Mission Moments Archives 2007 Thirty Hour Famine testimonials

* Christian Youth Program Challenge: Sending Out Webster's New World Dictionary uses the term "sending out" when defining the word "mission" as we put into practice the words of our faith. How can this be done with a group of teenagers? In the future this page will discuss how this was done on the streets of the lower east side of Manhattan as well as in the Central American country of El Salvador. But, for now, I would like to share the easiest way for youth to begin their mission journey. "Sending out" connotes going to some place to bear witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ and to his love. Nevertheless, this can be accomplished without going to the chosen field of mission. Our youth group took this step by agreeing to sponsor a child oversees. The youth will not physically go to this child's home but the money they raise will be provided to the child and her community. It is still a "sending out". There are several organizations that enable individuals or youth groups to sponsor a child. The one we used was World Vision. For about $1.00 per month per youth our group can sponsor an oversees child. World Vision, which is based in Tacoma, Washington, can easily be contacted through the internet. Our decision to move forward on this sponsorship goal led to a powerful event for our youth. World Vision provided a written description of four children and their communities which were in need of support. All four were described to our young people and an energized discussion of almost an hour followed as the group tried to agree upon which child to sponsor. This was impossible but the group was able to reduce the choices to two. The stalemate was broken when we focused not only on the children but also on the communities in which they lived. The end result was to pick the community, which most needed our help. In this manner we chose to support a nine year old named Lu Lu who resides in southern China . We have exchanged notes, describing our group and activities, as well as pictures with Lu Lu, who writes back that she "understands you are a team". While never thinking of our group as a "team" in the past, I once again turn to Webster, who defines a team as a "group of people working together" for a purpose. Jesus calls us in Matthew 25:31-40 to feed the hungry, clothe those who are naked and visit the sick. In verse forty he says, "I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did it for me". Our "team" has chosen to follow Jesus' call and Lu Lu is hardly "least important" to us. She has become our friend and is our group's mission and responsibility. I said the group chose to support this child in part because of the community's needs. During our research into this matter we learned that there is a commodity which we, in middle class America, take for granted that is a serious problem in impoverished area's around the world. It is the opportunity to have clean water available to drink and to bathe in. The lack of safe water, we have learned, is one of the truly significant health risks around the world. There are some communities where residents, even nine year olds like Lu Lu, need to walk miles each day just to retrieve a bucket of clean water. Our funds are not only supporting Lu Lu but they are being used to establish a new water system to provide clean water and reduce waterborne diseases in her community. One last thought. One of our youth asked how valuable their contribution was in Lu Lu's community. One dollar per month may not seem like much but multiplied by twenty youth and with youth leaders making a slightly increased contribution, we will allow us to send about $400.00 per year to Lu Lu. On our terms this does not seem to be much but in Lu Lu's community the average annual salary is $750.00. So our gift is indeed substantial. If mission is defined as a "sending out" then sponsoring a child is a powerful and effective way of following Christ's command that we feed the hungry, clothe those who are naked and visit the sick. It is recommended that youth groups give this type activity consideration as a means of helping youth "make a difference" in the world through mission.

Thirty Hour Famine: March 2-3, 2007 Year Eleven Thirty hours without food did not seem so difficult when the young people of the Deer Park Presbyterian Church and their guests from the Smithtown Presbyterian Church met the first weekend in March. During this eleventh 30 Hour Famine we focused on the needs and concerns of the people of Uganda. Through the use of the Tribe Game, a power point presentation by Joyce Mulcahy of World Vision and by reading letters sent from Ugandan youth, who participated with us in the famine halfway around the world, we learned much about a country filled with both despair and hope. Beginning with "The Three Pens Game" (see activities page of this website) we were able to expand our definition of hunger to include not only a lack of food but a need for clean water, for love of family, for safe shelter, justice and hope. Games, the reading of letters and a "Hearts with Hands" project led to an afternoon food drive at local supermarkets then a worship service. What made the service special was that our Ugandan friends advised us of two favorite hymns in their country, "How Great Thou Art" and "Amazing Grace", which we included in our worship. We also prayed for a special rally being scheduled at Makerere University in Uganda on March 24, 2007. After the service a youth "beat a drum", once every three seconds for a minute, as we silently remembered that at each drum beat, somewhere in the world, a child had just died of hunger.

