The essence of this event is that in the weeks prior the participants ask family and friends for "sponsors" to donate a certain amount to the cause. The student themselves commits to NOT EATING FOR 30 HOURS STRAIGHT! Here's the group (some had to leave early).
This year's event began Friday morning after breakfast (7:00 a.m.). We gathered the 110+ participants from the four partnering churches starting at 5:00 p.m. at LowCountry CC just down the road from us. We had some organized games to help them understand what other people on the world have to eat and live like. The essence of this game is throwing paper quickly...that's really it.
We sent all of the students out to gather donations from whomever they could in 45 minutes. In all, they raised almost $2200 in that time. The winning team (having raised over $700) of this contest got to do whatever they wanted to my hair..this was my team so they decided on a "wavy mohawk." Here it is with my handlebar mustache. (Mary said I looked like a bandit.)
After that we had some worship and devotional time and watched DVD clips about how hunger affects the every day lives of millions around the world. After some more free time and games, the females all went to TCOTC (our church) and got settled in. Anyone who wanted to could stay up and watch a movie so the guys watched Spiderman 3 and the girls watched National Treasure of something like that. The guys finally got settled and asleep sometime after 3 a.m.
Saturday morning the boys got up and met up with the girls for a liquid breakfast. After that, we left for our 6 service projects (my team had 3 in different locations...you can imagine the logistical fun that that was :-) ). Here is my team, Team#1, at one of our service projects just in front of the huge pile of leaf bags covering a truck.
We eventually met back up at TCOTC and served parents and congregants a free pancake Break-fast Lunch. The winning team of the games got to eat first. While they were all eating, I received my mohawk and we collected an offering as a final fund raiser.
Finally everyone else could eat and we enjoyed that immensely. The clean up was a breeze with lots of help from the kids. Overall, the event was a HUGE first in the youth group. Over a dozen kids whom I've sen since have suggested that we do more service projects (but only if they can eat) so we will certainly do more. If service means riding in the back of Danny's truck, these guys are in!
It was amazing to me how our relatively small group was so well represented. We had over 45 participants and the average weekly attendance is only just over 30.
In a slightly different topic, my title here has changed to "Director of Youth Ministry." It's a long story as to why, but it is a more accurate picture of what I am and will be doing in the church. It's technically a promotion although my pay is the same...it's more just a renaming I guess. God has provided so amazingly in every way for us.
Please make plans to come and visit us...we are almost settled!
Danny
2 comments:
Hmm...is that a typo? Directory of "your" ministry? You'll have to tell the story behind that soon.
You do look like a bandit, fo sho.
You made kids do service projects while they were food and sleep deprived? That is just plain torture, but I guess you won them over with the hair.
Great shots of the kids - so MANY of them! I forgot your truck is now red.
Hope the momentum goes on from here - exciting times!!!
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