30 Hour Famine

This is my first ever scheduled post, so I hope I set everything up right, and I hope it works! As you are reading this, I am at the 30 Hour Famine at my church. The kids in our youth group have gotten tons of people to sponsor them as they go 30 hours with no food this weekend. The money goes to World Vision, and I believe this year it's all going to Haiti. Last year the kids raised over $20,000, so I'm excited to see what God does through them this year!

Luke and I were just asked to help with the Famine a few days ago, so it's a last minute thing. We are both helping with the high school group. This is a first, because every year in the past, we have been with the middle school. (Wanna hear a secret?? I'm absolutely thrilled to be working with the high schoolers this year. God did not bless we with the gift of working well with middle schoolers! ha!) We are all split up into groups, or "villages," and I'm leading a group of sophomore girls.

The weekend is going to entail lots of fun things, like games, lots of worship times, service projects, juice breaks (the kids are allowed to drink 100% fruit juice and chew sugarless gum. But no food allowed!), a big concert on Friday night, a baptism service, and a HUGE "breaking the fast" meal on Saturday night. Last year they went all out for that meal, and started preparing it Saturday morning! It's kind of worth helping with the famine just for that meal (kidding, kidding! I help for more than just the food at the end!)

I didn't attend the planning meetings, because at the time, I didn't know I'd be helping. So according to a few brief emails that I received today, I believe I'll be helping my friend Michelle lead the "blanket" service project. I'm not exactly sure what that means, but I think we're helping the kids make a bunch of blankets for widows in the church? Or maybe we're making them WITH the widows, and then selling them to raise more money for the famine? I'm hopelessly confused on the whole thing, so I'll be sure to fill you in afterwards! But it sounds cool nonetheless.

I'm really getting excited! I especially can't wait until the concert Friday night! Did I mention that the band my husband is in is putting it on? It is the last big event in the sanctuary before they tear it down to rebuild soon. So the band built stage extensions and all kinds of wild things for the concert. I think they're playing some pretty awesome songs. I'll be sure to take plenty of pictures! It will be hard to top last year's concert, but I bet they will do it :-)

I will leave you with a few picture memories of last year. I hope that you will pray with me that not only will the teens raise lots of money to help the people in Haiti, but also that their lives will be touched through the amazing experience they will have this weekend! I know my life was always touched and changed during The Famine while I was in HS!