Let some of our young people share their impressions of the famine. Here are some of their thoughts: "During the famine I learned that the people of Uganda have struggled with life threatening things going on yet, despite this, they are able to survive when most people could not and would not. I feel hopeful that the Ugandan people will survive and even thrive with the help of World Vision and other helpful organizations." Evan "What I enjoyed most about doing the famine was playing the games in the Tribe Game. Even though they seemed just like activities, they helped me realize how different our lives are from those in Uganda. I learned that many people in Uganda are suffering from AIDS, that children can't go to school because they have to walk to the nearest well (which is miles away) and return with water each day. I also learned that the LRA is abducting children and teaching them to kill. I can't imagine the torture and suffering these children go through. I really want to help and make a difference. I want to give the children and families hope and tell them to just let go of the past and hope for the future. This, I know, we are doing through the Thirty Hour Famine." Daniella, 14 "During the Famine many things happened but what I enjoyed most was doing the Food Drive with my new pal and "Midnight Volleyball" star, Evan. What I found was truly meaningful was when we heard the letters from our new friends, halfway around the world, in Uganda. I look forward to writing back to Mulangwa, one of the Uganda youth who shared his testimony with us." Stephen, 18 [See "Youth Speaks Out" page of this website for Mulangwa's letter and Stephen's response.] "In the past 12 hours or so I have learned many things about Uganda. Sixty dollars can feed a whole family that consists of seven to nine people for a month. There are also small wars going on in Northern Uganda. There are a lot of things that I use daily that I would never think of not having to be able to use. For example, in Uganda kids have to walk up to ten miles for water and all I have to do is turn on a faucet. I feel very sad that there are people in the world who have to live like this. It was very meaningful to hear their stories but it was good that we did fun things like Midnight Volleyball and the Food Drive." Dennis, 13 "We all had so much fun. We also learned that the people of Uganda are starving and forced to join the LRA (Lord's Liberation Army). I have also learned that many Ugandan families have a member with AIDS. After learning all of this I can't believe the things that they go through every day and I want to help to make their lives better. I know the 30 Hour Famine is doing this." Amanda, 16 "I enjoyed everything; it was so much fun. I loved the games and the Food Drive. During the famine I learned that many people in Uganda are starving and that they (usually young children) are being captured and forced to kill others. They are thirsty, hopeless and scared. It makes me sad that they are put in this situation; I'm mad that the Lord's Resistance Army did this but I am happy that we are raising money and that World Vision is helping." Ruth, 11 "I learned a great deal in this year's 30 Hour Famine. First of all that the people of Uganda experience very horrible things. They get abducted in the middle of the night and taken from their families. They sometimes watch their families get killed and are treated terribly. I really enjoyed the locust game, which demonstrated how the Ugandan people have to replant their crops after a locust invasion. I feel the people in Uganda need a lot of help and are in a terrible situation. They have a huge amount of strength and this situation has to come to an end." Kelly, 17 "I learned that the people of Uganda live in a world of hungar, disease and death, which are all common. Children and families are wiped out from simple diseases that in this country are cured with a pill. The Ugandan people don't have the needed medicines. I feel that we should be able to help them and help bring justice to their nation; to stop the rebellion and so that families will be paid attention to and not neglected." Michael C., 13 "During the Famine I learned that the people in Uganda live a hard life. There is a war going on there and kids as young as nine years old are given a gun and taught to kill people. They are taught to hate and that World Vision is a bad organization. In addition they would have to walk over ten miles for water as a chore so many of the kids cannot go to school. What I really enjoyed doing during the famine was our Food Drive at the supermarket." Michael G., 13 The 30 Hour Famine was fun and what I enjoyed most was the midnight volleyball game. During the famine I learned that many of the children of Uganda are orphans as many people die of AIDS or are killed by the LRA. I don't think it is fair to live in fear and without parents. I feel that more should be done to help people like this. The 30 Hour Famine is a start." Harris, 14

