This space is usually reserved for the discussion of all things tasty and my multiple neuroses. While this is usually a winning combination I have to ask for your indulgence here just this once. Today, I want to talk about hunger and I’m warning you now, I’m going to use the word ‘grateful’ an awful lot.
This Friday and Saturday my kids are participating in something I had never heard of before two weeks ago: The 30 Hour Famine. My two eldest boys will be doing a 30 hour supervised fast to raise awareness about (and funds for) combating hunger wherever it is found. The three youngest will be doing their own version (3 hours, 2 hours and 30 minutes, respectively) in moral support of their brothers. I’m beyond touched that my kids have a heart for kids all over the world who don’t have it as good as they do.
During the 30 Hour Famine fast, the boys will be taking classes and doing activities designed to teach them about how to identify and combat childhood hunger, but that’s not all.
…And here’s where I get humbled and a little weepy.
They’ll be going to nearby Jericho Road Ministries to work on a service project. My little boys who aren’t so little any more. I’m so grateful for thoughtful young men who are willing to sacrifice their immediate comfort to help people they haven’t met. I’m sure there’s a touch of Mama pride in here, but there’s also relief. Relief that my young men are becoming the people I prayed they would be when they were born.
So yeah. My kids are doing this fast and they’re raising funds for it, but even if you’re not comfortable donating, would you please just have a look at their page? Acquaint yourself with the cause my kids are espousing right now? I’d be so grateful. Spreading awareness is every bit as important as raising money for hungry children. I want them to know that they can make a difference.
Unfortunately, we could not set the boys up as a fundraising team, so there are two links here. Click on the boys’ pictures to see their individual fundraising pages. So far, every person who has donated has kindly divided their donation evenly between the two boys’ pages. I know I keep saying it, but oh people. I’m grateful. I’m grateful in a very big way because every single donation -small, large or inbetween- is going to be food in the bellies of people who went to bed hungry.
For those of you who don’t want to click through, but are still with me, please give me just another minute of your time to tell you about World Vision (the group running the 30 Hour Famine). Their mission is to provide short term food relief but also to provide long-term sustainable solutions for food sources. In other words, they’ll feed the hungry and give them chickens to raise eggs and meat and have an income to buy other necessities. (They do other things, too, I just wanted to give you an example of their approach.)
Reader's Thoughts...
Liz says
I did the 30 Hour Famine three times in high school, and it was amazing. It is a really fun event; nothing like service projects, classes, games, and movies with your peers. They will have a great time, and you should be proud 🙂
Valerie says
We have done the 30 Hour Famine with our youth group at church for the past three years. Not only do these incredible youth sacrifice to fast for the 30 hour famine and participate in a service project but they do it during the first two days of their Spring Break. Best of all they do it with joy and thankfulness. A great example to the rest of us. I hope it goes well for your family and that you all find many blessings in the experience.
Kathryn says
I had a quality time with my family last week and I must admit that I am very happy and contented with my life today.. This is a great story to share as well..
Amy says
A few weeks ago, I took the kids to the park. There was a little girl there, about their age, in a wheelchair. Without me saying anything…without even pausing…they ran over to her and asked if she wanted to play – she wasn’t different or weird to them, she was a little girl that had nobody to play with. The mom of the little girl and I locked eyes for a minute and I swear we were both about to cry, perhaps for different reasons. My point is – I completely understand that mama pride. Your heart swells like the biggest balloon ever. Those boys are a product of you, Bec. Thoughtful, kind, unselfish, and wonderful.
Liz says
“willing to sacrifice their immediate comfort to help people they haven’t met” – thoughtfulness, random acts of kindness – what a wonderful answer to your prayer for your children!
And thanks to them and your willingness to share, I am one more person aware.