Global Fast

Picture to the left is from North Korea: Political factors cause hunger in North Korea. Photo courtesy of World Health Organization, 2005.

This past Friday some of the secondary students participated in Global Fast. Jeremy Cramer had been made aware of an organization that was encouraging people all over the world to fast for a day and to give the money that would have been spent on food that day to an organization that is directly involved in helping fight world hunger and poverty. So, Friday was the day that we chose to do this. We were not sure how many students would be involved as it hadn't been talked about other than in Bible Class and a short announcement in chapel, but it was a really cool day. Jeremy's 10th grade Bible Class spent Thursday's class decorating the music room transforming it into a prayer room...we finished up that afternoon-hanging posters and printing out prayer requests and information/facts about "world hunger".

At lunch time i entered the "prayer room" and it was already full with students sitting at different spots, in front of maps, praying on their knees or sitting quietly by themselves, lifting up the incredible needs of people around the world. One especially touching scene was two Korean students weeping as they prayed for North Korea-being from South Korea, many still have relatives/connections to South Korea. It made my heart break seeing that their hearts were breaking for the many, many victims of an unjust government.

My heart felt especially burdened for the mothers...we had a slide show going on in the auditorium with pictures from some of the poorest, most destitute places through out the world. As i watched the pictures go by, i just couldn't help but think about the women in the pictures-moms, just like me. How do they make the choice of whether to feed themselves or their child? How do they make the decision of which child will get food or which one needs more? I just can't fathom having to choose. As i look at my two children, i realize over and over again how blessed i am. Both are healthy and thriving-what would i be like if that were not the case.

It was a humbling day and one of just seeing God building in our students another big part of our faith-standing in the gap for others, putting others' needs first, feeling compassion and hurt for those who are hurting...may we never become hardened to those in need.