EYC participates in 30-hour famine

Caroline A. Williams, Youth Assistant

"Almighty God, Father of orphans and defender of the needy: you strengthened your Son, Jesus, during his 40-day fast in the wilderness, and then sent him into the world to serve. Strengthen us in our fast, and bless our efforts of service to others, so that your beloved people may be fed. We pray this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen."

-David Frazelle for EYC's 30-Hour Famine

Two EYC (Episcopal Youth Community) guys are cooking breakfast for the families at the Ronald McDonald house 20 hours into the fast. When the smell of bacon makes their hungry stomachs growl, they stop to pray this prayer, and then continue working.

An EYC girl is helping to restock the thrift store shelves at Orange Congregations in Mission in Hillsborough and feels a calling to continue this service. She asks for an application to volunteer regularly.

Two guys are scrubbing bags used to take food to the elderly and disabled by Meals on Wheels; they stop to have a water break when they feel weak.

Two middle school girls are sitting on the floor of the kitchen, humbly eating a small portion of rice, having learned the limits of their bodies.

A group of EYCers walks down Franklin Street with signs reading, "29,000 Children Die Every Day from Hunger. For just $1 a day you can save one." They press the signs against the widows of restaurants and stores just long enough for someone to read it and stop to think.

"Famine, Famine... oh, baby let my people eat... FOOD!" Two leaders stay up late into the night re-writing the words to an EYC favorite song, "Pharaoh, Pharaoh," to lead at our closing Eucharist.

A 6th-grader corrects a priest in the last minutes of our 30 hours of fasting, "We are not starving, we are just hungry."

A total of 25 EYCers participated in the Chapel of the Cross' first 30-Hour Famine this past March, fasting for 30 hours, learning about hunger around the world, performing service activities, acting in solidarity with the world's poor, and raising money to help feed and take care of them. We learned that 29,000 children die every day from hunger. We imagined what it would feel like to go to school and try to learn with the constant emptiness and exhaustion that comes from hunger. We read from Matthew 25:35, "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink." Then we learned a way to help. Together we raised $3,780 for World Vision, which can take care of a child for $1 a day. Through the 30-Hour Famine, EYC and the Chapel of the Cross have sponsored 10.5 children for the next year. Thank you to all who participated in our bake sale, fundraising, famine weekend, closing Eucharist, and break-fast dinner! Our first famine event was a great success and we look forward to next year's event!

For more information about the 30-Hour Famine or World Vision, go to these websites: www.30hourfamine.com
www.worldvision.org

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