As the youth leader, who has organized the 30 Hour Famine at our church these past eleven years, I can say that this is a most special time of our youth program. It is also a great opportunity to meet Christian youth from other youth programs. This is the fourth time that we have invited other youth groups to join our efforts and every year it is a special blessing to join together in this event. Since we have done the 30 Hour Famine every year since 1997, I asked one of our young people from the first two famines (1997 and 1998) to share some reflections about the impact of his participation over time. He writes: "About a month ago, I had a medical procedure when I had to fast for over a day before I could undergo the procedure. Around the same time, my father told me that he was going to write an article about the Thirty Hour Famine. Knowing this, I couldn't help but reminisce, as I fasted, about the initial two times I'd gone without food for a day. The first was the inaugural Thirty Hour Famine in 1997 and the second was it's sequel in 1998. Thinking about those two times, I initially recalled comraderie and games, like playing volleyball upstairs in the social area or having judged pillow fights in our youth room downstairs. Soon those initial memories had attachments, the first that feeling as the night wore on, of a growing, gnawing hunger, biting at my insides. Trailing after it were the ghosts of children we'd learned about, who hadn't eaten for weeks at a time, followed by the faces of my friends, sitting in rapt attention as my father read a story or put on a video about those children. Eventually, more memories flooded in, of raking leaves and collecting food, making projects and discussing deep things until all hours of the night, followed by a poignant feast at 6:00 PM the next day, every bite a reminder of what we'd done and who we'd done it for. After the recent medical procedure, when I could eat again, I had a similar feast, each bite tinged with the nostalgia of ten years ago, when I'd sacrificed and raised food, money and awareness for the greater good. I look back at those two experiences, knowing that for these two moments, I made a difference somewhere in the world." Scott, 26 It is noted that there are many other reflections received from youth regarding this year's famine but, due to the length of this article, they have not been published. These additional reflections will replace the ones given above in mid April for another look at the 30 Hour Famine held this year. The Thirty Hour Famine is a fun, educational and productive event, which I highly recommend all church youth groups try. For information about how your youth group can sign up, please refer to the "Links" page of this website and click on the World Vision icon.

During this year's 30 Hour Famine the young people and youth leaders of the Smithtown Presbyterian Church joined us. Their youth director, Catherine Wallace, shared the following letter with me ... Dear Tim, The small group of youth who took part in the 30hour famine were matched by around the same number of adults. Most were part of families who participated together. This was not what we set out to do but I believe that the discussions will stay alive because this was a shared experience. World vision produced great materials : the DVD and the leaders guide as well as the information packs for participants gave a lot of information in an easy style. We gathered in the parking lot at Smithtown on the evening of the overnight event. A man asked the young people what they were doing with their sleeping bags etc. They explained about the Famine and he donated $20. A lot was learned from that encounter, not least of all, the fact that by our actions we can influence others. The pattern of activities that has been refined over the years worked so well. The tribe games were great fun but their underlying educational message was not missed. I could see that as layer upon layer was added to the experience, our youth began to understand and care about others more and more - they really got "it". Their hunger at the end of the famine was not just for a good meal but it was a hunger... for justice for those who suffer ...for love for those who are neglected... for a voice for those whose stories are not heard...for better lives for those who are poor...for hope for those who need to begin again. Working together with others in youth groups and in organizations like World Vision they realize that they can make a difference. Strengthened by the knowledge of Gods love for them they will. Many thanks for welcoming us and for allowing us to share this fun and thought provoking experience. Catherine Wallace, Assistant to the Pastor First Presbyterian Church, Smithtown, New York

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