dressed up as the Easter bunny for the entertainment of the young children, playing with them and letting them have their picture taken sittin on her lap. I know she was grumpy, tired, hungry, and hot under that costume, but the children loved it. Just another simple way they found to serve the local community even while serving the global one. High fives all around.
It's amazing how much we have. To never have ever had to worry about getting enough food...we are so spoiled and we don't even realize it. This computer that I am typing on could have paid to feed several starving kids for a year. Is the answer as simple as not buying crap I don't need?
posted by metafiz at 7:36 PM
1 Comments:
glad i could help you procrastinate...
love, big brother (no, not the orwellian kind...)
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