The next time you sit down to eat, think about this: About 25,000 children die every day because of hunger and related diseases. Almost all of these deaths occur in developing countries, with ¾ of them coming in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
On April 23 & 24, 11 leaders and 49 students from the Dunellen Pres youth group took part in this year's 30 Hour Famine. That meant that not only did we go 30 hours without eating, we also participated in various community service activities, played games which taught the students what life is like in third world countries, and also joined together to worship God through all of it.
This year's Famine brought us to one of the most impoverished countries in the world - Ethiopia, which was fitting because that is where our group chose to send the money we raised for the event. The students were split into tribes again, representing real tribes from around Ethiopia. Working together in their tribes, they would take on each game as not only a team, but also as a family. Each game was designed to give students a taste of what it is like to live in Ethiopia; from having to scavenge and fight for food, having to face dangerous situations, and having to use a shared (and dirty) water source. If any student complained of the game play being "not fair," we would remind them that life in Ethiopia is not fair, and that as we speak, more children are dying.
The community service aspect of the Famine taught the students about selflessness. Most of our students get whatever they want whenever they want. We wanted to teach them that life doesn't revolve around them, and that there are people right next door who are in need.
The worship was my favorite part of the Famine. Half of the students who participated were "unchurched," yet they were taking part in an experience they might otherwise never think twice about participating in. One student even said to me, "This is weird for me," but then I later saw that same student clapping and singing along. We made sure to drive home the point that all the glory goes to God. We do the Famine because God has commissioned us to serve the poor and the weak. It's a chance for us to show God's love to people we might never even meet.
At the end of the 30 hours, the fast is broken with our pastor serving communion. This just emphasized that God made the ultimate sacrifice for us when he died on the cross to save us from our sin.
Interesting things start to happen when you are deprived from food. You feel weaker. You get tired more easily. You can't think as clearly as you normally do. You sometimes get cranky or grumpy. At the end of the 30 hours, you can't wait to sit down and fill your belly back up with food - you don't even care what it is. For 9.7 million children in the world, they long for food, but it never comes. The hunger gets worse. Their bodies begin to shrink and become frail, and eventually, they die.
Holding an event like the 30 Hour Famine raises funds to provide food, clean water, and other provisions to Ethiopia and other impoverished countries. $1 feeds 1 child for 1 day. We raised about $2,300 this year. You do the math.
I am always moved by the 30 Hour Famine. When I see our students coming together as a family to help out other children they may never meet, and worshipping God together, it's something so special to me. I am proud of all the students and leaders who participated, and I can't wait for next year!
