This Side of 30 Hours

It’s 3pm on Sunday afternoon. I’m tired. But not hungry. Not anymore. And I don’t think I’ll say “I’m Starving…” again without thinking twice. Because there are 26,000 children that are starving… and will die today from hunger, malnutrition, and preventable disease. We’ve just completed a fast-paced, fun-filled, hunger driven “30 Hour Famine” with the kids in our church youth group. Groups all over the nation are participating in this World Vision event to raise money for children in need all over the world. About 20 of our youth helped to create a weekend that will make a difference for these children. Yesterday was filled with “survival challenges” that taught us about the physical, economical and environmental challenges in other countries. We made graffiti signs, slept in cardboard boxes & tents, asked for pledges, and learned about poverty and hunger.

Through pledges and generous donors, our kids raised almost $2,250! World Vision forecasts that this will feed and nourish 75 children for one month. Or, it could feed one hungry child for over 6 years! One very miraculous event occurred when a weary, tattered, and obviously very hungry couple appeared at the doors of our church. It was in the middle of Saturday afternoon, when the kids were really beginning to feel the hunger pains of their fast. This couple arrived in need. They had been walking from Jacksonville, all the way to Mabank (about 65 miles) on their way to Dallas. Our kids welcomed them into the cool of the church where we asked how we could help them. They were hungry and needed to rest for a few minutes. The most beautiful acts of service and love were visible as our youth scrounged around in the kitchen to assemble a meal for our guests. As their own stomachs were growling and they were feeling the pains of hunger, they graciously prepared a feast for those more hungry. They carefully spread the mayonnaise on the bread. Added cheese, ham or turkey. Wrap in foil. Bag up some chips. Found some Little Debbie snacks for dessert. A group of the kids walked the meal down to the coffee area where our guests were resting. They set napkins before them and offered the food, in a humble gesture of acceptance, love, and even understanding. “God Bless You,” they told the couple. Then, not wanting to strip them of their dignity, we left them to eat and rest a bit. Sure, there were a million questions we wanted to ask, but didn’t. Sometimes, you just need to provide for a need without knowing all of the details. About an hour after our guests arrived, they were on their way again...continuing on foot 60 more miles to Dallas. They didn’t accept the backpacks we offered that would have been loaded with food and supplies. “Keeping it light,” the road-weary man told us. They turned the corner and walked out of sight. I’m not entirely convinced our guests weren’t angels. Sent to allow a youth group in Mabank Texas the opportunity to minister. To be the hands and feet of Jesus even as they stretched their own limits of comfort, food and shelter. Angels or not, there is no doubt our friends provided a God-Sighting, as Allison – the youth minister – calls it. God-Sightings are all around us, if we will only look. People, places and incidents that call us to be the hands and feet of Christ. It’s not just in Africa or Mexico or South America where children are starving. It happens right here, in Mabank Texas. It happens on the long weary road to Dallas. It happens in the grocery store, the nursing home, the mall. And it happens when the teacher prays for their student that is safer in class than he is at home. I was so proud of our Youth Group this morning as they shared their hearts with the congregation in both services. It was inspiring and worshipful. In a world full of despair – riddled with job loss, homelessness and hunger – our younger generation shared HOPE with us. We set out this weekend to fight hunger with hunger. But what we got was so much more.