From April 27-28, an event entitled the "30 Hour Famine", hosted by World Vision, is taking place. During this time period, it's 5,000 + participants will go without food for 30 hours to not only have awareness of the starvation of children all over the world but to raise money while doing so.

How does this work, you ask?
People (family, friends, neighbors) sponsor you by either sending in checks or simply donating to your account online. You can get the word out by text, email, social media, or word of mouth. When they sponsor you, you let them know that you are taking the plunge and raising the awareness of hunger. What's amazing to me is that whatever donations you receive can be multiplied.



And why go to all this trouble, this self-sacrifice?? Because what you are doing will SAVE LIVES. I mean, you're going without food for 30 hours, knowing that when it's done you can feast. But some little 5-year old in Uganda may starve to death. God forbid it--and this is why we participate. When I did it last year, I felt the pain of these children. No, not exactly what they feel. God has blessed me and my family so much I cannot fully experience it. But just a little, a pinch, a glimpse of the world they live in every hour came to me and it was crazy revealing. I truly felt that the hardships and difficulties we go through in life were mere dust compared to these dying people.

We truly do not realize HOW BIG our blessings are till we go without them. It is healthy, then, to deny ourselves at times.

Do you know when your sitting in your room watching your favorite show, and a commercial pops on the screen with some hungry little child. Often they seem "so far away" it is, subconsciously, not as real to us. Likely we might never leave the U.S.
I'm scared to go hungry. Period.
Truth be told, I was a little nervous heading into the famine for my first time last year. I'd never gone without food for that long purposely and it was a little scary. But I really was not hungry until the last few hours (despite the 5-foot burger ad that popped up on the projector screen accidentally at church during a World Vision youtube video).
It really wasn't as bad as you'd think. And my youth group kept us all so busy with food donations, games and etc, that it would have been hard to notice for some time.
Think about it. These kids don't know where their next meal is coming from. We can go without for a little more than a day.

You can do the 30-Hour Famine with a youth group near you, or, I believe you could do it just by yourself, at home. You can click here to go sign up/learn more, etc. World Vision, who made the event, is a worldwide trusted organization that my parents have sponsored children through for over 30 years.

To look back on last year, I'd have to say that participating was not only fun, but I learned a lot. I'm doing it again this year...and I'm excited. It's amazing how easily we can save lives, countries apart.
God loves these children/people just as much as he loves everyone. We have a chance to take ourselves out of our comfort zone, for only 30 hours, and actually help these people.

If you aren't/can't participate (keep in mind you can still raise money by just telling your donors you might need to eat in that time period) you can still donate. Donate to World Vision, or sponsor a participant.

My account is (C'mon I know you were wondering just when I was going to say that)...Michaila@30HourFamine. I'd be genuinely tickled if you all decided to help me reach my goal of $700 (last year my goal was $500 and I raised $515!). Let's change the world together, peoples!!!

Have you experienced real hunger?

Will you take the challenge?